Chapter 8

EIRA VALE

The courtyard was buzzing.

Lanterns swung from posts, flickering like tiny stars, casting uneven light across the gathered pack members and visiting clans. Music floated from the far end of the yard, the drums soft but insistent. Laughter, chatter, footsteps — all blending into a hum that made my nerves crawl.

I hated gatherings.

Especially gatherings where other men noticed me.

And they did.

The moment I stepped onto the cobblestone path, I felt the gaze. A sharp, assessing, almost predatory gaze that made my skin itch and my heart trip.

I ignored it.

Until Kael stepped beside me.

“Eira.” His voice low, a growl under the surface. Close enough that the heat of him brushed my arm. “Stay near me.”

“I can take care of myself,” I shot back, trying to keep my tone light.

“You’re surrounded by strangers,” he said, eyes scanning the crowd. “Some of whom don’t know what’s mine… and I won’t watch them take it.”

I huffed, pretending not to shiver at the way his words sounded more like a threat than reassurance. “Yours? I’m not… yours.”

He didn’t answer. Not at first. His jaw tightened. The tendons in his neck flexed, and I caught the edge of something dangerous in his gaze — the thing that had scared me in the forest, the thing that had ripped my breath away last night.

And then I saw him.

The visitor.

Tall, broad-shouldered, perfectly arrogant, with the kind of confidence that made a room pause. He approached with a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes — the type of smile designed to unsettle. And he didn’t even bother pretending to ignore me.

“Ah… you must be Eira,” he said, voice smooth, practised. “Kael’s mate, yes? I'm Ethan, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I froze.

My pulse hammered.

Kael’s hand slid to my lower back, pressing me subtly against his side. Just enough to let me know he was there. Just enough to warn.

“I’m…” I began, but Kael’s growl cut through me before I could finish.

“Don’t,” he said, tone low and clipped. Not loud enough for the crowd, but sharp enough to make the visitor hesitate.

The man’s smirk faltered. “Kael…” he said, but Kael didn’t look at him. Not really. His gaze was on me, smouldering, tight, dangerous.

“You know what?” I said, stepping slightly away to glare up at Kael. “You’re acting ridiculous. He’s just talking to me.”

“You’re my mate,” he said, voice rougher, harsher than anything he had said before. “Talking isn’t allowed when it comes from him.”

I froze again.

“Excuse me?” I hissed, trying to keep my words sharp, but my voice shook. “He hasn’t done anything. And you can’t—”

“I can do anything,” he growled, cutting me off. His hand slid to my hip, fingers curling possessively. “And I will. If you let him even glance at you the wrong way.”

I took a step back, but he followed, closing the distance. My own pulse betrayed me. I hated that I wanted him so badly that part of me ached to lean into him.

“Kael!” I said, tone sharper, teasing edge hiding the flutter in my chest. “Control yourself. You’re in front of half the pack.”

He smirked, almost feral. “And I’m struggling.”

Ethan tried to save his composure, though his lips twitched with barely hidden amusement. “I wasn’t aware Kael’s mate came with… a warning system.”

"I don't. And I'm not just his mate, I'm a healer."

"I know, you're quite popular. Your skills and your beauty, of course." Ethan added with a smirk.

"Thank..."

"There is no reason to speak to her." Kael interrupted me.

"She has a will of her own Alpha Kael." He said in a mocking manner. " If she wants me gone, it will be her personal choice."

I stiffened.

Kael’s jaw flexed. He leaned closer to me, lowering his voice until it was barely a whisper.

“Say something,” he murmured.

I bit back a grin and whispered, equally low: “I think you’re ridiculous too. And possibly insane.”

He growled. Low. Taut. Hunger wrapped around his words. “Good. You’ll need that edge.”

And then — before I could react — his eyes snapped back to the visitor. A dangerous, predatory gleam.

“You leave,” Kael said, tone lethal. “Now.”

The man blinked, smirk faltering. “Kael, I—”

“I said now,” Kael repeated, sharper.

The visitor straightened, glared sliding between the two of us, and finally turned on his heel, retreating with a stiff bow.

I exhaled, relief warring with adrenaline. “Wow. That was dramatic.”

Kael grabbed my hands and pulled me sharply away from the gathering.

"Kael! What are you doing?" I tried breaking out, but his grip was too strong. "Let go of me. As much as I'd rather be in my room, it'll be rude to just leave."

"I can leave when I want to."

"That doesn't mean you should." I added, trying to talk some sense into his thick skull, but he ignored me and continued walking. He finally stopped when we were a good distance away and surrounded by trees.

"Why did you bring me here?" I said as I looked into his eyes, trying to understand what he was up to.

Kael didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His gaze burned into me. “Do you know what you do to me?” he asked, voice rough.

“What I do to you?” I echoed, raising a brow.

“Yes. Exactly this,” he growled, moving closer until his body pressed against mine. “You provoke me. You frustrate me. You irritate me. And then, when I’m trying to be rational, you smile at me, argue with me, talk back… and I want you so badly I can’t think.”

I swallowed. Hard. “You… you realize you’re insane, right?”

He didn’t answer. Not with words. Only with the heat of his body, the weight of his hand against my hip, his forehead nearly resting on mine.

“You’re mine,” he said finally. “Do you understand?”

I bristled, even as heat pooled low in my stomach. “I’m not anyone’s, Kael.”

“Yes, you are.” His fingers tangled in my hair, tilting my head toward him. “And I’ve waited long enough to prove it.”

I tried to step back. He blocked me with ease. My heart hammered. My lips parted involuntarily.

“Kael!” I whispered. “People—”

“They won’t see,” he growled. His lips were a hair away from mine. His breath was hot, intoxicating. “Not unless I let them. And I’m not.”

Then — suddenly — his lips crushed against mine.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t careful. It was fire and need and desperation all at once. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer even as my mind screamed to push him away.

The world around us — the lanterns, the music, the pack — dissolved. There was only him. Only heat, only teeth grazing, only teeth biting back soft groans.

He broke the kiss for air, forehead resting against mine. “Do you understand now?” he murmured.

I could barely breathe. “Yes.”

“Good.” He smiled — wild, feral, victorious. “Because I’m not stopping.”

I laughed — sharp, breathless, full of disbelief — and kissed him back with equal fire.

The forest, the gathering, the politics, the sickness — none of it mattered. Only this. Only him. Only the chaos that was Kael Thorne, Alpha, and mate, completely losing control.

We broke apart again, chest to chest, hearts pounding in unison. My lips tingled. My legs shook.

And somewhere in the distance, music played on, oblivious.

Kael rested his forehead against mine once more. “You’re mine,” he whispered. “Every glance, every word, every heartbeat. You belong to me, Eira. Don’t forget it.”

“I—” my voice faltered, heat still raging. “You’re insane.”

“And you love it,” he said, lips twitching into a dark smile.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart betrayed me. I knew it was true.

The sickness could wait. Tonight, we were fire and shadows, danger and desire, and neither of us would survive the pull between us without falling completely.