Lahat ng Kabanata ng FATED BY FIRE: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Lucian's PovI left the club without another word to anyone. The pounding bass, the swarm of perfume-soaked bodies, the constant chatter in my ear all of it grated on me. The only thing that stayed with me was the image of her pressed up against Kieran, smiling at him like he was her whole world. My mystery girl. Cara Nelson. The Guardian’s daughter.I drove back to the packhouse, fists clenching the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. Every turn of the road, every dark stretch of forest outside the headlights, I was trying to think of a way to fix this. How the hell had I not put it together before? Cara Nelson. The shy, quiet girl I thought spent all her time nursing her broken father. The one who kept to herself, never chasing me like the others did. I had ignored her, dismissed her, and now she was wrapped up with Kieran like she belonged to him.Kai growled in my head, restless and angry.“She’s ours,” he snarled. “Not his.”For once, I agreed with him completely.By the tim

Cara's povWhen I said goodbye to Kieran, my whole body was thrumming like a live wire. The man was sex on legs, every look and every touch winding me tighter. My wolf, Selene, was still pacing in my chest, claws itching to mark him, to pull him closer, to make him ours.But as much as I wanted to think I had it under control, I knew I didn’t.I crept into the packhouse quietly, grateful that Dad was already asleep. His senses were sharp enough to catch the smallest sound, but he’d trained hard all day and even Guardians needed rest. If he knew the kinds of thoughts running through my head, he’d lose it.In my room, I undressed quickly and slid beneath the sheets. Normally I wore something light to bed, but tonight I didn’t bother. My body was restless, pulsing with need, and I knew I wouldn’t sleep until I found release. I only had a few hours before training, but right now, this felt more urgent than sleep.I let my hand trail over my breasts, cupping them, teasing the nipples until

Cara's povWhen I woke up, my heart was still hammering from the dream. My sheets clung to my skin, damp with sweat, and my body thrummed with an ache I couldn’t shake. Worst of all, I knew the name I’d whispered in my sleep.Lucian.I shoved the thought away and dragged myself out of bed. Cold water splashed on my face, but it didn’t clear the fog. No amount of scrubbing could wash away the shame crawling under my skin.By the time I made it to school, I had convinced myself it was nothing. Just exhaustion. A dream wasn’t real. A dream didn’t mean anything.Except it felt real. Too real.Kieran was waiting by my locker again. He was always waiting now. His smile hit me like a spotlight, drawing every eye in the hall.“Morning,” he said, his voice low and smooth. He leaned close, his arm braced on the locker beside mine. “Sleep well?”I forced a laugh, ignoring the way my pulse jumped. “Like a rock.”He grinned, clearly pleased with himself. Too pleased. He didn’t move, and I knew wh

Cara's POVThe whispers started before sunrise.I heard them in the halls, drifting past the cafeteria, curling through training grounds like smoke. My name in hushed tones, mixed with Lucian’s.“She’s sitting with him at the gathering.”“Did you see them last night?”“Kieran’s not going to let that stand.”When I reached my locker, the weight of their stares pressed down on me so hard it felt like I was carrying stones. Every glance said the same thing: she has to choose.I slammed the locker shut harder than I meant to, the sound echoing down the corridor.“Rough morning?”I didn’t need to look up. Kieran’s voice was a familiar blend of teasing and sharp, like he was always testing my patience. He leaned against the locker next to mine, arms crossed, a smirk tugging his mouth.“Did you know about this?” I demanded.His brows rose. “About what?”“The rumors.”He tilted his head, studying me. “Ah. So you’ve heard.”My stomach twisted. “It’s true then? He wants me at his table?”Kiera

Cara's povI don’t remember walking out of the chamber. My legs carried me, but my mind was still trapped in that moment his voice cutting through the silence, commanding me to sit. The look in his eyes when I obeyed. The smug satisfaction rolled off Lucian like heat.My wolf had betrayed me.She hadn’t growled, hadn’t resisted, hadn’t even tried to push back. No. She had leaned into it, like Lucian’s command had wrapped around her spine and pulled her down into that chair. And I hated myself for the way it had thrilled us both.The hallways were buzzing as council members whispered, their words chasing me down the corridor.“Lucian staked a claim.”“She didn’t refuse.”“Kieran won’t let this stand.”“She’s a Guardian. Whoever wins her wins everything.”I wanted to scream. I wanted to turn and tell them all that I wasn’t a prize, that I wasn’t a throne to be fought over. But the words jammed in my throat, drowned out by the echo of his voice.Sit.The word replayed, sharp as claws, an