Chapter 58 The Alpha’s Jealousy
KAEL POV
I knew the moment she left. The bond pulled tight, stretched thin as Lira moved farther from packhouse territory. Dawn hadn't even broken yet, and she was already gone.
"Fuck." I threw off the sheets, pulling on clothes with violent efficiency.
Fenris paced inside my mind, furious and territorial. She's with him. The rogue. We can smell him on her.
"I know." I headed for the door, then stopped.
Through the bond, I felt her determination, focus. Whatever she was doing, she'd planned it.
And I'd driven her to it.
"Alpha?" Thomas appeared in the hallway, already dressed. "I thought you should know"
"She's gone." I moved past him toward the eastern border. "With that rogue claiming to be her uncle."
"Dmitri Blackwood." Thomas fell into step beside me. "His story checks out, the elders confirmed he's Silvermoon bloodline."
"I don't care if he's the Moon Goddess herself." I picked up speed. "He's alone with my mate."
"Your mate you didn't believe yesterday." Thomas's words stopped me cold.
I turned slowly. "Careful, brother."
"Someone has to say it." He crossed his arms, meeting my glare without flinching. "You chose Mira's word over Lira's. In front of the entire pack."
"I chose to be objective." But the words felt hollow. "To investigate before making judgments."
"You chose wrong." Thomas pulled out a silver knife. "I found this in the cavern, hidden exactly where Lira said it would be. Covered in her blood."
I stared at the blade, something cold settling in my gut. "Where did you"
"After everyone left." His expression hardened. "I went back. Searched properly. And found proof that your mate was telling the truth."
"Why didn't you show me this yesterday?" I grabbed the knife, examining it.
"Because you were too busy playing healer to Mira." Disgust leaked into his voice. "Too busy doubting the woman the Moon Goddess chose for you."
"Enough." My alpha command rolled through the words. "You don't understand"
"Don't I?" Thomas stepped closer, refusing to submit. "I understand that you're so terrified of being vulnerable again that you're sabotaging the best thing that's ever happened to you."
"Watch yourself." Fenris pushed at my control. "You're crossing a line."
"Good." Thomas's jaw set. "Because someone needs to. Lira almost died yesterday. Twice. Once from Mira's attack, and again from your rejection."
The bond pulsed with remembered pain. Lira's shock when I'd helped Mira first. Her devastation when I'd doubted her story.
We hurt our mate, Fenris whispered, his rage turning inward. Chose another female over her.
"I was trying to be fair." But even I didn't believe it anymore.
"You were trying to avoid feeling anything." Thomas's voice gentled slightly. "Because feelings make you weak. Or that's what exile taught you."
"Exile taught me survival." I turned the knife over, seeing Lira's dried blood on the blade. "Taught me that trust gets you killed."
"And love?" Thomas challenged. "What did exile teach you about that?"
I said nothing. Couldn't.
"She's training with Dmitri right now." Thomas pointed east. "Learning to fight, learning her heritage. Becoming the Luna she was always meant to be." He paused. "With or without you."
The words hit me like a punch. "She wouldn't"
"She already is." He pulled out a second item—a worn leather journal. "Dmitri gave her their mother's combat techniques. Moonblood magic. Everything she needs to reclaim Silvermoon."
"Silvermoon?" My blood ran cold. "That's suicide, Elias controls that territory."
Thomas watched me carefully, the silver knife still in my hand catching the torchlight.
"Elias stole that territory," he said quietly. "From Lira’s family. And now she’s finally learning the truth."
"What truth?" My voice came out rough.
Thomas met my eyes. "That our father Magnus was one of the five alphas who coordinated the attack."
"She already knows," I said.
Thomas’s brows lifted slightly. "And she’s still here? Still wearing your mark?"
"She’s still here," I repeated, gripping the knife tighter. "But every time she looks at me she remembers whose blood runs in my veins. She’s not dumb, Thomas. She never was."
He exhaled slowly. "Then you know what that means."
"Yeah." I stared at the blade, at the dried smear of Lira’s blood on the silver. "It means every breath I take beside her is borrowed time. Every time I fail to put her first, she remembers exactly why she should walk away."
Thomas rested a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Then stop failing, brother. Before the debt comes due."
He left me standing there, the knife heavier than any chain I’d ever worn.
Through the bond, I felt Lira's focus sharpen. And felt the distance between us widen with every passing second.
We're losing her, Fenris whimpered. Our mate is slipping away.
"I know." I headed for my office, needing to think. But Mira was waiting there.
"Kael." She rose from my chair, wearing one of my shirts. "I was hoping we could talk."
Every instinct screamed wrong. The way she'd positioned herself in my space. The calculated vulnerability in her eyes.
"This isn't a good time." I moved to the window, putting distance between us.
"It's about yesterday." She approached slowly. "About what happened in the cavern."
"The investigation is ongoing." I kept my voice neutral. "Until we have all the facts"
"I lied." The words came out soft. "About some of it."
I turned slowly. "What?"
"I did follow Lira down there." Mira's eyes filled with tears. "But not because I was worried. Because I was angry, Jealous."
"Mira"
"Let me finish." She moved closer. "I've loved you for so long, Kael, Supported you through everything, betrayed Brutus the man who treated me like a daughter just so I could gain your trust, but you still choose her."
"That's not true." But I didn't move toward her.
"Isn't it?" She touched my arm. "You barely look at me anymore, barely acknowledge what we had."
"We had a arrangement." I pulled away from her touch. "Physical comfort during a difficult time. Nothing more."
"It was more to me." Her voice broke. "It still is."
"I'm bonded." I met her eyes firmly. "To Lira, that can't be undone."
"Can't it?" Something flickered in her expression. "There are ways. Ancient rituals. If the bond was forced, unwanted"
"Stop." Alpha command leaked into the word. "Whatever you're suggesting, the answer is no."
"Even though she's with another male right now?" Mira's tone turned sharp. "Training with him, learning from him. Probably fucking him."
Rage exploded through me. Fenris surged forward, demanding I shift and hunt.
"Careful." My voice dropped to something inhuman. "You're talking about my mate."
"Your mate who doesn't trust you." Mira pressed. "Who runs to strange rogues instead of her alpha. Who's probably planning to leave you the first chance she gets."
"Get out." I turned away before I did something I'd regret. "Now."
"Kael"