Chapter 110 Kaden's POV
I woke to sunlight and the sound of soft breathing beside me.
For a moment, I was disoriented then I remembered. Elara came to my room last night. Had stayed with me while I talked about Kira had refused to leave me alone with my grief.
She was still here asleep on top of the covers, fully clothed, her hand resting protectively on her stomach.
I turned carefully onto my side to look at her. She looked peaceful in sleep. The stress and worry that usually creased her forehead were gone.
I'd been so focused on protecting her, on controlling every aspect of her safety, that I'd forgotten to just... appreciate her. To see her as she was instead of as someone who needed constant guarding.
She was beautiful, strong , brave in ways I could never be.
And she'd chosen to stay with me last night when she could have left me to deal with my pain alone.
I didn't deserve her but I was going to spend the rest of my life trying to.
Movement caught my eye, a faint blue light emanating from her stomach. Soft. Pulsing gently in rhythm with her breathing.
The lunar pulse, It was beautiful ethereal slowly, carefully, I reached out and placed my hand on her stomach where the light was strongest.
The baby kicked not the violent, painful kicks Elara had described during times of stress. This was a different gentle exploratory like the baby was acknowledging my presence.
I felt tears prick my eyes without warning.
My son, our son, a life we had created together. A child who would never know the loneliness I'd grown up with. Who would have two parents who loved him and each other.
If I could just keep them both safe long enough for him to be born.
The baby kicked again, this time right against my palm. I smiled despite everything despite the Erebus threat, despite the mystery of my sister, despite all of it.
This was what mattered to this family I was building with Elara.
I stayed like that for several minutes, my hand on her stomach, feeling our son move. Watching the blue light pulse, memorizing this moment of peace before the chaos of the day began.
Finally, I carefully removed my hand and slipped out of bed. Elara stirred slightly but didn't wake. I pulled a blanket over her gently, then moved to get dressed.
I had a council meeting this morning to discuss repairs to the eastern border and to plan for future attacks. Had to be the Alpha this pack needed even when I felt like I was falling apart inside.
I dressed quietly in fresh clothes. Left a note on the bedside table for Elara. ‘Let yourself sleep, you need the rest. - K'
Then I headed out to face another day of impossible decisions. The council meeting was tense from the start.
All six elders were present, along with Ethan and the head of our security forces. Maps of the eastern border were spread across the table, marked with the breach points from yesterday's attack.
"The damage is worse than we initially assessed," Elder Marcus said.
"Three sections of the defensive perimeter are compromised. The watchtowers need complete rebuilding and we lost significant equipment in the fire they set."
"What's the cost to repair everything?" I asked.
"Substantial both in resources and manpower." Marcus slid a document across the table.
"This is the preliminary estimate. We are looking at a minimum of six weeks of intensive construction and that's if we divert resources from other projects."
I scanned the numbers, they were astronomical but necessary.
"Approved start immediately to pull workers from whatever projects need to be delayed."
"That will affect the planned expansion of the northern training facilities-"
"I don't care if border security takes priority over everything else. If we can't defend our territory, nothing else matters."
Elder Rowan cleared his throat. "There's another concern. The prisoners we captured. Five Erebus followers are currently in our detention facility. We need to decide what to do with them."
"Interrogate them, find out who sent them, what they were after, and what other attacks are planned."
"We've been trying. They're not talking. Refusing to answer any questions."
"Then make them talk."
"Alpha, there are rules about interrogation-"
"These are enemy combatants who attacked our pack, killed our warriors, and likely have information that could save lives. I don't care about their comfort. I care about protecting my pack. Use whatever methods are necessary."
The elders exchanged uncomfortable glances but didn't argue. After the meeting, Ethan and I went to the detention facility ourselves.
Five Erebus followers sat in separate cells, all of them marked with the same symbols we'd seen before. Three marks arranged in a triangle burned into their skin.
"We'll start with that one," I said, pointing to the youngest-looking prisoner. "He seems the least hardened."
We had him brought to an interrogation room. Hands chained guards stationed outside. Ethan and I sat across from him. The prisoner stared at us with defiant eyes.
"Name," I said.
Silence.
"How long have you been working for Erebus?"
More silence.
"What was the objective of yesterday's attack?"
Nothing.
I leaned forward. "You're going to talk eventually. Whether that happens now or after days of questioning is up to you. But you will tell us what we want to know."
The prisoner smiled. "You can't make me do anything. I serve the true master, not some weak Alpha who can't even protect his own mate."
My hands clenched into fists. "What did you say?"
"You heard me, your precious mate, the one carrying the blessed child. How long do you think you can protect her? We know where she is. We know her routines, we know everything about her."
Ethan put a hand on my arm, warning me to stay calm.
"Who's feeding you information?" I asked, forcing my voice to stay level. "Who in my pack is working with Erebus?”
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
The prisoner leaned back. "There are more of us than you think in your pack in your house. Watching everything you do reporting back to the master."
"Names give me names."
"Kill me first the failsafe spell will trigger anyway. Just like it did with Marcus Reed. Just like it will with all of us."
His smile widened. "You will never get the information you want, never identify the traitors, never stop what's coming."