Chapter 134 Kaden's POV
I watched Elara as she played with my fingers.
We sat together on the boulder by the waterfall, her body leaning into mine, our hands intertwined. She traced the lines of my palm, following each crease, seemingly mesmerized by something so simple.
"I missed this," She said softly. "Just... being close to you. Touching you knowing you're real."
"I'm real. I'm here."
"For how long?" She looked up at me, her eyes reflecting the fading sunlight. "How long before you have to go back?"
I didn't want to think about that. Didn't want to acknowledge that this stolen moment couldn't last forever.
"Let's not think about that right now, let's just be here together."
She nodded and returned to tracing patterns on my hand. Her touch was gentle, soothing. For the first time since waking from the coma, I felt truly at peace.
Then my phone rang.
Elara stiffened immediately. "Don't answer it."
"I have to, it might be important."
I pulled out my phone. Ethan's name flashed on the screen.
"I need to take this." I stood carefully and walked a few feet away. "What is it?"
"What is it?" Ethan's voice was furious. "What is it? How about where the hell are you?"
"I'm handling something important-"
"You're in the Dark Moon Pack. With Elara don't lie to me. One of the guards saw you leave through the window. We figured out where you went."
"Then you know I'm fine-"
"You're not fine! You're barely recovered from a coma and you drove hours to another pack's territory without telling anyone! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
Ethan took a breath, clearly trying to calm himself. "And that's not even the biggest problem. The State Council member arrived an hour ago. Ryan's with him. They came to check on you to see how you're recovering and discuss some territorial matters."
My stomach dropped. "Tell them I'm resting. That I'm not taking visitors-"
"I already tried that they insisted on seeing you personally. The elders are starting to suspect something's wrong. If they find out you left the territory without permission while still recovering, it will look really bad."
"I don't care how it looks-"
"You should care! You're already fighting to clear Elara's name. If the elders think you're unstable, if they think your judgment is compromised, they'll use it against you. Against her."
He was right. I hated it, but he was right. "What about Ryan? What does he want?"
"He says it's routine. But you know Ryan. He always has an agenda. And having the State Council member with him means whatever he wants is official."
I ran my hand through my hair, frustration burning through me. "How long can you stall them?"
"Maybe three hours four at most. Then they're going to demand to see you or start asking questions we can't answer."
Three hours meant I had maybe two hours of drive time and one hour with Elara.
Not enough, not nearly enough.
"Kaden." Ethan's voice softened.
"I know you want to stay with her. I know how hard this is. But you have to come back. For her sake as much as yours. If you want to clear her name, you need to maintain your authority. You can't do that if you're seen as unstable or irrational."
"She needs me here-"
"She needs you alive and in power. She needs you fighting for her from a position of strength. Not throwing away your authority for a few stolen hours together."
Every word was cut like a knife because every word was true.
"I'll come back," I said finally. "But I need time to say goodbye properly."
"You have an hour, maybe less than you need to be on the road."
He hung up.
I stood there for a moment, phone in hand, trying to figure out how to tell Elara I was leaving.
When I turned back, she was watching me. She already knew.
"You have to go back," She said.
"Yes."
"How long do I have you?"
"An hour. Maybe less."
She nodded, tears already forming in her eyes. "Then let's not waste it."
I returned to her side and pulled her close. We didn't speak. Just held each other as the sun continued to set.
Finally, when I knew I couldn't delay any longer, I pulled back to look at her face.
"Listen to me carefully. Damian is here. He will take care of you. Make sure the baby's healthy. Make sure you have everything you need."
"I know."
"And Xavier I'm trusting him to keep you safe. But if anything feels wrong, if you sense any danger at all, you tell Damian immediately. He will contact Ethan and we will get you out."
"Okay."
"Promise me. Promise me you will be careful."
"I promise."
I kissed her deeply. Intensely trying to pour everything I felt into that one kiss.
When we broke apart, we were both crying.
"I love you," I said.
"I love you and Adrian more than anything in this world. I will fix this. I will clear your name. And I will bring you home."
"I know you will. I believe in you."
"Stay strong for our son for us."
"I will."
One more kiss then I forced myself to let go.
"Kara will take care of you," I said, gesturing to where Kara waited near the car.
"And I'll call every day. Multiple times a day. You won't be alone."
"I'm already alone the moment you leave, I'm alone."
The words broke something in me. But I couldn't stay no matter how much I wanted to.
I walked away before I could change my mind. Before I could throw away everything for a few more hours with her.
The drive back to Blue Moon Pack was agony.
Every mile felt wrong every minute away from Elara was torture.
I called Xavier once I was on the road.
"I'm leaving Dark Moon territory," I said. "Thank you for keeping her safe."
"She's under my protection nothing will happen to her while she's here."
"Make sure Lyssa stays away from her. If that woman goes near Elara again-"
"I've already handled Lyssa. She won't be a problem."
"Good. And Xavier? Thank you for everything."
"Just find out who really poisoned you. Clear her name so she can come home."
"I will. I swear I will."
I drove faster than I should have, racing against time.
Arrived at Blue Moon Pack with minutes to spare. Ethan was waiting at the entrance.
"They're in the main hall. I told them you were finishing treatment with Damian and would be there shortly."
"How do I look?"
"Like you drove for four hours when you should be in bed recovering. But we'll work with it."
I went to my quarters just long enough to change into proper clothes. Then headed to the main hall.
Ryan stood with the State Council member, an older wolf named Marcus who I'd met a few times before. The elders were there too, watching with suspicious eyes.
"Alpha Kaden," Ryan said, extending his hand. "Good to see you recovering so well."
"Ryan. Council Member Marcus. Thank you for coming."
We exchanged pleasantries. Discussed the poison attack, talked about security measures and pack politics.
The whole time, I was thinking about Elara. About leaving her. About how wrong it felt to be here when she was there.
After an hour of discussion, they finally left.
"We'll be in touch," Ryan said. "About that territorial matter we discussed."
..
"Of course."
As they walked out, servants came to clear the refreshments that had been served. One of them passed close to me and I smelled it.
A scent. Faint but distinct, something floral but with an underlying sharpness.
I'd smelled it before. Recently my mind raced backward, trying to place it.
Then it hit me.
The night I was poisoned, the night of the dinner Elara had prepared.
I'd smelled this exact scent in the dining room. Right before I'd started eating. I turned sharply, trying to see which servant it was.
But they'd already left. Disappeared into the kitchen.
"Ethan," I said quietly. "I need you to do something for me."
"What?"
"Find out which servants were working the night I was poisoned. Specifically, which ones served dinner or had access to the dining room."
"Why?"
"Because I just smelled something. A scent I recognized. From that night." I looked at him seriously. "I think one of the servants poisoned me. And they're still here. Still working in this house."
"Are you sure?"
"No. But I'm sure enough to investigate. Quietly. Carefully. Without alerting whoever it is that we're looking."
"I'll start immediately."
He left to begin the investigation.
I stood there in the now-empty hall, my racing. The scent. I'd smelled it the night I was poisoned and I'd just smelled it again.