Chapter 44 Move to Silverstone Pack
Kaelen's POV
My fist connected with Beta Markus's jaw with enough force to snap his head back, the impact reverberating up my arm as Fenris roared in my consciousness to hit harder, to make it hurt enough to drown out everything else.
Markus recovered quickly and came at me with a combination that should have required my full attention, but I was already moving on instinct alone, my body flowing through defensive patterns while my mind was miles away, focused on a she-wolf who had walked away from me two days ago and left me feeling like I was being torn apart from the inside.
"Again," I growled, not giving him time to catch his breath before I launched forward with an attack that was far too aggressive for a training session, far too brutal for someone who was supposed to be my Beta and not an actual enemy.
Markus blocked the first strike but the second caught him hard in the ribs, driving the air from his lungs in a sharp exhale. He dropped back several steps with his hands raised in a gesture that was more pause than defense, his chest heaving as he looked at me with eyes that had gone cautious and concerned. "Alpha, what the hell is going on with you tonight? I've trained with you for ten years and I've never seen you this close to losing control."
"Nothing," I said tersely, already moving into another attack pattern. "Keep your guard up."
"Kaelen." He used my name rather than my title, which meant he was speaking as a friend. "You're not fighting me, you're fighting something else, and if you don't tell me what it is, you're going to end up doing permanent damage to one of us."
"I found my fated mate," I said abruptly. "Two days ago. And she asked for time before accepting the bond."
The silence that followed was so complete I could hear Markus's heartbeat accelerate with shock before he finally found his voice. "She asked for... I'm sorry, did you just say she's refusing the mate bond?"
"She's not refusing it," I corrected sharply, my wolf bristling at the implication. "She wants to get to know me first, to build a relationship before we complete the marking."
Markus moved closer and I could hear the concern mixing with something that might have been sympathy in his voice. "And you're respecting her wishes by staying here and beating the hell out of me instead of going after her."
"I'm trying to," I admitted, finally turning to face him and letting him see the golden glow of Fenris just beneath the surface of my eyes. "But every instinct I have is telling me to go back, to stay close, to make sure no other male even thinks about approaching her."
Markus studied my face for a long moment before shaking his head slowly. "You're in trouble, Alpha. The kind that doesn't get better with distance."
---
My father summoned me to his study first thing after lunch, and from the formal tone of his request, I knew this wasn't going to be a casual conversation. Alpha King Aldric was standing behind his massive oak desk when I entered, hands clasped behind his back as he stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the pack grounds.
"The Alphas from Moonridge and Shadowpeak both reached out to me yesterday," he said without preamble. "They wanted to know if you've made a decision yet regarding potential mates. Their daughters are both very eager to meet you, and they're wondering why there's been such a delay in arranging formal introductions."
I felt my jaw tighten automatically, felt Fenris bristle at the mere suggestion. "I'm not interested in arranged introductions. I've already told you that."
"I know what you've told me," my father said, finally turning around to face me with an expression that mixed frustration with concern. "But you're the heir to this pack, Kaelen. Eventually you need to choose a mate, and if you continue refusing every option presented to you, people will start questioning your intentions and your ability to lead. If you won't choose someone yourself, then I'll have to start making arrangements for a chosen mate, someone suitable who can—"
"I found my fated mate," I interrupted, the words coming out sharp and final as I met his eyes directly. "So you can tell the Alphas from Moonridge and Shadowpeak and anywhere else that their daughters are no longer under consideration, because I'm not available."
The silence that followed was complete. My father's expression transformed from frustrated to shocked to something that looked almost like joy in the span of about three seconds.
"You found her?" he said, his voice filled with an excitement I hadn't heard from him in years. "Your fated mate? When? Who is she? Why didn't you tell me immediately?"
"Because it's complicated," I said. "And I wanted to figure some things out first."
"Complicated how?" My father moved closer, his eyes searching my face. "The fated mate bond is a gift from the Moon Goddess herself. Who is she? What pack is she from?"
I took a breath. "She's from Silverstone Pack. Elara Sterling. Alpha Sebastian's daughter."
