CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53

Kael’s POV.

I woke up slowly, my body heavy, my side aching. The room was a bit darker than usual, the candle burned low, its light flickering on the walls, the air warm with the smell of herbs and Aria’s scent.

She lay beside me on the cot, her silver hair spread across the pillow, her face soft in sleep, her breathing steady.

My heart pounded, my chest tight with a mix of love and worry, my eyes tracing her features, her closed eyes, her parted lips, her peaceful expression.

Last night, her touch, her moans, her tears of pleasure, had filled me with warmth, pulling me close, grounding me after my collapse.

But now, staring at her, my mind spun, a question nagging me. Why hadn’t I seen the vision again? The one of her screaming, blood-soaked, her wolf dying? It haunted me since that night, but not anymore as we made love?

Was the seer’s warning true or not? Was I the danger to her, or was it something else? My hands clenched, my heart racing, Zeus, my wolf, whining softly, his love for her fierce, urging me to protect her.

A knock came, sharp and loud, breaking the quiet. My heart jumped, my body tensing, not wanting to wake Aria.

I slid off the cot, my boots soft on the floor, my ash-gray shirt wrinkled, my pants stiff from yesterday’s chaos. I opened the door quick, my hand on the handle, my eyes narrowing.

Beta Brian stood there, his brown eyes wide, his face lit with relief. Before I could speak, he lunged, his arms wrapping around me, hugging me tight, his voice loud.

"Thank the Moon Goddess you’re alive, Alpha!" he said, his words shaky, his grip strong.

My chest tightened, warmth and annoyance mixing, Zeus purring at his loyalty but growling at the fuss.

I pushed him back, my hands firm, my voice gruff. "Stop making a scene, Brian," I said, my eyes narrowing, my jaw tight.

His face froze, his eyes wide, realizing his mistake.

He stepped back, straightening, his hands clasped, his face serious, like a proper Beta.

"Right, Alpha," he said as he cleared his throat, his voice low, a sheepish grin breaking through.

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips, the moment awkward but sweet, his loyalty clear, easing my tension.

We’d been through too much, Elijah’s betrayal, Nicholas’s attack, my collapse, for it to be anything else.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice low, my eyes searching his, my hand still on the door, keeping it cracked to not wake Aria.

My heart pounded, my worry for her lingering, her avoidance before we’d made love still heavy, her sadness cutting me deep.

Brian’s face turned serious, his eyes steady. "Elijah’s awake," he said, his voice firm, his hand gesturing.

"The guard. He’s up, in the physician’s room." My heart jumped, my fists clenching, anger stirring.

Elijah, the traitor who’d tried to kill me, to burn the guest house, a Fang pack spy in my pack, finally awake.

I needed answers, needed to know who sent him, why he’d betrayed me.

My wound throbbed, my body still weak from healing him, my powers draining me, but I had to face him.

"Let’s go," I said, my voice hard, my boots shifting, ready to move.

Brian glanced at Aria, still asleep, her face soft, her breathing quiet.

"Should we wake the Luna?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes flicking to her.

My heart sank, my chest aching, wanting her with me, wanting her safe, but her peace, her rest, was more important.

"No," I said, my voice firm, my eyes on her.

"Let her sleep." I turned, shutting the door softly, my heart heavy, and followed Brian, my steps quick, the packhouse halls dim, the torches flickering, the air cool.

My mind spun, Elijah’s betrayal sharp, his mocking laugh, "I wanted you dead" still burning, my anger mixing with worry for Aria.

The halls were quiet, maids cleaning, their eyes dropping as we passed, their whispers soft.

We reached the physician’s room, the door heavy, the air sharp with the smell of blood and herbs.

Elijah sat on a cot, his wrists free, his face bruised, his chest bandaged from Nicholas’s claw marks, his dark hair messy.

The moment he saw me, he slid off the cot, dropping to his knees, his head bowed, his voice shaky.

"Alpha Kael," he said, his words trembling, his hands clasped.

"Thank you for saving my life. I’d be dead if you hadn’t called the physician." His gratitude was raw, his eyes on the floor, not knowing it was my healing powers, not the physician, that saved him.

My jaw clenched, my heart racing, anger and pain mixing, Zeus growling, his trust in Elijah long gone.

I nodded, my face hard, my voice cold. "Sit," I said, my eyes narrowing, my hands clenching.

He scrambled back to the cot, his movements slow, his face pale, his eyes avoiding mine.

Brian stood by the door, his arms crossed, his face tense, the physician gone, the room quiet except for Elijah’s uneven breaths.

My wound throbbed, my body weak, but my anger pushed me forward, my need for answers stronger.

"Lets get to why we are here..." I started.

"Who sent you?" I asked, my voice sharp, my eyes burning into his, my fists tight.

