Chapter 71 JEALOUS
Adam's POV
Kael comes back later that day smelling like exhaustion, like he’s been walking too fast again. I hear him before I see him. His steps always give him away. Heavy, confident, but the moment he sees me, they slow.
“There you are,” he says softly. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” I answer out of habit.
He nods like he accepts it, even though his eyes say he doesn’t. He comes closer and presses the back of his fingers to my cheek, then my forehead.
“You look tired,” he murmurs.
“I am tired,” I say. “That’s all I am. Always tired even though I literally do nothing”
“But you're doing so much,” he says with a small smile. “Existing, being my mate, being so beautiful, being my moon every night. All that. You're doing a lot, I should give you a massage.”
I rolled my eyes as he kissed my forehead, but I didn't pull away.
He hesitates for a second, like he’s nervous. Kael. Nervous. It almost makes me laugh.
“I was wondering,” he starts, rubbing the back of his neck, “if you’d like to come with me.”
“To where?” I ask immediately. My body tenses without my permission.
“The tailors,” he says quickly. “Just for a bit. To look at fabrics for the feast.”
“No,” I say, too fast.
He doesn’t look offended. Just thoughtful.
“We don’t have to stay long,” he says. “You can sit. Or we can leave the moment you want to.”
“I don’t want to go,” I say. “I don’t want people staring at me.”
“They won’t,” he says. “And if they do, I’ll stare back harder.”
“That doesn’t help.”
He sighs softly. “Adam… you don’t have to decide now. I just thought—” He stops himself. “It’s important to me. But you are more important.”
That’s not fair. He speaks in a way that makes it a sin against kindness if I reject it.
I look away. “I can… I can just look,” I mumble. “Not pick. Just look.”
His face lights up like I just handed him the moon.
“Just looking is perfect,” he says. “Thank you.”
I regret it immediately the moment we step into the fabric room. It’s warm, heavy with color and texture and scent. Rolls and rolls of cloth stacked everywhere. Silks, velvets, wool, things that shimmer when you move them.
I take one step in and feel dizzy.
Kael notices instantly.
“Sit,” he says gently, guiding me to a low cushioned bench. “They’ll bring everything to you.”
“I’m not helpless,” I mutter.
“I know,” he says. “You’re just precious.”
I groan. “Stop saying things like that.”
“I cannot stop,” he replies seriously.
A tailor brings fabrics over slowly, laying them out one by one. Kael kneels in front of me instead of standing, his level with my knees.
“What do you think?” he asks softly.
I reach out without thinking and touch one. It’s smooth. Cool. My fingers linger.
“It’s… nice,” I admit.
“Your hands like it,” he says. “That matters.”
I snort. “My hands aren’t the ones wearing it.”
“You’re the one seeing it,” he says. “On me.”
That makes my face heat up.
“Turn,” I say suddenly.
He blinks. “What?”
“Turn around,” I repeat. “Let me see it against you.”
He stands and turns obediently. The tailor drapes the fabric over his shoulders. It’s dark, rich, deep blue.
“No,” I said immediately. “Too dark.”
The tailor frowns. Kael smiles.
“What about this?” Kael asks, lifting another fabric and bringing it closer to me.
I touch it. It's softer and warmer.
“That one,” I say. “It brings out your eyes.”
Kael stares at me like I just confessed something huge.
“It does?” he asks quietly.
“Yes,” I say, annoyed. “Don’t make it weird.”
He laughs softly. “You’re making it perfect.”
I got more into it than I expected. I compare colors. Textures. I fuss over how heavy the cloth is, how it might look when he moves.
“You can’t wear something stiff,” I say. “You walk too much, and your step is too majestic for stiff fabric.”
“You notice how I walk?” he teases.
“Shut up,” I mutter, but I’m smiling.
He lets me choose. Completely. He didn't argue once.
“You trust me?” I asked at one point.
“With my life,” he said, without hesitation.
My chest tightened. I hate how that feels. I also love it.
That’s when Mira walks in.
“Alpha,” she says brightly, too brightly. “I thought I’d find you here.”
I scoffed.
She didn't even look at me at first. Her eyes are all on Kael. Lingering. Smiling.
“We were just choosing fabrics,” Kael says politely.
“Oh?” she says, finally glancing at me. Her smile sharpens. “How… domestic.”
There's just something about her. I don't like her.
“This one is better,” she says, touching a fabric I already rejected. “Dark colors suit an Alpha. They show strength.”
“I already said no to that,” I say flatly.
She raises a brow. “Did you?”
“Yes,” I say. “I did.”
She laughs lightly. “Well, Alpha, you know how it normally is. The ceremony leaves no space for experimentation.”
Kael’s jaw tightens. “My mate is choosing.”
She turns fully to him, stepping closer. Too close.
“Of course, Alpha,” she says sweetly. “I just worry you’re being… distracted.”
My head fills with noise. Loud, angry, unhinged noise.
Distracted. By me. Of course. Say it. Just say it.
“You say Alpha a lot,” I snap.
She blinks. “Excuse me?”
“You say it like it’s his name,” I continue, words spilling out fast now. “Like if you say it enough times he’ll look at you instead.”
Kael stiffens. “Adam—”
“No,” I say. “I’m tired. I’m dizzy. I’m sick. And I will not stand here and listen to her flirt with you like I’m not even here.”
Mira’s smile drops. “I am a council member. Show some respect.”
“I don’t care,” I say honestly. “You can hate me for being human. Everyone does. But don’t pretend you don’t hate seeing him holding my hand. Those fake smiles of yours need some more practice.”
The room is silent.
Kael steps forward, placing himself slightly in front of me.
“That’s enough,” he says calmly. “You can leave.”
Mira’s face flushes. “Alpha—”
“I said leave.”
She storms out.
My heart is racing. My hands are shaking. I feel sick again.
Kael turns to me immediately. “Sit. Sit, baby.”
“I’m fine,” I whisper, but I let him guide me down anyway.
He kneels again, holding my hands.
“You don’t have to fight her for me,” he says softly.
“I know,” I say. “But I wanted to.”
“She's not trying to flirt with me. She's probably just too excited to do her duties. We're werewolves, baby, we respect mate bonds. There's no room for anyone else in my heart, you own me. If your wolf was present, I'd let you mark me so everyone sees it's sealed.”
“I'm pretty sure she was flirting. Besides, aren't you happy I'm possessive of you?”
His eyes soften so much it hurts.
“You already chose my happiness,” he murmurs. “Without even r
ealizing it.”
I swallow hard.
I don't know if I was really being possessive or I just lashed out ‘cause I hate the girl. I still don’t want this. I still don’t understand my body. I’m still scared.