CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50

Kael’s POV.

I sat in the throne chamber, my hands clenched on the armrests of my chair, my heart pounding with anger and worry.

The room was bright, sunlight streaming through tall windows, but the air felt heavy, thick with tension.

Beta Brian stood across from me, his brown eyes narrowed, his voice loud as he argued, his hands waving.

"Nicholas won’t come, Alpha," he said, his tone sharp, his face tense.

"He’s too proud. Calling him here is an insult. He’ll never show." His words grated, my jaw tightening, my side throbbing under the bandage, the unhealing wound a constant ache.

My wolf, Zeus, growled, his protectiveness fierce, my anger at Elijah’s betrayal, my former Gamma, a Fang pack spy who tried to kill me and Aria, still burning.

I’d demanded Alpha Nicholas come to the Shadow Claw pack to face his traitor, and I wasn’t backing down.

"He’ll come," I said, my voice hard, my eyes burning into Brian’s.

"If he wants Elijah alive, he’ll show." My heart raced, my fists clenching, my mind split between Elijah’s betrayal and Aria’s absence, her avoidance cutting deep.

Brian shook his head, his voice rising. "You’re risking war, Alpha Kael," he said, his hands on his hips, his eyes wide.

"Nicholas won’t bend." His doubt fueled my anger, Zeus growling louder, my patience thin.

Before I could snap back, the doors burst open, a guard rushing in, his armor clinking, his face pale.

"Alpha," he said, bowing quick, his voice shaky.

"Alpha Nicholas is here." My heart jumped, my eyes snapping to Brian, whose mouth dropped, his eyes wide with shock.

I stood, my boots heavy, my wound burning, a grim satisfaction settling in. Nicholas had come, just as I’d demanded.

"Bring him in," I said, my voice firm, my hands clenching, Zeus urging me to stay sharp.

The guard nodded, hurrying out, and Brian stepped to the corner, his face tense, his hand on his dagger.

I stood tall, my ash-gray shirt tight, my black pants sturdy, ready for whatever Nicholas brought.

The doors opened again, and Nicholas walked in, his dark green cloak billowing, his hood low, his dark brown eyes fierce, the scar across his jaw stark.

His Beta, Nathan, followed, his eyes wary, standing opposite Brian, the chamber filled with tension.

"Alpha Kael," Nicholas said, his voice smooth, his smile cold, his eyes glinting with scorn.

"You summoned me?" His words were sharp, his posture relaxed but dangerous, his cloak hiding his sword.

My jaw tightened, my anger flaring, Zeus growling, sensing his threat.

"You know why you’re here," I said, my voice hard, my eyes locked on his.

"Your guard, Elijah, tried to kill me. Burned the guest house. Betrayed my pack." My words were blunt, my heart racing, my wound throbbing, memories of the flames, the smoke, the pain, vivid.

Nicholas’s smile didn’t waver, his eyes cold, his scorn clear.

"Let’s see him," he said, his voice low, his hand gesturing.

"Your traitor." His tone mocked me, his smile spiteful, and my fists clenched, my anger boiling.

I nodded, my steps heavy, leading him to the dungeon, Brian and Nathan trailing, their boots loud, the packhouse halls quiet, the torches flickering.

The dungeon was dark, the air damp, the smell of rust and mold heavy.

Elijah was tied to a pole, his wrists bound, his face bruised, blood dried on his lip from my punches.

When he saw Nicholas, he bowed his head, his eyes on the ground, avoiding contact, his body trembling.

My heart pounded, suspicion growing, Zeus growling, sensing lies. "You know him," I said, my voice sharp, my eyes on Nicholas. "Your guard. Your spy."

Nicholas tilted his head, his smile sly, his eyes glinting. "Don’t know him well," he said, his voice smooth, too smooth.

"Just a guard... I have many of them." His lie was obvious, his eyes flicking to Elijah, his posture tense.

