Chapter 99 *

Chapter 99 Chapter 99
Caelan's POV
She didn't push me away.
I stood there, my arm around Aria's waist, waiting for her to shove me off or tell me to let go.
But she didn't.
Her back was pressed against my chest. I could feel her heartbeat. My own heart was doing something strange. Something I hadn't felt in years.
Satisfaction mixed with... something else. Something warmer.
I'd expected resistance. Expected her to pull away immediately like she always did.
Instead, she just stood there. Frozen.
I could feel the heat radiating from her face. She was blushing.
Angelina. The former Alpha King who'd conquered forty-nine Packs. The strongest warrior I'd ever met.
Was blushing because I was holding her.
A smile threatened to break through my controlled expression. I kept it down. Barely.
Around us, the high school kids were still making noise. Squealing. Taking photos. Talking about how romantic this was.
I didn't care about any of them.
All I cared about was the fact that Aria hadn't pushed me away.
Then I heard movement. Someone was running toward us.
I turned my head slightly. Kept my arm around Aria.
A guy was walking toward us. He looked angry. He looked familiar. I'd seen him before. At Roseville High School. The campus king or something.
What was his name? Kai?
He was wearing a shirt on top. But below that, just boxer shorts. Nothing else. His legs were completely bare.
He looked ridiculous.
But his face was twisted in rage. His eyes were locked on Aria. Not on me. On her.
Like he was looking at something he was about to lose.
I felt my jaw tighten.
I knew that look. I'd seen it on other men's faces before. When they looked at things they wanted but couldn't have.
This boy wanted Aria.
The temperature around me dropped. My soldiers felt it immediately. I could see them shift their stances. Hands moving closer to their weapons.
Kai stopped about five feet away. His chest was heaving. His fists were clenched.
"Who the hell are you?" His voice came out loud. Aggressive.
I didn't answer. Just looked at him with cold eyes.
"What gives you the right to touch her like that?" Kai took another step forward. "You can't just grab someone without their permission! That's assault!"
I felt Aria shift slightly in my arms. Her eyebrows drew together. She looked annoyed. Just annoyed that this boy was here. That told me everything I needed to know.
My expression went completely cold. But Kai wasn't paying attention to me. He was still looking at Aria.
"Aria," he said. His voice softened slightly. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He reached out. His hand extending toward Aria's arm.
That was the final line. I moved.
My arm stayed around Aria's waist. Holding her secure against me.
My right leg came up. My boot connected with Kai's knee.
The crack was audible. Kai's leg buckled immediately. He dropped to his knees on the grass.
Before he could react, my boot came up again. Swept across.
Connected with the side of his head.
Kai's face slammed into the ground. His cheek pressed into the grass and dirt.
I kept my boot on his head. Applied pressure. Not enough to cause permanent damage. But enough to keep him down.
Enough to make it clear he couldn't move. Couldn't get up. Couldn't do anything.
Kai's hands scrabbled at the ground. Trying to push himself up.
I pressed down harder. His face ground into the dirt.
Around us, I heard gasps. People backing away.
Kai made a choking sound. His words came out muffled against the ground.
"I... I didn't... please..."
I thought this kid need a reality check. Help him get back on track. I straightened up. Looked at my soldiers. They'd already moved. Five of them stepped forward. Pulled out their sidearms. Standard issue Glock 19s.
Five guns pointed at Kai's head. All of them ready to fire.
The clearing went completely silent.
Even the kids who'd been squealing and taking photos stopped. Kai felt the gun barrels against his skull. His entire body went rigid.
"No," he whispered. "No no no no—"
His voice was shaking. "Please," Kai gasped out. "Please don't— I didn't mean— I'm sorry—"
He was crying now. Actual tears running down his face. Mixing with the dirt on his cheek.
"Zoey!" he shouted suddenly. "Zoey, help! Please!"
But Zoey was still on the ground where I'd kicked her earlier. She didn't move. Just stared with wide eyes.
"Silas!" Kai's voice cracked. "Silas, please! Help me!"
"WAIT!" A young man burst through the crowd. He had his hands up. Waving them frantically.
"WAIT! Please wait!"
He ran toward my soldiers. Stopped right in front of their guns.
He was brave. "Please," he said. His voice was urgent. "Please don't shoot him."
One of my soldiers spoke. "Step aside. We have orders."
"I know," the young man said. "But she's my Master."
He pointed at Aria.
"And you're her..." he paused. Seemed to search for the right word. "You're her man. Her boyfriend. Whatever you want to call it."
I felt my eyebrow raise slightly. Interesting.
"I'm begging you," the young man continued. "As her student. Please spare him."
He turned slightly. Addressed Aria directly now.
"Master, I know Kai's an idiot. I know he deserves this. I've been telling him to leave you alone. To stop bothering you."
His voice was earnest. "I swear on my honor, I'll make sure he never comes near you again. He'll disappear from your life completely. You'll never have to see him or deal with him."
He dropped to one knee. "Please. Just spare his life."
I looked at Aria. Her brow furrowed.
The young man— Silas, Kai had called him— stayed on one knee. Waiting.
He glanced at me. "Boss. Sir. I know I have no right to ask this. But please. Let me handle him my way."
He was showing proper respect. Smart kid.
But more importantly, he'd called Aria my woman. In front of everyone.
That was... acceptable.
I raised my hand slightly. Made a small gesture.
My soldiers immediately lowered their weapons. Stepped back. Returned to formation.
Kai was still on the ground. Sobbing. His whole body shaking.
Silas stood up. Walked over to Kai. Grabbed him by the arm. Hauled him to his feet.
"You're done," Silas said quietly to Kai. "You're fucking done. Do you understand?"
Kai couldn't even form words. Just nodded. Still crying.
"Get away from her," Silas continued. "Forever. If I see you near her again, I'll kill you myself."
Kai nodded again. Stumbled away.
I turned back to Aria. My hand moved from her waist to her wrist.
"Come," I said simply.
I started walking toward the lead helicopter. Pulling Aria with me.
She didn't resist. Just walked beside me.
Behind us, I could hear the whispers starting again.
"Oh my god..."
"He's taking her with him..."
"This is so intense..."