The ride back to Kael's estate was silent, except for the low hum of the engine. Evelyn's mind was still at the orphanage—Lily's thin arms around her neck, Maris's quiet warning.
When the gates to the massive mansion slid open and the SUV rolled into the driveway, she finally looked up at the driver.
Her breath caught.
It was him.
The same man from that day—the one who had almost run over a small boy, then tried to wave it off with a fistful of money.
Her gaze sharpened. "You…" she muttered under her breath, then turned to the mansion and saw Kael seated on the comfy couch, one hand in his pocket like he owned the world.
"That's your driver," she said coldly, jerking her chin toward the man.
Kael's amber eyes flicked to the driver, then back to her. "So?"
Evelyn's lips curled in disgust. "So… he's pathetic and you were in the car that day"
The air between them shifted. His wolf stirred under his skin, reacting to the bite in her voice. Kael didn't flinch—if anything, a faint, dangerous smirk tugged at his mouth.
"You've got a sharp tongue, little human," he said quietly, stepping closer. "Careful. In my world, words cut deeper than claws."
***
"Why is Kael's mate human?" Elder Thorne's voice was sharp, each word dipped in disapproval.
Lucien's brows arched, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "Good morning to you too, Elder."
"Don't play games," another voice snapped—Elder Mirra this time. "The Alpha is bound to protect the strength of this pack. A human is fragile. Weak. Vulnerable. What happens if our enemies find out?"
Lucien leaned back, toying with the edge of his whiskey glass. "You think I control Kael's wolf? You should be asking him why. Or better yet, ask fate. She's his mate. That's not exactly something you can vote on in council."
"Your his beta"
"This is unacceptable," Thorne said. "He's making a mockery of the Alpha's position. The Crescent Moon pack has a strong she-wolf ready for alliance—yet he chooses… this."
***
Lucien stepped into Kael's office without knocking, tossing his phone onto the Alpha's desk.
"The Elders just called me," he said. "They're furious. Apparently, your mate being human is now the council's biggest crisis."
Kael didn't even look up from the document he was signing. "I'm aware."
Lucien's brows lifted. "Aware? Meaning… you already knew?"
Finally, Kael met his eyes—calm, unreadable, but with that dangerous undercurrent only his closest friend recognized. "They came to see me yesterday."
Lucien's smirk vanished. "You met them without telling me?"
I'm your beta
"I didn't need to tell you," Kael said flatly, setting his pen down with precision. "It was a waste of time. Same tired arguments about strength, alliances, and the Crescent Moon she-wolf. I told them my choice is final."
Lucien tilted his head. "And when they threatened to 'watch you closely'?"
Kael leaned back in his chair, the corner of his mouth curling—not in amusement, but warning. "I told them they can watch all they want. But if they touch her…" His voice dropped to a lethal calm. "…they'll lose more than their eyesight."
Lucien chuckled low, shaking his head. "You're going to make enemies out of half the council."
Kael's gaze sharpened, the Alpha in him surfacing. "Then they should be smart enough not to stand in my way."