Chapter Six: The Morning After The Claiming

LARA'S POV

I woke up to complete silence.

Not the peaceful kind of silence where you can still hear your own breathing or the rustle of sheets. This was the absolute, suffocating silence that came with Day 4 of my deaf week, the kind where the world existed only in what I could see and feel.

My eyes opened to unfamiliar ceiling beams. For a moment, I panicked before memory flooded back—Kael's chambers, and Northwind Palace. I was Luna now.

Father had dropped me off early this morning after the Claiming Ball, barely staying long enough to see me settled. Your place is with your Alpha now; he'd signed before leaving. Dante had looked conflicted, but he'd gone too. And I'd been alone with Kael for the first time as his official Luna.

I felt the bed shift beside me, vibrations through the mattress, and turned my head to find Kael propped on one elbow, watching me. His lips curved into a smile as he leaned down.

The kiss was soft. When he pulled back, his lips moved slowly so I could read them. Good morning, my Luna.

I smiled back automatically, the way I'd practiced a thousand times in the mirror—the dutiful, grateful omega who couldn't believe her luck. But inside, I felt nothing like the way my skin had burned when Cian touched my wrist the other night.

I shut that thought down hard.

"Good morning," I said aloud, though I couldn't hear my own voice. I'd gotten good at modulating my tone over the years, but during my deaf weeks, I never quite knew if I was too loud or too soft.

Kael's expression was pleased as he brushed hair from my face. His lips moved again, slower this time. I have council meetings this morning, but I wanted to wake up with you first. My perfect mate.

Perfect. Right. The broken omega who went deaf five days a month and couldn't shift.

But I smiled wider and leaned into his touch like I was supposed to. Like I'd dreamed of doing since I was fourteen years old. "Thank you for choosing me," I said, watching his face carefully for his reaction.

His smile widened. He kissed my forehead and slipped out of bed, all lean muscle and confidence as he stretched. He turned back to me, lips moving.

Get dressed. We have breakfast with the council in one hour. They want to officially welcome their new Luna.

My stomach clenched with nerves, but I nodded. "I'll be ready."

He disappeared into the bathroom, and I forced myself out of bed. The stone floor was cold under my bare feet, sending a chill up my legs. I walked to the wardrobe Kael had shown me this morning, filled with dresses he had made for me. All in colors he liked and all in styles that would please the council.

I chose a deep blue dress, Kael's favorite color on me, and laid it across the chair. As I started to unbutton my nightgown, something caught my eye.

A faint shimmer on my left wrist.

I froze, holding my arm up to the morning light streaming through the tall windows. It was so subtle I might have imagined it, like a mother-of-pearl catching the sun. But as I turned my wrist, the shimmer moved with it, following the path where Cian's fingers had touched me at the Claiming Ball.

My heart started racing. I looked toward the bath room and saw steam escaping from under the door. Kael was occupied.

I hurried to the small washing basin near the wardrobe and grabbed the cloth beside it. I scrubbed at the mark, hard enough that my skin turned pink. Nothing happened..

I switched tactics, wetting the cloth and adding soap and scrubbing harder. Still nothing.

"No, no, no," I whispered to myself, though I couldn't hear the words. What was this? Why wouldn't it come off? If Kael saw this, if he asked questions...

The movement reflected in the small mirror above the basin made me jump. Kael stood in the doorway of the bath room, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair damp. His expression was concerning.

His lips moved. Are you okay? You look worried.

I dropped the cloth immediately, hiding my wrist behind my back like a child caught stealing sweets.

My mind raced for an explanation as I brought my other hand up to sign.

My hands moved quickly, just nervous about being Luna. I want everything to be perfect for breakfast.

It was close enough to the truth that the lie came easily. I'd been lying to myself about the twins all night anyway. What was one more lie?

Kael's expression softened immediately. He crossed the room to me, and I had to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. He was so tall, so strong, like everything an Alpha should be. He pulled me into an embrace, one hand cupping the back of my head.

I felt his chest move against mine. He was speaking, probably saying something comforting, but I couldn't see his lips pressed against my hair. I just stood there, wrapped in his arms, feeling nothing but the desperate need to hide my left wrist from his view.

When he pulled back, he kept his hands on my shoulders, making sure I could read his lips clearly. You're already perfect. The council will love you. Just be yourself.

Myself? The broken omega who was lying to her mate on their first morning together. Sure.

I nodded, forcing another smile. "Thank you. I won't disappoint you."

His thumb brushed my cheek. His lips moved again. You could never disappoint me, Lara. You're everything I wanted.

The words should have made me happy. It should have filled me with joy and relief. Instead, they sat heavy in my chest like stones.

He leaned down and kissed me again, longer this time. I kissed him back, trying to feel something, anything. But all I could think about was the mark on my wrist and the way Storm's gray eyes had looked at me across the crowded hall last night.

Kael pulled away, seemingly satisfied. His lips moved once more. Get dressed. Wear something with long sleeves. The council chambers are always cold.

Long sleeves. I could hide the mark.

"I will," I said aloud, already turning toward the blue dress I'd chosen.

He disappeared back into the bath room to finish dressing, and I sagged against the wardrobe in relief. My hands were shaking as I pulled the blue dress off the hanger.

I dressed quickly, buttoning the long sleeves all the way to my wrists. The fabric covered the shimmer completely. Good. I just needed to get through breakfast without anyone noticing.

I was braiding my hair when Kael emerged, fully dressed in formal council attire. Black and silver, the colors of Northwind Pack. He looked every inch the Alpha, powerful and commanding.

He offered his arm with a smile, and I took it, letting him guide me toward the door. My heart was pounding so hard I wondered if he could feel it through our connected arms.

We walked through the palace corridors. I felt vibrations through the ground, other people moving somewhere in the vast palace, doors opening and closing, but I heard nothing. The world was a silent film, and I was just trying to follow along without missing my cues.

Kael glanced down at me as we walked, his lips moving. You're trembling. Don't be nervous. They're going to love you.

I wasn't trembling from nerves about the council. I was trembling because I could feel the mark on my wrist burning beneath my sleeve, warming my skin like a brand.

We reached a set of carved wooden doors. Two guards stood on either side, and they bowed their heads as Kael approached. He nodded to them, and they pulled the doors open.

The council chamber was smaller than I expected, intimate. A long table dominated the room with chairs on either side. Morning light streamed through high windows. And sitting at that table, watching me with cold, calculating eyes, was Alden Vey.

Kael's hand tightened on my arm as he led me inside. I kept my expression neutral, pleasant, the perfect grateful Luna. But I couldn't shake the feeling that Alden was looking at me like I was something to be dissected.

Kael pulled out a chair for me, and I sat, folding my hands carefully in my lap.

But as Kael started speaking and I started reading lips to follow the conversation, I felt it.

The shimmer on my wrist was getting warmer.

And when I glanced down, I could see a faint glow through the fabric of my sleeve.