Chapter 18: Cabin Negotiations

Nyra's POV

The cabin is too small for this conversation.

There's nowhere to stand that isn't close. The fire crackles behind me. Kael fills the space near the door, dripping rainwater onto the worn floor.

Rain pounds the roof like a drum. The sound is deafening, drowning out thought.

Or maybe I'm just not trying to think.

"You can't build a network without Council approval," Kael says. "It's direct violation of territorial law."

"Territorial law protects alphas. Not omegas."

"It protects everyone."

"Does it?" I turn to face him. "Tell that to Elena. Tell that to the nineteen-year-old I pulled from a forced bond last week. Tell that to every wolf your precious system discarded."

"I'm not defending the system."

"You're just benefiting from it."

His jaw tightens. "That's not fair."

"Fair?" The word tastes bitter. "You want to talk about fair?"

"Nyra. . ."

"You rejected me in front of the entire pack. You stood there and declared I wasn't worthy. And now you're in my sanctuary talking about fairness?"

"I was wrong."

"Being wrong doesn't fix what you broke."

He takes a step closer. The cabin shrinks further.

"I know that. But I'm trying. . ."

"Trying what? To control the narrative? To make yourself feel better?"

"To understand what you want."

"I already told you what I want."

"Choice. Yes. But choice to do what?" Another step. "To destroy the Council? To rebuild the territories? To make me pay for what I did?"

The bond flares hot in my chest. Pain and anger and something I refuse to name.

"Maybe all of it," I say.

"Then we're enemies."

"We've always been enemies, Kael. You just didn't notice because I was too broken to fight back."

The words land like a physical blow. He flinches, but he doesn't retreat.

Instead, he moves closer.

"If we're enemies, why did you agree to meet me?"

"Because you asked."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

The space between us is barely three feet now. The rain hammers louder. Or maybe that's my heartbeat.

"The Council wants me to bring you in," Kael says. "They want me to force your submission or lose my pack."

"And you came here to decide which option hurts less?"

"I came here to tell you I'm choosing neither."

"Very noble. What do you want, applause?"

"I want you to trust me."

The laugh that escapes is sharp enough to cut. "Trust you? You're joking."

"I'm serious."

"Trust is earned, Kael. Not demanded."

"Then tell me how to earn it."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because five years ago you had my trust and you destroyed it. You don't get to ask for it back."

He's close enough now that I can see the rain still clinging to his hair. Can smell the forest and smoke on his skin. Can feel his alpha presence filling the room like something alive.

My power responds automatically. Silver light sparks at my fingertips.

"Careful," I warn.

"Or what? You'll burn me like you burned those rogues?"

"If I have to."

"I don't think you will."

"Don't test me."

"Why not?" He takes another step. I'm backed against the wall now, trapped between stone and the wolf who broke me. "You've been testing me for weeks. Taking my trade agreements. Undermining my authority. Building your network in direct defiance of everything I'm trying to protect."

"Good. Maybe you'll finally understand what it feels like."

"What what feels like?"

"Being powerless. Being nothing. Watching someone else control your entire world."

My eyes flash silver. His glow alpha-gold in response.

The bond screams between us. Corrupted and violent and impossibly alive.

"I never wanted to control you," Kael says, his voice rough.

"But you did anyway."

"I was trying to protect my pack."

"By sacrificing me."

"Yes." The admission comes out raw. "And I'll regret it until the day I die."

"Regret doesn't change anything."

"I know."

He's so close now I can feel the heat radiating off him. Can see the pulse hammering in his throat. Can count the flecks of darker gold in his eyes.

My chest rises and falls rapidly. Every nerve in my body is pulling toward him like gravity, like inevitability, like the bond knows something I'm desperately trying to deny.

"The Council will come for you," Kael says quietly. "When I refuse their ultimatum, they'll see it as treason. They'll come for both of us."

"Let them try."

"You can't fight them alone."

"I've been alone for five years. I'll manage."

"You don't have to be alone anymore."

"Don't I?"

"No."

His hand lifts. Slowly. Carefully. Like he's approaching something wild that might bolt or bite.

His fingers brush my jaw.

The contact sends lightning through my veins. Silver power flares up my arms in response. The lunar marks on my skin glow bright enough to cast shadows.

Kael doesn't pull away.

"I can't give you back what I took," he says. "I can't undo the rejection or erase five years. But I can stand beside you now. I can choose you now. If you'll let me."

"Why would I?"

"Because you feel it too."

"Feel what?"

"This." His thumb traces my cheekbone. "The bond. Corrupted and broken and wrong. But still pulling us together."

I should push him away. Should use my power to force distance between us.

Instead, I stand frozen, trembling, hating how much I want to close the gap.

"The bond is a lie," I whisper.

"Is it?"

"It told me you were my mate. Look how that turned out."

"Maybe we're meant to choose each other. Not because of fate, but despite it."

His breath ghosts across my lips. The rain is deafening. The fire crackles. The world narrows to this moment, this cabin, this impossible pull toward the wolf who destroyed me.

Every instinct screams at me to run.

But my body won't move.

Kael's other hand comes up to frame my face. His touch is gentle. Reverent. Like I'm something precious instead of something he threw away.

"Tell me to leave," he says hoarsely. "Tell me you want me gone and I'll walk out that door right now."

I open my mouth to say exactly that.

But the words won't come.

Because some traitorous part of me wants him to stay. Wants to know what would happen if I stopped fighting this pull. Wants to see if something this broken can be remade into something chosen.

"I would rather die than submit to you again," I whisper.

I mean it. Every word.

But my voice comes out breathless. Trembling. And my pupils are blown wide with something that looks far too much like desire.