THE PRICE OF SHELTER

AUTHOR’S POV 

By the time Elena finally summoned him, Kaiden had spent nearly three hours waiting.

Three hours.

He had commanded thousands of warriors. He had negotiated with rival Alphas, settled disputes between powerful families, and made decisions that determined the fate of entire territories. Before the Ashen Plague, few people would have dared keep him waiting without a convincing explanation.

Yet he had spent the afternoon standing in a crowded yard, watching Haven's guards come and go while Elena attended to everyone except him.

He had nearly lost his patience twice.

The first time was when Garrick informed him that the supplies brought by the Blackthorn survivors had to be counted before they could be distributed.

The second was when a guard told him that Elena was still examining the injured and would speak with him when she was finished.

Each time, Rowan had reminded him that they were guests.

Kaiden was beginning to despise that word.

Guests.

He had never imagined a day when he would be forced to stand outside another person's door and wait for permission to speak.

Yet that was exactly where he found himself when a young sentry approached him.

"Elena is ready to see you."

Kaiden straightened.

"Where is she?"

"Come with me."

The guard led him toward a large building near the center of Haven. It appeared to have once been a communal hall, but the interior had been divided into several working spaces. A table near the entrance held medical records and supply lists, while maps covered part of the wall. Beyond the open doorway, Kaiden could hear people discussing repairs and patrol schedules.

Elena stood beside the central table, speaking with Garrick.

She wore dark trousers, a plain shirt, and a leather belt holding a small medical pouch. Her hair was tied back, revealing the familiar silver pendant at her throat.

She looked different.

Not because her face had changed significantly, though the softness he remembered had been tempered by exhaustion and experience. It was the way she carried herself that unsettled him.

There was no hesitation in her movements. No uncertainty when she gave instructions. No nervous glance toward someone more powerful to see whether her decisions would be accepted.

She looked like a woman who knew exactly where she stood.

And everyone around her seemed to know it too.

Garrick finished speaking and left.

Elena glanced at the guard.

"Thank you. You can go."

The sentry departed, leaving the two of them alone.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Kaiden had imagined what he would say when they finally met privately. He had prepared explanations about the state of Blackthorn, the number of survivors who depended on him, and the desperate circumstances that had brought him to Haven.

Now that he stood before her, those carefully arranged words seemed inadequate.

Elena broke the silence.

"You wanted to speak with me."

"Yes."

"Then speak."

Kaiden's jaw tightened at her tone.

He had expected anger. He had expected accusations and perhaps even tears. He had not expected this cool, measured indifference, as though he were a visitor requesting information about the weather.

"My people need shelter," he began. "We have lost our territory, and the remaining survivors cannot continue traveling indefinitely. We have injured warriors, children, and elderly pack members. If we remain on the road, we risk losing more lives."

"I am aware of their condition."

"Then you understand why I need to discuss our situation with you."

"I understand why you need shelter. That does not mean Haven can accommodate everyone who arrives at its gates."

Kaiden glanced at the records on the table.

"How many people can you take?"

"That depends on how many resources they require, how much food we can spare, and whether they can contribute to the settlement without endangering the people already living here."

"You have a functioning infirmary, a defended perimeter, and organized patrols. Surely there is room for more people."

Elena's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you asking me, or telling me?"

The question caught him off guard.

What the hell is wrong with her? I was her mate for goodness sake!