CHAPTER 72: MISTAKEN DESIRES

Kiel

I was still reeling, my head pounding and thoughts crawling through the thick haze clouding my mind, when the celebrant and his mother began making their way toward me. The boy looked so proud, his eyes bright, his mother by his side, smiling gently—clearly intending to express gratitude or maybe just exchange a few words of appreciation.

They didn’t make it far.

Before they could reach me, Michelle stepped in—sharp and deliberate. She placed herself directly between us like a barricade, blocking their path with unnerving ease. Her hand brushed my arm possessively, her stance daring anyone to challenge her.

The boy’s mother slowed. Her smile faltered, replaced by a look of polite confusion. Her brows furrowed as she took in the atmosphere between us—something she hadn’t expected to wade into at a birthday celebration. I could feel her unease ripple out like a breeze on still water.

"How can I help you... sir?" she asked, her voice careful, her eyes flicking between me and Michelle.

I couldn’t respond. My mouth opened, but no words came. My mind was fogged, everything around me spinning slowly. My lips moved before I could stop them.

"Josie?" I breathed, barely a whisper, but it slipped out into the open air like a prayer.

The woman blinked, startled, but Michelle caught the shift in the moment and lashed out—her tone sharp, her posture aggressive.

"Mind your own business," she snapped, with a venomous edge that startled even me.

The mother stiffened, lips parting in shock, but Michelle stepped further in, asserting dominance like she was marking territory. The warmth that had briefly filled the air turned brittle, tense.

"I was told by Varen to pick him up," Michelle said coolly, her voice steely with practiced control. "It’s urgent. He’s just playing."

Playing?

The word made my stomach twist. I blinked at her, confusion flickering hot in my chest. My head still wasn’t right. Nothing made sense. But I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t pretending.

I glanced at the boy’s mother, who looked to me for confirmation. She clearly didn’t believe Michelle. Neither did I.

But my tongue was heavy, and my limbs heavier.

I wanted to speak—wanted to tell her no, that I was calling for Josie. That I had said Josie’s name for a reason. That I didn’t know what Michelle was doing here, or why she was acting like this. But the words just wouldn’t come out.

Michelle took that moment of hesitation as victory. Her fingers wrapped around my arm and she pulled me gently but firmly, her grip deceptively soft. I didn’t resist—couldn’t resist. My muscles wouldn’t respond. I stumbled along beside her as she guided me out of the room.

Each step felt like I was walking further into a fog. I tried to concentrate, tried to pull Josie’s scent into focus, the memory of her smile, her voice, her warmth—but it all slipped away like sand through my fingers.

Outside, the night air hit me like a wave, cool and sharp. It should’ve helped. It didn’t. Michelle guided me to a car parked nearby. She opened the passenger door and I slid in like a puppet on strings.

The engine rumbled to life. The drive was mostly silent, but in my head, chaos bloomed.

I reached for the mind-link.

I meant to connect with Varen—to tell him something was off, that I needed help. But my link was fuzzy, my focus splintered. I couldn’t control it.

Instead of reaching my brother, I opened the link to the entire pack.

And then, in a voice that wasn’t entirely my own, I said it.

I want sex.

The reaction was immediate—an explosion of noise in the pack mind. Confusion. Laughter. Disgust. Curiosity. It all hit me at once, a cacophony of emotions echoing through my skull.

I tried to shut it down—tried to pull the words back—but it was too late. The damage was done.

Beside me, Michelle giggled softly. She looked over with glittering eyes, her tone syrupy sweet.

"You’re thinking of Josie," she murmured. "I get it. You want her. But I’m your mate, too."

My jaw clenched. That wasn’t right.

She leaned closer as the car slowed in front of a hotel. A modest one—not cheap, but not overly extravagant. Just discreet.

I tried to move. Tried to unbuckle my seatbelt and leave.

"I can’t cheat on my mate," I muttered.

Michelle’s lips curved, but she said nothing. Instead, she stepped out, walked around the car, and opened my door like she was in control of me—like I was hers.

I stood slowly, my legs wobbling.

Everything felt surreal. My vision blurred at the edges as she looped her arm through mine, guiding me through the hotel lobby like we belonged together.

Somewhere in the elevator, I tried again.

"I shouldn’t..." I began, but my tongue was slow. The world tilted.

That’s when it hit me.

There was something in my drink.

The realization struck too late. My body was already giving in, numb and heavy. My mind blurred with each step until finally, Michelle unlocked the door to a room and led me inside.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

**********

I woke up the next morning to silence.

The bed beside me was empty. The sheets tangled. My heart thudded in my chest as I slowly pushed myself upright.

The room was expensive-looking, but impersonal. My head felt like it had been split open by a sledgehammer. Throbbing pain pulsed behind my eyes.

I licked my lips. Bitter.

Alcohol.

A wave of panic surged through me.

What happened last night?

The last thing I remembered was the party. Then Michelle. Then—

Nothing.

I scrambled to my feet, nausea curling in my gut as I searched for my phone.

When I finally found it, it was blowing up. Notifications stacked. Links open. Voices clamoring in my head.

Varen: What the hell, Kiel? Why did you link the pack last night saying you wanted sex?

Thorne: Where are you? What the fuck were you doing with Michelle?

I stared at the messages, numb.

My fingers moved clumsily as I tried to respond: I don’t know. I’m just waking up. My head— I can’t remember anything.

Just come home, Varen sent back.

I shut the mind-link and dropped the phone.

The ache in my chest spread as I got dressed and rushed out of the room, my stomach twisting tighter with every passing second.

Back at the pack house, Thorne was already waiting by the front entrance. He didn’t say a word at first—just stood there with his arms folded, jaw locked tight.

Then Varen joined him, and the two of them looked like statues—carved from stone, unflinching and cold.

I knew I was in trouble. But I had no answers to give.

"Explain," Thorne said at last. His voice was flat, but I could feel the disappointment crackling underneath.

I swallowed hard, stepping forward.

"I don’t know what happened," I said. "I swear to you—I don’t remember anything after the party. I just woke up and—"

"You linked the whole pack," Varen said, his voice calm, but laced with fury. "Not just us. The entire pack heard you say that."

"I didn’t mean to," I whispered.

Then William appeared with the two other Betas, each of them holding a device.

"There’s more," William said, voice carefully measured.

He turned the tablet in his hands, and I felt the bottom of my stomach drop.

"There are pictures, Kiel. They’re already up. Pack site. Everyone’s seen them."

My eyes widened.

"What pictures?"

William tapped the screen.

And then I saw it.

My world tilted.

There I was, arms around Michelle, her face buried in my neck, her lips close to mine. We were pressed together in the hotel lobby—caught in perfect clarity.

It was real.

My head spun.

My stomach turned.

I couldn’t breathe.

Horror washed over me like a storm, drowning out every sound.