Chapter 9

The Aftermath (Alice’s POV)

The first thing I noticed was the silence. Not the kind that came with peace—but the kind that felt too heavy, like the world was holding its breath.

My eyes fluttered open, and I was staring at the wooden ceiling of a cabin. Rough beams, a hanging lantern swaying gently overhead, and the faint scent of pine mixed with something smokier and him. Kael.

I tried to sit up, but a bolt of pain lanced through my ribs, forcing a gasp from my throat."Easy," came a deep voice from the shadows.

I turned too fast and winced. Kael stood in the doorway, one arm braced against the frame, his golden brown eyes dark and unreadable. The glow of dusk behind him painted him in silhouette—broad shoulders, blood-smeared shirt, tension radiating off every inch of him.

I blinked. "Where… where are we?"

"A safehouse," he said simply. "Temporary."

His tone made it sound anything but comforting.

I forced myself upright, the pain sharp but tolerable. My limbs felt heavy, like I’d been pulled through thick mud. Every inch of me ached, bruises blooming across my skin like dark violets.

"I—Astrid." Her name left my mouth in a whisper. “She injected me.”

"You were paralyzed. Temporarily,” he said. “She won’t do it again.”

I swallowed. “You killed her.”

A beat passed. “I did.

The weight of those words sat between us. I should have felt relief. I didn’t.

I shifted my legs over the edge of the small cot, trying to make sense of the haze in my mind. “Darius… is he okay?”Kael didn’t answer.

I snapped my head toward him. “Kael.”

"He’s alive," he said finally, pushing off the doorway and walking in. “Barely.”

That icy grip wrapped around my chest again. Darius. My protector. The only person who stood by me in my fight against that witch. He’d risked everything to fight for me—and I’d been useless in the end.

I need to see him,” I said, trying to stand.

Kael’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist—not tight, but firm enough to stop me. “No.”

I yanked my hand back. “He could be dying!”

“He’s not,” Kael said coolly. “And you stepping outside will get you killed.”My mouth opened, ready to argue, but I froze. The way he said it calm, and certain struck a nerve."You don’t get to make that decision for me,” I said, my voice low. “I didn’t ask you to drag me here.”Kael tilted his head, watching me like I was being unreasonable. “No, you didn’t. But you’re not ready for what’s out there.”

“I wasn’t ready for Astrid either, and I survived.”

He let out a humorless chuckle. “Barely.”

A rush of anger flared up in my chest. “So what now? You just hide me away and act like I’m some—some treasure to be locked up?”He took a step forward, eyes narrowing. “You are a treasure. My goddess mate. And if you die before you awaken fully, everything will fall apart.”

I blinked at him. “What did you just call me?”Kael didn’t flinch. “My goddess mate.”I stared at him, heart thudding like a war drum. “I don’t know what that means.”

“No. You don’t,” he said softly. “But your body does. Your blood. Your soul. And they’re all waking up.”“I didn’t ask for this,” I snapped.

“Nobody does,” he replied, voice rougher now. “But it doesn’t matter. Fate chose.”

I shook my head. “Stop talking in riddles. I’m not Selene. I don’t know what you think I am, but I’m just—”“Alice,” he interrupted. “But you weren’t always.”I sat back down slowly, the room spinning for a moment.

“You knew her, didn’t you?” I asked. “Selene.”He nodded once.“Who was she?”He hesitated, then turned his back to me, his voice distant. “She was fire. Power. Hope. And she betrayed me.”“And you think I’m her?”

He turned around, walked over, and crouched in front of me. For a moment, the fierce Alpha melted away, replaced by something quieter. Something haunted.

“I know you are,” he whispered. “Your blood healed Liam. You shattered the ground with your power. No one else could do that. Only Selene could.”I stared at him, and for a breath, I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say.Then, softly, “That doesn’t mean I’m her. I don’t remember anything.”

“You will,” he murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered near my cheekbone.I pulled away instinctively, but his gaze held mine.

"You’re scared," he said.“No,” I lied.He smiled faintly. “You wear it like a second skin.”I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I miss Clara.”“I don't know who that is,” Kael said, standing again. “But I'm sure she is fine.”“You’re lying.”He met my stare. “I don’t lie.”

I wanted to believe him. I needed to believe him. But everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers. My identity. My friends. My place in this world.

Kael moved to the fireplace and added another log. Flames crackled to life, shadows dancing across the stone walls.I took in the room. Large and proper. Weapons hung near the door. A bag rested near the door. Kael wasn’t planning to stay long.

“What happens now?” I asked.

“We wait for nightfall.”

“Then what?”He didn’t answer.I stood again, despite the dull pain in my legs. “Kael, you can’t just keep me here like some—some prisoner.”“I’m keeping you alive,” he said firmly.“At what cost?”His jaw clenched, but he didn’t speak.

I crossed the room, putting as much distance as I could between us. My body screamed for rest, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.

“I dreamed,” I said suddenly.He looked at me. “What did you see?”“I was in a place of light. Blinding. Everything felt… ancient.”Kael’s expression turned grave. “She’s remembering.”“I don’t want to remember. I want my life back.”

“You never had it,” he said gently. “Not the real one.”I turned to him, fists clenched. “Then give me a reason not to hate you for this.”

His eyes darkened, and for a heartbeat, I thought he’d say something cruel. Instead, he walked toward me slowly, stopping just a breath away.“Because I would burn the world to keep you breathing,” he said.I stared up at him, the words stealing the air from my lungs.Before I could answer, before I could even blink—A howl shattered the stillness.Low. Distant. But unmistakably familiar.Kael’s head snapped toward the door.My blood turned to ice.

“Is that…?”

“They’re regrouping,” he said, already moving for the weapons.I backed away from the window, heart hammering.

Kael tossed a blade to the table, pulled another for himself. His movements were fast, fluid—terrifyingly efficient.“We will stay right here. They shouldn't be able to find us here.”

“But how—”

“Just listen to me and cut down on the questions, will you?” he snapped. I was about to retort when another howl came.

Kael’s eyes flicked to me and what I saw in there made me gulp. I nodded once, too stunned to speak.He reached for my hand without another word and just as our fingers touched—another sound split the air.This one wasn’t distant. It was right outside.

Kael froze just as I did.And I wondered if we were about to be found.