Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

Kael's POV

I slammed the door to my chambers so hard the walls shook. My chest heaved with each breath as I paced the floor like a caged animal. The image of Raven's hurt face burned in my mind. Her violet eyes, wide with betrayal. That stubborn chin, lifted in defiance.

"Damn it all!" I growled, grabbing the nearest object—a crystal tumbler—and hurling it against the wall.

The crash and tinkle of shattering glass did nothing to calm the storm inside me. I dragged my hands through my hair, tugging at the roots until it hurt.

She wanted the truth? She had no idea what she was asking for.

I dropped heavily into the chair by the fireplace, watching the flames dance. Sleep was impossible now. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her walking away.

"Your Highness?" Paul's voice came through the door, hesitant.

"What is it?" I barked.

"I heard... noises. Is everything alright?"

I laughed bitterly. "Do I sound alright to you?"

A pause. "May I come in, Alpha?"

I grunted my approval, and Paul slipped inside, his eyes widening at the shattered glass.

"Your Luna—"

"Is furious with me," I finished for him. "As she should be."

Paul approached cautiously. "Perhaps if you told her—"

"And have her look at me with disgust? With fear?" I shook my head. "No."

"She's stronger than you think."

I looked up sharply. "You don't know what happened to Aeliana. What I did—"

"What you were forced to do," Paul corrected gently. "And your Luna deserves to know. Especially with Darian closing in."

I stared into the flames. "Leave me."

Paul bowed and retreated, closing the door softly behind him.

The night crawled by, each minute stretching endlessly. By dawn, my eyes burned and my mind had reached one simple truth: I couldn't keep pushing her away. Not if I wanted this bond to work.

Not if I wanted to keep her safe.

"Alpha, our scouts report movement near the northern borders. Darian's men."

The council room fell silent at the captain's words. I straightened in my chair, suddenly alert despite my sleepless night.

"How many?"

"A small group. Ten, maybe fifteen. But they're moving in purpose.”

I exchanged glances with Paul. "They're scouting. Preparing."

"Or creating a distraction," Paul added quietly.

"Double the patrols," I ordered. "And send our best trackers. I want to know where they came from and where they're going."

"Yes, Alpha."

As the council meeting continued, my mind kept drifting to Raven. Was she still in her chambers? Had she eaten? The thought of her going hungry because of our fight twisted something in my chest.

"Your Highness?"

I blinked, realizing everyone was staring at me. "What?"

"The trade agreement with the River Pack," one of the council members repeated, annoyance clear in his tone. "We need your approval."

"Fine. Approved." I waved my hand dismissively.

The old man's face reddened. "But you haven't even—"

"I said it's approved," I growled, letting my eyes flash gold. "Unless you'd like to question your Alpha again?"

He cowered, head bowing. "No, Your Highness."

The meeting dragged on, each minute feeling like torture. Just as I was about to end it, the doors burst open.

A soldier stumbled in, blood staining his uniform. "Alpha," he gasped, dropping to one knee.

I was on my feet instantly. "Report."

"The retaliation squad... we were ambushed. Only six of us made it back."

Ice flooded my veins. "Ambushed? How did they know you were coming?"

The soldier's eyes were haunted. "It was as if they were waiting for us. They knew our formation, our signals."

The room erupted in whispers. I slammed my fist on the table, silencing them.

"Someone has betrayed us." My voice was deadly calm. "And when I find them, they will beg for death."

The council members exchanged nervous glances. Good. Let them wonder. Let them fear.

"Meeting adjourned," I announced, striding toward the door. "Paul, with me."

Once in the hallway, I lowered my voice. "Find out who knew about the mission. Everyone. And get me a list of everyone who's had contact with outsiders in the past month."

Paul nodded. "And the Luna?"

I paused. "What about her?"

"Will you tell her about the threat?"

I hesitated, torn between protecting her from fear and preparing her for danger. "Not everything. Not yet."

It took me three attempts to knock on her door. Each time, my fist hovered inches from the wood, then fell back to my side. Ridiculous. I was the Alpha of the most feared pack in the region, and here I was, afraid to face a slip of a woman.

Finally, I rapped my knuckles against the door. "Raven?"

Silence.

"Raven, I know you're in there. I can hear you breathing."

