Chapter 200 Kaden's POV

Chapter 200 Kaden's POV


Dr. Chen's office looked the same as before. Professional. Calm. Safe.

But Dr. Chen herself looked terrible.

Her left eye was swollen, poorly concealed with makeup. A fresh bruise darkened her jaw. She moved stiffly, like her ribs hurt.

"Thank you for coming," She said, her professional mask firmly in place. But her hands trembled as she gestured us to sit.

Elara went to her immediately. "Sarah. What happened? Did he-"

"Fred is away on business, he left yesterday. He will be gone all week." 

She sat down carefully, wincing. "We're safe to talk."

"You are not safe, look at you." I kept my voice controlled, but fury burned through me. "He did this after we left, didn't he?"

She nodded, tears forming. "He was furious and said I had embarrassed him. Made him look bad in front of guests. That I had been too quiet at dinner, too nervous, that you must have suspected something."

"So he beat you to punish you for our suspicions."

"He always finds a reason, always finds something I did wrong." 

She wiped her eyes. "But he is gone now and I have a week. A week to figure out what to do. Whether to run, whether to stay and try to make it work somehow."

"You can't make it work with someone who hurts you," 

Elara said firmly. "That is not how healthy relationships function."

"I know logically, I know but fifteen years of marriage and two children, a life built together, it is hard to just walk away from that."

"It is harder to stay and keep getting hurt."

Dr. Chen was quiet for a moment. Then she straightened her shoulders, putting on her professional demeanor. "But we are here for your therapy not to discuss my problems let us focus on you."

"Sarah-"

"Please, Elara, let me do my job and help someone, even if I can't help myself right now."

The session lasted two hours. Dr. Chen asked detailed questions about Elara's trauma. The visions, the lunar pulse, the feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control.

I sat quietly, listening. Learning things about my mate I hadn't known. Depths of pain she had been hiding fears she would never voiced.

"The vision of your death," Dr. Chen said.

"Do you believe it was a prophecy? Or manifestation of suicidal ideation?"

"I don't know. It felt real like I was seeing my actual future."

"But the lunar pulse also shows you the truth, correct? Past events, hidden darkness in people."

"Yes."

"Then perhaps the vision wasn't showing you what will happen. Perhaps it was showing you what could happen if you don't address the trauma and the stress you're carrying."

Elara went very still. "A warning not a prediction."

"Exactly your mind, enhanced by divine power, showing you the worst possible outcome to motivate you toward healing."

"That... actually makes sense."

They discussed coping mechanisms. Grounding techniques. Ways to manage the overwhelming influx of information from the lunar pulse.

Finally, Dr. Chen turned to me. "Kaden, I would like to discuss your relationship dynamics."

"What about them?"

"Elara mentioned you have never actually dated. That your relationship has been defined entirely by crisis and survival."

"That is true we went from rejection to pregnancy to war, not much time for romance in between."

"Romance is important. intimacy both emotional and physical, is crucial for maintaining a healthy bond." 

She pulled out a notepad. "I'm going to give you some homework, specific ways to build intimacy outside of crisis."

She listed suggestions for date nights, non-sexual physical affection. Shared activities that had nothing to do with pack responsibilities and communication exercises.

"And physical intimacy," She added. "When was the last time you were intimate?"

Elara's face flushed. "Before Adrian was born. So over a year ago, including the pregnancy."

"And since Elara recovered from childbirth?"

"We haven't, I have been... hesitant, afraid of hurting her or pushing her when she's dealing with so much."

"And you?" Dr. Chen asked Elara. "How do you feel about physical intimacy?"

"I want it. I miss that connection with Kaden. But he has been distant. I thought maybe he wasn't attracted to me anymore after everything my body has been through."

I turned to stare at her. "Not attracted to you? Elara, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I'm constantly fighting the urge to touch you."

"Then why haven't you?"

"Because I'm terrified! The last time we were intimate, I rejected you afterward. Destroyed you. What if some part of me does that again?"

Dr. Chen held up a hand. "This is excellent. You are both communicating fears you haven't voiced. Now let's work on solutions."

She gave us specific advice, how to rebuild physical intimacy slowly. How to communicate during sex, how to make sure both partners felt safe and desired.

By the end, both Elara and I were blushing but also hopeful.

"Thank you," Elara said.

"For everything, for helping me understand the visions, for helping us reconnect."

"It is my job and honestly, focusing on your problems helps me avoid thinking about my own."

We were gathering our things to leave when Dr. Chen's phone rang.

She answered, her face went pale. "What? Are you sure? When?"

She hung up and looked at us with panic in her eyes. "That was a colleague. Fred's business trip was cancelled. He is on his way back. He will be here in three hours."

"Then we leave now before he arrives."

"No." Elara stood. "This is our chance to catch him in the act to get evidence."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sarah, would you be willing to let us hide in your house? Wait for Fred to come home? We can record whatever happens and finally get proof of the abuse."

"You want to use me as bait?" Dr. Chen looked horrified.

"I want to give you evidence that will stand up in court. That will protect you and your children when you finally decide to leave." 

Elara's expression was intense. "But only if you consent. Only if you are willing to take that risk."

Dr. Chen was quiet for a long moment. "If you are there. If you can intervene if it gets too bad then yes let us do it."

"Elara, this is dangerous-" I started.

"Everything is dangerous but this might be our only chance to help her." 

She looked at me. "Please, Kaden. Let's try."

I didn't like it, didn't like the risk, didn't like using Dr. Chen as bait.

But Elara was right without evidence, Dr. Chen was trapped unable to leave without losing everything.

"Okay we do this but at the first sign of serious danger, we intervene immediately."

We drove to Dr. Chen's house the children were at school still, giving us time to prepare.

Dr. Chen showed us to a large closet in the master bedroom. "You can hide here, you will be able to hear everything."

Elara set up her phone to record we tested the angle, made sure it would capture everything.

Then we waited.

One hour, two hours, three hours.

Finally, we heard a car in the driveway a door slamming heavy footsteps.

"Sarah! I'm home!"