Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Chapter 144

ARIA

122

9

+5 Pearls:

The guard hesitated, his eyes flicking to me again before answering. “They’re still investigating, Alpha. The visitor used false credentials. But they’re working to identify who it was and how they managed to bypass security protocols p>

My heart was pounding so hard I was certain everyone could hear it. The visit I’d made to Damon-the note he’d somehow gotten into my chambers, the trip I’d made without telling anyone, the conversation where he’d poisoned my mind with doubts and accusations.

Was this it? Had they discovered my visit? Were they about to expose that I’d gone to see my ex-mate without informing anyone, without clearing it through proper channels, without telling Kael?

“I’ll be there immediately,” Kael said to the guard. “Gather the security team. I want a full briefing on what happened and how our protocols failed to prevent this breach p>

The guard nodded and hurried off. Kael turned to me, his expression apologetic.

“I’m sorry, I have to handle this. Security breaches involving prisoners are serious, especially when that prisoner is Damon. I’ll find you when I’m done and we can continue our conversation p>

“Of course,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. “Go. This is important p>

Kael hesitated for just a moment, as if sensing something in my reaction but unable to pinpoint what. Then he touched my arm briefly and headed off after the guard, his stride purposeful and commanding.

I stood there in the corridor, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. Had they discovered it was me? Would the investigation reveal that I’d been the unauthorized visitor? Would they find evidence of my trip-Robert the driver remembering where he’d taken me, security footage, visitor logs that might eventually be traced back

to me?

And if they did discover it was me, what would happen? Would Kael see it as betrayal? Would the pack view it as evidence I was still connected to Damon, still influenced by him, still not fully committed to Shadowmere?

Would this undo all the small progress I’d been making? All the dispute resolutions, all the attempts to be useful, all the careful rebuilding of trust between Kael and me?

I felt like I was going to be sick. Like the ground was shifting beneath my feet again, stability I’d barely begun to establish crumbling away.

I’d been so stupid. So unbelievably stupid to go see Damon. To let him poison my mind, to give him access to my doubts and insecurities, to risk everything I’d been trying to build just to satisfy some self-destructive impulse.

And now I was going to pay for it. Now it was all going to come out, and I’d have to face Kael’s disappointment and the pack’s judgment and the confirmation of every negative assumption they’d ever had about me.

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Chapter 144

++5 Pearls

I made my way back to my chambers on autopilot, my mind racing through possibilities and consequences. Maybe they hadn’t identified me yet. Maybe the investigation would take time, and I’d have a chance to come forward on my own terms. To confess before being caught, to explain my reasoning even if it sounded weak and foolish.

Or maybe I’d already been identified. Maybe Kael was learning about my visit right now. Maybe he was seeing proof that his mate had been secretly meeting with the man who’d caused so much chaos, without telling him, without considering how it would look.

I reached my chambers and closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to catch my breath. Tried to figure out what to do,

Come forward now? Confess before being confronted? Or wait to see what the investigation revealed, hope maybe they wouldn’t trace it back to me?

Neither option seemed good. Both carried risks and consequences I wasn’t prepared to face.

I thought about the dinner in the garden. About Kael’s consistent efforts to rebuild our bond. About the small progress we’d been making, the comfortable partnership we’d been developing. About his conflicted response today when he’d wanted to rush into danger for Ivory but stopped himself when he saw me watching.

And I thought about how discovering I’d been secretly meeting with Damon would undermine all of that. Would confirm his worst fears about my judgment and commitment. Would validate every doubt he’d been trying to suppress.

I’d been so stupid. So incredibly, catastrophically stupid.

And now I was going to have to face the consequences.

The question was whether I’d face them on my terms by confessing, or wait to be caught and deal with the fallout then.

I sank into a chair, my head in my hands, and tried to figure out which path would destroy less of what I’d been trying to build.

Tried to prepare myself for the moment when Kael returned with questions I had no good answers for.

Tried to accept that the fragile progress I’d made was about to be shattered by my own poor choices and inability to resist Damon’s manipulative pull.

I sat there as afternoon faded toward evening, waiting for the inevitable confrontation.

Waiting to see if my secret would remain hidden or if everything was about to fall apart again.

Waiting to learn if I’d just destroyed the last chance I had at making this work.

The not knowing was its own kind of torture.

But finding out might be worse.

And I had no one to blame but myself.

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