More silence, then her voice, clipped and cold: "What do you want, Kael?"

I leaned my forehead against the door. "To talk. Please."

"Now you want to talk? After you shut me out last night?"

I swallowed my pride. "I was wrong."

A pause, then the sound of footsteps. The door cracked open, revealing her face, eyes rimmed with red.

"Say that again," she demanded.

"I was wrong," I repeated, holding her gaze. "And I want to make it right."

She studied me for a long moment, then opened the door wider. "Fine. Talk."

I'd prepared a whole speech, but standing before her, the words evaporated from my mind.

"Would you... like to see the training grounds?" I asked instead.

Her eyebrows shot up. "The training grounds?"

"Yes." I cleared my throat. "You want to be a proper Luna. That means learning to defend yourself."

Suspicion flashed across her face. "And you're going to teach me?"

"Unless you'd prefer Paul. Though I warn you, he's not as patient as I am."

A short laugh escaped her. "You? Patient?"

"Relatively speaking."

She bit her lip, considering. "No more secrets?"

"I can't promise that," I said honestly. "But I'm trying. This is me trying."

She sighed. "Fine. Let me change."

Twenty minutes later, we walked side by side through the courtyard. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth. Raven kept pace beside me, her chin lifted, ignoring the stares of passing soldiers and servants.

"They're looking at me like I'm a ghost," she muttered.

"They're curious," I replied. "It's been a long time since the Obsidian Spire had a Luna."

"Because of Aeliana?"

I tensed. "Yes."

"Will you tell me about her?"

I hesitated, then offered a small piece of truth. "She was kind. Gentle. Nothing like me."

"And nothing like me, either," Raven observed.

"No," I agreed. "You're... fiercer."

We reached the training grounds, a wide clearing surrounded by wooden structures and weapon racks. A few of my elite guards were sparring, their movements fluid and deadly. They paused when they spotted us, bowing deeply.

"Alpha," they greeted in unison, then, with a hint of uncertainty, "Luna."

I felt Raven straighten beside me. "Continue," she commanded, her voice steady.

They glanced at me, and I nodded. They resumed their training, though I noticed their movements were more measured now, as if trying to impress.

"They don't think I belong here," Raven said quietly.

"Then prove them wrong," I challenged, leading her to a rack of training daggers. "Show them you're worthy of being Luna."

She picked up a blade, testing its weight. "And if they never accept me?"

"They will," I stated, more confidently than I felt. "They must."

For the next hour, I showed her basic defensive stances, how to hold a dagger, where to strike an attacker. She was a quick learner, her movements becoming more fluid with each attempt.

"Not bad," I admitted, after she successfully blocked one of my slower attacks. "For a beginner."

She smirked. "Next time, don't hold back so much."

"If I didn't hold back, you'd be on your back in the dirt."

"Is that a promise, Alpha?" she shot back, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Heat rushed to my face, and for once, I was at a loss for words.

She laughed, a sound so genuine it made my chest ache. "Your face! I didn't think the mighty Alpha could blush."

"I'm not blushing," I growled, though I could feel the warmth in my cheeks. "It's just hot out here."

"Whatever you say." She grinned, twirling the practice dagger. "Again?"

We continued training until the sun was high overhead. Raven was sweaty and breathing hard, but there was a new confidence in her stance, a fire in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

"Enough for today," I decided. "You'll be sore tomorrow."

She nodded, returning the dagger to the rack. "Thank you, Kael."

The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. "For what?"

"For this. For trying."

Before I could respond, a young boy approached, no more than twelve, wearing the simple clothes of a messenger.

"Alpha," he said, bowing low. "A message for you."

I took the folded paper, frowning. "Who sent this?"

"They didn't say, Alpha. Just that it was urgent."

I unfolded the note, my blood turning to ice as I read the four simple words: "She will be next."

My eyes snapped to Raven, who was chatting with one of the female guards, oblivious to the threat that had just landed in my hands.

"Alpha?" the boy asked, uncertain.

I crumpled the note in my fist, then held it to a nearby torch, watching it burn to ash.

"Tell no one you delivered this," I ordered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Go."

The boy scurried away, and I turned back to Raven, my resolve hardening like steel. I would protect her, whatever the cost. Even if it meant keeping more secrets.

Even if it meant becoming the monster everyone already thought I was.