My jaw clenched, my anger flaring, but I played along, my voice cold.

"Who sent you?" I asked Elijah, my eyes burning into his, my hands clenching.

Brian stepped closer, his face tense, Nathan watching silently. Elijah’s head stayed low, his voice shaky, scared.

"No one," he said, his words trembling, his body shrinking.

I asked again, louder, my anger rising, but he repeated it, his voice weak. "No one."

Just then, Nicholas moved, sudden and fast, his claws elongating, slashing Elijah’s chest, blood spraying, the sound sharp, Elijah’s groan loud.

I froze, my heart stopping, shock hitting hard, Brian and Nathan stepping back, their eyes wide.

It was out of the blue, Nicholas’s face cold, his eyes fierce. Elijah slumped, blood pooling, his groans weak, his chest torn.

Nicholas raised his claws again, ready to end him, his smile gone, his rage clear.

I reacted, my body moving before my mind, stepping between them, my hand shoving Nicholas back, my voice a growl.

"Stop!" I said, my eyes burning into his, Zeus roaring, his protectiveness fierce.

"Kill him, and we won’t hesitate to suspect you. We need him alive!" My heart raced, my wound burning, my anger at Nicholas mixing with my need to know the truth.

Elijah was a traitor, but his answers, his life, were my only lead.

Nicholas stumbled back, his eyes narrowing, his claws retracting, his breath heavy.

I turned to Brian, my voice sharp. "Get guards. Now. Take Elijah to the physician." Brian nodded, rushing out, his boots echoing.

Guards hurried in, untying Elijah, his body limp, blood dripping, carrying him to another room for treatment. I couldn’t lose him, not yet, not until I had answers.

I faced Nicholas, my fists clenching, my voice loud. "Why’d you do that?" I yelled, my eyes burning, my heart pounding.

"Because he’s my only lead?" My anger boiled, Zeus growling, my worry for Aria, for my pack, fueling me.

Nicholas’s attack was reckless, dangerous, risking everything.

He shrugged, his smile returning, cold and mocking. "Just disciplining my guard," he said, his voice smooth, his eyes glinting.

My jaw tightened, my anger flaring, his lie obvious, his scorn infuriating.

"Pray he wakes up," I warned, my voice low, my eyes hard, my hands shaking.

"If he dies, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself." My words were sharp, my heart racing, Zeus urging me to fight, to protect.

Nicholas scoffed, his laugh sharp, his eyes defiant. "You don’t scare me, young Alpha," he said, his voice cold, his cloak swishing as he turned, leaving the dungeon, Nathan following, their steps fading.

My chest heaved, my wound burning, my anger and fear mixing, Elijah’s blood on the floor, Aria’s absence still heavy.

Brian rushed back, his face pale, his breath heavy. "Alpha, we’re losing Elijah," he said, his voice urgent, his eyes wide.

"Too much blood. He’s not healing fast. An Alpha’s claw did it, it’s bad." My heart sank, my breath catching, panic rising. Elijah couldn’t die, not now, not when I needed answers.

I hurried to the room, the air sharp with the smell of blood and herbs, the physician working, his hands quick, Elijah’s chest bandaged, his groans weak.

I sent everyone out, my voice firm, the room emptying, the door shutting. There was one chance, my healing powers, if they’d work.

My wound hadn’t healed, my strength fading, but I had to try. I touched Elijah’s chest, my hands shaking, the blood warm, his breathing shallow.

I closed my eyes, my heart racing, Zeus surging, his power full, stronger than ever. It was hard, my energy draining, my wound burning, but I pushed, my hands glowing, warmth spreading.

Elijah’s breathing steadied, his wounds closing, but not fully. My powers were working.

I turned to leave, my body weak, my vision blurring, my steps shaky. My heart pounded, relief and exhaustion hitting hard.

But as I reached the door, my legs gave out, my body collapsing, the room spinning. Brian’s voice echoed, loud and desperate, "Alpha Kael!"