Lyra pressed a prettily decorated glass vial into Kael's palm.
She lifted her doe eyes, her gaze shimmering with unshed tears, soft enough to melt anyone watching. Her scent—deliberately sweetened with submission—curled through the healing chamber like honey-laced poison.
No one who witnessed them together could possibly believe there was nothing between these two.
Lyra bit her lip, reluctance written all over her face as she turned to leave. Passing by me, she lowered her voice in explanation:
"Selene, this was my mistake. I let Beta-Commander Kael take the vehicle before the safety wards were properly inspected, and then the route incident happened."
"Please don't misunderstand—that vial contains origami wishing stars I folded myself, praying for Beta-Commander Kael's leg to heal quickly."
The safety wards weren't properly inspected?
But the pack-funded trade outpost had specifically sent word for me to collect the vehicle.
And that last time my brakes failed on the mountain pass—was that also because the vehicle "wasn't properly inspected"?
"Selene, I've been meaning to explain about the trade outpost."
Kael's voice pulled me back to the present.
We were alone in the healing chamber now. A smile spread across his face as he carefully set the glass vial on the stone ledge beside his bed, then reached out to pull me closer. His wolf's presence brushed against mine—familiar, yet now it made my skin crawl.
"She just completed her training, and it happened to be her birth moon—I only gave her a small gift. Don't tell me my Alpha mate is jealous?"
He said it so casually, as if he'd given away nothing more than some forgettable trinket.
I stepped aside, avoiding his touch. My wolf bristled beneath my skin.
"So this is your type?"
The air went still. Even the healing herbs seemed to stop their gentle smoking.
Kael's expression flickered. He rubbed his brow. "I didn't tell you because I was worried you'd overthink things."
"Lyra and I are completely innocent. We—"
"I don't care."
I cut him off, my tone bored.
"I haven't caught you sharing a den with her—yet. But I don't tolerate even a grain of sand in my eye, Kael. You'd better bury whatever inappropriate thoughts you're entertaining. Don't force me to tear this whole arrangement wide open before the Elders."
Kael looked up at me, disbelief written across his face.
"You don't trust me?"
I gazed down at him, my eyes flat and unreadable. My silence was answer enough.
He opened his mouth to say something more, but the communication crystal on his ledge chose that moment to pulse with light.
The sender's mark glowed unmistakably—Lyra's signature, impossibly bright.
Kael hesitated, then answered. Lyra's soft, fragile voice immediately floated through the crystal:
"Beta-Commander, is Selene giving you a hard time? Even if she's angry, please don't fight with her, okay?"
"I ordered bone-strengthening broth from the Eastern Den kitchens for you. I was afraid Selene might misunderstand, so I won't deliver it myself."
Two sentences. She'd managed to play the sweet, considerate Omega while subtly reminding everyone just how close she and Kael really were.
I didn't move. My wolf wanted to snarl, but I held her back.
Kael glanced at my expression and ended the connection.
I laughed coldly to myself. I had no interest in playing these games with him any longer. I turned and walked toward the chamber door.
"Selene!"
Kael called out urgently.
"You're really angry?"
"I promise I'll stay far away from her. I won't contact her ever again. Please don't be so cold to me?"
"My leg hurts..."
I paused, turning my head just slightly. My voice could have frozen the northern territories.
"If your leg hurts, summon the pack healer. I have duties at the Central Den. Rest well."
Outside the healing wing, the cold wind hit my face, finally tamping down some of the fury coiled in my chest. The moon hung low, casting silver light across the stone pathways of Nightfall territory.
I pulled out my communication crystal and reached out to my assistant, Arin Stormclaw.
"Dig into Lyra Frostveil. Track her scent-trail, her movements—everything. I suspect she had something to do with my ward failure last time."
After that last maintenance at the craftsman's den, my vehicle's safety wards had given out on the mountain pass. I'd swerved into a barrier of spelled stones—the only thing that saved me from plunging into the ravine below.
That evening, the territory manager of a high-end jeweler's outpost arrived at my private den on Kael's orders, presenting dozens of exquisite moon-blessed pieces for me to choose from.
"Beta-Commander Kael is so devoted to you! To be cherished like this by your intended mate—it's truly enviable."
I swept my gaze over the glittering display, feeling nothing but bitter irony. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, sensing the deception even if my heart wanted to deny it.
"Don't you know? The night a male betrays his mate bond, he always comes home telling her 'You're my true mate'—over and over—just to ease his own guilt."
