Chapter 42
Kael's POV
I watched her walk away. Three steps. Four. That stubborn set to her shoulders that made me want to shake her and kiss her in equal measure.
"I meant what I said." The words came out harder than I intended. "Black Ridge is mine to handle. Stay out of it."
She stopped. Turned slowly.
The streetlight caught her face and I saw something that made my chest tighten. Not fear. Not even anger. Just this bone-deep exhaustion mixed with absolute certainty.
"You don't get to decide what I do." Her voice was steady. Too steady. "I'm going into that forest. With or without your help."
My hands clenched. "Then you're going to get yourself killed."
"Maybe." She shrugged like we were discussing the weather. "But at least I'll die fighting instead of hiding behind someone else's protection."
The words hit like a physical blow. My whole body went rigid.
She'd just thrown my mother's words back in my face. The same accusation Victoria had screamed at my father before she left. You hide behind your title. Behind your pack. Behind everything except your own damn spine.
"That's not fair—"
"Life's not fair." She turned toward her house. "You should know that better than anyone."
I stood there like an idiot watching her climb the porch steps. The door opened. Closed. The porch light went out.
Gone.
I got back in the car and gripped the steering wheel hard enough to hurt. The engine was still running. Had been this whole time.
What the hell was I supposed to do with her?
She couldn't shift. Could barely breathe most days. But she'd just faced down a half-shifted wolf with broken glass and pure spite, and somehow she was still standing. And now she wanted to walk into a forest full of rogues like it was a school field trip.
My phone buzzed. Drake.
Boss. Black Ridge surveillance complete. Sending report.
I opened the encrypted file one-handed. Photos loaded. Night vision footage of the camp.
My jaw clenched.
The "dangerous rogue pack" was mostly elderly wolves. A few injured. Two or three young ones who looked half-starved. The only combat-ready males I counted were three. Maybe four.
This wasn't a war party. This was a refugee camp.
I scrolled through Drake's notes. Detailed observations. Movement patterns. The wolves were scavenging. Hunting small game. Avoiding any contact with the town.
Nothing about this matched the intel that had come through official channels. Someone had painted these wolves as a threat when they were just trying to survive.
And that wolf tonight. The one who attacked Liam.
He wasn't from this camp. I'd bet my territory on it.
Which meant someone else was in play. Someone using these refugees as cover while they picked off targets in town.
I typed back to Drake.
Continue monitoring. Flag any new faces. I want to know everyone who goes in or out.
Understood. One more thing boss. The girl.
I stared at the screen. Waited.
She's not what she seems. Her moves tonight... they were too clean. Too practiced.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I should have told him to drop it. To focus on the mission.
Instead I typed: I know.
Because I did know. Had known since that night in the forest when she'd stood in front of me without flinching. When she'd lied about being lost with those enormous eyes and that trembling voice while her scent screamed predator.
Elara Grey was dangerous. Not despite her weakness but because of it. Because she'd learned to survive in a body that should have killed her years ago.
And now she was walking into a forest full of wolves who would tear her apart without a second thought.
I pulled away from her house. Made it two blocks before I had to pull over because my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
This was exactly what Victoria had warned me about. Getting attached. Letting someone close enough to make me weak.
Don't be like your father. Don't sacrifice everything for a girl who'll only get herself killed.
But Elara wasn't asking me to sacrifice anything. She was just asking me to get out of her way.
No. Not even asking. Telling.
I laughed. It came out bitter. When was the last time someone had told me no? Really meant it?
My phone buzzed with a text. It had to be her, using the number I’d given her. The message was short and to the point.
Tomorrow night. 10pm. North entrance to Black Ridge. Don't be late.
I should ignore it. Should tell Drake to handle the forest situation while I stayed far away from the girl who made my wolf go insane every time she was near.
I typed back: You're going to get us both killed.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Then I guess we'll die together. See you tomorrow.
I threw the phone on the passenger seat and drove.
The Harrington estate was dark when I pulled up. Good. I wasn't in the mood to deal with the pack elders or their questions about why I'd been spending so much time in town.
I went straight to my room. Stripped off my jacket. It still smelled like her. Blood and fear and something else. Something that made my wolf pace restlessly under my skin.
I should burn it.
Instead I hung it carefully in my closet and hated myself a little bit more.
My phone lit up on the nightstand. Another message.
Boss. Movement at the north entrance. Two males. Mid-twenties. Combat trained. They're asking about the Goldman girl.
I was typing before I could think.
Don't engage. Follow at distance. I want to know where they go.
Because of course there were more. Of course this wasn't over.
I grabbed my jacket again. Started for the door.
Stopped.
What was I going to do? Show up at her house at midnight and demand she let me protect her? She'd already made it clear what she thought of my protection.
I'll die fighting instead of hiding behind someone else.
The memory of her voice made something in my chest crack.
She reminded me of my mother. Before the bitterness. Before my father's choices broke her.
Victoria used to look at him the same way Elara had looked at me tonight. Like she was daring him to try and stop her. Like she knew exactly how dangerous the world was and chose to face it anyway.
And he'd let her. Let her walk into danger because he was too proud to admit he couldn't protect her from everything.
I wasn't making that mistake.
Tomorrow night. North entrance. 10pm.
Fine. I'd be there. But not to stop her.
To make damn sure she survived what came next.
I pulled out my laptop and started going through Drake's surveillance footage frame by frame. If Elara was walking into that forest then I was going to know every wolf. Every hiding spot. Every possible threat.
Because she was right about one thing.
This was her fight now. Whether I liked it or not.
But that didn't mean she had to fight it alone.