Chapter 16: Sixteen

Kole’s POV

I stood by the window, looking out into the courtyard. I could see the entire pack from here; instinctively, my eyes focused on the training ground.

On Karina, like every morning, she was already there. I watched as she moved through the training grounds effortlessly. It was impressive to see how much she had grown over the years.

She used to walk around with so much uncertainty, as if she were scared to set foot on the earth, but now she was more confident and in control.

My wolf stirred. It always did when I watched her. I ignored it. I've learned to do that.

That pull between us was a complication. A compilation I had no intentions of entertaining or exploring.

Still, like always, my gaze lingered longer than it should have. I took one last glance at her and turned to get ready for the day.

\---

The council members were already seated by the time I arrived. I took my seat at the head of the table, quietly acknowledging their greetings.

After a few more minutes, the discussion began, moving from reports on normal routinectivities to random reports of attacks at the border.

I heard the door open and immediately sensed Karina enter. I didn't look in her direction; I didn't need to.

As she sat down, my wolf stirred again. ignored the feeling, forcing it into silence.

She took her seat without announcement and listened kneeling as the elders spoke. Two years ago, Karina would have spoken too early, too eager to prove herself, only to make a fool of herself.

But now she sat quietly, listening before speaking, just like I taught her.

The elders circled the issue without touching its core. Each of them spoke, offering their opinions, but none said enough for us to decide on the next course of action.

After a few more minutes of back-and-forth among some elders, Karina spoke calmly.

“They’re mapping us,” she began. I turned in my seat, still keeping my eyes on the table. I didn't want to look in her direction.

“If they were just observing, their patterns wouldn’t be this consistent and regular,” she continued. I listened calmly as she spoke, giving her views on the issue.

I was impressed by how she spoke; I felt my wolf stir again.

I recognised the feeling immediately. I was proud of her, of how far she had come. I watched her move from that scared girl I brought to this warrior who spoke with sure intelligence.

Still, I shut the feeling down immediately. This wasn't mine to feel.

“And your suggestion?” I asked after she was speaking.

She looked in my direction for a second before her eyes focused somewhere else. I could tell she was just as eager to avoid eye contact with me as I was with her.

“We don’t wait, in fact, I think we've waited for far too long, waiting any longer must cost us. We allow the ground to send out to engage with them, not aggressively, just controlled engagement. We must let them think there's a gap we can't see,” she explained. I kept quiet, allowing the elders to question her further on her plan

Her plan was good; it was smart and well thought out. She wasn't speaking to prove herself anymore; she was speaking because she knew what to do. And the difference was clear.

“And then we close it,” she ended, the room became silent, as the elder's eyes shifted to me, waiting for my response.

I leaned back slightly, letting the room settle before I spoke.

“She’s right.” I began, knowing that was all it took to silence the elders who doubted this approach. I've been in this Position long enough to know that some of the elders only disagreed because it came from Karina.

As much as they wouldn't admit it, it was clear they were becoming afraid of her potential. They saw it; anyone who looked at her could tell Karina was destined for great things. They felt threatened by it, and I was going to encourage such cowardice among my elders.

“Proceed with her approach,” I instructed.

The meeting moved forward from there, details filling in around the foundation she had set. I asked who would head it, but before I could finish, she volunteered.

“I’ll handle it,” she said.

My eyes moved to her, and she studied her demeanour, she looked sure and completely aware of what she was getting into. She didn't look hesitant, of course, she didn't.

“You understand what you’re asking for?” I asked.

“I do,” she answered immediately.

I knew she did. That was the problem. I understood responsibility like that wasn’t something to take lightly. She wasn't taking it lightly, but still, it was a huge commitment.

“That means you’ll be responsible for the outcome.” I pressed.

“I’m aware,” she answered, nodding in response.

“In that case… I approve Karina as head.”

I listened for objections; there were no objections, so the rest of the meeting passed quickly after that.

I stood calmly watching the courtyard as the elders left slowly. I had a quick five-minute discussion with a few of them; they never really had anything to say, they just wanted part of my time enough to feel important.

I froze suddenly as I sensed her presence nearby. I heard her footsteps, and they stopped by my side.

“You could have assigned someone else,” she said.

I smiled. I had expected her to say this.

“I could have,” I replied.

“But you didn’t,” she pressed.

“No,” I answered plainly. I didn't need to explain myself; she understood me, I could tell.

I faced her then. She stood a few steps away. She was trying to look composed, but I could always tell that my presence affected her as much as she tried to hide it.

Her eyes locked with mine just for a second, and I smiled.

“You’ve improved,” I said, remembering my first training session with her.

She smiled. I could tell she got the reference.

“Well, I’ve had time,” she replied.

“Time isn’t enough,” I answered.

“I know.”

Silence settles between us; it was the kind that comes from understanding each other, like dangling off a cliff, we both knew we weren't going to jump.

My wolf stirred in response; it was stronger this time.

I felt it pull stronger in a direction I refused to follow.

“Well, I like your look when you're confident. It suits you.” I replied and walked away before things spiralled out of control.

I walked away, understanding this was what I had to do to keep things in control. I made a promise to myself, and I wasn't going to back down on it now.

I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair. Two years. It has been two years, and the connection between us still feels intense like a strong tide in the ocean.

I looked at my phone to find a text from Peter, rolled my eyes while smiling. Peter always had a way of texting me to meet up at times like this.

I replied to his text and walked towards my car, where the driver was always standing with the door open.

I nodded, acknowledging his greeting, and got.

"Where to, sir?" He asked.

"Peter's house," I replied.

The drive to Peter's house was short, but it felt longer because my thoughts kept drifting back to Karina.

I regretted talking to her after the meeting. It always made things feel more active. It was dangerous.

I promised myself not to engage with her next time. Even though I knew I probably wasn't going to keep that promise. It annoyed me.

We finally got to Peter's house, and I got out of the car and walked in. I didn't have to knock when I came to Peter's house.

I walked him to find him on a call. He looked agitated. I recognised that look immediately. He was talking to his wife. Arielle.

Peter dragged a hand down his face as the call ended, and exhaled loudly as he collapsed onto the couch.

“She’s going to kill me one day,” he said, shaking his head.

“Let me guess, you forgot again?” I asked, laughing.

He shot me a look. “It slipped my mind. There’s a difference,” he replied, trying to defend himself.

“Not to her, clearly.” I pressed; it wasn't every day I got the chance to tense Peter. I was going to take my chance while I had it.

“She just wanted a date night. I said I’d make it up to her when she gets back,” he replied proudly, like that was going to fix everything.

I shook my head slightly, amused. “You’re terrible at this, I hope you know that,” I said, laughing harder this time.

“And you’re an expert?” he asked, laughing as well.

I didn’t answer. My mind drifted immediately to her. I immediately tried to mask it, but of course, Peter noticed. He always did.

“So… do you want that?” he asked, his eyebrows raised.

I frowned. “Want what?” I'm also playing clueless.

“That. Someone who expects things from you. Someone you have to show up for. It's been years kole.”

“No,” I said flatly. Today had already been a close call with Karina; I couldn't continue this conversation without risking doing something I'd regret.

“Right. Keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll believe it one day.” Peter replied with a knowing smile.

I didn’t respond. Some lies were easier to maintain when left unchallenged.