All Chapters of Let Them Kneel: Chapter 31 - Chapter 37

The morning sun sat low over the storefronts, painting the street in pale gold as Kaelani strode down the sidewalk, the white boutique box tucked firmly under her arm. Her steps were clipped, deliberate—each one fueled by a quiet resolve that left no room for hesitation.The bell above the boutique door chimed softly as she entered. The air inside was cool and fragrant with perfume and pressed silk. Mannequins in jeweled gowns stood poised in the window displays, their reflections ghosting across polished glass.Behind the counter stood a tall, elegant woman with a warm, practiced smile. “Good morning,” she greeted, her voice bright and welcoming. “How can I help you today?”Kaelani approached, the heels of her boots tapping steadily against the tile. She set the box down between them, her tone calm but firm.“I’d like to return this dress and have the person who purchased it refunded.”The woman blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Oh—of course,” she said, drawing the box closer. She l

The afternoon light stretched long across Julian’s desk, spilling over stacks of files and the open blueprints before him. He sat back in his chair, pen in hand, sketching adjustments to a real estate proposal that demanded his focus—but his mind refused to stay there.He needed the distraction.He needed something to keep from thinking about her.Numbers, projections, zoning lines—cold, predictable things—were easier than the storm that lived behind his ribs. He’d made his choice, done what was expected of him. But somehow, the certainty felt heavier than doubt.The quiet click of his office door broke his thoughts. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was.Elara never knocked.Her perfume—sharp, sweet, overdone—reached him before she did.“I was looking for you earlier,” he said, not lifting his eyes from the page. “No one knew where you’d gone off to.”“Oh, I just went for a little drive,” she replied, her tone light, almost sing-song. “A small little town, actually.”Something

His mother’s breath caught, her eyes wide with quiet astonishment. Then, with a tender ache in her voice, she whispered, “Oh, Julian…”Her hand reached out, fingers brushing the collar of his shirt. “But wait, that means you’re marked.”Julian gently took her wrist and lowered it, shaking his head. “No.”She blinked, stunned. “I don’t understand. It would’ve been instinctual—for both of you. You should’ve been claimed. Bonded.”His jaw worked silently for a moment before he spoke. “I marked her,” he said softly. “But… she couldn’t mark me back.”She tilted her head, concern creasing her features. “Why not?”“Because she’s wolfless.”That word seemed to suck the air from the room.“What?” she breathed. “But… how could she be wolfless and still go into heat?”Julian ran a hand down his face, dragging frustration with it. “I don’t know, mother.” His voice dropped. “But I remember… she tried to mark me. She wanted to. The instinct was there — she just didn’t have a wolf to carry it out.”

A tall man in a crisp navy suit, polished shoes, and a smug, manufactured smile stepped into her path — like he’d been waiting for this exact moment.Mr. Hamilton.“Ms. Kaelani,” he said smoothly, hands clasped in front of him like a polite predator. “Out for a stroll, I see. What a coincidence, running into you.”Kaelani didn’t stop walking, just gave a tight-lipped smile and an audible huff of irritation. “Yes… what a coincidence.”Unbothered, he matched her pace. “Since we’re both here, perhaps we can revisit our conversation from last month. I think you’ll find our new offer—”“Look, Mr. Anderson—”“Hamilton,” he corrected, still smiling.“Yeah. Whatever.” She didn’t bother hiding her disdain. “My answer hasn’t changed.”He opened his mouth, but she didn’t give him the chance.“I’m not selling. Not now. Not ever. You and your corporate goons can take your shady money and build your stupid casino somewhere else. Not here. Not in this town.”Her voice was calm, but there was steel b