They Said No Woman Could Survive One Night With the Alpha King, but the Woman Sent to Break Him Fell Asleep in His Arms Instead

Back at Croft Estate, Harper stood on the massive private balcony overlooking the crashing Pacific waves, wrapped in a thick, dark wool sweater that smelled faintly of pine, cedar, and the clean, ozone scent of the Alpha King.

The morning wind whipped her hair around her face, but she didn’t shiver.

Kane stood right beside her, leaning against the black steel railing with relaxed grace, his golden eyes watching the distant horizon where seagulls circled above the foaming white water.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Kane noted, turning his head slightly to look down at her.

“I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to explain to my father and his council that I’m not coming back to balance their checkbooks,” Harper said dryly, taking a slow sip of her coffee.

“Let them figure it out themselves,” Kane replied without a trace of hesitation.

“For five years, you’ve run yourself ragged covering for a man who treats his pack like a poker hand. You’re done being his safety net, Harper.”

“It’s not that simple,” she sighed, though she couldn't deny the profound sense of relief washing over her at the thought of never having to look at another one of her father’s fraudulent accounting books again.

“My sister Chloe is still back there. She’s the only reason I stayed as long as I did.”

Kane’s expression shifted, his amber eyes locking onto hers with sudden, intense clarity.

“If you want Chloe here, she’ll be here by noon,” Kane said firmly.

“My estate has more than enough room for someone who actually appreciates a quiet sanctuary, and Croft Industries has plenty of high-level administrative positions that pay significantly better than working for your father’s bankrupt operation.”

Harper stared at him, caught off guard by the effortless authority and absolute sincerity in his voice.

Nobody had ever offered to rescue her.

Everyone in her life had only ever demanded that she be the one to do the rescuing.

“You make it sound so easy,” she murmured, a faint, disbelieving smile touching her lips.

“It is easy,” Kane replied, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair away from her cheek, his touch warm and steady.

“When you spend five years living in a war zone inside your own head, you learn very quickly what matters and what’s just noise. You are what matters, Harper.”

Before she could formulate a response, the heavy doors behind them slid open, and Gideon Locke stepped onto the balcony, holding a heavy leather-bound tablet.

“Alpha,” Gideon began, offering a respectful nod to both of them before focusing on Kane.

“We have a security alert at the main gate. A delegation from Cascade Pack just arrived unannounced. Led by Marcus and your father, Richard Hayes.”

The relaxed, peaceful atmosphere on the balcony evaporated instantly.

Kane’s jaw clenched, a low, dangerous rumble of a warning growl vibrating deep within his chest as the powerful, commanding aura of the Alpha King surged back to the surface.

Harper watched the transformation, feeling a brief flash of protective adrenaline, but before she could speak, Kane looked down at her, the golden light in his eyes steadying instantly at the sight of her face.