Chapter twenty- five - The Man Behind the Alpha

Aria’s POV

I woke to the sound of birds.

For a few seconds, I didn’t remember where I was.

The ceiling above me wasn’t the familiar stone ceiling of Ironcrest. The bed wasn’t mine either, and the faint scent of pine drifting through the open window certainly didn’t belong to the packhouse.

Then everything came rushing back.

The cabin, the field, the rogue, and Kael.

I sat up slowly. My body felt strangely light.

The heat was still there, lingering beneath my skin like a restless fire, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as it had been before.

I lifted my hand to my side where the rogue had clawed me.

There was nothing.

No pain, no tenderness, not even a scratch.

I stared at my skin for a moment.

I remembered the sting when his claws caught me but it ad healed completely.

I wasn’t surprised. Wolves healed quickly compared to humans, and I had always been a fast healer.

Still, seeing completely untouched skin after what had happened made the whole thing feel almost unreal.

My eyes drifted toward the other side of the room.

Kael’s bed was empty. My heart gave an annoying little jump.

Where was he?

I climbed out of bed and slipped into the robe Martha had packed for me before we left Ironcrest.

As soon as I opened the bedroom door, the scent of fresh coffee reached me.

I followed it into the kitchen but Kael wasn’t there.

There was a cup sitting on the table, still warm. Beside it was a small plate of bread.

I frowned. “Kael?”

But there was no answer.

I walked toward the back door and opened it. He was outside.

My eyes immediately found him. He stood several feet away, chopping wood.

For a moment, I simply stared.

He was wearing a plain dark shirt with the sleeves pushed to his elbows. His hair was slightly messy, and the morning sunlight caught the side of his face.

There was something different about seeing him here.

No ceremonial coat, no crown, no warriors waiting for orders, and no elders standing behind him.

Just Kael, the man and not the Alpha.

He brought the axe down again.

I noticed the movement of his side. My gaze immediately went to the place where the rogue had clawed him.

There was no open wound, no blood, or nothing that looked remotely like the injury I’d seen.

Only a faint, thin scar remained across his side.

I stepped outside. “You shouldn’t be doing that.”

Kael stopped and turned around.

His eyes landed on me. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his gaze moved over me.

“You’re awake.”

“I am.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” I smiled a bit.

“Your side?” He raised a brow.

“Healed.” I replied.

His expression softened with relief.

“Good.”

I looked at his side. “Yours too?”

He glanced down. “Almost.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s a scar, Kael.”

He looked at it again. “It healed surprisingly quickly.”

I shook my head. “Alphas are ridiculous.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I’ve heard that before.”

I looked away before the smile could affect me.

“So why are you chopping wood?”

“I need something to do.” He said, grabbing the axe again.

“You have a cabin full of things to do.” I giggled.

“I know.” He began setting the wood.

“Then why this?” I looked genuinely confused.

He rested both hands on the axe.“Because it keeps my mind quiet.”

That answer surprised me.

I looked at him. “Your mind isn’t quiet?”

“Not lately.” He replied.

I knew exactly what he meant. The rogue, my heat, the attack, and everything that had happened between us.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Kael…”

He looked at me. “I’m sorry.” His brow furrowed.

“For what?”

“For what happened yesterday.” I looked away.

His expression changed immediately.“You don’t need to apologize.”

“I should have listened when you told me let’s go swimming .”

“You didn’t know.” He peered at me.

“I still put you in danger.” I said softly .

He shook his head. “You didn’t.”

“But you were hurt.” I insisted.

“Aria.” His voice was firm. “You were attacked. You didn’t choose that.”

I stared at him as he continued.

“If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”

I didn’t expect that.

“Why?” I asked.

He looked away. “For everything.”

The words settled between us. I didn’t know what to say.

Kael had apologized before, but there was something different about this one.

He wasn’t defending himself, he wasn’t trying to convince me that he had been right, he was simply admitting that he had done things wrong.

I lowered my eyes. “The scar isn’t bad.”

“I know.” He grinned.

“You’ll be fine.” I mumbled.

“I know that too.” He chuckled then he looked at me again. “But that’s not what I was talking about.”

My heart tightened. I knew what he meant.

His marking me, his possessiveness, the way he had ignored my pleas, and I still hadn’t forgiven him and maybe I never would.

But seeing him standing there without his Alpha mask made it harder to hate him with the certainty I had once possessed.

I turned away. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” He wiped off sweat from his brows.

“Why?” I asked angrily.

“I was waiting for you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Because we’re supposed to eat together.”

I almost laughed. “Since when?”

“Since we’re married.”

The words made the warmth disappear from my face.

I walked back toward the cabin. “Don’t remind me.”

