Chapter 106 Kael Strikes at the Weakest Heart

Chapter 106 Kael Strikes at the Weakest Heart
The forest screamed.

Not with battle—
with absence.

Aria felt it the instant it happened, a hollow snap in the world that had nothing to do with Rowan’s rampage or the retreating rogues. It was the sudden, unmistakable feeling of something precious being removed.

“Lila,” she breathed.

At the far edge of the battlefield, beyond the smoke and broken lines, a single, sharp scream cut through the chaos.

“ROWAN!”

The sound punched through him like a blade.

Rowan froze.

Not fully—his claws still dripped blood, his chest still heaved with feral breaths—but something in his posture shifted. The roar tearing from his throat fractured mid-sound, breaking into a ragged, stunned noise that echoed wrong in the night.

He turned.

His glowing gold eyes snapped toward the sound, focus narrowing with terrifying intensity. For the first time since losing control, the beast hesitated—not confused, not defiant.

Alert.

Aria felt the bond shudder violently.

He heard that.

“Rowan,” she said urgently, pushing past the pain and exhaustion, forcing her voice through the chaos. “Listen to me. That’s Kael.”

Too late.

Far beyond the clearing, at the edge of the old forest road, Lila stumbled backwards, dirt tearing at her bare feet as iron-strong hands closed around her arms.

“No—please—” she sobbed, thrashing wildly. “Let me go!”

Kael’s grip tightened—not enough to bruise, just enough to remind her resistance was pointless.

“Still calling his name,” Kael murmured, amused. “How loyal.”

Lila twisted desperately, terror blinding her as she craned her head toward the distant battlefield, toward the thunder of Rowan’s roars and the crackle of power lighting the sky.

“Rowan!” she screamed again. “Please!”

Kael leaned close, his breath warm against her ear.

“Oh, he hears you,” Kael said softly. “That’s the point.”

He lifted one hand.

The air shimmered.

A binding circle snapped into place around Lila’s feet, glowing briefly before sinking into the ground like a brand. Her legs gave out instantly, strength draining as the spell locked her body into submission.

“No—what are you doing?” she cried, panic breaking into hysteria. “Stop! Someone help me!”

Kael smiled.

He enjoyed this part.

Behind them, his men moved with practised efficiency, sealing the area with wards that bent light and sound away from the battlefield. No reinforcements would stumble upon them. No alarms would reach Aria in time.

Kael crouched in front of Lila, tilting her chin up gently with two fingers.

“You chose the wrong protector,” he said calmly. “And you chose him at the wrong moment.”

Lila shook her head wildly. “He’ll come. He always comes.”

Kael’s smile widened.

“Yes,” he agreed. “He will.”

Back on the battlefield, Rowan surged forward.

Not toward enemies.

Toward the sound.

“LILA!” he roared.

The name tore itself out of him with shocking clarity, punching through the haze of violence and instinct. His body pivoted violently, muscles bunching as he launched himself away from the last scattering rogues.

Aria spun, heart lurching.

“Rowan, wait—!” she shouted.

He did not.

He tore through the treeline like a living missile, leaving shattered branches and cracked earth in his wake. The beast had found a new directive.

Save.

Aria swore under her breath and followed, forcing her battered body to move, silver fire flaring as she pushed herself past exhaustion.

This was Kael’s move.

She knew it with bone-deep certainty.

Rowan reached the forest road in seconds.

He skidded to a halt.

The scene hit him like a wall.

Lila lay on the ground, bound by glowing sigils, tears streaking her dirt-smeared face. Kael stood over her calmly, one hand resting loosely on her shoulder as if in possession rather than threat.

Rowan’s roar shattered the night.

The sound ripped through the trees, deep and thunderous, carrying fury and promise in equal measure. Gold light exploded from his body as he surged forward, claws extended, teeth bared.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!”

Kael did not move.

He raised one hand.

The world stopped.

Rowan slammed into an invisible barrier with catastrophic force. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, flattening grass and snapping branches. Rowan staggered back, snarling, claws raking the air as he slammed into it again.

Nothing.

The barrier held.

Kael sighed theatrically. “Honestly. Such enthusiasm. Such poor timing.”

Rowan roared again, bloodlust and desperation tangling violently. He struck the barrier again and again, each blow cracking the air but failing to break through.

“Let her go!” Rowan screamed, voice raw and layered. “This is between you and me!”

Kael chuckled. “Is it?”

He crouched slowly, bringing himself level with Lila.

“Tell him,” Kael said gently. “Tell him who you want.”

Lila’s sobs wracked her body.

“Rowan,” she cried, voice breaking. “Please—help me. I’m scared.”

The bond detonated.

Rowan howled, gold light flaring so violently the barrier flickered for a fraction of a second. He slammed into it again, cracking the ground beneath his feet as his power surged uncontrollably.

Aria burst from the trees moments later, breath tearing from her lungs.

“Kael!” she shouted. “Enough!”

Kael looked up at her, smiling pleasantly.

“Ah. The cursed Alpha herself,” he said. “You’re late.”

He stood, one hand tightening on Lila’s shoulder.

“This ends now,” Aria snarled, silver fire igniting around her as she raised her blade. “Release her.”

Kael tilted his head. “Or what?”

Rowan slammed into the barrier again, roaring in agony as the effort tore at his already-fractured control.

“Don’t hurt her!” he screamed. “Take me instead!”

Kael laughed.

“There it is,” he said softly. “The offer I’ve been waiting for.”

Aria’s blood ran cold.

“Kael, don’t—” she began.

Kael leaned close to Lila’s ear again, voice carrying just far enough for Rowan to hear.

“No one will save you this time,” he whispered.

Lila screamed.

The sound tore through Rowan like a blade.

Gold light erupted violently from his body, power spiralling out of control as the beast surged, furious and desperate. The barrier groaned, fracturing visibly—but still holding.

Aria lunged forward, rage and fear colliding in her chest.

Kael stepped back, pulling Lila with him as shadows folded inward around them.

“Enjoy the war,” Kael said calmly. “I’ll be busy elsewhere.”

The shadows snapped shut.

They vanished.

The barrier collapsed instantly, dumping Rowan forward onto the ground where Kael had stood moments before.

“NO!” Rowan roared.

He clawed at the dirt, wild and broken, head lifting as he screamed Lila’s name into the empty forest.

Aria reached him, dropping to her knees beside him as his roar tore itself raw.

“Rowan,” she said urgently, gripping his shoulders. “Listen to me. We’ll get her back. I swear it.”

Rowan shook violently beneath her hands, eyes blazing, grief and fury warring uncontrollably inside him.

“He took her,” Rowan rasped. “Because of me.”

Aria’s jaw tightened.

“No,” she said fiercely. “Because Kael wanted leverage.”

Rowan’s claws dug into the earth.

“I won’t stop,” he said, voice shaking with terrible certainty. “I don’t care what it costs. I will tear him apart.”

Aria looked into his eyes—at the storm raging there—and knew the truth.

Kael had struck perfectly.

Not at the battlefield.
Not at the Alpha.
But at the heart, Rowan had not learned to protect from manipulation.

And now the war had changed.

Because this was no longer about borders or power.

It was personal.