The change in my father's expression was immediate and profound, his shock transforming into something close to elation as he actually smiled. "Sterling's daughter? Kaelen, that's perfect. Absolutely perfect. Silverstone is one of the most powerful packs in the entire region, and an alliance through a fated mate bond would strengthen both our positions considerably. When are you planning to complete the marking? We should arrange a formal ceremony, invite the other Alphas, make this official and—"
"We're not completing the marking yet," I cut him off before he could get too carried away with plans. "She wants time first. Time to get to know me, build a relationship, make sure this is what she wants before we make it permanent."
My father's smile faltered, confusion replacing the joy. "Time? What do you mean time? She's your fated mate. The bond is already there, created by the Moon Goddess herself. What more does she need to know?"
"She needs to know me as a person, not just as her fated mate," I said. "She's been through things, had experiences that make her wary of rushing into anything permanent. I'm giving her the space she needs to feel comfortable with this."
My father was quiet for a long moment, his eyes studying me with an intensity that made me feel like I was being evaluated. Finally, he let out a long breath and nodded slowly. "That's actually quite wise of you, son. Most young wolves would have pushed for immediate marking regardless of their mate's feelings, but you're showing patience and respect for her autonomy. That speaks well of your character and your ability to lead with wisdom rather than just strength."
I hadn't expected support, and it caught me completely off guard.
"That being said," my father continued, moving back around his desk to sit in his chair, "prolonged separation from your fated mate is going to make you unstable, possibly even dangerous if it goes on too long. Have you considered relocating to Silverstone Pack temporarily? It would allow you to be near her, to court her properly and build the relationship she's asking for, without the physical distance making the bond more difficult to manage."
The idea immediately appealed to both me and Fenris. Being closer to Elara, even if we weren't together yet, would at least ease some of the constant pull.
"I can handle pack business here," my father said, pulling out a notepad and starting to make notes. "You've trained the Betas well, and there's nothing happening that requires your immediate presence. Take the time you need to win your mate's trust and complete the bond properly. That's more important than anything else right now."
---
By the time I made it back to my private suite that evening, I was exhausted from a full day of meetings and planning. All I wanted was a hot shower, maybe some food, and then to pass out for a few hours before the restlessness started again.
What I got instead was Seraphina sprawled across my bed in lingerie that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, her dark hair spread across my pillows and her lips curved in what she probably thought was a seductive smile.
Fenris went from restless to absolutely murderous in about half a second, a snarl ripping through my chest as my eyes shifted to gold and I felt my control start to slip dangerously. The sheer audacity of another she-wolf in my space, in my bed, presenting herself like this when I had a fated mate.
"Alpha Kaelen," Seraphina purred, sitting up slightly and running one hand down her body. "I heard you haven't chosen a mate yet, and I thought perhaps I could offer myself as a candidate. My bloodline is strong, my father is a Delta, and I've admired you for so long. I could be exactly what you need."
"Get out," I growled, my wolf so close to the surface that I could feel my canines extending and my claws starting to emerge. "Right now."
Seraphina either didn't notice the danger or chose to ignore it, because instead of leaving she actually slid off the bed and moved closer to me, her hand reaching out to touch my chest. "Don't be so hasty. A chosen mate can be just as valuable as a fated one, and I promise I can give you everything you could possibly want. Power, status, strong children to secure your line—"
The moment her hand made contact with my skin, something inside me snapped completely. The Alpha command that exploded out of me was so powerful it actually made the windows rattle in their frames.
"I SAID GET OUT!"
Seraphina's face went white with pure terror, her body immediately dropping into a submissive crouch as the command hit her like a physical blow. She was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering, her eyes wide and glassy with fear as she scrambled backward toward the door.
"I have a fated mate," I snarled, advancing on her slowly, watching her cower and retreat with every step I took. "What you just did was an insult not just to me but to her, to the bond the Moon Goddess herself created between us. If you or anyone else from your family ever tries something like this again, I will make sure every single one of you pays the price for disrespecting what is sacred. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Alpha," Seraphina gasped out, her voice breaking on a sob as she finally reached the door and yanked it open with trembling hands. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't know, please forgive me—"
"Get out of my sight," I said, the command absolute and final.
She fled without another word, practically falling over herself in her panic to escape, and I slammed the door behind her hard enough to crack the wooden frame.