Chapter 30 THIRTY

Chapter 30 THIRTY
KAEL’S POV

Two knocks rasped against the door before it opened, revealing Carius. “The vampire queen and the Lycan king just replied.”

“Go on,” I said immediately.

He sat across from me, picking up an apple. “She said she knows nothing about the attack and will look into it. According to her, none of her warriors would act without her permission. Once she finds the culprit, she’ll inform us.”

“And the Lycan king?”

“Same thing.” He bit into the apple. “He claims that there are rogue Lycans in his territory and suspects they might be responsible. He said he’ll send their heads the moment he finds them.”

I dropped my pen, jaw tightening as anger surged through me. “They’re lying.”

Carius stilled, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think it’s happening again? Is this the same thing—”

“No,” I snapped.

“But it’s the same, Kael. This is exactly how it started, and—”

“Nope,” I bit out harshly. He sank back into his chair, taking another bite of his apple. 

I clenched my jaw, his words growing inside of me. No. No. That could not be. That can’t be happening again. I had already dealt with that, and signed agreements. It couldn’t be repeating itself.

Not now. Not when I was already close to death.

“The vampires and Lycans are planning something. Gather all the alphas. I want them here tomorrow. We need to prepare.”

“Prepare? What do you mean prepare? You’re talking about war?” he asked, but I didn’t answer.

“But Kael, you can’t…” His voice softened. “You know you can’t.”

“I know,” I snapped, irritation and annoyance sinking into my bones, “That’s why we prepare.”

“You always cut me off.” he snapped back, “ You know I’m saying this for your sake. One fight and you’ll die. One fight and your life is gone!” 

“I’m the alpha king. My life is for my people—”

“Your life is not!” he cut in sharply. “Your life is yours. For yourself. For Atasha. For me. For everyone who cares about you—not just the pack. You work every single day without stopping. Don’t you ever think about us? About yourself? Because of all this, you’re refusing to see what’s right in front of you.”

I frowned. “In front of me?”

“Your mate. Should we talk about that?”

I sat up instantly, my wolf alert. “How does this involve Ilyana?”

He leaned forward. “Why are you refusing the mate bond?”

I scoffed, the question grating my nerves, “Because I don’t have the time for that. You know why.” 

“That’s a lie. You’re hiding behind your curse. Using it to avoid everything else,” he fired back. “I’ve seen how you look at her. How you act around her like a nervous boy instead of an alpha king.”

My anger rose steadily. If he wasn’t my beta, I would’ve ended this already.

“Carius—”

“No!” he snapped. “You’re not shutting me out today.”

“Do you know how much we worry about you? Me and Atasha?”

Suddenly, a frown settled into his forehead and I followed his eyes to meet it on my chest–on the pendant Ilyana gave to me last night. I shut my eyes, sighing heavily. Nothing about this would turn out well. 

“Is that a new neckpiece?

“I’ve had it since.” I lied.

He stood up, reaching for it but I was quicker and stepped back. “Where did you get it?”

I sighed. There was no escaping this. When Carius was like this, he would never drop it,  “Ilyana gave it to me.”

His smile turned dangerous. “And you wore it?”

“Carius—”

“Don’t Carius me. Last time I gave you something, that Atasha gifted you something, you never wore it. They’re in your room, rotting the life away. Expensive things. But suddenly—” he dragged her name, “Ilyana.”

“Carius—”

“You wore hers immediately,” he said, chuckling, amusement dancing in his eyes like a wild fire. “You like her.”

“I do not!” I growled.

“You do,” he chuckled again, the sound annoying, “Why else would you wear that? Why else would you get back from a tiring travel, and request to see her immediately? You asked of her before you even stepped out of the car. Normal Kael would ask about pack matters, papers, but nope. It was her!”

“Carius….” I called.

“And yesternight, the way you rushed to her, touching her and checking her like a mad man. That’s not how someone who don’t care about their mate checks them. You could have checked Lucienne but it was her.” He pointed at me, “You…Like…Her..”

“I do not!” My alpha voice ripped through the room, silencing every single thing. 

Carius staggered back, shock on his face. He picked himself up, standing straight as guilt washed over me instantly.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered.

He exhaled slowly. “There’s nothing wrong with liking your mate.”

I rubbed my face. “For the last time—”

“What are you afraid of?” he cut in.

Everything in me stilled. 

“What did you say?” My voice dropped, a low warning vibrating through the question. 

“No, tell me. What are you scared of? That you’re not worthy? Or that she is too good for you? Because she is. That girl is more than enough for you. In fact, she’s too enough for you. So tell me, what is it you’re so afraid of?”

Silence stretched, thick with heavy tension. We stared back at each other, my fist balled beside me in pure unrestricted anger, “I took a walk with her last night,” I said icily. “I told her I want to know her.”

He blinked, surprise lacing his face, “You did?”

“Yes I did.  She’s… perfect. I know that. And I feel something for her, more than the mate bond, more than you’ll ever know.  I want to see her smile, hear her laugh, learn her, know her, do things for her. but I can’t.”

“Kae—”

“No. I’m still talking.” I bit out harshly and stepped closer to him. “In two full moons, I’ll be dead. Something inside me is killing me slowly and no one can stop it. And for the first time in my wretched work unbothered life, I care enough about something that I don’t want to die.”

His face broke with unwanted emotions, pulling it from my stomach. I pushed his hand away when he tried to reach for me, together with all the emotions.“So no—I won’t drag her into that. I won’t give her hope just to leave her with nothing.”

“But you already started.” he frowned, “Yo…you took a walk with her…You said you told her you want to know her…”

“I’ll know when to stop.” 

His eyes narrowed at me, his mouth opening and closing only for him to smile, mocking and knowing.  “Of course, my lord.”

“Send the messages. I want all of them tomorrow.” I said.

“Of course, my lord,” he echoed, a hint of mockery in his voice. 

I turned to him, irritated by his childishness,  “Are you mocking me for something?”

“No,” he shook his head, trying to hold back a laugh, “Or yes.” he grinned, “Everyone says they know when to stop when it comes to liking someone. I said that with my own mate too. But look at me.”

“I’m not you, Carius.” 

“Of course. You’re the great Alpha King who would never fall in love.”

“You think I’ll fall for her?”

“I think you already have.”

I was angry, irritated and annoyed and would love nothing than to punch his face but I could not. I gritted my teeth, “Then we’ll see.”

Before he could reply, the door creaked open. A head peeked inside and both our gaze snapped towards it. 

“What is it, Tina?”

“Lady Ilyana wants to see you. She said to come quickly.”

My mind went blank. I didn’t think. I was already moving.