He followed. Inside, he pulled out a chair for me.

I hesitated before sitting. He placed the plate of bread in front of me.

“I made breakfast.”

“Stop acting like you can cook?”

He looked offended. “I’ve been living alone for years.”

“I assumed you had servants.” I snorted.

“At the packhouse, yes.” He nodded.

“And here?”

“Here, I’m just Kael.” He stared at me.

Again, that strange feeling of being just Kael.

I looked at him as he sat across from me.

For the first time, I realized how much I didn’t know about him.

I had known Kael since I was a child.

He had trained me, protected me, argued with me, and watched me grow up.

But I had never really known the person beneath the role.

Maybe because I had never bothered to look or perhaps because I had always assumed I knew exactly who he was.

The ambitious Beta’s son, the man who wanted the throne, and the man who married me because my bloodline gave him legitimacy.

But what if I had been wrong?

I hated that thought because if I was wrong about Kael, then I had been wrong about my father too and I wasn’t ready to admit that.

I picked up a piece of bread. “Why do you come here?”

Kael looked at me. “To the cabin?”

I nodded. “Why?”

He leaned back. “Sometimes being Alpha becomes exhausting.”

I almost smiled. “You’re telling me.”

He gave me a look. “I know you don’t believe it.”

“I don’t.” I snapped.

“Why?”

“Because you always wanted this.” I glared at him.

His face became unreadable. “The throne?”

“Yes.” I stuffed another piece of bread into my mouth.

He looked down at his hands. “I never wanted to be Alpha.”

I stared at him. “That’s impossible.”

“It’s true.”

“Then why did you accept it?” I asked.

“Because your father wanted me to..”

My breath caught.

Kael continued quietly. “Alpha Lucien needed someone he trusted to keep Ironcrest standing. The elders needed someone they could follow. The warriors needed someone who wouldn’t let the pack fall apart.”

He looked at me. “And I couldn’t let your father’s work disappear because you were gone.”

The words hurt.

I swallowed. “You make it sound like you did all of this for him.”

“I did.”

“And for me?” My brows furrowed.

His jaw tightened. “Especially for you.”

I didn’t know what to do with that.

Kael stood and walked toward the window.

“Your father asked me to protect Ironcrest.” He paused. “Then he asked me to protect something more important.”

My heartbeat quickened. “What?”

He turned around. “You.”

I stared at him.

He didn’t smile, didn’t tease me, and didn’t look proud.

He simply said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“What did he mean by that?”

“I don’t know.” He replied.

I frowned. “You don’t know?”

“Not completely.” He chuckled.

“Then why say it?” I frowned.

“Because those were his words.” He shrugged.

My fingers tightened around the bread. “What exactly did he say?”

Kael’s eyes darkened with memory.

“He told me that you were stubborn. That you would probably hate me for whatever happened next.”

A small, bitter laugh escaped me.

“He knew me well.”

“He did.” Kael nodded.

“What else?” I asked, suddenly interested in the whole conversation.

“He told me to protect you from making decisions you might regret.”

I went still. Those were almost the same words he had told me before.

My father’s letter flashed through my mind.

The little wooden box, his handwriting, and his request that I trust his judgment one last time.

I hadn’t told Kael about the letter.

I wasn’t sure why. Perhaps because it was the only thing that still felt like it belonged entirely to me and my father.

“Aria?”

I looked up. “Yes?”

“You’ve gone quiet.” Kael looked concerned.

“I’m thinking.” I rubbed my forehead.

“About what?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

He didn’t believe me but he didn’t push.

That was another thing I was beginning to notice.

Kael used to push, and he used to insist.

Now, when I closed a door, he seemed willing to stand outside it.

It shouldn’t have mattered, but somehow it did.

After breakfast, I stepped outside again.

The morning air was cool. The lake beyond the trees glittered beneath the sunlight, and the field stretched wide behind the cabin.

It was peaceful, almost too peaceful.

I walked toward the grass while Kael followed at a distance.

“You’re still watching me.” I frowned.

“I’m your husband.” He shrugged.

“That isn’t an excuse.” I snapped

“No.” He smiled faintly. “But I am watching you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are impossible.”

“I’ve been told.” He laughed.

We walked toward the lake I stopped near the edge. The water was calm.

“Do you come here often?” I pointed towards the water.

“Whenever I need to think.” He replied

“What do you always think about?”

“Everything.” He chuckled

“That’s not an answer.” I frowned.

He looked at the lake. “Things I can’t say in front of everyone.”

I glanced at him. “Like what?”

He was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Whether I’m doing enough.”

My expression softened. “You are Alpha.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m enough.”

