Chapter 122 Elara's POV
"For the baby?"
"Well, we can't just call him the baby forever. He needs an actual name."
Kaden was quiet for a moment. "I hadn't thought about it. Do you have any ideas?"
"A few. But I want your input. He's your son too."
We spent the drive throwing out possibilities. Some traditional pack names. Some from our family histories. Some just because they sounded right.
"What about Adrian?" Kaden suggested. "It means from the Adriatic but in old pack language it also means dark one or rich strong. Powerful."
"Adrian," I tested the name. "Adrian... I like it. It suits him."
"Adrian it is then unless you want to keep thinking about it?"
"No. I think we just named our son." I smiled. "Adrian. Our little Adrian."
"Who will probably be as stubborn as his mother and as protective as his father."
"Poor kid doesn't stand a chance."
When we arrived back at the pack house, Ethan was waiting with reports.
"We've had movement on the western border," he told Kaden. "Not an attack just scouts but enough to be concerning."
Kaden's expression immediately shifted to Alpha mode. "How many?"
"At least five that we spotted, probably more we didn't see. They are watching us. Learning our patterns."
"Then we change our patterns. Randomize patrol routes. Vary the timing. Make ourselves unpredictable."
He looked at me apologetically. "I need to go check the defenses. Make sure we're prepared if they're planning another attack."
"Go. Do what you need to do."
"I will be back for dinner."
"I will make something special. We are celebrating naming our son."
He kissed me quickly and left with Ethan.
I spent the afternoon working with the household staff, finalizing the new systems I'd put in place. Then I went to the kitchen and personally prepared dinner.
Nothing fancy. Just Kaden's favorite foods. A way to celebrate the good news about the baby.
By the time he returned, the table was set and the food was ready.
"This looks amazing," He said, taking his seat. "You cooked all of this yourself?"
"The kitchen staff helped. But yes, I did most of it. I wanted tonight to be special."
We ate together, talking about the scan, about Adrian, about the improvements to the pack house. It felt normal. Domestic. Like we were just a regular couple preparing for their first child instead of an Alpha and his mate dealing with constant threats.
"This is delicious," Kaden said, taking another bite. "Really exceptional, where did you learn to cook like this?"
"Years of working in the pack kitchen. You pick things up." I watched him eat. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. I love-"
He stopped mid-sentence and his face went pale.
"Kaden? What's wrong?"
"I don't... I feel..." He clutched his stomach.
Then he just collapsed out of his chair onto the floor, his body convulsing.
"Kaden!" I was at his side instantly. "What's happening? Talk to me!"
He tried to speak but couldn't. His mouth opened and blood poured out. Dark red too much blood.
"Help!" I screamed. "Someone help!"
Servants came running, one of them took one look at Kaden and ran for Damian.
I knelt beside him, his head in my lap, blood staining my clothes.
"Stay with me. Please stay with me. Don't leave me. Think about Adrian. Think about our son. You have to fight this."
His body was shaking violently now.
Damian burst through the door, his medical bag already in hand.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"I don't know! We were eating and then he just collapsed!"
Damian was checking Kaden's vitals, his expression growing more alarmed by the second. "This is poison. Something in his system. Something that's causing massive internal hemorrhaging."
"Poison? But how? I made the dinner myself!"
"Then it was in the ingredients. Or added to his plate. Or-" Damian pulled out an injection. "We need to get him to the medical wing. Now. Before the damage becomes irreversible."
Guards appeared, lifting Kaden carefully. Blood continued to pour from his mouth as they carried him.
I stood there in shock, staring at my hands covered in his blood.
The note. The note I had found days ago.
‘Kaden will die by your hands.’
I made dinner. I'd served him the food. I'd done exactly what the note had predicted.
I'd poisoned my own mate.
"No," I whispered. "No, no, no. I didn't do this. I couldn't have-"
But the evidence was everywhere. On my hands. On my clothes. In the food I'd personally prepared.
Kara appeared beside me. "Miss Elara? You're shaking. Let me help you-"
"I killed him," I said numbly. "The note was right. I killed him."
"You didn't kill anyone. He's still alive. Damian will save him."
"But I made the food. I served it to him. How did I not know it was poisoned? How could I be so careless?"
"Because you trusted the ingredients. Trusted the kitchen staff. Trusted that nothing would be tampered with in your own home."
But trust wasn't enough. Trust didn't save Kaden from bleeding out on the medical wing floor.
I had to get there. Had to see if he survived.