Chapter 79
Chapter 79
ARIA
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“Ivory understands why I bonded with Aria,” Kael said. “She helped facilitate it, for gods’ sake. She knew it was necessary p>
“Understanding something intellectually doesn’t make it hurt less,” Nina countered. “Ivory watched you bond with someone else less than a week after she cured you. Watched you mark another woman. Watched you build a life with Aria that she probably thought—even if she never said it—might someday be hers p>
“She never said anything,” Kael protested weakly. “Never indicated she wanted more than what we had p>
“Because she’s Ivory,” Nina said, exasperation creeping into her voice. “Because she puts the pack first, always. Because she loved you enough to let you go if that’s what was best for Shadowmere. But love, Kael? She loved you. Past tense, probably, now that she doesn’t even remember you. But she loved you, and you had to know that p>
The silence stretched. I waited, barely breathing, for Kael’s response.
“I did know,” he finally admitted, so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. “I knew, and I… I cared for her too. Deeply. But Nina, what we had-it couldn’t be anything permanent. I’m Alpha. She’s a healer with no political connections. Even without the curse complicating things, a formal bonding between us would have been politically disastrous p>
“So you used her,” Nina said flatly. “Let her love you, sleep with you, dedicate years of her life to saving you-all while knowing you’d eventually have to choose someone else. Someone more appropriate. Someone like Aria p>
“It wasn’t like that,” Kael said, distress clear in his voice. “I never used her. What we had was real, even if it couldn’t be permanent. And Ivory knew that. She understood the limitations p>
“Did she?” Nina asked. “Or did she just tell herself she understood because loving you was worth any pain it might cause her later p>
Another pause. Then Nina’s voice again, softer now.
“I’m not trying to make you feel guilty, Kael. Well, maybe a little. But mostly I’m trying to prepare you for the reality that Ivory might actually move on now. She doesn’t remember loving you. Doesn’t remember being intimate with you. Doesn’t carry any of that history or
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attachment. And if someone like Jason catches her eye, if she develops feelings for someone new-you need to be ready for that p>
“Are you saying I shouldn’t be?” Kael asked, and there was an edge to his voice now. “That I should somehow interfere? Nina, I’m mated. I have a bond with Aria. What Ivory and I had- it’s in the past. It has to be p>
“I know,” Nina said. “I’m just asking if you can handle watching her build something new with someone else. If you can stand by while she gives to another man what she once gave to you. Because Kael, whether you want to admit it or not, part of you still cares about her. Still feels possessive of her. I saw your face today when she was looking at Jason like he was the most attractive thing she’d ever seen. You looked like you wanted to challenge him to a dominance fight right there in the clinic p>
“That’s ridiculous,” Kael said, but he didn’t sound convincing. “I was just… she’s recovering from a severe injury. She shouldn’t be ogling random pack members. It’s undignified p>
“Sure,” Nina said, amusement creeping into her voice. “That’s definitely why you looked ready to murder a man who was just bringing his sister to thank Ivory for saving her life. Nothing to do with jealousy at all p>
“I wasn’t jealous,” Kael insisted.
“You were a little jealous,” Nina countered. “And you know what? That’s okay. You spent three years with Ivory as your only real companion. You shared intimacy with her. You trusted her with everything, including aspects of yourself that no one else got to see. Those feelings don’t just disappear because you bonded with someone new p>
“They have to,” Kael said firmly. “For everyone’s sake, they have to disappear. I’m with Aria now. I care about Aria. I’m building a life with Aria. Whatever I felt for Ivory, whatever we had -it’s done. It has to be done p>
“Then you need to let her move on,” Nina said. “Actually let her. Not just say you want her to be happy while secretly hoping she’ll never find anyone else. Not just tolerate her dating other people while making things difficult for anyone who shows interest. You need to genuinely support her finding happiness with someone new. Can you do that p>
The question hung in the air. I found myself holding my breath, waiting for Kael’s answer even though I wasn’t supposed to be hearing any of this.
“I don’t know,” Kael finally admitted. “I want to say yes. I want to be the kind of person who can be happy for her regardless of who she chooses. But Nina, I spent three years in that den with only Ivory’s visits to keep me sane. Three years of her being the only person who didn’t look at me with fear or pity. Three years of intimacy-emotional and physical—that created bonds I didn’t realize were so strong until now. Until the thought of her with someone else makes me
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want to…” He trailed off, not finishing the thought.
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“Makes you want to what?” Nina pressed. “Claim her? Mark her? Make sure everyone knows she was yours first p>
“Don’t be crass, Kael muttered.
I’m being honest,” Nina said. “Your wolf had ideas, Kael. Freaky-ass possessive ideas about Ivory that probably haven’t completely disappeared just because you’re human again and mated to someone else. And you need to deal with those feelings before they cause problems p>
“They won’t cause problems,” Kael said. “I won’t let them p>
“Good,” Nina said. “Because Ivory deserves better than to be caught in the middle of your emotional confusion. She deserves to find someone who can love her openly, completely, without political complications or mating bonds to other women getting in the way. And if that someone turns out to be Jason or any other pack member, you need to step back and let it happen p>
Mark