"But Beta-Commander Nightfall is still resting, and you seem upset, Selene. I was worried you might disturb him..."
I refused to waste my breath on her. I shoved her aside with enough force to make my point clear.
"Move."
Kael stirred from the commotion and emerged from the sleeping chamber on his crutches, his injured leg still bound in healing wraps.
Sensing the tension crackling between us like static before a storm, he frowned.
"What's going on?"
Lyra's tears spilled before she could even speak, her voice trembling with practiced fragility.
"Beta-Commander, I'm so sorry. You were exhausted last night, and I just wanted to let you sleep longer. I didn't mean to offend Selene."
She sobbed in little hiccups, the picture of a bullied omega—all soft whimpers and downcast eyes.
But her ears were flushed a telling crimson, and the bitter tang of guilt clung to her scent.
Kael turned his head to cough twice before speaking, his voice rough with sleep and something else I couldn't name.
"Selene, you've really misunderstood Lyra. Apologize to her."
I ignored him and settled onto the carved stone seating.
My gaze drifted to the display shelf near the hearth. The framed portrait of Kael and me from our mating ceremony was gone.
In its place sat a glass vessel filled with paper wishing stars—folded by Lyra's own hands.
Scattered across the low table were undergarments that didn't belong to me, lace and silk that carried her scent.
"No wonder you blocked me at the entrance. You two have been busy, haven't you?"
Lyra rushed over, crying as she gathered the intimate clothing.
"These are mine—I washed them, I was just drying them here..."
"In the main den chamber?"
I let out a cold laugh.
"With a broken leg, Kael, can you still keep her satisfied?"
Lyra's face flooded scarlet. She stammered, "Selene, you—you really have the wrong idea. Beta-Commander and I... we haven't done anything."
"Enough!"
Kael glared at me, irritation sharpening his voice into something close to a growl.
"Selene, do you have to humiliate her with such vulgar remarks?"
"She's just an innocent young omega. Unlike you—your head is full of nothing but schemes!"
I looked up at him, holding his gaze without flinching.
"What exactly am I scheming?"
"You're scheming how to humiliate her, how to destroy her reputation, how to make me bend to your every whim, orbiting around you and you alone!"
Kael's voice rose with each word, his wolf bleeding into his tone.
"Yes, I let her stay—but nothing happened between us!"
"She took care of me. I'm grateful to her. It's that simple! Why do you insist on assuming the worst about everyone?"
"I couldn't care less whether people's hearts are pure or rotten."
I pulled out a leather-bound folder.
"What I do care about is this: six months ago, you used Nightfall Pack funds and resources to establish a lucrative trade outpost for her. Twenty million in pack resources—marked as 'charitable territory investment.'"
"Tell me, Kael—did you get Elder approval? Embezzling pack funds to keep your marked favorite. How does that charge sound before the Council?"
Kael's face turned ashen, the color draining from his skin.
"You investigated me? She's not my marked favorite!"
"Then what is she?"
I stood and walked toward Lyra, each step deliberate.
"Ms. Frostveil, why don't you tell me—what exactly are you?"
Lyra bit her lip, her gaze darting between us.
"I... I just admire Beta-Commander Nightfall. I'm grateful for his help. That's why I came to take care of him for a couple of days..."
"Admire him enough to wear my clothes and sleep in my bed?"
I gestured toward the master sleeping chamber, its door left ajar.
"Kael, I saw both of you come out of that room with my own eyes. Explain that."
Kael's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching beneath his skin.
"Believe what you want. Lyra slept on the floor to take care of me. Nothing happened!"
"I don't care whether you shared a bed or not."
I tucked the folder away and placed a bond rejection document on the low table. My tone left no room for negotiation.
"Kael, return full ownership of the trade outpost to the pack. Sign these papers like a good wolf. Assets will be divided per our mating contract terms. We end this with dignity."
"Refuse, and I'll bring charges of embezzlement and mate-betrayal before the Elders. I'll report everything to the Pack Council. Care to guess whether those old wolves will seize the chance to strip you of rank?"
