Chapter 89: Ashes and Accusations

Kaelen's POV

Then Vespera's voice cut through like a blade.

"If we hand Seraphine over to Damien, will Shadowmere stop bleeding?" She raised her voice higher, making sure every wolf heard. "Is that what it takes? One outsider for our safety?"

My jaw clenched. The platform creaked as I turned toward her.

"Yeah!" A young warrior near Vespera stepped forward. Cael, barely twenty. "Why should we die for someone who isn't even one of us?"

"She brought this on us." Maris, an older woman whose son had been on patrol yesterday. Her voice shook with anger. "My boy could've been killed because of her."

The murmurs grew louder. More voices joining in. The crowd shifted, some nodding, others looking uncertain.

Through the bond, I felt Seraphine's emotions crash into me. Shame. Despair. That crushing guilt making her want to disappear. Her mental walls crumbling, letting everything bleed through.

Bringing her here was a mistake.

I knew it the moment we arrived. But tradition demanded it. Honor the dead. Show respect. Unite the pack.

Instead, I'd thrown her to the wolves.

My eyes flashed gold. Both of them. The Alpha power flooded out, pressing down on every wolf in that square. Heads bowed. Knees bent. Even Vespera took a step back, her face paling.

"She is my mate." My voice dropped low. Deadly calm. "The bond is complete. We are connected."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Sharp intakes of breath. Whispers exploding into shocked exclamations.

"The bond—"

"Already completed?"

"But she's—"

"An outsider—"

Vespera's face drained of color. Her mouth opened, closed. No words came out. For once, she had nothing to say.

I let the revelation sink in. Let them understand what it meant. "You want to hand her over to Damien? Then you hand my life to our enemy too."

Silence crashed down. Complete and absolute.

"Anyone who questions that is questioning my authority as Alpha." I let my gaze sweep across the crowd, landing on each dissenting face. "Is questioning the sacred bond itself." My voice grew harder. "Is that what you're doing, Vespera?"

She looked like she'd been slapped. Her face twisted between shock and fury, but she couldn't speak. Couldn't challenge a completed mate bond. Not without challenging everything wolves held sacred.

"No, Alpha," she finally choked out.

"Good." I held the silence for another beat. Let the weight sink in. "Then we're done here."

But I saw it. The lingering doubt in some eyes. The way certain wolves looked at Seraphine—not with hatred now, but with something more complicated. Fear. Resentment. Disbelief that their Alpha had bonded with an outsider who brought death to their doorstep.

The opposition had been silenced. Not eliminated.

I stepped down from the platform, picked up the first torch. The oil-soaked wood felt heavy in my hand. Eight pyres waited, arranged in a circle around the square.

The Elder handed me a burning brand. I touched it to my torch. Flames erupted, bright and hungry.

One by one, I lit them. Seven tall flames for the guards. One smaller for Ember.

The fire caught quickly. Smoke rose into the darkening sky, carrying ash and the smell of burning wood.

Seraphine dropped to her knees beside Ember's pyre. Just collapsed. Staring at the flames with that same empty expression.

That same fucking expression.

My chest tightened. The memory hit me without warning.

Eight years ago. Different funeral. Different flames.

Isolde kneeling exactly like that. Silent. Broken. While the pack whispered behind her back. Accused her of passing vital information to enemy packs. Called her a traitor. A spy.

I'd stood there, torn between duty and instinct. Between what the pack demanded and what my heart screamed.

In the end, I chose duty. Exiled her to protect the pack's stability. To stop the division.

Found her body a month later. Frozen on the border. Eyes still open, staring at nothing.

The healer said hypothermia. But I knew better. She'd given up. Let the cold take her because she had nothing left to fight for.

I killed her. Not with my hands, but with my choice.

My hands trembled as I reached down to help Seraphine stand. The fire reflected in her eyes—just like Isolde's had. That same defeated, distant look.

History will not repeat itself.

I pulled her up gently. Her body moved but her mind was somewhere else. Gone.

"Come on," I whispered.

She didn't respond. Didn't even seem to hear me.

Around us, the crowd began to disperse. Some wolves nodded respectfully as they passed—acknowledging the mate bond, even if they didn't like it. Most just avoided eye contact. Creating a wide circle around Seraphine like she carried disease.

This couldn't continue. Every public appearance made it worse. More wolves questioning her presence. More voices calling for her removal. The bond revelation had bought time, but not acceptance.

She'd have to stay away from pack gatherings. From public events. Hidden, at least until I found a way to fix this mess.

The thought made my stomach turn. Isolde all over again. Isolated. Alone.

But what choice did I have?

Vespera walked by, deliberately bumping Seraphine's shoulder. Hard. Seraphine stumbled sideways, nearly falling.

"Oops." Vespera's voice dripped with false sweetness, though her face was still pale with shock. "Didn't see you there."

Cordelia moved instantly, stepping between them. "Watch where you're going, Vespera."

"I am watching." Vespera's eyes stayed on Seraphine. Cold. Calculating. "Watching how outsiders get our people killed. Bond or no bond."

"Walk away." Cordelia's voice dropped into a dangerous register. "Now."

Vespera smirked, turned, and continued on. But others had stopped to watch. Witnessed the whole thing. Some looked uncomfortable now—challenging a bonded mate was serious business. But others still nodded approvingly at Vespera's words.

Seraphine hadn't reacted. Didn't even look up. Just stood there, shoulders hunched, taking it. Accepting it like she deserved every bit of hatred thrown her way.

Cordelia's hands clenched into fists. Her jaw tight with barely controlled anger. "This is getting out of hand."

"I know." I kept my voice low.

"They're treating her like—" Cordelia stopped herself. Took a breath. "Like she's the enemy. Not Damien's wolves. Her. Even after you announced the bond."

I didn't have an answer. Because she was right.

Movement caught my eye. Orion approaching, his face grim. He glanced at Seraphine, then at me, then at Cordelia. A subtle jerk of his head toward the path leading back to the packhouse.

Message received.

I touched Cordelia's arm. "Take her back. Now."

Cordelia understood immediately. She moved to Seraphine's other side, gently taking her elbow. "Come on. Let's go."

Seraphine didn't resist. Didn't acknowledge the words. Just let Cordelia guide her away from the flames, away from the crowd, away from the accusations.

I watched them go. Seraphine's head still down. Her steps mechanical. Empty.

This is my fault. I put her in this position.

Orion waited until they'd disappeared down the path before moving closer. His expression darker now. Worried.

He leaned in, voice barely audible. His words came fast and low, meant only for my ears.

I listened. Felt my jaw tighten with each sentence. My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Fuck.

"I know," I said quietly. "I'll be there."