Chapter 96 Chapter Ninety-Six

Chapter 96 Chapter Ninety-Six
Kaelani’s smile hit him harder than anything else had.
For the first time, it was meant for him.

Julian stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and shutting out everything beyond it—the chaos, the noise, all of it.

In here—

was his peace.

His heart.

His whole world.

He moved toward her slowly, their eyes locked.

He stopped just inches away, close enough to feel the warmth of her, close enough to reach for her and pull her into his arms the way every instinct in him demanded.

The urge hit fast and hard, a sharp, relentless pull to touch her, to hold her, to make sure she was real and not something his mind had conjured just to survive.

But he didn’t move.

He forced himself to stay exactly where he was.

Everything on her time.

Kaelani’s eyes moved over him, taking in the details—the faint sheen of sweat on his skin, the dark patches spreading through his shirt where blood had begun to seep through the fabric.

Her hand lifted slowly.

Her fingertips brushed lightly over his abdomen through the material of his shirt, the contact soft, almost hesitant.

Then just as quickly, she pulled back, her hand falling to her side.

“You’re bleeding.”

Julian let out a quiet breath.

“Yeah… just a little,” he said. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

His voice softened slightly as he added, “Everything’s fine now.”

Something shifted in Kaelani’s expression.

Not relief.

Something heavier.

“You died.”

Julian frowned, caught off guard.

“I… died?”

Kaelani nodded once, her throat bobbing.

“Yes. You died.”

A brief silence passed before she spoke again, her voice quieter now.

“Because of me.”

Julian’s expression shifted, but she didn’t give him the chance to respond.

“If the Seelie Queen hadn’t—”

She stopped herself, closing her eyes as if she could force the emotion back down, as if she could contain it before it surfaced.

It didn’t hold.

A tear slipped free.

She exhaled shakily, something close to a laugh escaping her, though there was no humor in it.

“Gods… you’re such an asshole, you know that?”

There was no real bite to the words.

Only exhaustion. Frustration. Fear she wasn’t ready to name.

“You don’t listen.” Her voice quavered slightly. “You should have just… stayed away from me.”

Her words sank in—and his stomach dropped with them.

“Is that what you want?” he asked, the words not as steady as he intended. “What you truly want?”

Kaelani looked at him, her composure slipping for the first time.

Her bottom lip trembled, her eyes filling as she shook her head. “No,” she said, forcing it past the tightness in her throat.

“I thought it was the best solution.”

She drew in a slow breath, like the words were heavier than she expected. “To guard my heart. My peace. My sanity.”

Her gaze dropped briefly before returning to his.
“To do what I’ve always done… walk away from the things I wanted because I didn’t think I deserved them.”

There was no bitterness in her voice.

Only truth.

“I was used to that,” she continued. “Expecting nothing, so I’d never have to feel disappointed.”

Julian didn’t answer right away.

He stood there, absorbing it—every word, every piece of her she had just handed to him without armor.

The worst part wasn’t the words—it was knowing she believed every one of them.

That she had lived that way long before him.

“I know why you did it,” he said.

He let out a slow breath, dragging a hand through his hair before dropping it back to his side.

“I gave you every reason to.”

The words sat heavier than anything he’d said before.

“I reinforced everything you already believed about yourself,” he admitted. “I made you feel like you didn’t matter—like you were something I could walk away from and pick back up whenever it suited me.”

A flicker of something crossed his face—regret, sharp and unguarded.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I was the very definition of an idiot.”

There was no humor in it.

“But you have to know… I wanted you the second I had you.”

The words were simple, but they were true.

“The first minute away from you was the beginning of my unraveling,” he said.
“There wasn’t a moment you didn’t cross my mind.”
“Not one.”

A breath passed before he went on.

“I was so wrapped up in you I didn’t know what to do with it,” he admitted. “I couldn’t stay away… and I couldn’t let you go.”

He didn’t try to soften it.

“And instead of choosing you the way I should have, I made it complicated. I made it hard. I made you question something that should’ve been clear from the beginning.”

That was where the regret sat.

Unhidden.

