Chapter 74: Blood and Truth (1)

Kaelen's POV

The door closed behind Seraphine. The sound echoed in the sudden silence.

My wolf roared inside my chest. Frustrated. Angry. She'd walked away from me. Dismissed me like I was nothing.

The bond pulsed violently. I felt her moving away from the house—her emotions a tangled mess of anger, hurt, and something defensive.

She's pushing me away. Again.

Cordelia stood up, her eyes fixed on the door. Worry creased her face. "I should—"

Evander caught her hand. "I'll go with you."

They moved quickly, following Seraphine's path. The front door opened and closed again.

The kitchen fell into suffocating quiet. Only three of us remained—me, Lucian, and Vespera.

The oven hummed. The smell of baking bread slowly filled the space. Sweet. Warm. So at odds with the tension crackling in the air.

I stood frozen near the doorway. My fists clenched at my sides.

Through the bond, I tracked Seraphine's emotions. They hit me in waves—anger, resentment, hurt. And underneath it all, a cold determination that made my wolf restless.

She's building walls. Shutting me out.

But fuck, part of me understood. That comment she'd made to Vespera—sharp and territorial. My wolf had responded with primal satisfaction.

She was staking her claim. Fighting back.

Vespera's heels clicked against the tile floor. She moved closer, her face tight with barely controlled rage.

"Kaelen, that bitch—"

I raised my hand. A single gesture. Cold. Final.

"Shut up."

Vespera froze mid-step. Her mouth opened, then closed. Her eyes flashed with something venomous—hurt and fury mixed together.

Lucian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Watching. His expression carefully neutral, but I caught the faint amusement in his eyes.

The silence stretched. Heavy. Uncomfortable.

Vespera's hands curled into fists. Her knuckles went white. "I was just—"

"I said shut up." I didn't even look at her.

The oven's timer ticked quietly. The bread's aroma grew stronger—golden and inviting.

I walked toward the oven, needing something to focus on besides the chaos in my head. Through the glass door, I could see the dough rising, expanding. The surface turning that perfect shade of gold.

She made this. With her own hands.

Something twisted in my chest. An unfamiliar ache.

Behind me, Vespera hadn't moved. I could feel her stare boring into my back. Her breathing came fast, shallow. Angry.

When I glanced back, her face had twisted into something ugly. Her eyes fixed on the oven.

Before the oven timer went off, heavy footsteps thundered outside. Fast. Urgent.

The front door slammed open. Orion burst into the house, his breath coming in gasps.

"Alpha!" He skidded to a stop in the kitchen doorway. "Border attack!"

The air crystallized. Everything stopped.

My twin pupils flared gold instantly. Power surged through me, hot and violent.

"How many?" My voice dropped to ice.

Orion swallowed hard. "About ten. Same group as before!"

Fucking hell. Again.

I was already moving. My body shifted before my mind caught up. Every nerve firing with battle instinct.

One gesture toward Lucian. He pushed off the wall immediately, falling into step behind me.

Vespera lunged forward. "Ka—"

"Stay." I didn't break stride. Didn't even look at her.

My tone left no room for argument. Cold. Dismissive. Like she was just another pack member I barely noticed.

Through my peripheral vision, I saw her face go pale. Shock and humiliation warred in her expression.

I didn't care. Had no time for her bullshit.

Lucian and I exploded out of the house. Orion struggled to keep up as we sprinted toward the forest.

My body shifted mid-run. Bones cracking, reshaping. Fur erupting across my skin.

The world sharpened through wolf eyes. Scents became vivid. Sounds crystal clear.

Lucian's gray wolf form appeared beside me. Orion's slightly smaller frame followed behind.

We tore through the forest. Trees blurred past. The sun cast warm light through the branches.

The scent hit me first—blood. Thick and metallic. And underneath, the stench of unfamiliar wolves.

My wolf snarled. Territory violated. Pack members hurt.

They're going to fucking pay.

The smell intensified as we got closer. Fresh blood. Recent kills.

We burst through the tree line into chaos.

Three Shadowmere guards lay injured on the ground. Two more sprawled in pools of blood—dead, their throats torn out.

Ten figures in dark tactical gear fought with the remaining guards. Their movements were coordinated, professional.

But they'd made one fatal mistake. They'd entered my territory.

I launched myself from the shadows. My massive white wolf form slammed into the nearest intruder before he could react.

My jaws closed around his throat. Ripped. Tore.

Blood sprayed hot across my muzzle. His scream cut off into a wet gurgle.

I released him and he dropped, convulsing. Dead before he hit the ground.

A howl ripped from my throat—fury and possession combined. The sound echoed through the forest.

This is my land. My pack. Mine.

Lucian hit another intruder from the side. Teeth sinking into flesh. Bone crunching under his jaws.

The battle descended into savage chaos.

I moved through them like death itself. Claws shredded through tactical vests. Teeth found throats, spines, arteries.

One tried to run. I caught him mid-stride, my weight crushing him into the dirt. His ribs snapped like twigs.

Another swung a blade at me. I dodged, grabbed his arm in my jaws. Bit down. The bone shattered with a satisfying crack.

His screams were music.

Blood soaked the ground. The metallic scent filled my lungs, fed my rage.

Nine bodies littered the clearing when we finished. The last intruder tried to flee into the trees.

Lucian caught him. Slammed him down. Held him with teeth at his throat.

I shifted back to human form. My body coated in blood—theirs, not mine. My gray-white hair matted dark red.

My twin pupils still burned gold. The wolf close to the surface, demanding more death.

The survivor knelt before us, shaking violently. Brown hair plastered to his skull with sweat. Fresh cuts across his face. Eyes wide with terror.

Smart. He should be terrified.

"Who sent you?" My voice came out low. Dangerous.

He trembled harder. "We... we were tracking a fugitive..."