Kael's words hung in the air like lightning.
"You're my destined mate."
Liana's breath caught.
Her pulse thundered.
The room felt too small… and Kael too close.
"Mate?" she whispered, barely audible.
Kael didn't flinch.
His hand stayed on her cheek, thumb gentle but possessive.
"Yes," he said softly, but with the weight of a thousand storms.
"The bond woke when I felt your fear. When Evan touched you… something inside me snapped."
Her heart hammered.
"But I'm human," she argued. "I'm not a werewolf. I'm not—"
Kael's jaw tightened.
"You're not human, Liana."
She froze.
He swallowed hard, as if saying the next words physically hurt him.
"You're something… forbidden. Something the witches want. Something the wolves fear. And something I—"
His voice cracked slightly.
"—I can't lose."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I don't understand."
"I know," he whispered. "But you will."
He slowly lowered his forehead to hers, steadying her trembling breath with his own.
Then, reluctantly, he pulled back.
"Come," he murmured. "You're not safe here anymore."
He wrapped a protective arm around her and led her out of the shattered room.
---
THE EAST WING HALLWAY
Liana noticed it immediately.
Eyes.
Whispers.
Hostility.
Guards, servants, and warriors stepped aside as Kael passed—but their gazes followed her, cold and sharp like knives.
Some glared.
Some muttered under their breath.
Some didn't even bother to hide their disgust.
Liana's stomach twisted.
Kael noticed.
His aura flared instantly—dangerously.
One warrior flinched as if Kael's aura punched the air out of him.
"Kael," Liana whispered, tugging his sleeve. "Stop, you'll hurt someone—"
At her touch, his aura softened.
But his eyes remained cold and lethal.
"They will not look at you like that again," he growled.
Liana shook her head quickly. "It's not worth it. It's fine."
"It is not fine," he said through clenched teeth. "You are mine. They do not get to disrespect—"
"Kael."
Her voice was small but firm.
He inhaled… forcing himself to calm down.
They continued walking.
---
THE GREAT HALL
The golden doors swung open.
Inside, dozens of Kael's pack members stood in a semicircle—waiting.
Liana stiffened.
Whispers rose immediately:
"That's her?"
"The outsider?"
"The human girl the Alpha brought?"
"What's so special about her?"
"She smells wrong…"
"Dangerous."
The tension hit her like a wave.
Kael stepped in front of her instantly, blocking their view.
"Enough," he commanded, voice booming with Alpha power.
Silence slammed through the hall.
Everyone bowed their heads.
Everyone—except one.
A tall woman with silver hair and icy blue eyes.
Beautiful. Elegant. Dangerous.
She smirked.
"I see our Alpha brought home a… souvenir."
Liana's chest tightened.
Kael's eyes darkened, fury flickering.
"Seraphina," he said coldly. "Don't test me tonight."
Seraphina raised a brow.
"Why? Will you break your own warriors because they question the strange girl you dragged into our kingdom?"
Liana flinched.
Kael nearly snarled.
"She is not a strange girl—"
"Then what is she?" Seraphina cut in.
"Because she's not wolf. Not witch. Not fey. Not demon. Yet she carries a magic older than all of us."
Liana's blood ran cold.
How did she know?
Seraphina's eyes sharpened directly on Liana.
"You don't belong here," she said softly.
"And if the clan doesn't kill you… the witches will."
Kael moved so fast the air cracked.
He grabbed Seraphina by the throat and slammed her against a marble pillar.
Gasps filled the hall.
"She is under my protection," Kael growled, his voice vibrating with deadly intent.
"Touch her. Threaten her. Look at her wrong—"
His aura exploded, shaking the floor.
"—and I will personally end you."
Seraphina didn't struggle.
She only smiled.
"Your mate will destroy you, Kael," she whispered. "Just like she destroyed Evan."
Kael's grip tightened once more—then he let her go.
He returned to Liana, chest still heaving, and gently took her hand.
"Let's go."
The hall parted for them without another sound.
---
KAEL'S PRIVATE CHAMBERS
As soon as the door shut, Kael dragged both hands through his hair, pacing like a maddened beast.
"I should have killed her," he muttered. "I should have—"
"Kael…" Liana whispered.
He stopped immediately.
Turned toward her.
All the anger faded from his face—leaving something much softer.
Much more dangerous.
Fear.
He walked toward her slowly, like approaching something fragile.
"Liana… if anything had happened to you tonight—"
His voice broke.
Her heart squeezed.
He reached her, cupped her face with trembling hands.
"I would burn kingdoms for you," he whispered.
"I don't care what you are. I don't care what destiny wants from you. You are mine."
Her lips parted.
"Kael…"
He leaned closer.
Not kissing her.
Not touching her more.
Just breathing her in.
"Never scare me like that again."