Page 24

H azel

The room feels too small, the walls too close.

No matter how many times I try to push away the memory of that night, it clings to me like a second skin—Kieran’s snarl, the blood, the fear twisting in my chest. My hands tremble as I grip the edge of the windowsill, staring out into the estate gardens bathed in soft morning light.

The scene is serene, almost mocking in its calmness.

I have always known what Kieran is capable of.

I know I can defend myself when it comes down to it, even though my wolf is not at her full strength.

I know I can stand my ground. So, this fear that I feel is irrational.

Yet it is there. I don’t remember what happened after the club.

I remember throwing up and then waking up to a strange man leaning into me.

And then Kieran going feral, almost killing him—that is, if he survived.

The look in Kieran’s eyes before he left tells me something has changed.

Then I think of Ayana. Where is she? Did Kieran get her? Did Eldon? Worry starts to settle in my chest .

A knock on the door startles me, and I whirl around just as Ayana steps inside. Her face is drawn with worry, her dark curls falling loose on her shoulders. Seeing her grounds me, a small anchor in this storm of uncertainty.

“Hazel,” she says softly, closing the door behind her.

I don’t respond, my throat tight as she crosses the room and pulls me into a hug. Her warmth is familiar, comforting, and for a moment, I let myself relax against her.

“I’ve been worried sick,” she murmurs, her arms tightening around me. “What the hell happened?”

I don’t know how many days it’s been. I don’t know what they’d done to her. But I’m glad she’s okay. I pull back, my gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t know. I just woke up and saw a man there. I don’t know who he was. Kieran. He…oh Goddess, are you okay, Ayana? What have they done to you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Are you okay?”

I nod, though the motion feels hollow. “I…don’t know. I can’t stop thinking about it. The way he…the way he looked. Like he wanted to destroy everything in the room, including me.”

Ayana’s expression softens, and she leads me to sit on the edge of the bed. “You were scared.”

I nod again, my hands twisting in my lap. “I’ve seen him angry before, but this was different. It was like…like he wasn’t even human.”

Her brows knit together, and she exhales slowly. “Hazel, I won’t sugarcoat it. Kieran has a lot of power, and when someone like him loses control, it’s terrifying. But you’re still here, and that says something.”

“What does it say?” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended.

“That he didn’t finish what he started?” The words leave my lips speaking layers of the pain I feel.

“He came to me to tell me he's my Mate! He made me believe he was choosing me!

And he couldn't finish even that, the one divine assignment he's entrusted with.”

“No,” she says firmly, her hand covering mine. “It says that for whatever reason, you’re still important to him.”

“What has he done to you? Where have you been?”

“Kieran ordered me to get our stuff from Broadstone. I just set up my room. It’s down the hall from you. He wants you to be comfortable.”

“Why are you defending him? Why is he suddenly being this way? What happened, Ayana?”

She clears her throat and tells me about the conversation with Kieran and how he realized Damon had been trying to keep us both apart.

“How could he believe the lies…” I choke on the words and just shake my head. It just further shows that he didn't choose me.

Ayana studies me for a moment before sighing.

“I know it’s hard to see it now with how much you can't stand Kieran, but this estate is safer than anywhere else. That night proved it. Even though there was that close call, he was right there to keep you safe. Out there…?” She gestures vaguely toward the window.

“Out there, Eldon and his rogues wouldn’t hesitate to use you and tear you apart.

At least here, you have a chance to figure things out. ”

I hate that she’s right. As much as I despise being trapped in this gilded cage, the thought of Eldon finding me sends a chill down my spine. This can’t be my life. Not when I haven’t found a way to break this stupid seal.

Ayana nudges me gently. “You know the healer said you should relax more. Come on. Let’s do something to take your mind off it.”

“Like what?” I ask, my voice flat.

She grins, the mischievous spark in her eyes a welcome distraction. “Let’s make something in the kitchen. It’s been ages since we’ve cooked together.”

I blink at her, caught off guard by the suggestion. “Cook? Here? Do you really think they’ll let us?”

“Only one way to find out,” she says, pulling me to my feet.

