Chapter 54 Burnout
Kane stood in his penthouse living room as the tailor made final adjustments to his charcoal gray suit. His attention remained fixed on the four bodyguards who had arrived with Victoria.
“The shoulders need to come in slightly,” Victoria said, circling him. “And the break on the pants should be cleaner.”
“Of course, Miss Victoria,” the tailor replied, his voice tight with nerves.
Kane tracked how the bodyguards positioned themselves. Two flanked the door. One stood by the windows. The fourth stayed within arm’s reach of Victoria at all times. They weren’t just protection. They were surveillance.
“New security detail?” Kane asked.
Victoria waved dismissively. “Daddy insists. After what happened to the Hendricks pack, he says I can’t be too careful.” She ran her hand along his lapel, her touch lingering. “Can you believe it? They were attacked during their alliance ceremony. Killed half the wedding party before anyone could react. Very messy. Very public.” She smoothed an invisible wrinkle on his shoulder. “Daddy is just being cautious.”
The tailor cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Sir, if you could lower your left arm slightly.”
Kane complied but kept his eyes on Victoria. “So cautious he sends four bodyguards to see your fiancé? Seems less like protection and more like he doesn’t trust me.”
Victoria’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Can you blame him?”
One of the bodyguards shifted. Kane caught the movement in his peripheral vision. The man’s hand had drifted closer to the weapon at his hip.
They weren’t just protecting Victoria. They were watching him.
“How does the fit feel, Mr. Blackwood?” the tailor asked, tugging at the jacket shoulders.
“Fine.” Kane dropped his arms. “We’re done here.”
“But sir, I haven’t checked the pant length or the…”
“I said we’re done.” Kane’s Alpha voice cut through the room like a blade. The tailor flinched and quickly began packing his supplies with shaking hands.
Victoria stood, smoothing her dress with deliberate slowness. “Always so abrupt. Is it any wonder Father doesn’t trust you?”
“Your father doesn’t trust anyone. That’s how he’s survived this long.”
“True.” She moved toward the door, the bodyguards falling into formation around her like a well-rehearsed dance. “But paranoia tends to be self-fulfilling, don’t you think? The more you suspect everyone of betrayal, the more likely they are to actually betray you.”
She paused at the threshold, glancing back at him. The expression on her face might have been pity. Or warning.
“Five days, Kane. Try not to do anything stupid before then.”
The door closed behind her with a quiet click that somehow felt final.
Kane stood alone in his penthouse, staring at the spot where the bodyguards had been standing. Alexander was tightening his grip. The bodyguards weren’t just watching Victoria. They were gathering intelligence on his movements, his contacts, his plans.
The web was closing in.
Which meant they were running out of time.
Kane pulled out his phone and dialed Luna. It rang four times before going to voicemail.
He tried again ten minutes later. No answer.
Again at 5 PM. Nothing.
By 5:30, concern had shifted to worry. Luna is never away from her phone for this long. Not ever.
Kane grabbed his jacket and headed for the elevator.
Luna sat in the training room on the twentieth floor, Elder Morgana across from her. Luna’s hands trembled as she held them over the silver bowl. The water inside rippled, responding to the pull of her power. She could feel it gathering in her chest, that familiar cool current that marked her as something other. She was progressing, but not enough.
"Again," Morgana instructed. "This time, make it burn."
Luna focused, pulling on the power that felt like liquid fire in her veins. The water began to bubble, steam rising. She pushed harder, feeling the familiar sensation of her abilities awakening.
The water erupted into silver flames.
"Good!" Morgana said. "Now sustain it."
Luna held the flame, sweat beading on her forehead. The fire danced above the water, beautiful and deadly. She could feel it wanting to spread, to consume. This was what she could do to Alexander's corrupted wolves, burn the sickness right out of them.
Something warm dripped onto her lip.
She touched it, her fingers coming away red. A nosebleed.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, wiping it away before Morgana could comment.
“That’s enough for today,” Elder Morgana said, already moving toward her with a cloth.
“No. I almost had it.” Luna pressed the cloth to her nose, tilting her head back. “Give me a minute.”
"Show me your hands."
Reluctantly, Luna held them out. Fine tremors ran through them, and her veins were slightly darker than normal, visible beneath her skin.
"This is what happens when you deny the mate bond while trying to access your full power," Elder Morgana said sternly. "Your body is fighting itself."
"I can handle it."
"For how long? Days? Hours?" Morgana shook her head. "You're burning yourself out, child."
Luna stood, frustrated. "Then teach me to work around it. There has to be another way."
"There isn't. We were designed to work with our mates, not against them."
"Then I'll just have to burn bright enough to finish this before it kills me," Luna said quietly.
Morgana's expression was sad. "And what of your children then? Who protects them when you're gone?"
Luna had no answer for that. She turned back to the bowl. "Again. I need to be stronger."
“Don’t let pride stop you from accepting your fate, child.”
“It’s not about pride.” Luna’s voice cracked. “It’s about control. If I accept the bond, if Kane finds out about the twins, everything I’ve built could fall apart.”
“And if you don’t accept it, you won’t be alive to see what falls apart.”Elder Morgana stood. “Go to the apartment. Rest. You need it.”
“I’m fine…”
“That’s not a suggestion, Luna.” The elder’s expression softened slightly. “You’re no good to anyone dead. Not your children. Not your pack. Not even Kane.”
Luna wanted to argue, but another wave of dizziness hit her. She gripped the arms of the chair, waiting for it to pass.
“Fine,” she whispered. “I’ll rest.”
But she was lying, and from the look on Elder Morgana’s face, they both knew it.
Luna wiped the sweat from her forehead as she moved through another combat sequence in her apartment.
Focus. Control. Breathe.
She channeled energy into her palm, watching the soft golden glow intensify. The power felt different today—wilder, harder to contain.
Her phone showed 4:25 PM. She'd been at this for three hours straight.
One more try.
She gathered the energy, feeling it surge through her bloodstream like liquid fire. The glow expanded from her palm, crawling up her arm. For a moment, it was beautiful. Pure moonlight dancing across her skin.
Then the pain hit.
Sharp. Sudden. Like someone had driven a spike through her skull.
Luna gasped, dropping to her knees. Something warm trickled from her nose. She touched it with trembling fingers.
Blood.
"No, no, no..." She tried to stand, but the room spun violently.
Her vision blurred. The last thing she heard before darkness claimed her was her phone ringing.