Too Late to Catch Her

Kael Veyron

I had left early, as always, before the day fully awakened and before she opened her eyes. Through the night, I barely slept, not when she was so close, and the bond pulled even harder. There was no nightmare, but she stirred in her sleep a few times. She didn’t feel safe; I could feel it, but her wolf was relaxed, calm, and watchful.

By the time the pack had fully awakened, I was with the elders and ministers. As expected, they valued traditions, values, and gains over everything. She wasn’t welcomed. They all pushed Yella forward as the perfect candidate, and behind every individual objection was the Prime Minister’s control, his promises, and his influence. Certainly, I knew it all before taking the bargain.

As the doors closed behind them, the air shifted. They were watching, plotting, and waiting for me to fall.

Within the room with me was General Darius Blackthorn, the man who had fought my battles and never came back without the trophy. Before us were the reports of the recent happenings. It was all happening too soon, too quickly, and not being looked into.

General Thorn stared at the scattered reports as if they had personally offended him. In a way, they had offended not only him but everyone in the room. The reports transmitted the same message in different words and handwriting.

“The Claw Pack has doubled their border patrol,” General Thorn reported quietly.

“And Frostfang has requested a diplomatic visit,” Magnus Thornfield, military advisor, added.

“A diplomatic visit? Or a spying eye?” I hissed. “After ignoring every peace treaty for ten years… no.”

Elder Brom Hale adjusted his glasses nervously. “It could be a coincidence.”

“It is no coincidence.” I straightened up slowly, my hand over my mask. “They can smell it.”

Thornfield hissed, “The power shift is great, the change is massive, and the weakness is evident, an opportunity.” He tapped on the table, his claws digging into the fine oak. His gaze settled on me, and our eyes met.

“They can smell her.”

Air seized from my lungs for a brief second. The room was suddenly too quiet, and everyone turned to me. No one spoke her name or mentioned her title… no one dared, but everyone knew. I had mated with a pregnant girl from the Darkmoon pack, not only a girl but also the rejected Luna of the soon-to-be Alpha Rylan Crest.

To them, she was not deserving of me. She was below my standard in every possible way and shouldn’t bring a threat into the pack, but only I knew… she was more than they gave her credit for.

General Thorn cleared his throat. “We could relocate her, maybe to the outskirts villa.”

My wolf stirred, my fists folded, and my eyes darkened. Anger surged through my veins, and I saw red without delay.

“No… never.”

Cold sweat broke through my back, running down my spine. She wasn’t some secret I was trying to hide. On the contrary, she was my Luna… my queen, and hiding her was out of order. Even if it wasn’t, my wolf would have their heads before it happened. A tyrant it was, but a beast it could be for her sake.

General Thorn bowed his head immediately. “Sorry for my reckless words, Alpha.”

“Hm.” I nodded, forcing myself to breathe normally. This wasn’t me. I was cold, arrogant, dismissive, and cruel to my enemies, but never overprotective of someone… not after they left. And unlike them, she wasn’t disposable.

“The Iron Ridge pack has begun gathering warriors, and from our inside informant, they may be in cahoots with Silverfang.”

My eyes darkened behind my mask. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

“If they are gathering soldiers, so be it. But I know Rylan and that fox of a father; they wouldn’t dare.”

“Yes, but with inside help, they would.” Minister Hale swallowed. “And we believe Alpha Carius is searching for a breeder.”

Why it again… My hand trembled with rage. My fists curled so hard my knuckles turned white. He was at it again, using women as livestock. Wasn’t his harem already filled with sons and daughters of every ability? What more was he in search of?

I turned to Thorn, who was ready for his next orders. “I want word sent to every pack: if anyone so much as thinks of trading a woman with Carius, he will have me to contend with.”

“Yes.”

The door suddenly burst open, and a frantic guard stumbled in, breathless and pale. “Al, Alpha,” he choked on his words.

“What?” I didn’t turn, but the rest did.

“You have three seconds to spit out the reason for barging in like that, or your tonsils will be fed to the rogues,” Thorn threatened.

I could feel the guard’s fear. His hands trembled on the floor, and his eyes remained on the ground. “It’s… it’s the Luna,” he stammered, and with just one word, my world spun.

“What!” I hissed, already by his side as I picked him off his feet.

“Lady Yella and the Luna… are in a heated argument.”

“Impossible,” Elder Hale whispered, but there wasn’t time to delay.

I rushed out, the earth trembling under my feet. I could feel her restlessness through the bond. She wasn’t okay. She was fast losing consciousness; her link was weak. I hurried, hastened my steps, and doubled when I could.

My wolf was awake and angry. My eyes turned from their usual wolf-like gold to red in minutes. My wolf was around the corner… just waiting.

By the time we reached the penthouse, a crowd had gathered in front, some cheering while others watched in horror.

On the balcony was Liora, holding onto the railing, her hands trembling and her gaze flickering. She didn’t look okay.

“Yella,” I roared as I rushed up. The door was open, with servants watching. The room was trashed, with clothes on the floor and shattered plates and glasses everywhere.

And Yella, she stood before Liora, her hand clutching her wrist where blood flowed.

“She hurt me, Kael,” she cried the moment I stepped in.

But Liora was quiet. Her eyes said words her mouth couldn’t.

“I only came here to say I was sorry. I wanted to make peace with her. Everyone knows you have claimed her, and I will never be your Luna, but she was hostile. She threw things at me, and the knife cut me,” Yella cried even harder.

But my wolf wouldn’t look at her. He was more concerned with our mate. She looked weak… too weak for someone I had seen in the morning before leaving. Something had happened, and the Liora Ashwin I knew wouldn’t explain herself, not when half the pack had already found her guilty without hearing her side of the story.

“Come,” I whispered, and Yella fell into my arms.

Liora’s eyes flickered. The hurt in them was visible. She bit her bottom lip; a tear rolled down.

“Nora.”

“Yes, Alpha,” she answered, stepping forward.

“Escort Lady Yella to the clinic.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

She reached for Yella, who clung to me, but my hands had long left her. Everyone left the room, but Liora held onto the railing like her life depended on it.

When the room was quiet, she pulled away, but her body swayed backward.

My breath hitched.

She slipped.

And off she went down.

“Liora!” I screamed.