“I’m not going to stand here and pretend I didn’t hurt you,” he said. “Or that you don’t have every right to protect yourself from me.”
“You do.”

He let his gaze drop—just for a second—to the space between them, the inches that still separated them.

Then back to her.

“But I meant it when I said I’d never leave you again… that was real.”

A brief pause—not for effect, but because he meant it.

“Not when it’s hard. Not when it’s messy. Not for duty. Not for image. Not for anyone else’s expectations.”

He shifted slightly, his hand flexing once at his side like he had to physically stop himself from reaching for her.

“I didn’t deserve you the way I showed up before.”

He didn’t hide behind it this time.

“But I know what you deserve.”

“You deserve a love that doesn’t hesitate… that doesn’t leave you questioning where you stand or whether you matter.”

“A love that chooses you—fully, without fear, without doubt—every time it counts.”

“And I want to be the man who gives you that… even if it takes me tearing myself apart and rebuilding it piece by piece.”

He’d spent too long holding back. Not anymore.

“Because you’re worth it.”

“God, you’re so fucking worth it.”

Kaelani wiped at her cheeks, dragging in a steadying breath. Beneath it, she could feel her wolf pressing forward—restless, eager, tail practically wagging inside her chest.

“Did you mean it?” she asked, her voice catching just slightly. “When you said you loved me… did you mean it?”

Julian didn’t hesitate.

“Every last part of it.” 

She searched his face like she needed proof of it, like she didn’t quite know what to do with something that sounded too good to be true.

“No one’s ever said that to me before.”

The truth of it hit him—harder than anything else had.

Not just the words.

The reality behind them.

How long she had gone without hearing something so simple. So fundamental.

It settled deep, sharp and heavy, twisting into something that felt a lot like guilt.

Every second he added to a life that had already given her nothing to hold onto.
Every moment he made her feel like she wasn’t enough.
Every silence where something like that should have existed—and didn’t.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Not rushed. Not thrown out to fix it.

“I’m going to say it. I’m going to show you every second of every day. As long as I’m breathing, you won’t have to question whether you’re loved ever again.”

Kaelani let out a shaky breath, something breaking and mending all at once.

She wiped at her cheeks again, a soft wavering huff slipping out through what was left of her composure.

“Then… I guess I’ll give you a chance.”
“Don’t screw it up.”

Her lips curved just a little, even as more tears fell.

“I’d rather chew off my own limbs than fuck this up again.”

The words barely finished leaving him before he closed the distance in one step and pulled her into him, lifting her clean off the ground as his arms locked tight around her.

Kaelani gasped softly, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she clung to him.

He buried his face against her—her hair, her neck—taking in her scent like an addict chasing his next fix.

She was real.

Not a dream.
Not something slipping through his fingers.
Not something he’d wake up and lose all over again.

His hold tightened.

He wasn’t letting go.

Not again.

Not ever.

The realization hit him like something breaking open in his chest.

She was his—right here, solid in his arms.

A rough breath tore out of him as relief—and something dangerously close to triumph—surged through him.

Their wolves surged at the same time—sharp, electric, colliding in a rush that snapped through the bond like it had been waiting for this exact moment.

Alive.

Hungry.

Claiming.

His cheek brushed against hers, lingering there for just a second—

until their eyes met.

And that was it.

He kissed her.

Hard.

Everything he had ever held back crashed into that single moment—months of restraint, denial, wanting her and resisting it—gone.

His mouth moved against hers with a kind of desperation that had nothing gentle about it, pulling her closer like he still didn’t trust it was real.

Kaelani answered him just as fiercely, her grip tightening as if there was still any space left between them.

It wasn’t careful.

It wasn’t slow.

It was consuming.

Tongues clashed, breath broke, the world outside them collapsing into nothing but heat and need and the undeniable truth of each other.

Nothing else existed.

Not the past.
Not the mistakes.
Not the distance that had once kept them apart.

Just this.
Just them.

The door opened without warning.

“Julian… please just—”

The words died on his mother’s lips the moment she saw them.

