Kael's Trust

Kael's Trust

Chapter 56
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Elena

The moment Kael left for the border, I stormed upstairs and slammed the bedroom door behind me. "You’re staying here. End of discussion." His words played on repeat in my head, making my blood boil.

I wasn’t some fragile doll that needed to be locked away. I was the Luna.

Rhea poked her head in, wincing at the sight of me pacing. "Uh-oh. Someone’s pissed."

"I’m not just pissed," I snapped. "I’m done. He doesn’t get to decide what I can and can’t do."

“Stop being stubborn honey, just stay inside okay?”

“But I–”

She flopped onto the bed. "Yeah, but… he is the Alpha."

"That doesn’t mean he owns me!"

“Uhhh, I think you're forgetting y'all got mated yesterday.”

I smacked my hand on my face.

Rhea held up her hands. "Hey, I’m on your side. But you know how Alphas are—especially when their mate is carrying their pup. He’s basically in caveman mode right now."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "That doesn’t make it okay."

She shrugged. "No, but it does mean he’s not gonna back down easily."

I knew she was right, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating.

I groaned and laid down to take a nap.


When I woke up, it was already evening. Rhea wasn't in the room anymore. I stood and stretched before moving to the hallway. It was so quiet one could hear cricket sounds.

I went back to the room again and sat down on my bed. I texted Rhea and she told me she was on night parole and won't be able to come see me.

After five minutes or so, a knock came on my door. The door creaked open and it was one of the housekeepers. She had brought in dinner. It was a bowl of tomato soup and a side of steamed vegetables. Great, I’m going to be fed like livestock for the next nine months.

I finished in twenty, and I headed to the shower to take my bath. I wore pink dollar dot pyjamas and went to bed.

The next morning, I woke up to a note on Kael’s pillow:

"Gone to patrol. Don’t leave the house without me."

I crumpled it in my fist.

There was a Luna council meeting today—an important one, where we were discussing the rogue attacks. And I was going, whether Kael liked it or not.

I dressed quickly, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. Not nerves, but determination.

Rhea caught me at the door. "You’re really doing this?"

"I have to."

She sighed. "Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The council room was already full when I arrived. The elders and high-ranking she-wolves turned as I entered, their murmurs dying down.

"Luna," one of them greeted, surprised. "We weren’t sure you’d be joining us."

I forced a smile. "Why wouldn’t I?"

Before anyone could answer, the door slammed open.

Kael stood there, eyes blazing.

The room went dead silent.

He didn’t say a word—just stared at me, jaw clenched.

I lifted my chin. "Alpha. Nice of you to join us."

A muscle in his cheek twitched. "A word. Now."

I didn’t move. "We’re in the middle of a meeting."

His voice dropped to a growl. "Elena."

The tension was so thick I could barely breathe.

Finally, I stood and followed him into the hallway.

The second the door closed, he whirled on me. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

"My job," I shot back. "Or did you forget I’m the Luna?"

"You’re also carrying my child," he snarled. "You don’t get to risk yourself—"

"Risk what? Sitting in a chair?" I threw my hands up. "You’re being ridiculous!"

His eyes darkened. "I’m keeping you safe."

"No. You’re controlling me."

The words hung between us, sharp and ugly.

Kael inhaled sharply, like I’d struck him. "That’s not what this is."

"Then what is it?" My voice cracked. "Because it sure feels like you don’t trust me."

He reached for me, then stopped. "Elena…"

I stepped back. "I’m going back to the meeting."

His hand dropped. "Fine. But this isn’t over."

We finished the meeting in an hour and we were dismissed.

The whispers started that afternoon.

I caught snippets as I walked through the packhouse:

"Do you think it’s really his?"

"I heard she was with Lucian just weeks before the mating ceremony…"

My stomach lurched.

Elara.

I found her in the garden, smirking as she plucked petals from a rose.

"Having fun?" I asked coldly.

She blinked up at me, all fake innocence. "Elena! How’s the happy couple?"

"Cut the act," I snapped. "What are you telling people?"

She sighed, twirling the stem between her fingers. "I’m just repeating what others are saying. You know how packs talk."

"You started this."

She tilted her head. "Does it matter? The truth always comes out eventually."

I wanted to strangle her. "There is no truth to this. The baby is Kael’s."

Her smile was poisonous. "If you say so."

I turned to leave, but her next words froze me in place:

"Does he believe that, though?"

That night, Kael was distant.

He barely spoke during dinner, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made my skin prickle.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. "Just say it."

He set his fork down. "Say what?"

"Whatever’s on your mind."

Silence.

Then, quietly: "Is there something you need to tell me?"

My blood ran cold.

He’s doubting me.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut.

I stood, my chair scraping loudly. "If you’re seriously asking me that, then we have bigger problems."

His eyes flashed. "I’m just making sure."

"Making sure of what?" My voice shook. "That I didn’t cheat on you? That this isn’t your baby?"

He didn’t answer.

That hurt more than any accusation.

I walked out before he could see me cry. Kael’s suffocating protectiveness was already one thing, but with Elara's plans also being successful? I was trapped in a war on two fronts.

And if I didn’t fight back soon, I’d lose everything.

Starting with Kael’s trust