Chapter 14 Blood Line Secrets
No." My voice cracked through the chamber with a new authority that made a few wolves shift uneasily. "All the more reason to approach it properly."
I moved closer to the throne, my steps measured, my eyes never leaving Kael's. "I want to question Garrick again. Before we leave."
Kael's eyes flicked over my face, weighing me. "You got everything useful out of him yesterday," he said.
"Did I?" I tilted my head. "He mentioned other conspirators. Luna Council members who supported the attack on my pack. I want names."
Kael studied me for a long moment, his jaw flexing. "You're talking about accusing sitting council members of murder and conspiracy. That's not a road you want to go down," he said.
My lips curved in a humorless smirk. "Why not? Because it might implicate people you need to maintain political relationships with?"
The challenge in my tone made several pack members glance at each other, uneasy as Kael's eyes narrowed, his voice edged with iron. "Because accusations without proof are just noise. And noise gets people killed," he said.
"My parents were killed because people ignored the noise about territorial conspiracies." I closed the distance until the mate bond hummed hot and undeniable between us. "I won't make the same mistake."
Kael's jaw worked. "Lira, be reasonable" he started.
"I am being reasonable," I snapped. "I'm asking for information before we walk into a trap."
His eyes darkened. "You're asking to destabilize the entire regional power structure based on the word of a man who kept you chained for twenty years," he said.
"I'm asking for justice." My voice cut through the air.
"Justice and suicide aren't the same thing." His words hit the floor of the throne room.
The silence was suffocating. Around us, pack members held their breath, waiting to see who would flinch first.
My mouth curved into a dangerous smile. "Fine. If you won't help me get answers, I'll get them myself."
I pivoted and strode toward the doors.
"Where are you going?" Kael's voice lashed across the chamber.
"To have a conversation with Elder Garrick. Privately," I said.
"Everyone out," Kael commanded. His alpha voice brooked no argument.
Chairs scraped. Boots thudded as the pack emptied in a rush, leaving us alone with nothing but our anger and the echo of closing doors.
The silence stretched between us.
"You're pushing me," Kael said at last, his voice a low growl that reverberated in the vast room.
"I'm standing up for myself." My silver-lit hands trembled, but I refused to lower them.
"You're challenging my authority in front of my pack." His shoulders squared, his presence filling the room.
"Your authority?" My voice rose higher. "Is that what this is about? Your precious authority?"
Kael rose from the throne in one fluid, predatory movement. "Everything is about authority," he snapped. "Without it, we're just animals tearing each other apart."
"And with it, we're just animals with better justifications for the tearing," I said, not tearing my gaze away from him.
"Careful, Lira." His voice dipped, intimate and dangerous. "You're walking a very thin line."
"What line?" My words spilled hot and fast. "The one where I'm supposed to smile and nod while you make all the decisions? Where I'm supposed to pretend last night didn't happen?" My voice cracked, rising. "Where I'm supposed to be grateful for scraps of respect from the man who's supposed to be my partner?"
Kael's lips curled into a dangerous smile, his head tilting as he descended the steps toward me. His voice dropped low.
"You keep bringing up the sex I had," he murmured, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Tell me, Lira, are you so furious you can't let it go? Or do you want me to fuck you right here, against this throne, until every protest burns out of you?"
My breath hitched, fury colliding with heat in my chest. "Don't you dare twist this into desire," I said.
His smile deepened. "I don't need to twist anything. Your wolf is already trembling for me. One word, and I'll have you begging," he said.
"You mistake fury for submission," I hissed, though my voice quivered.
"And you mistake defiance for strength." His body leaned close enough that his breath feathered my cheek. "Say the word, and I'll end this argument in the only way your wolf understands—my cock buried inside you until you can't remember why you were angry."
My nails bit into my palms as I shoved him back. "I'm not your outlet, Kael. I want respect not to be taken like a conquest in your throne room," I said.
His smile vanished, leaving his tone sharp. "You want respect? Respect is earned. Not demanded," he said.
"And how exactly do I earn your respect?" I fired back, my voice shaking with rage. "By submitting? By accepting whatever treatment you decide to dish out?"
"By understanding this isn't about you." His voice went glacial. "This pack has three hundred members who depend on my leadership. I won't risk their lives for your personal vendetta."
"Personal vendetta?" The words came out as a whisper, trembling with fury. "My parents were murdered. My entire pack was slaughtered. And you call seeking justice a personal vendetta?"
"I call charging into enemy territory without proper intelligence a suicide mission," he said.
"Then give me proper intelligence!" I snapped. "Help me get the information I need instead of blocking me at every turn."
Kael stopped directly in front of me, so close the heat of him was suffocating. "And if that information confirms that half the regional alphas were involved in the conspiracy? What then? Do you declare war on everyone?" he asked.
"If that's what justice requires." My eyes blazed, silver fire matching his gold fury.
"Justice?" His laugh was jagged. "You want justice? Here's justice: your parents are dead, their killers are mostly dead, and the world moved on. That's reality."
The slap cracked through the chamber before I knew I'd moved. My palm connected with his cheek hard enough to snap his head sideways.
The silence that followed was deafening as Kael turned back slowly, his eyes molten gold with wolf fury. "You just struck your alpha," he said.
"I struck an ass who thinks my family's murder is ancient history," I said.
Something dangerous shifted in his expression. In one fluid movement, he grabbed my wrist and spun me around, pinning my back against his chest. His other hand came up to grip my throat, not tight enough to cut off air but firm enough to make his dominance clear.
"You will never dare raise your hand to me again," he growled against my ear. "Do you understand?"