Chapter 4: A Mother’s Plea (Lena POV)

Kai's rooms were nothing like I'd expected.

I'd imagined something ostentatious, all gold and marble and displays of wealth. Instead, the space was almost spartan. Dark wood floors, simple furniture, walls lined with books and maps. The only decoration was a massive window overlooking the forest, and even that felt more practical than aesthetic, like he needed to see the territory spread out before him.

"Through there is the bedroom," he said, gesturing to a door on the left. "Bathroom's attached. I'll take the couch."

"This is your space. I can…"

"You're exhausted and in shock. Take the bed." His tone left no room for argument. "I'll have some of your things brought from your house. For now, there should be clothes in the closet that will fit well enough."

I wanted to ask whose clothes they were, but I was too tired to care. "My mother…"

"Give me an hour to make sure she's settled in the medical wing. Then I'll take you to her." He moved toward the door, then paused. "Lena? Lock this door after I leave. Don't open it for anyone but me. Not yet."

The seriousness in his voice sent another chill through me. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Everything," he admitted. "But in order. One crisis at a time."

After he left, I did lock the door. Then I walked through the space, trying to understand the man who'd just turned my life inside out.

Several minutes after, a knock at the door made me jump.

"Lena? It's me."

I quickly went to unlock the door. Kai stood in the hallway, looking tired in a way that made him seem younger, more human.

"Your mother's settled," he said. "Are you ready?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

The medical wing was in the north section of the compound, a modern facility that smelled of antiseptic and something herbal. My mother had been given a private room with a view of the gardens, and when I saw her in an actual hospital bed with an IV and monitoring equipment, I nearly broke down.

She'd never had access to this kind of care. For years, she'd been slowly dying while pack healers turned her away, and I'd been powerless to help.

"Baby," she said weakly when she saw me, and I rushed to her side.

"I'm here, Mom. I'm okay."

Her eyes drifted to Kai, standing respectfully near the door. "So it's true. The mate bond."

"It's complicated," I started, but she squeezed my hand.

"Your father would be proud," she whispered. "That you found someone who sees the truth."

I glanced back at Kai, who was studiously examining the medical equipment like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Rest," I told her. "We can talk more tomorrow."

"Lena." Her voice was urgent now despite her weakness. "There's something you need to know about your father. About what he found."

"Mom, you should save your strength…"

"Listen." She pulled me closer. "The experiments Harrison Lockhart was conducting, they weren't just on low-rank wolves. Found the bodies of wolves who didn't survive the trials."

My blood ran cold. "Bodies?"

"Seventeen wolves died, Lena. Seventeen low-rank wolves who were reported as rogues or runaways. Your father had proof. He was going to expose everything." Her eyes glistened with tears. "But Harrison found out. And he had powerful friends, including…"

She broke off, coughing. A nurse appeared immediately, checking monitors and adjusting her IV.

"She needs to rest," the nurse said firmly. "You can visit again tomorrow."

I kissed my mother's forehead and let Kai guide me out of the room. We walked in silence until we reached a small courtyard, away from listening ears.

"You should know," he said, "that tomorrow is going to be brutal. My father will call an emergency council meeting. The Beta will demand I be stripped of my heir status for dishonoring the betrothal. There will be threats, possibly violence. And you'll be at the center of all of it."

"Will they try to hurt me?"

"They'll try to intimidate you. Break you down. Force you to reject the bond." His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "But I won't let them touch you. And if you can hold your ground, if you can show them you're not afraid, we might actually survive this."

"I've been holding my ground against bullies my entire life," I said. "What's a few more?"

His smile widened into something genuine. "I knew I chose well."

I didn't sleep that night either.

Around three in the morning, I gave up and went to stand by the window.

"Can't sleep?"

I turned to find Kai in the doorway, wearing sleep pants and nothing else. The moonlight caught on the scars crossing his chest and arms—evidence of the brutal training he'd endured.

"The bond," I admitted. "It's loud."

"I know." He stayed in the doorway, maintaining distance. "It'll settle once we complete the mating ritual."

My face heated. "I'm seventeen."

"I'm aware. We don't have to do anything until you're ready. The ritual can wait." He paused. "Though it would strengthen both of us. Make it harder for my father to find ways around pack law."

"Everything with you is strategy."

"Not everything." He moved into the room, stopping a few feet away. "I didn't claim you just for political reasons, Lena. The bond is real. What I feel when I look at you…" He stopped, jaw working. "That's not strategy. That's just… wanting something I have no right to want."

A loud bang echoed through the compound, followed by shouting.

Kai's entire demeanor shifted instantly from vulnerable to lethal. "Stay here. Lock the door."

"What's happening?"

"I don't know, but…" Another bang, closer now. "Lock the door, Lena. Don't open it for anyone but me."

He was gone before I could argue, moving with that preternatural speed. I locked the door with shaking hands and pressed my ear against it, trying to hear what was happening.

More shouting. Running footsteps. Then a scream that made my blood freeze.

I couldn't just hide in here. Not when something was clearly wrong.

I unlocked the door and slipped into the hallway, following the sounds of chaos. The main hall was crowded with pack members in various states of dress, all focused on the front entrance where…

My mother stood in her hospital gown, held upright by two guards. And in front of her, looking murderous, was Alpha Darius.

"Lena Graves!" the Alpha's voice boomed. "Show yourself!"

I pushed through the crowd, my heart hammering. "I'm here. Let her go, she's sick, she shouldn't be…"

"Your mother just attempted to murder Beta Harrison Lockhart," Alpha Darius said, and the crowd gasped. "She was found in his room with a syringe full of wolfsbane. Care to explain?"

I stared at my mother, who was crying silently, and knew with horrible certainty that this was a setup. But before I could speak, Kai appeared at my side.

"This is absurd," he said coldly. "Elena Graves can barely stand. She's been under medical supervision all night."

"The night nurse was found unconscious. Someone disabled the security cameras in this wing." The Alpha's eyes were hard. "Your mate's mother tried to kill my Beta. That's treason, punishable by death. Unless…" He looked directly at me. "Unless you reject the mate bond and submit to pack justice for your entire family's crimes. Then I might be merciful."

Everything clicked into place. This was the move Kai had warned me about, not a direct attack on me, but leverage through my mother. Reject Kai and submit to whatever punishment the Alpha deemed fit, or watch my mother die for a crime she didn't commit.

I looked at my mother, who was shaking her head desperately. Then at Kai, who'd gone very still beside me.

"Choose, Lena Graves," the Alpha said. "Your mother's life, or your mate bond. You have until dawn."