Chapter 60 Choosing options
Kael pov
The words gutted me. "That's not"
"Yes it is." She turned away, shoulders shaking. "And I'm tired of pretending otherwise."
"Then what do you want?" Desperation bled through. "Tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you."
"I want you to choose me." She looked back, eyes bright with unshed tears. "Not because the bond demands it. Not because your wolf won't let you walk away, but because you actually want me. All of me. Broken parts and all."
"I do want you." I moved closer, slowly. "More than I've ever wanted anything."
"Then prove it." She held her ground. "Stop pushing me away every time we get close. Stop comparing me to Mira, stop making me feel like loving you is my biggest mistake."
"Loving me probably is a mistake." I touched her face gently. "I'm not good for you, Lira. I'm damaged and cruel and"
"Human." She leaned into my touch. "You're human. Flawed and scared and trying to survive just like me.”
"I don't deserve you." I say.
"Maybe not." She covered my hand with hers. "But I'm here anyway. The question is, are you going to let me in? Or keep pushing until I stop coming back?"
I wanted to promise I'd change. Swear I'd be better. But words were cheap. So instead, I pulled her close and kissed her again. Softer this time. With all the tenderness I'd been hiding behind rage and control.
When we broke apart, she was trembling.
"I need time." Her voice was small. "To figure out who I am beyond your mate. Beyond the prophecy. Just... me."
"How much time?" I asked as fear clawed at my chest.
"I don't know." She pulled away, moving back toward Dmitri. "But training with my uncle? Learning my heritage? That's not negotiable."
"Then I'm staying." I crossed my arms. "Watching every session."
"Kael"
"Non-negotiable." I met her eyes steadily. "You want independence? Fine. But I'm still your alpha. Still your mate. And I'm not letting you out of my sight while there's a rogue claiming to be family."
"He is family." She gestured to Dmitri. "Look at him, look at me. We have the same eyes, same bone structure."
"DNA can be faked." But I was grasping at straws.
"Your paranoia can't." She turned to Dmitri. "We're done for today. Thank you for the lesson."
"Same time tomorrow?" He asked carefully, watching me.
"Yes." She headed for the tree line. "And bring the advanced forms. I'm ready."
"Lira." I followed her. "We need to talk about this."
"No." She kept walking. "We need space. You need to figure out what you actually want. And I need to become strong enough that your answer doesn't destroy me."
"It won't"
"It might." She stopped, looking back. "And that's what terrifies me most. That loving you will break me worse than twenty years in a cellar ever could."
She left me standing there, the truth of her words echoing in the silence.
Dmitri approached slowly. "She's stronger than you think."
"I know exactly how strong she is." I turned on him, letting Fenris show in my eyes. "Which is why I'm warning you now. Touch her again, and I'll rip your throat out. Uncle or not."
"Noted." He didn't back down. "But alpha? You might want to direct that aggression toward the real threats. Elias Thornfield knows she's training. He'll move against her soon."
"How do you know"
"Because I have spies too." He smiled grimly. "And they're reporting unusual rogue activity near the Silvermoon borders. Elias is gathering forces."
"For what?"
"To kill your mate before she can reclaim her birthright." Dmitri turned to leave. "So maybe spend less time threatening me and more time protecting her. Because the coalition that destroyed my pack? They're coming for yours next."
He disappeared into the forest, leaving me alone with my failures and fears.
Through the bond, I felt Lira's exhaustion. Her pain. Her determination to keep going despite it all.
We're losing her, Fenris whispered again.
"No." I headed back to the packhouse, a plan forming. "We're going to fight for her. Properly this time."
"And Mira?" Thomas appeared from the shadows. Of course he'd been watching too.
"Is getting exactly one chance to tell the truth." I met his eyes. "About everything or she's exiled at dawn."
"About time." He fell into step beside me. "What changed?"
"Lira asked me to choose her." I touched the bond gently. "So I'm choosing. No more divided loyalties, no more doubts."
"She won't make it easy." Thomas warned. "She's hurt. Angry. She might not forgive"
"Then I'll earn her forgiveness." I squared my shoulders. "However long it takes."
He was right. I knew he was right.
But as I headed back to confront Mira, to face the possibility that Lira might leave me anyway.
I'd never been more terrified in my life.
Not even during exile.
Because losing her would be worse than any physical torture.
And I'd already done so much to push her away.
We'll get her back, Fenris promised. We have to.
"We will." I made the vow to myself, to him, to the Moon Goddess. "Whatever it takes. However long it takes. I'll prove I choose her, every time. Forever."