Chapter 5

Kale's POV

I sat beside Elena, watching her sleeping figure. She's been unconscious for two days and I haven't left her side. She looked so peaceful now, but I knew the truth, her body was broken. The pack doctor had told me she’d sustained serious injuries. Her arm had been cut deeply, now bandaged. Her ankle was sprained but treated. And the wolf bite… we had managed to extract the venom before it could spread. Still, her skin was marked with cuts and bruises, each one a reminder of how I had failed her. My chest ached with guilt.

I couldn’t stop replaying the fear in her eyes when she saw me earlier, the way her screams echoed in my ears. I remembered the terror that gripped me when she collapsed unconscious in the forest, and how it took everything I had to force my beast back into human form just to save her.

Slowly, I reached for her hand, holding it gently. ''I’m so sorry, Elena.'' I whispered. ''It’s all my fault. I promise I’ll do better. I’ll protect you. I’ll never let you out of my sight again.'' I pressed a soft kiss to her hand.

A faint groan escaped her lips. Her eyes fluttered open.

Relief surged through me. I stood quickly, still holding her hand. ''Elena, you’re awake. Thank the goddess.'' I breathed.

But the moment her gaze focused on me, everything shattered. Her eyes widened in terror, and she screamed. She ripped her hand from mine, shoved me back, and scrambled to the headboard, trembling violently.

''Get away from me! Don’t come close!'' She cried, her voice breaking.

''Please, Elena.'' I said softly, trying to calm her. ''I won’t hurt you—''

But she screamed louder, tears streaming down her face. ''Monsters! You’re all monsters! Get away from me!''

Her cries brought the maids rushing in, followed by Darius.

Darius grabbed my arm, pulling me back. ''Kael, leave.''

''She needs me.'' I protested, my voice desperate.

''Does this look like she needs you?'' Darius snapped, his tone sharp. ''She’s terrified. If you stay, she’ll pass out again. Leave. Now.''

I hesitated, torn apart inside, but Darius’s grip tightened. Reluctantly, I let him drag me from the room.

Behind me, the maids tried to approach her, but Elena hurled pillows at them, screaming for them to get out, calling them monsters. One by one, they fled, leaving her alone, trembling and broken.

Darius finally let me go, but I tried to push past him toward Elena’s room again. He moved quickly, blocking my path.

"Stop this, Kael.'' He said firmly.

''I just need to see her.'' I pleaded, desperation thick in my voice. ''Even if it’s just for a minute. I need to make sure she’s okay.''

''Don’t.'' He warned, his tone softening. ''You’ll only make her more afraid. She’s been through too much already. That experience was traumatic, Kael. She needs time. Please don’t do this, you’ll only cause her more harm.''

I knew he was right. Still, the weight in my chest was unbearable. I stared at Elena’s door, sighing in defeat. ''What have I done, Darius?'' I muttered. ''Maybe bringing her here wasn’t the right choice. But I can’t let her go. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let her go.''

Darius stepped closer, his voice steady. ''It’s fine, Kael. You’ve done your best. When she’s better, you can explain everything to her. She knows the truth now—at least part of it. She’s seen what we are, she’s glimpsed our world. You can’t hide it anymore. You must tell her everything.''

I shook my head, fear clawing at me. ''I don’t think I can. It’ll be too much for her. And what if she…'' I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. My chest tightened as I forced myself to breathe. ''What if after telling her everything, she still doesn’t accept me? What if she insists on leaving? I’ve already taken a risk bringing her here against her will. If she rejects me after knowing the truth… what will I do then?''

For the first time since I've known him, Darius had no answer. He sighed deeply, silent.

''I’m stepping out.'' I said, turning to leave. But his voice stopped me.

''The elders are here.''

I spun back to face him sharply. ''What? Why?''

''They know about Elena.'' He admitted. ''I don’t know how, but the news has reached them.''

My stomach dropped. ''That means other packs must know too.''

''I’m afraid so.'' Darius bowed his head. ''I’m sorry, Kael. I don’t know how the word got out.''

My jaw clenched, fury rising. ''We have a mole among us.'' I growled. ''Find them. Bring them to me.''

I turned away, my resolve hardening. ''I’ll go see the elders and get this over with.''

As I left, only one thought consumed me; I would never let them take Elena away from me.

When I entered the throne room, the air shifted. I walked with measured steps toward my seat, my expression blank, my mind already calculating. As I sat, my gaze swept across the elders. They shifted uneasily in their chairs, their eyes darting, their hands fidgeting. Fear clung to them like a shadow, yet they had dared to come here.

I knew exactly why. They had been searching for ways to end me for years, and now they thought they had found an opportunity. Elena.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. I grew tired of it. My voice cut through the room like a blade.

''I’m sure you all didn’t come all the way here just to say nothing.''

The elders exchanged glances, their discomfort plain. Finally, one of them cleared his throat. ''We’ve heard troubling news, Alpha Kael. About the human girl.''

I leaned back in my chair, my jaw tightening. ''Elena.'' I said her name deliberately, letting it hang in the air. ''She is mine.''

Another elder shifted forward, his tone sharp. ''You forcefully brought a human into our lands. Do you understand the danger you’ve invited? The other packs are already whispering. It's against the law and you cannot do this!''

I narrowed my eyes, my voice low and dangerous. ''What I’ve done is claim what is mine. She is not just a human. She is my Luna.''

The room erupted in murmurs, the elders voices overlapping in disbelief and outrage. I let them speak, let their fear spill out, before I slammed my hand against the armrest of my throne. The sound silenced them instantly.

''You think this is your chance to strip me of power.'' I growled. ''You think her presence makes me vulnerable. But hear me clearly—Elena is under my protection. No one touches her. No one takes her. If any of you dare to challenge me on this, you will not live to regret it.''

The elders sat frozen, their faces pale. I could smell their fear, thick and satisfying.

Inside, though, my chest ached. I knew the storm Elena’s presence had unleashed. I knew the danger it brought. But I also knew one thing with absolute certainty, I would never let them take her away from me.

The doors to the throne room burst open, and Elena limped inside. My heart jumped. I stood up at once.

"Elena." I whispered.

The elders looked at each other, confused.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. But now they burned with anger. She stared at me without looking away, her face full of hate.

''I know everything now.'' She said, her voice sharp. ''I know I have the right to choose. You can’t just bring me here against my will, it’s against your law. You only brought me here to use me. I know it all.''

Her words cut deep, each one heavier than the last.

''I know I have a choice.'' She went on. ''I don’t agree to this. I refuse to stay here. I reject this bond, and I refuse to call you my mate!''

My mind spun in confusion. How did she know? Who told her?

''Elena.'' I said softly, stepping toward her.

Her scream stopped me cold. ''Don’t you hear me!? I reject you as my mate!''

The words echoed through the throne room. The elders leaned forward, their eyes shining with interest. I could see it, the chance they had been waiting for.

Pain tore through my chest. Her rejection felt like a knife twisting inside me. But worse than the pain was the fear. Fear that I was losing her forever.