Chapter 116 Kaden's POV
I woke before dawn, as usual.
The pack didn't run itself and there was always work to be done. Border patrols to coordinate. Security reports to review the ongoing investigation into Erebus's attacks and the traitors feeding them information.
I was halfway through getting dressed when I smelled it, fresh coffee bacon. Coming from the dining room at this hour? That was unusual.
I finished dressing and headed downstairs, following the scent.
Elara sat at the table, already dressed despite the early hour. A full breakfast spread was laid out with eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and pastries for far more than one person could eat.
"Good morning," She said when she saw me. "I thought you might be hungry."
I stood there for a moment, caught off guard. "You did this? This early?"
"I woke up early and I couldn't sleep so I had the kitchen prepare breakfast for both of us."
She gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit. You are always rushing off without proper meals."
I sat, still processing this. "You ordered the servants around at five in the morning?"
"I'm Luna , that's part of my job, isn't it? Making sure the Alpha is taken care of?"
She poured me coffee. "Besides, the baby who wants breakfast might as well feed you too while I'm at it."
I watched her as I ate. There was something different about her this morning. A nervous energy. The way she kept glancing at me, then looking away like she was worried about something.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong. Why would something be wrong?"
"Because you are acting strange looking at me like I'm going to disappear if you blink."
She laughed but it sounded forced. "I'm just tired and didn't sleep well."
"Is the baby keeping you up?"
"Among other things." She pushed food around her plate.
"I need to go to the medical wing today for a check-up. Make sure everything's progressing normally with the pregnancy."
"I will come with you."
"You don't need to-"
"I want to and honestly, I don't trust Damian right now. Not after yesterday, not with his ex-fiancée in the hospital and everything else going on."
Elara sighed. "Kaden, Damian didn't do anything wrong. Lyssa hurt herself and tried to save her. You can't blame him for that."
"I can blame him for having complicated relationships with unstable women who show up and cause chaos."
"That's not fair, he can't control what other people do."
"Maybe not but he can control how he responds. And pulling you into a hug while covered in blood wasn't the best choice."
"It was a comforting hug between friends, that is all." She set down her fork. "You need to let this jealousy go, it is not healthy."
"It's not jealousy, it is protection."
"It is absolutely jealousy and it is making you see threats where there aren't any."
She looked at me seriously. "Damian is my friend. My doctor is someone who has been there for me when I needed support. I'm not going to cut him out of my life because you can't handle seeing us be friendly."
I wanted to argue and insisted she was wrong but maybe she had a point.
"Fine but I'm still coming to your check-up."
"Fine but you're going to be civil to Damian."
"I will try."
"That's all I ask." She paused. "Actually, there's something else. I want to talk to Lyssa."
"What? Why?"
"Because I want to understand what happened yesterday. I want to hear her side of things. And I want to make sure she's not going to try hurting herself again."
"Absolutely not. You're not going anywhere near that woman-"
"I'm not asking permission, Kaden. I'm telling you what I'm going to do." Her voice was firm.
"Lyssa is a patient in our hospital. She's clearly struggling. As the Luna of this pack, it's my responsibility to check on pack members who are in crisis."
"She's not a pack member. She's from Dark Moon."
"She's a guest in our territory who tried to kill herself. That makes her my concern."
Elara stood. "I'm going to talk to her today. After my check-up you can come with me if you want, but you're not going to stop me."
I stared at her with this new assertiveness, this confidence in her authority. It was exactly what I'd wanted her to develop. But now that she was using it against my protective instincts, it was infuriating.
"You are hiding something," I said.
"You have been looking at me strangely all morning. Protective. Like you are worried about me, what aren't you telling me?"
"I'm not hiding anything. I'm just concerned about you. You've been under so much stress lately with the Erebus attacks and the investigation and everything else. I want to make sure you're okay."
She was lying. I could tell but I didn't know why.
"If there's something going on, something I need to know about, you need to tell me we are supposed to be partners."
"We are partners and when there's something you need to know, I will tell you. Right now, all you need to know is that I love you and I want you safe."
The words stopped me cold. "What did you say?"
She looked surprised, like she hadn't realized what she'd said. "I... I said, "I want you safe."
"Before that you said you love me."
Color flooded her cheeks. "I did, didn't I?"
"Did you mean it?"
She was quiet for a moment then. "Yes. I meant it. I love you, Kaden despite everything. Despite the rejection and the complications and all the chaos. I love you."