Semua Bab The Alpha’s Bane : Bab 71 - Bab 80

The corridors felt longer than usual. Every guard she passed bowed their heads in respect, which only made her more uncomfortable. “Why am I nervous? It’s Kael. It’s just Kael,” she thought. But her heart was still pounding by the time she stood at his door.The guard outside knocked once, then pushed it open for her.“Go in,” he said simply.Aria hesitated for a second before stepping inside.Kael stood at his table, his back to her, pulling off his gloves. He didn’t turn when the door clicked shut behind her.Aria stood there awkwardly, waiting for him to acknowledge her.“You skipped dinner,” he said, his voice deep and firm. Her brows knit together. “You summoned me for that?”Kael turned slowly, his eyes landing on her like a real weight. “Answer me.”Aria crossed her arms, feigning nonchalance. “I wasn’t hungry.”“That’s a lie,” he said simply. “Are you keeping track of my meals now?”“I keep track of everything in this pack.”Aria rolled her eyes stylishly. “Believe what yo

Kael stood in the watchtower long before the wolves filled the training hall.The map of the western border stretched across the table, dotted with markings that didn’t make sense.“They’re deliberate,” Beta Darian said, his voice low. He pointed at the symbols. “Too clean to be random. Too precise to be accidents.”Kael’s jaw tightened. “And too close to be dismissed.” “They want us to see them, Alpha.” “Or they want us chasing shadows.”Beta Darian folded his arms. “Either way, Alpha, they’re pulling us west. That’s where they want us.”Kael stared at the map a moment longer, then exhaled slowly. “We go tonight. Quietly. No big movements. Just patrol.” “Which warriors?” “Lyra.”Beta Darian cleared his throat. “Lucan and Laura were there too… they could…” “She’s seen them before,” Kael cut in gently. “She knows where they are.”Beta Darian didn’t argue. “Aurora will hold the outer line, while Laura leads the way,” Kael added. “Done,” Beta Darian said, moving to update the patr

Aurora hadn’t been able to sleep.Training had been hours ago, but Lyra’s look in the hall, when those murmurs rushed at her. She hadn’t meant for it to sound the way it did. She hadn’t meant for any of it to leave their room.Then the knock came, hard and deliberate. She knew already. “Alpha Kael wants to see you,” the guard called from outside. Her heart dropped. “Now?”“Now.”She didn’t even change out of her night wear. She just threw on her cloak and followed him through the quiet corridors.The Shadows training hall was dark except for the moonlight spilling through the high windows.Kael was already there, standing at center with his hands in his pocket. He didn’t move when she walked in.“Close the door,” he said, his voice cold. Aurora did. Her hands trembled as she turned back to face him.“Come here.”She stepped forward, her legs feeling heavier as she moved until she was standing in front of him.“On your knees.”She dropped instantly, kneeling on the cold stone floor.

Aria hurried through the quiet corridors back to her room. Her stomach growling. Mira and Lira were awake, sitting together on Lira’s bed when she stepped in. Mira was the first to speak. “You skipped dinner again.”Aria stopped in the doorway. “I wasn’t hungry.”“That’s not an excuse,” Mira said, tapping the empty space beside her. “Come here.”Aria hesitated but walked over.Lira reached under her blanket and pulled out a small cloth-wrapped bundle. “Dried meat and fruit. I saved some. Eat first. Talk later.”Aria took it without a word, sinking onto the bed. She chewed slowly, her mind elsewhere.Mira leaned back against the wall, watching her carefully. “You’ve been quiet lately. Too quiet.”“I’m fine.”“You’re lying,” Mira said simply, but her tone wasn’t teasing.Aria didn’t respond.Mira sighed. “Look, I don’t care if you don’t want to talk about it. But at least take care of yourself, alright? You’re no good to anyone if you’re falling apart.”Lira nudged her shoulder gently

Aria walked in and the chamber door closed behind her with a soft click. Kael didn’t tell her to sit. He didn’t even move. He stayed at his table, his elbows resting on the surface, his fingers interlocked together. He stared at her for a minute, like he was waiting for her to break.Aria stood in the center of the room, her feet joined together, hands behind her back. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears.“Do you know what you did today?” His voice was calm. Too calm.“It was a mistake,” she said, keeping her eyes on the floor.Kael stood. Slowly. “A mistake?” He took one step forward, then another. “On my best friend?”“I didn’t mean…” “You cut her, Lyra.” He cut in gently, his tone sharp. “In front of the entire pack,” he added. Aria swallowed. “She pushed too hard. I reacted. If I wanted to hurt her, I wouldn’t have missed.”Kael paused at that. He tilted his head like he was trying to understand her words. “So now it’s Selene’s fault?”“I’m saying it wasn’t mine,” she replied. He