Chapter 167

Chapter 167

KAEL

The meeting dragged on long after Aria had left, stretching into the night as we discussed security protocols, response procedures, and the multitude of threats we were now facing. My body ached with exhaustion-not from physical injury, thankfully, but from the sustained stress of the day. The ambush. The fighting. The terror of almost losing Aria. The relief of rescue. All of it had taken a toll that I was struggling to ignore.

Elder Morrison was in the middle of outlining proposed patrol rotations when I noticed Nina swaying slightly in her chair. Her injured shoulder had to be causing significant pain, and the earlier adrenaline that had kept her functional was clearly wearing off.

“Nina, I interrupted Morrison mid-sentence. “You need to rest. Go to your quarters. That’s an order p>

She started to protest-of course she did, Nina never accepted being sidelined easily-but I fixed her with my Alpha stare. The one that brooked no argument.

“Your shoulder needs time to heal,” I continued. “You’ve done more than enough today. Let the medical treatment actually work instead of pushing through pain out of stubborn pride p>

“I’m fine, she insisted, but her voice lacked conviction.

“You’re functional,” I corrected. “But you’re not fine. And you won’t be fine if you keep pushing. So go. Rest. We can handle the remaining logistics without you for one night p>

The elders murmured agreement. Even Nina couldn’t argue against unanimous pack leadership telling her to take care of herself.

“Fine,” she conceded, standing carefully. “But I’m available if you need me. Just call p>

“We will,” I promised, knowing I wouldn’t unless it was absolutely necessary.

The meeting continued for another hour after Nina left. Details about border security, communication protocols, contingency plans if Damon attenipted another assault. Important work, but exhausting work. By the time we finally concluded, it was well past midnight.

I dismissed everyone and headed out of the council room, intending to go straight to my chambers where Aria was hopefully sleeping peacefully. But as I walked through the corridors, I found Nina waiting in one of the side passages.

“I thought I ordered you to rest,” I said, too tired to put much heat into the reprimand.

“I am resting, Nina replied. “Relatively speaking. Just taking a slight detour first p>

“To where p>

“The clinic,” she said. “I want to check on Ivory. Make sure she’s not running herself ragged after everything today p>

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Chapter 167

Finished

I felt a complicated surge of emotion at her words. I’d been thinking the same thing-wanting to check on Ivory, ensure she was alright, thank her properly for everything she’d done. But I’d been hesitating, uncertain if visiting her was appropriate given the situation with Aria.

“That’s thoughtful,” I managed. “Tell her… tell her I’m grateful for what she did today. For the accelerants. For saving us p>

Nina rolled her eyes. “Tell her yourself. You’re coming with me p>

“Nina p>

“Don’t ‘Nina’ me,” she interrupted. “You want to see her. To check on her. To make sure she’s taking care of herself as obsessively as she takes care of everyone else. So stop making excuses and just come p>

“It’s complicated,” I said quietly. “With Aria. With everything. Visiting Ivory late at night could p>

“Could what?” Nina challenged. “Let the gossip mill run? Make people assume things? Kael, you’re not planning on avoiding Ivory until you die, are you p>

“Of course not,” I said immediately. “But there’s appropriate and inappropriate, and visiting her chambers late at night when my mate is sleeping falls pretty clearly into inappropriate territory p>

“We’re going to the clinic,” Nina corrected. “A professional space where she works. To check on a valued pack member who saved multiple lives today. That’s perfectly appropriate, and if anyone wants to make something scandalous out of it, that’s their problem, not yours p>

She fixed me with a stare that reminded me why she was my security chief. “Unless you’re planning on pinning Ivory to the wall and taking her right there and then, like the horny bastard your wolf is, you’re going to have to get used to seeing Ivory around. Being in her presence. Interacting with her like a normal person instead of treating her like forbidden territory p>

I pushed her gently-carefully, given her injured shoulder-in response to her crude words. “That’s inappropriate p>

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