Kaelani pulled back first, her eyes opening and meeting hers.

Julian followed a second later, turning toward the door, the moment still clinging to him.

For a beat, no one spoke.

Then, he lowered Kaelani gently until her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go—his fingers slipping into hers, holding on like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Kaelani’s gaze dropped to their hands.

The contact stilled something inside her.

No one had ever held her hand before.

Julian’s mother stepped fully into the room, her attention drawn to Kaelani.

Something softened in her expression.

A small, genuine smile touched her lips.

“Hello,” she said.

Julian moved toward her, gently guiding Kaelani with him, their hands still joined.

“Mother,” he said. “I’d like you to meet Kaelani… my mate.”

He glanced at Kaelani briefly before adding, “Kaelani, this is my mother.”

Kaelani offered a tentative smile, lifting her free hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Hale—”

“Call me Vanessa,” she said gently, then pulled her into a hug.

Kaelani froze for half a second, caught completely off guard by the contact—by the warmth of it.

So much affection.
All at once.

More than she’s had in a lifetime.

Her arms came up slowly, almost uncertainly, returning the gesture.

Vanessa held her there for a moment before pulling back just enough to look at her, her hands lingering—one brushing lightly along Kaelani’s cheek, the other tucking a loose strand of hair back into place as she studied her with open fondness.

“Well, aren’t you a beauty,” Vanessa murmured, a pleased smile forming. “You two are going to make beautiful pups.”

Kaelani let out a small, breathy laugh, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Julian exhaled sharply, already stepping in.

“Alright, Mother,” he said, shaking his head lightly. “Let’s not scare her off. I just got her back.”

Vanessa let out a soft laugh.

“No… we definitely don’t want that,” she said, her tone light but warm.

Kaelani smiled at the words, something in her chest easing as the sentiment settled into a place that had been cold and empty for far too long.

Jace stepped into the room—and stopped.

His gaze moved over the room, taking in the scene, the shift in the air, the way Julian stood with Kaelani at his side.

A slow grin spread across his face.

“Well,” he said, exhaling, “looks like we don’t have to go on another wild adventure.”

He moved closer, his attention settling fully now.

Julian huffed out a quiet breath, shaking his head. “No more wild adventures.” 

Julian’s expression shifted as he looked at him. “But… thank you. For staying by my side through it all.”

Jace held his gaze for a second, then gave a small nod.

“I know you would’ve done the same for me,” he said simply.

His eyes flicked to Kaelani. He dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Kaelani smiled back.

Julian’s arm tightened around her, pulling her just a little closer.

Jace’s expression softened, just a fraction.

“Alpha,” he said, more respectfully now, “if you don’t mind… I’d like to go see my mate.”

Julian didn’t hesitate.

“Go,” he said. “Take the private jet.”

A corner of Jace’s mouth lifted.

“I’ll be in touch.”

He gave one last look before turning and heading back out.

Kaelani glanced toward the door, then back at Julian.

“I could get him there,” she said lightly. “Faster.”

Julian huffed out a quiet laugh.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I know him. He’ll want the time.”

A faint smirk pulled at his mouth.

“He’s going to spend the whole trip figuring out exactly what he’s going to say… how he’s going to stand… where he’s going to put his hands so he doesn’t look like an idiot.”

Kaelani laughed, the sound easy now.

Vanessa smiled, a soft laugh escaping her as well.

“He told me he’s going to ask her to come back and meet his parents,” she said, her tone knowingly warm.

“They’ll love her,” Julian said.

Vanessa’s gaze moved between them, something gentle settling in her expression.

“Well,” she said softly, “I’ll leave you two to it.”

She gave Kaelani’s hand a light squeeze as she passed, then stepped out of the room, the door closing quietly behind her.

For a moment, it was just them again.

Kaelani looked up at him, something lighter in her eyes now.

“Do you want to get out of here?” she asked. “There’s somewhere I’d like to show you.”

Julian didn’t even think about it.

“I’ll go anywhere,” he said, his hand tightening around hers, “as long as I’m with you.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

Then—

Light flashed.

And they were gone.