To my surprise, we’re granted permission with little fuss. Sylvia intercepts us on the way to the kitchen, her calm demeanor unshaken as she escorts us through the estate’s winding halls.

“Try not to set anything on fire,” she says dryly as she leaves us at the kitchen door. I know she’s not far away. She’s probably got orders to watch me and Ayana like a hawk, which I bet is part of Kieran's orders .

The kitchen is massive, all gleaming steel and polished countertops.

The scent of fresh herbs and baked bread lingers in the air, and for a moment, I feel a flicker of something close to normalcy.

Like mom is still alive, and I’m not the outcast Dad is always disappointed in.

It's been so long since I’ve enjoyed the simple pleasure of making a simple meal.

Ayana dives into the cupboards with the enthusiasm of someone who hasn’t cooked in years, pulling out ingredients at random. “What do you feel like making?” The smile on her face is like a light even in the well-lit kitchen. A smile teases my lips.

What would I do without her?

“Something simple,” I say, my voice still subdued. “I don’t have the energy for anything fancy.”

She nods, tossing me a loaf of bread and a block of cheese. “Grilled cheese it is.”

I manage a small smile as we set to work, the familiar motions of slicing and buttering bread soothing in their simplicity. Ayana chatters about nothing in particular, her voice filling the silence with warmth.

But as I stand at the stove, flipping the sandwiches, a low murmur of voices drifts through the open door that leads to the garden.

I freeze, my ears straining to catch the conversation. One of the voices is unmistakable—Kieran’s, deep and steady. The other belongs to another older wolf, probably Elder Darrel, his tone sharp and questioning.

“Why the sudden change, Kieran?” Darell’s voice carries just enough to reach me. “You’ve always been pragmatic, but this…this is reckless.”

“She’s not a threat,” Kieran replies, his voice quieter but no less firm. “I won’t hand her over, no matter what the pack thinks. And now that I suspect that Damon has intentionally kept me away from her with all of those false reports, there is no way I’m changing my mind.”

“When did you discover this?” I'm more shocked that even Darrel doesn't know about Damon. But that means my security is still tight.

“Not long. I'm investigating his betrayal, and I needed to keep it under wraps. I suspect there are more spies, and I'm still interrogating the captured one. ”

“That is grave, and I'm sure you are on top of it. But do you realize what you’re risking? She could be a liar just as you suspect Damon is,” Darell counters.

“She’s my Mate,” Kieran says finally, his voice softer now, almost resigned. “I can’t turn my back on that, no matter what it costs me.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I grip the edge of the counter to steady myself. My wolf stirs, her emotions a tangled mess of longing and anger.

“I know I’ve made mistakes,” he starts again, his voice low but steady. “That’s putting it lightly.”

“You call making the right decision for your pack a mistake? You fought to bring us to where we are now. Why are you letting this poor excuse of a woman do this to us? You will drive a line straight down our middle, and the pack you have worked so hard to raise will crumble before your eyes. And it will be because you chose her.”

My wolf snarls at the disrespect. But what do I care? They’re right. Kieran cares about his pack more than anything else. And I’m apparently something else. I sigh deeply, and Ayana looks up, her humming fading into the sizzling quiet of the kitchen when she notices what I’m doing.

“You’re right,” he says, and I don’t want to listen anymore.

I look up at Ayana, and her brows scrunch.

That’s when I feel the stinging in my eyes.

I want to move away. Stop listening. Stop torturing myself with Kieran’s words.

But then, why do I even care? He’s put me through hell and feels justified.

But I’m glued to the floor and my chest feels heavy.

“I’ve said things, done things, that I can’t take back. You can justify it because you don’t have the curse of feeling the heart-wrenching guilt of watching the only connection that feeds your soul wither away.” He sighs, and his voice shakes. “But I’m trying to make this right.”

I shake my head, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. I should feel flattered. Held. I should want to forgive him. But I don’t. Darrel asks the question that is burning on my mind. “Why now? Why try? She's going to cost you a lot more if you don't put the needs of the pack first.”

Kieran exhales, and I imagine him running his hand through his hair. The mention of Damon sends a spike of frustration through me, but I hold my tongue.