Chapter 90 Kaden's POV
My wolf was restless.
I sat at my desk reviewing security protocols for the celebration, but I couldn't focus. My wolf kept pushing at me, insisting something was wrong.
‘Where is she?’
'She is with Damian, she is safe.’
"We should be with her, we should be protecting her.’
"She doesn't need us hovering over her constantly."
But my wolf disagreed and had been disagreeing all morning. Ever since Elara had left the dining room, following Damian instead of staying with me, my wolf had been agitated.
I tried to push the feeling aside and focus on work. The celebration was in less than a week. Security had to be perfect. Border patrols doubled guest lists and verified every possible vulnerability addressed.
A knock on my office door interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in."
Selena entered, carrying yet another folder. "I have the final catering menu for your approval."
"Leave it on the desk, I will review it later."
"I thought we could go through it together. There are some decisions that need to be made about the wine selection-"
"Selena, I'm busy."
"I understand, but these decisions are time-sensitive. The suppliers need confirmation by-"
"Then make the decisions yourself. You are hosting the event."
She set the folder down, her smile strained. "Of course. I just thought you would want to be involved in the major choices."
"I trust your judgment on catering. Was there anything else?"
"Actually, yes. I wanted to discuss the seating arrangements for the formal dinner. Traditionally, the host sits beside the Alpha. But with Elara's... situation... I wasn't sure if you wanted her at the head table or-"
"Elara sits beside me, you sit with the other organizers."
Selena's smile disappeared entirely. "But as the host-"
"You're the event coordinator, not Luna. Elara is my mate. She sits beside me at the end of discussion."
"Kaden, people are going to talk. They're going to question why your rejected mate is sitting in the place of honor while I-"
"Let them talk. I don't care what people think."
"You should be careful that these Alphas are looking for any sign of weakness. Any indication that the Blue Moon Pack isn't stable. Having your rejected, pregnant omega mate sitting beside you while the woman who should be Luna is relegated to a lower table sends exactly the wrong message."
I stood up, my patience completely gone. "The wrong message would be me letting you dictate where my mate sits now, get out of my office and don't come back unless it's actually important."
Selena's face flushed with anger and humiliation. "You are making a mistake."
"That's my problem, not yours. Leave."
She left, slamming the door behind her.
I sat back down, but the restlessness was worse now. My wolf was practically clawing at me from the inside.
'Go to her. Now.'
"We have work to do."
'Work can wait until our mate needs us.'
I tried to ignore him and tried to focus on the security reports in front of me.
But the feeling only intensified when something was wrong. I could feel it through the bond, not pain, but unease, worry , fear.
I gave up fighting it.
I left my office and headed back toward the pack house. Maybe Elara had returned from her walk with Damian. Maybe I could check on her, make sure she was okay, and then get back to work with my wolf satisfied.
I was crossing the main courtyard when I saw them.
Elara and Damian, walking back from the forest together. They were talking, their heads close together. Damian said something that made Elara laugh an actual laugh, the kind I hadn't heard from her in days.
Jealousy hit me like a physical blow.
My wolf snarled. 'He's too close to her, too familiar. She laughs with him but barely speaks to us.'
"They are friends that's all."
'He wants to be more. We can smell it on him.'
I watched them approach the pack house. Damian's hand was on Elara's lower back, guiding her around a rough patch of ground, a casual touch protective.
The kind of touch I used to make before I'd destroyed everything between us.
They noticed me when they got closer.
"Kaden," Elara said, her smile fading slightly. "I thought you were working."
"I was. I needed a break." I looked at Damian. "Thank you for checking on her."
"Of course." Damian's hand dropped from Elara's back. "I should get to the medical wing. Patients to see."
He left, and I was alone with Elara.
"You look tense," She said.
"I'm fine. How was your walk?"
"Good. Damian needed to check on some border patrol wolves and I went with him and we talked."
"About what?"
She hesitated. "About the dark figure about what it might be."
My attention sharpened immediately. "And?"
"Can we go inside? I don't want to discuss this in the courtyard."
I led her to my office and closed the door. "Tell me everything."
She explained what Damian had told her. About shadow binding, about how it was a spell used by Erebus's followers, about how whoever cast it had to be close to her had to have regular access.
With every word, my rage built.
"Someone in this pack house has been watching you," I said, my voice tight.
"Someone you see regularly has been using dark magic to spy on you and hurt you."
"That's what Damian said."
"Did he say how to break the spell?"
"He said we need to find the person who cast it. Once they're eliminated, the shadow should disappear."
I was already moving to my desk, pulling out maps of the pack house, lists of everyone who had access to different areas.
"Who has access to your quarters?" I asked.
"The guards stationed outside. The servants who clean. Kara. Damian when he does check-ups." She paused. "And you."
"Who else has been in your room in the past few weeks?"
"Selena, once when she barged in after I first moved into your quarters. But you threw her out."
I made a note. "Anyone else?"
"Ethan, briefly. Elder Miriam visited once. That's all I can remember."
I studied the list. Guards, servants, trusted people. But one of them was a traitor.