Chapter Four – A Wolf Without a Heart

Kael's POV

I stood by the window in my study, staring out at the training fields below, though my mind was far from the sight before me. Damon entered quietly, closing the door behind him, his boots clicking softly against the polished floor as he approached.

“You missed the elders’ meeting this morning,” he said, his voice careful.

“They waste time with their endless talk,” I replied, not turning to look at him. “I’ll hear their reports later.”

He sighed, crossing his arms as he watched me in silence. “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

I finally glanced at him, my brow lowering. “What do you mean by that?”

He shifted under my gaze, eyes flicking away briefly before returning to mine. “Your temper has been shorter. You’re distracted. Even now, you’re not here. Your mind is elsewhere.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling irritation coil tight in my chest. “My mind is exactly where it should be.”

“Is it?” he asked quietly.

I turned fully to him, eyes narrowing. “Say what you’re thinking, Damon. Don’t waste my time with half-words.”

He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s the girl, isn’t it?”

I felt something cold settle in my chest at his words. “She’s nothing,” I said flatly. “A breeder. A transaction. That’s all.”

“Then why haven’t you touched her yet?” he asked, his voice gentle but firm. “It’s been days. The elders are starting to question if you intend to use her at all.”

I looked away, jaw tightening until it ached. “I will.”

He nodded slowly, studying me with an expression I didn’t want to name. It made something ugly twist in my gut.

“Just remember what your father did to you,” he said quietly. “Don’t become him.”

“I’m nothing like him,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

Damon didn’t flinch. He just bowed his head slightly. “Of course, Alpha.”

He left the room without another word, leaving me alone with the roaring silence in my chest.

That evening, I found myself standing outside her door, staring at the polished wood without moving. I didn’t know how long I stood there, listening to the sound of her quiet breathing on the other side.

Pathetic.

With a growl of disgust at myself, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She was sitting by the window, her long hair braided neatly down her back, the pale cream of her dress glowing softly in the candlelight.

She turned to look at me, her silver-gray eyes widening slightly, and something in my chest tightened painfully before I forced it down.

“Stand up,” I ordered.

She stood slowly, her movements graceful despite the shackles that kept her ankles close together. I walked toward her, each step heavy with purpose, until I was close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her skin. Her scent curled around me, sweet and sharp all at once, and it made me unable to focus for a while.

I clenched my fists at my sides, ignoring the faint change.

“You know why you’re here,” I said coldly.

She swallowed, her eyes dropping to the floor. “Yes, Alpha.”

I reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me. Her skin was soft beneath my fingers, and I hated the way it made my pulse quicken.

“You belong to me now,” I said, my voice low and harsh. “Your body is mine to use as I see fit. Do you understand?”

Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded once, her shoulders trembling. “Yes.”

I didn’t wait for her to speak again. I pushed her back onto the bed, the mattress creaking under her small weight.

My hands moved with practised ease, untying the delicate ribbons of her dress and pulling the fabric aside until her pale skin was bared to the cool air.

She didn’t fight me. Didn’t scream or beg. She just lay there, silent tears slipping down her temples into her hair.

I took her the way I was expected to – hard, fast, and cold. There was no tenderness in my touch, no warmth in my grip.

I refused to let myself feel anything as I moved above her, refused to let my eyes linger on the way her lips parted in silent pain, refused to acknowledge the faint scent of her tears that filled the air between us.

She was nothing. Just a transaction. Just a body.

When it was over, I pulled away without a word, adjusting my clothes with cold precision. She lay still, her eyes closed, silent tears slipping down her cheeks. I watched her for a moment, waiting for the satisfaction that never came.

Instead, something shifted deep inside me – a faint crack in the heavy wall I had built around my chest.

I clenched my fists, ignoring the faint warmth that spread across my palm where I had touched her bare skin. It felt… wrong. Dangerous.

Without another glance at her, I turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind me. My footsteps echoed down the hall, each one heavy with something I refused to name.

But as I walked away, my hand rose to my chest, fingers brushing the spot where her warmth still lingered.

And for the first time in years, I felt something I couldn’t explain.