Chapter 31 Chapter 31

Chapter 31 Chapter 31
Kael’s POV
Two weeks ago, when the fox refugees arrived at my camp.
"You’re in charge of the refugees."
I said it to Sabrina, then turned to leave. But I heard her heart skip a beat. Her breathing turned shallow and quick. She was… nervous? Excited? Or scared? It was a mix of all three. I could hear it. She wanted to prove herself, but she was terrified of screwing up.
“Let’s go, Kael!” Alec growled in my head. “Turn around! Hold her! Tell her you’ll help her!”
“Shut up,” I snapped back.
“Why?” Alec was furious. “You care about her! You’re worried about her! Why do you have to act like such a cold prick?”
“I said shut up.”
I kept walking. Long, fast strides. I had to get out of that room.
“You idiot!” Alec was still swearing at me. “Do you know how she feels right now? She thinks you don’t trust her!”
“So what?”
“So what?” Alec was losing it. “She’s our mate!”
“She’s not,” I said, my mental voice cold as ice. “She never will be.”
“What?”
“She deserves better,” I said. “Not a… monster like me.”
“You’re not a monster!”
“I am,” I said. “A blind man. A butcher with blood on his hands.”
Alec went quiet, but I could feel his pain. His frustration. We shared memories. He knew what I was thinking. He knew my self-loathing, my shame… and my fear.
Those fox people—I didn’t trust them. Not a single one. But Sabrina did. She defended them. She convinced me to take them in. If I told her right now that I suspected them, what would she think? She’d think I didn’t trust her judgment. She’d think I was looking down on her.
So, I had to let her manage them. Let her observe. Let her find the problems herself.
“You’re using her,” Alec said quietly.
“I’m protecting her.”
“Then tell her the truth!”
“And risk her safety?”
“I’d rather she hate me,” I said, “than see her get hurt.”
For the next few days, I focused on training. But my attention kept drifting—completely out of my control—toward the walls. Toward the refugee camp. Toward Sabrina.
I could hear her voice. Giving out supplies, settling fights, comforting kids. She was busy. She was exhausted. But she never complained.
I stood in the distance, just listening to the sound of her.
One afternoon, I heard someone moving boxes. Heavy boxes. The sound of wood scraping the ground. Then… Sabrina’s breathing. She was pushing herself. Hard.
My feet moved on their own. I walked toward the sound and stopped by a quiet corner of the wall. No one saw me, but I could "see" her. Through the sound. The scent. The feeling.
She had taken off her jacket; I heard the fabric slide off. Then, she bent down. She grabbed the box. A deep breath. A heave.
I could hear the strain in her muscles. Her shoulders, her arms, her back—every muscle was working. I heard her heartbeat go from steady to a rapid thrum. Her breathing went from deep to sharp gasps.
Sweat began to bead. I could smell it—salty, warm, mixing with her natural scent. Daisies and rain. And… the musk of exertion.
My throat went tight. I clenched my fists. I wanted to go to her.
But I couldn’t.
“God…” Alec groaned in my mind. “She’s… she’s beautiful…”
“Shut up,” I said, my voice hoarse.
“You feel it too,” Alec said. “Your heart is racing. You want to—”
“I don’t want anything,” I cut him off.
“Kael…”
“I said shut up!”
I turned and walked away, fast. I went back to my cabin, slammed the door, and leaned against the wall.
My hands were shaking.
I hated myself. I hated these useless, blind eyes.
"Kael."
Garrick’s voice came from outside. I opened the door.
"What?"
"We need to talk," Garrick said. "About the foxes."
I let him in and shut the door. "Talk."
"You should cancel the shelter plan," Garrick said bluntly. "They can't be trusted. I’ve watched them for two weeks. Something is… off."
"What kind of off?"
"I can't explain it," Garrick frowned. "It’s just a feeling. They’re too… submissive. It feels like an act."
I nodded. "I know."
Garrick blinked. "You know? Then why—"
"I have my reasons," I said.
Garrick stared at me. "Is this about Sabrina? She’s the one who stood up for them. She’s the one who talked you into this."
"So what?"
"So you’re…" Garrick paused. "Are you letting her prove herself? Or… are you protecting her?"
I didn't answer.
"I trust you," Garrick said finally. "But if things go sideways…"
"I’ll handle it."
Late that night, I left the camp. I moved silently through the forest, walking for miles. About five miles out, I reached a lake. The moonlight was shimmering on the water. I stopped and waited.
Footsteps. Very light, but I heard them.
"On time," a voice said, intentionally low. A figure stepped out from behind a tree, hooded, face hidden.
"How are the two of them?" the voice asked.
"They’re fine," I said.
"They better be," the voice replied. "If anything happens to them, you’ll pay for it, Kael."
"Nothing will," I said. "I’ll protect them with my life."
Silence. Then the voice said, "The intel you wanted."
"Go on."
"Derek and Dorian," the voice said. "On the surface, they’re fighting. In reality, they’re working together. They’re using the pack wars to wipe out their enemies. They’re pushing the war north to create refugees—makes it easier to control people."
I nodded.
"But there’s resistance," the voice continued. "So Derek is launching a campaign to crush the bear clans. Three days from now, he’ll lead the charge himself. His old camp will be empty."
My hand curled into a fist. "You’re sure?"
"Positive," the voice said. "This is your chance. There are massive supplies there."
I nodded. "We’ll move."
"Good." The voice turned. "Remember. Take care of those two."
Then, they vanished into the dark. I stood by the lake, staring at the moonlight I couldn't see.
Alec said in my head, “Stillwater’s old camp. That was Sabrina’s home.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to take her back there?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she needs to face it,” I said. “And… she knows the layout better than anyone.”
“You’re using her pain,” Alec said.
“I know.” My voice was barely a whisper. “I’m a bastard.”
“Then why do it?”
“Because I have no choice,” I said. “She’s my best pawn. My only chance to win this.”
The next day, I called the meeting. All the core members were there. I stood before the map, my finger pointing to a single spot.
"Here," I said. "The Stillwater Pack’s old camp. It’s a supply station now. Guarded lightly, but loaded with resources. We move in three days."
I heard everyone’s reactions. Heartbeats. Breathing. Whispers. But my focus was entirely on Sabrina.
Her heart suddenly went wild. Rapid, uneven. Her breath hitched, then came in short gasps. She was… shocked? Terrified?
And then, I felt her gaze. Even though I was blind, I could feel it. She was staring at me. Hard. Like she wanted to burn right through me. Like she wanted to see into my soul.
In that moment, something hit my chest. A violent, powerful throb.