Kael's POV
"You will claim her immediately. No hesitation. No weakness."
Kael stood in his father's office with his hands clasped behind his back. That was how you showed control. That was what a leader looked like when his insides were screaming.
Alpha Garrick sat behind his desk. His gold eyes were sharp. Cutting. Looking for any sign that Kael was going to fail him.
"The pack needs stability," his father said. "Tomorrow night, the bonds snap. You find your fated mate and you claim her. Quick. Clean. Decisive. That's what an Alpha does."
"Yes, sir."
Kael always said yes. That was the job. That was what being heir meant. Not thinking. Not questioning. Just doing what needed to be done, no matter what it cost.
His father leaned back. "Your brother sent word."
Kael's wolf went absolutely still.
"He's coming to the ceremony. After five years. Lysander is coming back to Shadowridge."
The words didn't feel real. But Kael's wolf knew they were true. Every muscle in his body went tight. His wolf was restless. Angry. Confused. All at once.
Five years. Five years since Lysander had looked at him with betrayal in his eyes. Since they'd fought and both nearly died. Since Kael had been forced to choose between his brother and his duty.
He'd chosen duty.
"He's no longer welcome here," Kael heard himself say.
"He's still pack," his father replied. "Ceremony law. All bloodline present. The Moon Goddess demands it." Garrick stood, walking to the window. "If your brother causes problems, you handle it. You're stronger than him. Faster. Better. Remember that."
Kael wanted to say something. Wanted to ask what the hell he was supposed to do when his wolf wanted to fight his own brother and his duty wanted to protect the pack from his own brother. But he just nodded.
A knock. Rhys entered without waiting.
"Security reports for tomorrow," Rhys said, spreading maps across the desk. "Ceremony grounds prepared. Warriors positioned. Everything's locked down."
Kael tried to focus. Patrol routes. Backup plans. Things that mattered an hour ago.
His mind was somewhere else. Somewhere five years in the past. In an arena where Lysander had challenged him and they'd fought until both were bleeding.
He could still see the rejection in his brother's eyes when their father gave him an ultimatum.
Accept pack law or leave forever.
Lysander had left.
"Kael. Are you listening?"
He blinked. Rhys was staring at him with that expression. The one that meant he was worried.
"Yeah. Sorry. Continue."
But he'd already stopped paying attention. His eyes had drifted to the window. To the courtyard below.
Someone was cleaning windows. Small figure. Auburn hair with silver streaks running through it. She moved carefully, like she was trying not to take up space. Like she was apologizing for existing.
Kael's wolf lifted its head.
Mine.
The word was sudden. Fierce. Completely wrong.
He gripped the desk so hard his knuckles turned white.
"What are you looking at?" Rhys asked quietly.
"Nothing."
But his eyes wouldn't leave her. The way she moved. The way she treated even this small task like it mattered. Like she mattered.
"That's just Lily Thorne," Rhys said. "The omega healer's assistant. Why are you—"
"No reason." Kael turned away from the window. Forced himself to look at the maps. At duty. At responsibility.
But his wolf was still watching. Could still feel her through the walls like she was the only real thing in this entire pack.
His father was still talking about bonds and stability and the need for a strong Luna.
Kael wasn't listening anymore.
Something was shifting in his chest. Something that didn't fit into his ordered world of duty and control and doing what had to be done. Something that looked at a girl cleaning windows and thought—
A sound cut through everything.
A howl. Distant. Broken. Wrong.
His father's head snapped up. His entire body went rigid.
"Warriors to the north wall," Garrick commanded, his voice carrying Alpha power that made the air vibrate. "Now."
Kael was already moving. But his father's next words stopped him cold.
"That's your brother. He's not waiting for tomorrow. He's attacking now."
The world tilted.
Because Kael could feel it. Movement in the courtyard. Warriors mobilizing. And through the window, he could see that small figure looking up at the sky with her violet eyes wide and afraid.
Lysander was here.
And when they faced each other for the first time in five years, everything Kael had spent those years holding together was about to shatter.