Chapter 145
Chapter 145
ARIA
21
Finished
The entire day passed in agonizing slowness, each hour stretching like taffy as I waited for someone to come for me. To drag me before the elders. To confront me about my unauthorized visit to Damon. To expose my stupidity and poor judgment to the entire pack.
But no one came.
I attended my afternoon dispute hearings, settling three separate cases about shared resource allocation with what I hoped appeared to be focused attention. In reality, my mind was barely present, constantly anticipating the sound of heavy footsteps, the appearance of guards, the summons that would signal the end of whatever fragile stability I’d managed to build.
The pack members whose disputes I settled seemed satisfied with my rulings. They thanked me politely, bowed respectfully, and went about their business without any indication they suspected anything unusual about their Luna. No suspicious glances. No whispered conversations that cut off when I approached. No change in the careful neutrality they’d been showing me for weeks.
As evening approached, I made my way to the dining hall at the usual time, expecting Kael to be there waiting as he’d been doing every day. Half of me hoped he wouldn’t show-that his absence would mean he was dealing with the investigation and hadn’t connected me to it yet. The other half desperately wanted to see him, to read his expression, to gauge whether he knew anything or if I was still safe.
He was there. Standing near our usual table, talking with Nina about something that looked serious based on their expressions. When he saw me approach, his face brightened in that way it had been doing lately-genuine pleasure at seeing me, uncomplicated by the doubt and conflict that had characterized our early days together.
“Aria,” he said warmly, immediately moving to pull out my chair. “How were the hearings today p>
“Fine,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. “Three cases. All resolved without any major complications p>
“Good,” Kael said, taking his own seat across from me. “I heard from Morrison that you’re handling these matters really well. People are appreciating having someone available to settle disputes quickly rather than waiting for full elder council sessions p>
I nodded, accepting the compliment while my mind churned. He seemed normal. Relaxed, even, despite whatever serious conversation he’d been having with Nina. Not like someone
1/3
15:36 Tue, Dec 23
Chapter 145
who’d just discovered his mate had been secretly meeting with a dangerous prisoner.
21
Finished
Throughout dinner, I studied him carefully. Watching for any sign that he was hiding knowledge, any indication that he suspected something, any hint that this normalcy was a facade before confronting me. But I found nothing. Just Kael being attentive and warm, asking about my day, sharing details about pack business, occasionally smiling at me with what looked like genuine affection.
It was disorienting. Like waiting for a storm that never arrived. Like preparing for an explosion that kept not happening.
“Are you alright?” Kael asked eventually, his expression shifting to concern. “You seem… distracted. Worried about something p>
My heart rate spiked. “I’m fine,” I said quickly. Too quickly, probably. “Just tired. It’s been a long day p>
“Are you sure?” He leaned forward slightly, his eyes searching my face. “Because if something’s bothering you, you can tell me. Whatever it is, we can work through it together p>
The irony of his words-that I could tell him anything, that we could work through it together -nearly broke me. Because I couldn’t tell him. Couldn’t confess that I’d been so stupid, so self- destructive, so willing to let Damon poison my mind that I’d risked everything to visit him in
secret.
“I’m sure,” I said, forcing a smile. “Really. Just tired p>
Kael didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t press. Just reached across the table to squeeze my hand briefly, a gesture of support and connection that made guilt twist in my stomach.
“What about the person in the report?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “The unauthorized visitor at the neutral dungeons. Have they identified who it was yet p>
Kael’s expression became more guarded. “We’re still working on it. The investigation is ongoing. The visitor used false credentials and was careful to avoid being clearly captured on surveillance. But we’ll figure it out. We always do p>
“Is it… is it a serious security breach?” I pressed, needing to understand how much danger I was in. “Like, what would happen to someone who visited a prisoner without proper authorization p>
Kael studied me for a moment, and I wondered if my questions were too pointed, too revealing. But he just said, “It depends on the circumstances. If it was genuinely an oversight- someone not realizing they needed specific clearance-that’s one thing. But if it was deliberately deceptive, if someone went to significant effort to hide their visit…” He paused. “That would be treated more seriously. As a potential security threat. Especially given that the prisoner in question is Damon p>
2/3
15:36 Tue, Dec 23
Chapter 145
21
Finished
“Right,” I said faintly. “That makes sense p>
“Why do you ask?” Kael’s tone was curious rather than suspicious. “Are you worried about pack security p>
“Just trying to understand,” I said, which wasn’t entirely a lie. “Since everyone was talking about it earlier. The fire and then the security breach. It’s been an eventful day p>
“It has,” Kael agreed. “But we’re handling both situations. The shed repairs are already underway, and the investigation into the visitor will be resolved soon. Nina’s team is excellent at this kind of detective work p>
Nina’s team. Nina, who I’d overheard discussing something with Ivory just a few hours ago as I’d been leaving my dispute hearings for the day.
I’d been walking past one of the smaller conference rooms when I’d heard their voices-Nina’s professional tone and Ivory’s more casual one, clearly in the middle of a private conversation. I should have kept walking. Should have learned my lesson about eavesdropping. But the mention of a name had stopped me in my tracks.
“-visited Damon,” Nina had been saying. “The question is why. What possible reason would someone have to go see him without proper authorization p>
“Maybe it was someone from Blackwood,” Ivory had suggested. “Someone who still has loyalty to him or Sera. Someone who wanted to check on their former Alpha p>
20
15:36 Tue, Dec 23
Mark