Chapter 14: Kade's Desperation

"Send another raven, I don't care if they shoot it down! Tell Elara I'll hand over half my territory if she just steps foot back across our border!"

The heavy crystal goblet smashed against the stone wall, scattering glittering pieces across the blood-stained throne room. Alpha Kade stood beside his throne, his chest rising and falling with fury as the remaining servants hurried out of his way. Nobody dared approach him while his temper was this bad, especially not when the entire Red Moon Pack was falling apart around them.

Outside the great hall, the northern fields had turned gray and lifeless. Crops that once stretched across the land had withered, leaving behind dry soil and brittle stalks. The pack's food stores were running dangerously low, and wolves who had once bowed respectfully to their Alpha now gathered in small groups to whisper about rebellion.

"Another shipment has failed to arrive," one of the guards reported cautiously. "The eastern merchants have cancelled their agreements, and the northern farmers refuse to sell to us."

Kade spun around. "Then offer them more silver!"

"We have already tried, Alpha. Some of them won't even accept our payment."

"Then find out who is threatening them and deal with it!"

The guard lowered his head. "The merchants believe Obsidian Fang will protect anyone who trades with them. They are moving their supplies through Silas's territory now."

Kade's jaw tightened at the mention of his stepbrother. Everything seemed to lead back to Silas and the woman Kade had foolishly allowed to walk away.

His chest suddenly tightened, forcing him to press a hand against it. The familiar pain had become worse over the past few days, striking without warning and leaving him struggling to breathe. Elara's rejection had damaged more than his pride. The psychic backlash still tore through his body whenever his wolf remembered the mate bond he had rejected.

He could barely sleep, and when he did, his dreams were filled with the same unbearable feeling of loss.

"Send the raven," he ordered again. "Tell her I'll give her whatever she wants."

A bitter laugh came from the corner of the room.

Lyra sat on a cushioned chair, her face pale. Her once-perfect appearance had lost its usual brightness, and dark circles sat beneath her eyes. She had barely eaten since the elders began questioning her pregnancy, and the pressure was becoming impossible to escape.

One of the pack elders stepped forward, holding a document in his hand. "Alpha, we cannot continue pretending this situation doesn't exist. The healers have confirmed that there is no unborn pup, and Lady Lyra has failed to provide any explanation for her claims."

Lyra's fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress. "I already explained that the healers are wrong. I have been under too much stress, and that is why they cannot detect the pup."

"Three different healers examined you," the elder replied. "Are you suggesting all of them are incompetent?"

"Watch your tone!"

Kade's voice thundered through the hall, but the elder did not retreat. Several other elders exchanged troubled looks, their patience with the Alpha clearly running out.

The oldest among them stepped forward. "We have more pressing matters than protecting a woman's lies. Our fields are dying, our warriors are hungry, and our people are beginning to question your leadership."

Kade's eyes narrowed. "Choose your next words carefully."

"Driving away our true Luna has brought an ancient curse upon this land. The mate bond was not something you could discard without consequences, yet you rejected the woman the Moon Goddess chose for you."

Kade stared at him, his expression darkening. "Don't you dare blame this on Elara."

"Who else should we blame? The land began dying after she left, and our pack's strength has been declining ever since. You have lost your mate, your trade agreements, and the loyalty of your own people."

Kade crossed the distance between them in two furious strides. He grabbed the elder by the collar and shoved him backwards, making the old wolf stumble against the edge of a stone pillar.

"Are you telling me that a chubby, rejected girl holds more power over this pack than its Alpha?"

The elder struggled against his grip. "I am telling you that you should have thought before throwing away what was given to you."

Kade's fingers tightened.

"She was nothing! She had no wolf, no status, and no place beside me. I gave her everything she needed, and she repaid me by choosing Silas!"

"She was your mate," the elder replied, his voice strained. "You were the one who rejected her."

Kade released him with a violent shove. The old wolf stumbled but managed to remain standing, while the other elders stepped forward to keep the confrontation from getting worse.

"Enough!" Kade roared. "I will not listen to another word about that woman!"

Lyra shifted uneasily in her chair. She had hoped Kade would defend her, but even she could see that his attention was no longer on her. Every time Elara's name was mentioned, his expression changed, and the pain in his chest seemed to grow stronger.

"Maybe we should stop sending messages," Lyra murmured. "She has already made her choice. Begging her will only make us look weak."

Kade turned towards her. "Do you think I don't know that?"

"Then why keep chasing her? You have an entire pack to lead, and people are beginning to blame me for what happened."

"Because she belongs here!"

The words escaped before he could stop them. Lyra's face tightened, and the elders exchanged another round of uncomfortable glances.

Kade looked away, breathing heavily. He hated that everyone could see his desperation, but he hated the emptiness inside him even more. He had spent so long believing Elara was an inconvenience that he had never considered what losing her would feel like.

Now, whenever he closed his eyes, his wolf clawed at his consciousness.

Mate.

The word echoed through his mind, followed by a howl so painful that Kade nearly dropped to his knees. He pressed both hands against his temples, trying to silence the creature inside him.

Bring her back. Find our mate.

"Shut up!" he growled under his breath.

An elder stared at him. "Alpha?"

"Nothing. Leave me."

The elders hesitated, but Kade's glare forced them towards the doors. Lyra rose slowly, hoping to follow them, but he stopped her with a sharp command.

"You stay."

She froze. "Kade, I haven't done anything wrong."

"Then explain why the healers cannot find the pup you keep claiming to carry."

Lyra's lips parted, but no answer came. Her eyes darted towards the doors, searching for an excuse that might save her from the questions she had been avoiding.

Kade stepped closer. "You told me you were pregnant. You told the entire pack. Now the elders are questioning me because of your lies. Do you have any idea what that has done to my position?"

"I was trying to protect our future!"

"Our future?" His laugh was cold. "Look around you, Lyra. There may not be a future left to protect."

She lowered her gaze, unable to answer. Kade turned away, refusing to look at her any longer. His mind had already moved towards the only solution he could think of.

Elara.

If she returned, perhaps the land would recover. Perhaps the pack members would stop whispering, and his wolf would finally quiet down.

But every message he sent came back unanswered.

The latest raven had returned with its message untouched, and the messenger had reported that Obsidian Fang's guards refused to allow him beyond the border. Silas had made it clear that Elara would not be disturbed.

Kade's face twisted with anger. "So that's how he wants to play it."

He strode towards the throne and pulled open a chest containing his ceremonial weapons. Inside lay a silver sword, its hilt decorated with the crest of the Stone family. He lifted it from its resting place, and the metal caught the light from the burning torches.

A guard entered hurriedly. "Alpha, the elite warriors are waiting for your orders."

Kade looked towards him. "Gather the strongest fighters. I want a unit ready before sunrise. No council approval, no negotiations, and no delays."

The guard hesitated. "Are we preparing for a border defence?"

"No. We are crossing the Obsidian Fang border."

"Alpha, that would be an illegal raid. Silas could declare war against us."

Kade's eyes burned with fury. "Then let him try."

He drew the ceremonial silver sword, its sharp edge flashing beneath the torchlight. The sound of metal leaving its sheath echoed through the great hall as he raised it before the assembled warriors.

"If she won't return willingly as my Luna, then I'll march an army straight to Silas's doorstep and take back what is mine by right of blood!”