Chapter 199 Road away from Vahl

Chapter 199 Back in Vahl 4

Ruel's POV

The beta's daughter has been speaking for a while now, and every word she says lands like a stone dropped in still water.

"It is your duty," Kami says, her voice carrying the kind of conviction that upsets me. "Your parents gave everything for this pack. Everything. You would dishonor them by walking away from what they built."

The room is quiet enough that I can hear Ira breathe beside me.

"My parents gave everything for me," Ira responds gently. "Not for a throne, not for a pack… for me. I was the most important thing to them, and they spent their lives making sure I would have a life worth living." She pauses, "The only way I can honor that is by choosing to be happy. And that is only possible with Ruel."

My gaze snaps to her, my heart skipping a beat. I quickly look away so I won't do something embarrassing in front of a full council.

"Then consider staying," I say. "If Vahl is where you want to be, I will stay here with you."

Davan swallows but says nothing.

Ira turns to look at me and the expression on her face is somewhere between disbelief and amusement. "I am not staying in this toxic place, Ru."

I nod in understanding. "I just wanted you to know the option existed."

Kami steps forward again. "You would let your parents' deaths mean nothing? You would let Andre win simply because you are choosing comfort over responsibility?"

“Her parents’ deaths are not a weapon for your argument,” I say coldly. “And you do not get to question her decision when you have not endured even half of what she has.” my voice drops lower. “Be very careful how far you push this, Kami.”

The silence that follows is heavy. And as several council members exchange glances, Kami storms out.

Good. It isn't like she was of any use initially.

"The lady is not obligated to decide today," Alpha Davan says. "The council recognizes that this is not a decision to be rushed. She has time."

“Very true,” an alpha agrees, nodding with the rest.

I exhale slowly.

Alpha Romano leans forward. "What concerns me more immediately is the matter of tonight. It is late, and returning to our respective packs is risky. Andre is… contained, but a man like that does not operate without loyal people behind him. There may still be those in this territory who would act on his behalf."

"Then we position people," Alpha Davan says. "Eyes on every corridor, every entry point. We cannot assume safety simply because he is behind a locked door."

"I will see to it," Alpha Romano says, already rising.


Later, I find Ira standing near the window of the room we have been given and I cross to her, wrapping my arms around her from behind.

"You looked heartbroken when he spoke about your father," I say, and she exhales like she has been holding that breath since the moment Andre opened his mouth.

"You noticed," she murmurs.

"I notice everything." I press my lips to her cheek. "As long as it is about you."

She is quiet for a moment. Then, "I am alright. I just never knew how he died until Andre said it."

She turns in my arms to face me and I let her, holding her closer.

"He will get what he deserves," I tell her.

She nods but there is something still sitting behind her eyes. "I feel like I should have done more.” She whispers, “Something physical. Something that would hurt him the way he hurt them."

"You still can," I say. "Take your rightful place and you will have every opportunity to make him pay in ways that please you."

"I do not want it, Ruel."

I look at her for a moment, then proceed with my next words carefully.

"If you choose to stay here, I will stay with you. Veilfang has people who can lead in my place. I don't mind what you choose." I pause. "Baby, I don't want you to look back ten years from now and regret walking away. Taking that throne would mean putting every person who ever disliked you to shame."

The corner of her mouth lifts. "Including you."

"What? I love you." I remind her.

"You disliked me at first," she mutters.

"No," I say. "I disliked that I could not control myself around you. Some of that discomfort was the mate bond pulling at me before I understood it. The other half was my true nature waking up the closer I got to you."

"So my presence brought out your true form."

"Whether it is because you are my mate or a sempyr or both, I honestly cannot say." I lean down toward her. "But I am glad I found you."

When my lips touch hers, she kisses me back, and for a few seconds the world is quiet.

But then someone knocks.

The moment I pull the door open, I find two faces I recognize immediately.

"Commander," both women greet, bowing in unison.

Their eyes cut past me to Ira in the same breath, and before I can blink they are already inside the room.

"Cath. Sia." Ira exclaims with a wide grin as she pulls them both into her arms.

I watch from a distance as they all start crying almost immediately. "We thought we lost you," Sia manages, her voice muffled against Ira's shoulder.

Cath pulls back first, looking down at Ira's dress with wide eyes. "I am so sorry,” she sniffs. “I have completely crumpled the fabric, forgive me." She straightens, nudging Sia. "We should have asked before touching you. You outrank us now and we just…"

Ira pulls them both back in without a word.

I exhale through my nose and turn to give them space, which is when I come face to face with Cortis standing just outside the doorway.

"Commander Ruel," she says, dipping her head. "I am pleased to see you. Not that I had any real doubt you would find your way through it all."

"Cortis," I nod, delivering a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes.

I would have exchanged a few words with her but her eyes keep moving past my shoulder to where Ira is.

I step aside “you can join in.” I mutter, not bothering to mask with feigned gladness.

Cortis nods and steps in, clearly unbothered by my reluctance.

I know Ira is mine. I have marked her. That knowledge sits solid in my chest. But when Cortis reaches out and takes Ira's hand, holding it a beat longer than necessary, my jaw tightens.

She still has feelings for her. That much has never been foreign.

And Ira's collar is sitting high enough that the mark on her neck is hidden completely.

I catch myself staring at Ira's covered neck and look up, and she is already watching me with an expression that tells me she has seen exactly what I was thinking.

I look away first, stepping out into the corridor to give them the space I said I would.

I make it about four steps before I turn around and walk back in.

Cath is already leaning toward Ira with wide eyes, whispering loud enough for the whole room. "So, you and the commander?" She wiggles her brows.

Ira's mouth curves and she reaches up, pulling her collar down just enough to show them the mark.

My mark.

Cath and Sia squeal happily.

Cortis steps back.

"Congratulations," she says, straightening before adding, “um, I just remembered I need to confirm that no one is still unlawfully in the holding cell,”

Hearing that, I decide to actually let them be.