"Who told you to start the fire?" My heart pounded, the memory of the flames, the smoke, the pain, vivid, my worry for Aria, my pack, fueling me.

Elijah’s face crumpled, his eyes filling with tears, his body shaking, his sobs loud, painful, raw.

My chest tightened, confusion mixing with anger, Zeus growling, sensing his regret but not trusting it.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, my voice hard, my eyes narrowing, my hands clenching tighter.

"Tell me who sent you." My anger flared, his tears unexpected, his pain real, but I needed the truth, needed to know who wanted me dead, who threatened my pack.

Elijah’s sobs grew, his hands covering his face, his voice breaking. "I can’t," he said, his words choked, his body trembling.

"I want to, Alpha Kael, but I can’t." His tears fell, his shoulders shaking, his pain heavy, filling the room.

My heart raced, my anger mixing with frustration, Zeus urging me to push harder, to get answers.

"Why not?" I asked, my voice louder, my eyes burning, my fists shaking.

"Tell me why." My wound burned, my body weak, but my need for the truth was stronger, my pack’s safety, Aria’s safety, on the line.

Elijah looked up, his eyes red, his face wet, his voice small. "They have my family," he said, his words trembling, his hands clenching the cot.

"My wife, Sonia. My boy, Liam. They’ll kill them if I talk." His voice broke, his tears falling faster, his fear raw, his regret clear.

My heart sank, my breath catching, shock hitting hard. His family? Someone held them, used them to control him, to make him betray me, to set the fire? My chest tightened, my anger shifting, pity and rage mixing, Zeus whining, his instincts torn.

"Who has them?" I asked, my voice low, my eyes locked on his, my heart pounding.

"Who’s doing this?" My hands shook, my mind spinning, needing a name, needing to know who was behind this, who dared to threaten my pack, to use Elijah’s family.

But Elijah shook his head, his sobs loud, his eyes dropping, his fear stopping him from saying more.

I knew fear, knew the pain of losing someone, and Elijah’s tears, his trembling hands, hit me hard.

My side throbbed, but my mind was on his words, his family, and the enemy hiding in the shadows.

I finally softened, "You’ll be fine," I said, my voice low, my eyes locked on his.

"Your family will be safe, I assure you. I just need to know who is behind all of these." My heart raced, my words a promise, but doubt lingered, the weight of his betrayal heavy.

He’d been my Gamma, my friend, then a Fang pack spy, setting the guest house on fire, nearly killing me and my Luna. Could I trust him now?

Elijah’s eyes widened, his voice desperate. "I need to see them first," he said, his hands clenching the cot, his tears falling.

"I can’t talk until I know they’re safe." His fear was real, his pain raw, and my chest ached, memories of my own losses, people I couldn’t save, stirring my pity.

Brian stepped forward, his face hard, his voice sharp. "He can’t be trusted, Alpha," he said, his brown eyes burning, his hands fisted.

"He betrayed us once. He’ll do it again." His words were fierce, his loyalty clear, but my heart leaned toward Elijah’s fear, his family’s danger.

I knew that terror, that helplessness, and it pushed me to act.

"I hear you, Brian," I said, my voice firm, my eyes meeting his.

"But he’s scared for his family. I get that." I turned to Elijah, my jaw tight.

"I’ll make sure they’re safe." My words were steady, my heart racing, Zeus growling softly, his protectiveness urging me to do right, even if it was risky.

We left the room, my boots heavy, Elijah’s sobs fading behind us.

Brian followed, his steps quick, his voice low, arguing. "This is a mistake, Alpha," he said, his hands waving.

"He’s a traitor. You’re risking the pack." His worry was real, but I ignored him, my mind set, my heart heavy with Elijah’s pain, my own memories of loss driving me.

In my study, the candle’s light was weak, the desk cluttered. I sat, my hands clenching, my wound throbbing.

Brian stood by the door, his face tense, still protesting. "Sorry to say this but you’re being reckless, Alpha Kael," he said, his voice sharp.

"Elijah could be lying." I didn’t answer, my eyes hard, calling three Gamma warriors, their armor clinking as they entered, their faces serious.

"Find Elijah’s family," I ordered, my voice firm, my eyes on theirs.

"Sonia and Liam. Bring them to the Shadow Claw pack. Keep them safe." I leaned forward, my hands on the desk.

"If they’re here, no enemy can touch them." The Gammas nodded, their fists on their chests, leaving quick, their steps echoing.

Brian shook his head, his voice low. "This won’t end well, Alpha," he said, his eyes pleading.

I stood, walking closer, my boots loud, my heart heavy, my anger stirring.

"Have you ever lost someone you love?" I asked, my voice sharp, my eyes burning into his.

Brian froze, his eyes dropping, no answer, his silence loud. I scoffed, my chest tight, my pain raw.

"Exactly, Brian." I turned, my back to him, my voice cold. "You may leave."