CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61

Aria’s POV.

I woke up in the small cabin room, my body aching with a mix of pain and pleasure, my skin warm under the soft blanket.

The Eastern Island’s morning light slipped through the wooden shutters, the air salty, the waves crashing softly outside.

Kael lay beside me, his dark hair messy, his chest rising and falling, his face peaceful in sleep.

My heart fluttered, a soft giggle escaping my lips, my cheeks flushing as memories of last night flooded my mind, his lips kissing my neck, his hands gripping my hips, his slow thrusts, his growls, the way he’d sucked my skin, leaving marks that tingled now.

My wolf, Kyra, purred, her joy warm, her love for Kael strong. I replayed it, my heart racing, my body alive with the memory of his touch, his deep voice, "You" still echoing, his shift from cold anger to hunger confusing but thrilling.

I felt his gaze, my heart jumping, and I squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to sleep, my breath uneven.

"Stop acting," he said, his voice cold, deep, sending a shiver down my spine, my body tensing.

My heart sank, his tone sharp, not the warmth I’d hoped for after last night. I opened my eyes, blinking slowly, acting like I was just waking, my hands pulling the blanket tighter, my naked skin prickling under his stare.

"Morning," I mumbled, my voice soft, my eyes meeting his, searching for softness. His lips twitched, not a full smile, his onyx eyes heavy, shadowed with something dark.

My chest tightened, worry creeping in, Kyra whining, sensing his pain. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaky, my hand reaching for his, my heart racing, fearing his silence, his coldness from yesterday.

He paused, his eyes dropping, a heavy sigh escaping, his shoulders slumping. He sat up, the bed creaking, his ash-gray shirt loose, his face tight with a painful smile that broke my heart.

"No," he said, his voice low, his head shaking, his hands clenching the blanket.

My heart sank, my worry growing, my body scooting closer, the sheet slipping, my nakedness forgotten.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, my voice soft, my eyes pleading, my hand on his arm, his skin warm but tense.

He looked at me, his eyes raw, his pain clear, and my chest ached, wanting to fix it, to take his hurt away.

"I failed Elijah," he said, his voice rough, his eyes dropping, his hands fisting.

"I promised to save him, to protect his family, but he’s dead. It’s my fault." His words were heavy, his guilt raw, and my heart broke, tears burning, my throat tight.

I saw Elijah’s face in my mind, his betrayal, his death a secret Kael had kept, now tearing him apart.

"It’s not your fault," I said, my voice firm, my hand squeezing his, my eyes burning into his.

"You tried to save him. You brought Sonia and Liam here. You did what you could." My heart raced, my words desperate, wanting him to believe, to forgive himself.

Kyra whined, her love for him urging me to comfort, to hold him.

He stood, the floor creaking, walking to the window, his back tense, his hands gripping the sill.

I followed, my heart pounding, wrapping the bedsheet around me, my naked skin cold, my steps soft.

He looked down, his eyes on Sonia and Liam outside, Sonia sitting on a bench, her face sad, Liam playing with a stick, his curls bouncing, his laughter faint but sharp against his mother’s pain.

My chest tightened, my sadness growing, their grief hitting me hard.

"They’re hurting," Kael said, his voice low, his eyes fixed on them, his hands clenching.

"I took them in, Aria. They’re staying with the pack now. Sonia’s going through hell, losing Elijah like that." His words were heavy, his guilt clear, and my heart ached, my tears close, imagining Sonia’s pain, Liam’s confusion, a boy without his father.

"I need you to be her friend," he said, his eyes meeting mine, his voice soft but firm. "She needs someone. Can you do that?"

I nodded, my throat tight, my eyes burning. "I will," I said, my voice steady, my heart set.

"I’ll be there for her, for Liam." My words were a promise, my sadness for them mixing with my love for Kael, his care for his pack grounding me, easing my worry about his coldness.

He turned, his eyes softening, a real smile breaking through, small but warm. My heart lifted, my breath catching, relief washing over me.

He stepped closer, his arms wrapping around me, his embrace tight, his warmth chasing away my fear. His lips pressed to my forehead, soft and gentle, his breath warm, his love clear.

My heart raced, my tears falling, my arms hugging him back, the bedsheet slipping, my naked skin against his shirt, Kyra purring, her joy loud.

Just then, a cold shiver ran down my spine as I remembered why I’d been so scared of him before. Alpha Kael’s touch, his closeness, it was all too much, too fast.

My heart thudded, and doubt crept in like a shadow. I couldn’t just melt into him like nothing had happened.

Slowly, I pulled myself out of his strong grip, my hands trembling slightly as I put some space between us.

His eyes stayed locked on me, intense and searching, like he was trying to read my thoughts. The air felt heavy, charged with unspoken questions.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and warm, but his brows furrowed with concern.

His dark eyes softened, and for a moment, he looked almost worried, like he cared more than I expected.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "Yes... yes, I’m fine," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, those deep, stormy eyes that made my stomach flip. The words I’d been holding back spilled out before I could stop them.

"I just... I wondered why you hated me yesterday morning. You were so cold, so distant, and now... now you’re all over me. What’s going on?" My cheeks burned as soon as I said it. I felt like an idiot for questioning him.

He was the Alpha, after all. His reasons were his own, not mine to poke at. I dropped my gaze, embarrassed.

"Sorry I asked," I mumbled, bowing my head slightly. I turned to leave, desperate to escape the weight of his stare and the confusion swirling in my chest.

But before I could take a single step, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm. In one swift, gentle pull, he drew me back to him.

Our bodies collided softly, my chest pressing against his, and I let out a quiet gasp. My eyes flicked up to meet his again, and my breath caught.

His gaze was magnetic, pulling me in, filled with a mix of seduction and something deeper, something raw and real that made my heart race even faster.

His eyes locked onto mine, burning with intensity, like he could see straight into my soul. I felt exposed, but not in a bad way.

It was like he was letting me see him too.

"The last thing I’d ever do is be mad at you," he said, his voice deep and rough, like a growl that sent tingles across my skin.

"You’re my Luna, Aria. I could never hate you." His words were firm, almost possessive, but there was a warmth in them that made my chest ache in a good way.

He stepped closer, closing the tiny gap between us, his hand still gently holding my arm.

I could feel the heat of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"I wasn’t angry with you yesterday," he continued, his tone softer now, but still carrying that commanding edge.

"I was furious at my foster sister for what she did. She bullied you, forced you to stay back when you didn’t want to. That’s what got under my skin." His jaw tightened, and I saw a flash of protectiveness in his eyes, like he was ready to storm out and deal with her right then and there.

"Trust me, Luna, I’ll make sure she regrets it. No one treats you like that. Not while I’m here."

His words hit me hard, like a wave washing away my doubts. He wasn’t mad at me. He was defending me.

The thought made my heart swell, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. His hand slid from my arm to my waist, steady and warm, grounding me.

I looked up at him, my eyes searching his face for any hint of a lie, but all I saw was sincerity. His left brow was still raised slightly, like he was waiting for me to believe him, to trust him.

And moon goddess, I wanted to. Kyra, my inner wolf, stirred inside me, whining softly, urging me to lean into him, to let go of the fear still clinging to my heart.

I didn’t know what to say. My lips parted, but no words came out.

Instead, I just stood there, caught in his gaze, feeling the warmth of his hand on my waist and the steady beat of my heart echoing his words.

Maybe, just maybe, I could let myself believe that this Alpha, this man, meant every word he said.