I stared at him. He looked almost embarrassed by his own honesty.

“I thought being Alpha would make everything easier,” he admitted. “It doesn’t.”

“What makes it difficult?”

“Knowing every decision affects thousands of people.” He turned to me. “Knowing one mistake can cost lives.”

His voice lowered. “And knowing the one person I wanted to protect most was the person who hated me.”

I looked away.

My chest felt tight. “I didn’t hate you.”

“You accused me of killing your father.” He peered at me.

“I was angry.” I avoided his eyes. “You were the last person with him and you never explained.”

His expression hardened. “I couldn’t.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I promised your father.” He replied.

I stared at him. “What promise?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t know if I have the right to tell you.”

“My father is dead.” I reminded him.

“I know.” He nodded.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I asked angrily.

He looked at me for a long moment.“For the right time.”

I wanted to argue. Instead, I looked away.

Maybe because some part of me knew there was something I hadn’t understood.

A gust of wind moved through the trees. Kael suddenly looked toward the forest.

His expression changed.

“What?” I asked.

He didn’t answer, instead his body became tense.

I followed his gaze but saw nothing, just trees.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” He stepped closer to me.

I frowned. “Kael.”

“Stay close.” He warned.

My wolf stirred. I scanned the forest but nothing moved.

Then I caught a scent. It was faint, unfamilia, and not the same as the rogue from yesterday.

My stomach tightened. “Someone’s there.”

Kael nodded.

“I know.” He stepped in front of me.

The Alpha in him returned instantly.

His shoulders straightened, his eyes sharpened, and the man from the kitchen disappeared.

The Alpha stood before me again.

I hated how quickly the transformation happened.

One moment he was a man talking about his doubts and the next, he was the powerful Alpha everyone feared.

He raised his hand. “Stay here.”

I almost protested, then a rustle came from the trees.

Kael’s wolf growled beneath his skin.

A figure appeared between the trees. It was one of the cabin guards.

He hurried toward us. “Alpha!”

Kael’s expression remained hard.

“What happened?”

The guard stopped several feet away.“We found something.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

The guard pulled something from his pocket.

A small piece of black fabric.

My stomach dropped. “Where did you find that?”

“Near the edge of the field.”

Kael took it and examined it carefully. Then his expression changed.

I stepped closer. “What is it?”

He didn’t answer.

“Kael.” I whispered.

He looked at me. “It’s Ironcrest fabric.”

My blood ran cold. “From what?”

He turned the fabric over. There was a small embroidered symbol on the edge.

The Nightshade crest, my father’s crest.

My heart stopped. “That’s impossible.”

Kael looked toward the forest.“Apparently not.”

I swallowed. “How did it get here?”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t know.”

“But this cabin is supposed to be secret.”

“It is.” Kael looked worried.

“Then how did someone get close enough to leave that?”

Kael’s eyes met mine. For the first time since we’d arrived, I saw something dangerous in them.

Not anger, but fear.

He folded the fabric into his palm.“We’re leaving.”

“What?” I shrieked.

“We’re going back to Ironcrest.” He announced.

“But my heat…” I protested.

“I’ll deal with that.” He shoved me aside.

“No.”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m not letting you stay somewhere someone has already found.”

I stared at him. “Kael…”

He stepped closer. “This wasn’t random.”

The words sent a chill through me.

He looked toward the forest again.“Someone knew where we were.”

I suddenly realized something.

The rogue and the fabric today.

Someone had known, and someone had followed us and somehow, the peaceful cabin that had felt like an escape was no longer safe.

I looked at Kael.

For the first time, I wasn’t seeing the Alpha who had taken my choice from me, I wasn’t seeing the man I had accused of wanting my father’s throne, I was seeing the man who had stood between me and a rogue without hesitation.

The man who had spent the night healing from a wound he never complained about, the man who cooked breakfast, the man who came here when he needed silence and the man my father trusted.

And that frightened me more than anything because if my father had been right about him…Then maybe I had been wrong.

And if I had been wrong about Kael, what else had I been wrong about?

I looked down at the faint scar on his side.

It was barely visible now. It was a

reminder of yesterday, and a reminder that he had put himself between me and danger without thinking twice.

My fingers moved before I could stop them.

I reached toward him, then hesitated.

Kael looked down at my hand. Neither of us moved.

Slowly, I let my fingers brush the edge of the scar.

His breath caught and my heart raced but he didn’t pull me closer.

He didn’t touch me, and simply stood there and let me.

I looked into his eyes and for the first time since I had returned to Ironcrest, I wondered something I had been too stubborn to consider.

Maybe I had never really known my husband, or I had only known the Alpha.

And perhaps the man behind him had been waiting there all along.