Chapter 177
Chapter 177
ARIA
Finished
We stayed by the stream for hours, talking about everything and nothing. Kael asked about my childhood- what little of it had been happy before everything became complicated. I asked about his early years as Alpha, before the curse, when pack leadership had seemed straightforward rather than an endless series of crises to manage.
The afternoon sun moved across the sky, casting changing patterns of light through the trees. It should have been perfect. In many ways, it was perfect-peaceful, intimate, the kind of time together we desperately needed.
But I couldn’t fully relax into it. Couldn’t stop noticing how Kael kept finding reasons not to shift. How every time we approached the topic of actually hunting in wolf form, he’d redirect the conversation to something else. Ask another question. Suggest we explore a different part of the stream. Find another reason to stay human.
He was avoiding it. Avoiding the moment when we’d both have to shift and his wolf would have to confront me directly without the buffer of human consciousness and social awareness.
And the more he avoided it, the more my anxiety grew. Because his avoidance confirmed what I’d overheard Nina say. His wolf hadn’t accepted our bond. Maybe couldn’t accept it. Maybe would never accept it.
“We should probably head back soon,” Kael said eventually, glancing at the sun’s position. “It’s getting late. We’ll want to be back before dinner p>
“We never actually hunted,” I pointed out, unable to keep a slight edge from my voice. “That was supposed to be the point of coming out here. Hunting together as wolves p>
Kael’s expression became carefully neutral. “We can do that another time. Today was more about just spending time together. Talking. Connecting as people rather than as Alpha and Luna managing crises p>
“Right,” I said, standing and brushing off my clothes. “Of course p>
He caught the tone in my voice. “Aria, what’s wrong p>
Everything, I wanted to say. Everything is wrong. Your wolf doesn’t want me. You’re avoiding shifting because you’re afraid of what will happen when that part of you has to interact with me. I’m constantly competing with a ghost, with memories of someone you actually chose rather than bonded with out of necessity. And I’m exhausted from pretending I don’t notice. Exhausted from acting like this is enough when it never quite is.
But I didn’t say any of that. Just forced a smile and said, Nothing. I’m fine. Just tired. It’s been a long day p>
“We’ve barely done anything,” Kael protested. “Just sat by the stream and talked p>
“Emotionally long, then,” I amended. “A lot to process. The attack yesterday. This time together. Everything p>
He looked like he wanted to push, to demand I tell him what was really bothering me. But ultimately, he just nodded and began packing up our supplies.
We walked back toward the pack house in silence that was no longer comfortable. The easy conversation
14:44 Tue, Dec 30 @ D
Chapter 177
from earlier had dried up, replaced by tension neither of us quite knew how to address.
33%1
* Finished
As we approached the pack house, we saw activity in the main courtyard. Pack members gathered in small groups, their body language suggesting something signicant had happened. Nina was there, talking urgently with Jordan and several other guards.
She spotted us approaching and immediately headed our way, her expression serious.
Alpha Kael, Lama Aria,” she greeted us formally, which immediately put me on alert. Nina only used full titles when the situation was serious. “We have a development you need to be aware of
“What happened?” Kael asked, instantly shifting into Alpha mode. The relaxed man from the stream disappeared, replaced by the pack leader who carried the weight of everyone’s safety.
“The guards who took Ivory’s accelerants yesterday have all woken up,” Nina reported. “They’re exhausted and sore but otherwise fine, exactly as Ivory predicted. That’s the good news p>
“And the bad news?” Kael prompted.
“The bad news is that while they were conducting their post-recovery debriefings, Jordan remembered something from the ambush. Something he hadn’t consciously registered during the fight but his enhanced senses had picked up p>
Nina pulled out a small evidence bag containing what looked like a piece of torn fabric. “He found this caught on a tree branch near where we rescued you. It has Blackwood Pack’s scent all over it. But more than that, it has a specific signature-someone high-ranking in their hierarchy p>
“Sera was there,” I said quietly. “At the ambush. She didn’t just orchestrate it from a distance. She was physically present p>
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