Chapter 168

Chapter 168

KAEL

Finished

“But I’m not lying.” Nina shot back, completely unrepentant. “Your wolf wants her. Has wanted her since before you were cursed. That’s not going away just because you bonded with Aria for political convenience, So you either learn to manage those feelings like an adult, or you spend the rest of your life awkwardly avoiding someone who’s essential to this pack’s functioning p>

She was right. Frustratingly, completely right. I couldn’t avoid Ivory forever. Couldn’t treat her like dangerous territory that I needed to stay away from. That wasn’t fair to her, wasn’t fair to the pack, and wasn’t sustainable long-term.

“Fine,” I conceded. “Let’s go check on her. But if this turns into something uncomfortable p>

“Then we’ll deal with it like adults,” Nina finished. “Come on p>

We made our way through the pack house toward the medical wing. Most of the building was quiet at this late hour, only essential personnel still moving about. The guards who’d taken Ivory’s accelerants were all sleeping in their quarters, being monitored remotely through the pack’s medical systems.

As we approached the clinic, I could see light spilling from one of the examination rooms. Ivory was still working, apparently. Still functioning long after everyone else had collapsed from exhaustion or gone to

rest.

We got closer and I heard voices. Ivory’s, professional and focused. And Margo’s, more casual and conversational.

“-but seriously though,” Margo was saying as we reached the doorway. “If you could make something that would make people last in bed, you’d have pack members lining up around the block. Like, my boyfriend is good, but sometimes a girl needs five hours of being absolutely wrecked, you know p>

I froze in the doorway, Nina barely suppressing a snort of laughter beside me. This was… not the conversation I’d expected to walk in on.

2000

Ivory laughed a genuine, unguarded sound that I heard so rarely it made something in my chest ache. “I’m not making a sex accelerant drug, Margo. And you need to wash your mouth out. That’s filthy p>

“I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking!” Margo defended, completely unabashed. “Don’t brush it aside like people here don’t have sex. Like you don’t have sex. Or want to have sex. With certain people. Who will remain nameless but whose name rhymes with ‘Jason p>

“Margo-” Ivory’s voice held warning now.

“I’m just saying,” Margo continued, clearly enjoying teasing her. “Maybe you could slip Jason some when he gets back from patrolling. You know, when he returns from his two-week rotation at the portal border. Give him some extra stamina for your inevitable reunion p>

“I am absolutely not drugging Jason,” Ivory said firmly. “He wouldn’t appreciate it, and we’re still just friends despite your constant insinuations otherwise p>

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Chapter 168

Find

You literally fantasize about him. Margo accused Tve seen the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching. All longing and if only I could remember what we had before the curse p>

Nina chose that moment to clear her throat loudly, announcing our presence. I saw Margo’s face go from playfully teasing to absolutely mortified as she registered that Nina and I were standing in the doorway. Her skin turned such a deep red I was briefly concerned she might pass out from embarrassment.

“Someone someone’s calling me, Margo stammered, grabbing her supplies and practically fleeing past ux. Important thing. Urgent. Gotta go. Right now. Immediately p>

She was gone before either of us could respond, leaving Ivory standing alone in the examination room looking surprised and slightly exasperated.

Ivory’s gaze found Nina first, concern immediately crossing her features. “Cousin, you should be resting. That shoulder needs time to heal, not to be kept active through stubbornness p>

“Even you,” Nina countered, gesturing at the scattered notes and equipment around Ivory. “When was the last time you slept? Actually slept, not just closed your eyes for twenty minutes between tasks p>

Ivory’s expression became more guarded. I’m fine. Just monitoring the guards, documenting the accelerant effects, ensuring everything progresses as expected p>

Then her golden eyes shifted to me, and I saw a flash of something-surprise, wariness, maybe a hint of pleasure quickly suppressed.

“Alpha Kael,” she said, her voice becoming more formal. “What are you doing here? Is something wrong? Did one of the guards show unexpected complications p>

“No,” I said quickly. “Nothing’s wrong. The guards are all sleeping peacefully according to the monitors. I came to check on you p>

“Check on me?” She looked genuinely confused by the concept.

“Like I should have done after the fire at your garden,” I continued. “And definitely should have done after today. You saved our lives, Ivory. Multiple times over. The accelerants made the difference between success and catastrophic failure. And all you got from leadership was brief thanks before being sent back to work p>

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