Page 114 of Fated
Ava’s mask slipped, anger flashing raw and unfiltered. “I’ve weathered every storm with you. Elias’s death, the rogues, every Goddess-damned thing this pack has thrown at us since we were pups. And her? You’ve known her for a month. You really think she’s the one for you?”
“How long will you let her chain you with guilt?”Orion’s tone dripped with disdain for Kai’s former lover.
“This isn’t about her,” Kai repeated. Resolve threaded through his voice where there had once been doubt. “It’s not about my dad, or Caleb, or anyone else. It’s aboutus. And right now, you’re destroying our friendship because you won’t acknowledge the truth.” He met her gaze without flinching for the first time. “I care about you, Ava,” he said, voice quieter but unbending. “But you arenotmy forever.”
Ava’s gaze locked onto Kai with predatory focus. The air between them pulsated with unspoken words, the silence crackling like the moment before lightning struck. “You’re a coward.” Each syllable calculated to find purchase in the fractures of his confidence. Her eyes never left his face, searching for the wound her words would open. “And she’s not good for you, but you’re too terrified of disappointing Daddy, too afraid of actually being the alpha you were born to be, to see what’s right in front of you.”
Kai saw her declaration for what it was: the desperate final play of someone losing their grip. Still, her accusations slid beneath his skin like splinters. The tension between them thickened, breathing, expanding, nearing the point of combustion.
“She’s wrong.”Orion assured.“You’re not afraid of losingher. You’re afraid of letting yourself heal, letting yourself be happy.”
Kai stood motionless as understanding crystallized within him—sharp-edged and painful, but undeniably clear. His gaze dropped, not in submission as she might believe, but inrecognition of a truth he’d been avoiding. “Maybe I am a coward, Ava,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes again. “But not for the reasons you think.”
The transformation that swept across her face was instant—practiced vulnerability hardening into something bitter and ugly. In that moment, the mask fell completely.
“You’ll regret this,” she spat, each word both promise and threat. “When she’s gone and you’ve lost everything, you’ll regret it.”
The statement hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, Kai felt a pang of doubt. This wasn’t how he’d wanted things to end. Despite everything, he’d hoped to salvage something of their friendship. He remained silent, staring at the ground as Ava turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance.
Kai let his legs fold beneath him. His back slid down a scorched beam until he hit the ground, ashes rising around him in a small cloud that settled onto his shoulders alongside the bite of her parting words.
Orion’s presence settled in his consciousness like an anchor in rough waters.“Let her go, Kai. Then you’ll see what you’ve been blind to all along.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
LENA
Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting golden patches over the long oak table where Lena sat. Her fingers tightened around the steaming cup of tea in her hands, the scent of chamomile and honey rising with the heat, its warmth doing little to ease the chill settling in her chest. The dining hall was quieter now, though the emotion of last night’s rituals hovered like a shadow.
Beyond the windows, Bloodstone’s packlands stretched out, still battered butalive. Wolves moved about, tending to the aftermath of the rogue attack, their movements steady and purposeful. The distant sound of hammers and saws drifted in, arhythm of rebuilding. There was a resilience here that humbled Lena, but today it only underscored the ache in her heart.
Elara shifted beneath her skin, her presence a tangle of conflicting instincts.“We could belong here,”the wolf whispered. “With time. With healing.”
Lena pushed the thought away. This wasn’t her home. It likely never would be.
“Lena.” Darius’s warm voice broke through her thoughts.
She turned to find the Bloodstone Alpha standing a few steps away, his normally authoritative pine scent tempered with exhaustion. Gratitude crossed his features, but there was something else too—something more profound.
“Alpha Darius,” she greeted, voice holding strong despite the emotions tangling inside her. She set her cup down, inclining her head in respect.
“None of that.” he waved off her formality as he stepped closer. “You’ve earned the right to call me Darius.” He took the seat across from her. “Are you about ready to leave?”
Lena nodded, meeting his gaze. “I am. My pack needs me. Cian’s ceremony is in three days.”
The corner of Darius’s mouth lifted. “Of course. Ever the responsible one.” His smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. “But I couldn’t let you leave without thanking you properly.”
Lena’s brow furrowed. Darius had expressed his gratitude multiple times throughout the week, but she remained silent as he continued.
“Lena, you’ve been more than I could have hoped for. The way you’ve supported Bloodstone, carried its weight…” His voice caught, and he paused, hands resting on the table. “You stepped into a role that isn’t even yours yet, and you did it with grace and strength I can only marvel at. It’s more than I could’ve imagined. You’ve surpassed every expectation.”
His recognition tested the fragile dam she’d constructed around her emotions. The mate bond pulsed beneath her skin, an uncomfortable throbbing that spread from her chest outward. Darius was right, but she knew she couldn’t stay. The sincerity of his praise made the truth she was about to share feel even heavier.
She swallowed hard, pressing her fingernails into her palms to ground herself. The pain helped focus her thoughts, pushing back the burning behind her eyes. “Bloodstone is full of incredible wolves,” she said softly, voice steadier than she felt. “They deserved every ounce of effort I could give.”
Darius studied her, green eyes sharp but kind. “I meant what I said last night. You will be an extraordinary luna. Knowing that Kai has you by his side makes me feel good about stepping down.”
The words pierced her like a blade between ribs. Her fingers curled around her cup, knuckles white against the ceramic. A cold sweat broke across her skin despite the warmth of the tea seeping into her palms. She took a steadying breath, fighting against the tightness in her chest, and stated with quiet determination, “Darius, I need to tell you something.”
