Cracks In The Bond
1307 Words
Chapter 6
Cracks In The Bond
Kael didn’t sleep beside me that night.
I told myself it shouldn’t matter anymore.
Yet sometime after midnight, I still found myself staring at the empty side of the bed, listening to the storm winds claw against the windows while the mating bond pulsed weakly in my chest.
Distant.
Restless.
Awake.
Which meant Kael was awake too.
The realization twisted painfully through me.
Three years ago, nights between us had been unbearable in the best way. Kael used to drag me against his chest the second we were alone, as though distance physically irritated him.
Now the silence between us felt endless.
I turned onto my side and closed my eyes.
But sleep never came.
Because every time I drifted off, I remembered Draven’s voice on the balcony.
A female starving beside a feast.
The worst part was that he wasn’t wrong.
And I hated him for seeing it so clearly.
—
The Winter Summit began at sunrise.
By the time I entered the grand assembly hall the next morning, nearly every Alpha in the Northern Territories had already arrived.
Massive stone pillars lined the circular chamber while silver banners representing each territory hung from the high ceiling above.
Power filled the room.
Dominant wolves.
Ancient rivalries.
Political smiles hiding sharpened teeth.
The moment I entered beside Kael, conversations lowered slightly.
Not because of me.
Because people were watching us.
Watching the distance between us.
I felt it immediately.
Kael walked half a step ahead without realizing it.
Such a small thing.
Yet wolves noticed details like that.
Especially other Lunas.
Several females glanced at me sympathetically before quickly looking away.
Humiliation burned beneath my skin.
“Stay close today,” Kael murmured quietly.
I almost laughed.
Now he wanted closeness.
Only because Draven existed in the same territory.
We moved farther into the chamber toward Ashford’s designated seating near the center platform.
Then I saw her.
Selene.
My stomach dropped instantly.
She sat directly behind Kael’s chair dressed in soft ivory silk with Rowan beside her, looking every bit the grieving widow under Ashford protection.
But that wasn’t what froze me.
It was the placement.
Only high-ranking family members sat near the Alpha platform during summit proceedings.
Lunas.
Future heirs.
Blood relatives.
Important people.
Not temporary guests.
Kael noticed my expression immediately.
“She’ll only observe the morning discussions.”
I looked at him slowly.
“And whose decision was that?”
His silence answered everything.
The crack inside me widened further.
“Of course.”
“Lyra—”
“No,” I said softly. “You’ve made your priorities very clear already.”
Pain flashed across his face.
Again, real pain.
Yet somehow it never stopped him from hurting me anyway.
Before he could answer, a loud voice echoed through the hall.
“The Black Hollow delegation has arrived.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Every Alpha turned toward the massive entrance doors.
Fear moved quietly through the chamber like a living thing.
Then Draven entered.
The Alpha king wore black again.
No ceremonial colors.
No decorative symbols.
No attempt to appear welcoming.
Just dominance.
Raw and terrifying.
Several Alphas straightened instinctively as he passed.
Others avoided eye contact entirely.
Draven ignored all of them.
His attention moved lazily across the chamber until it landed on me.
And stopped.
My wolf reacted instantly.
Warmth spread sharply beneath my skin while the strange pull inside my chest tightened again.
No one else noticed.
But Draven did.
His eyes darkened almost imperceptibly.
Kael stiffened beside me.
He noticed that too.
God.
This was becoming dangerous.
Draven approached the central platform surrounded by elite guards before taking his seat directly across from Ashford territory.
Opposite Kael.
Opposite me.
Too close.
The summit leader, Elder Marcus, stepped forward raising both hands for silence.
“Welcome, Alphas and Lunas of the Northern Territories. We gather under moon law to discuss border security, trade agreements, and the growing unrest near the eastern mountains.”
Formalities began quickly afterward.
Territory disputes.
Supply negotiations.
Rogue attacks.
Normally I participated in these discussions actively beside Kael.
Today, I barely spoke.
Not because I lacked authority.
Because Kael no longer invited it.
Several times I opened my mouth to offer strategic insight only for Kael to answer before I could.
Not intentionally cruel.
Which somehow hurt more.
He simply wasn’t used to including me anymore.
And everyone noticed.
Draven especially.
I could feel his eyes on me repeatedly throughout the discussions.
Not lustful.
Observant.
Like he was collecting evidence.
At one point, Elder Marcus addressed a trade concern involving southern routes.
I spoke automatically before thinking.
“The eastern pass would be safer during winter migration. The southern roads become unstable after heavy snowfall.”
The chamber quieted briefly.
Several Alphas nodded thoughtfully.
Then Kael spoke over me.
“The southern roads remain manageable with enough patrol support.”
Dismissive.
Instantly dismissive.
The sting hit harder because he used to value my judgment.
Elder Marcus nodded uncertainly. “Perhaps both routes should be evaluated.”
But I barely heard him.
Because across the chamber, Draven leaned back slowly in his chair.
Watching Kael.
Watching me.
Then finally, the Alpha king spoke for the first time all morning.
“I agree with the Luna.”
Silence crashed across the chamber.
Every head turned toward Draven.
Including Kael’s.
The king’s expression remained unreadable.
“The eastern route is strategically superior,” he continued calmly. “Unless Alpha Ashford enjoys risking unnecessary supply losses.”
Several Alphas immediately murmured agreement.
Not because they liked Draven.
Because he was right.
Kael’s jaw tightened hard.
And suddenly I understood exactly what Draven was doing.
He wasn’t merely provoking Kael.
He was restoring the authority Kael himself had allowed to weaken.
The realization unsettled me deeply.
Elder Marcus cleared his throat awkwardly. “Then we’ll reconsider the eastern proposal.”
Discussion resumed.
But the atmosphere had changed now.
Tension wrapped tightly around the chamber.
Because everyone had seen it.
The ruthless Alpha king publicly supporting another Alpha’s mate.
Dangerous.
Humiliating.
Intimate.
Kael remained silent beside me for the rest of the meeting.
Too silent.
By the time the morning session finally ended, my nerves felt shredded.
Wolves began rising from their seats, breaking into smaller political groups around the chamber.
I exhaled quietly in relief.
Until Kael leaned toward me.
“Walk with me.”
Not a request.
I followed him silently through a side corridor leading away from the assembly hall.
The moment we were alone, he stopped abruptly.
“What exactly is happening between you and Draven?”
I stared at him.
“Nothing.”
His eyes searched mine intensely.
“He’s watching you.”
“So are you. Suddenly.”
The words landed sharply.
Kael’s expression hardened.
“You think this is a game?”
“No,” I whispered tiredly. “I think this is the first time you’ve noticed me in months.”
Something inside him visibly cracked at that.
The bond between us pulsed painfully.
Guilt.
Fear.
Frustration.
Then suddenly Kael stepped closer.
Too close.
His hand lifted toward my face hesitantly, almost like he remembered touching me only now.
My breath caught softly.
For one weak, pathetic second…
I wanted him to hold me.
To choose me.
To fix this.
His fingers brushed my cheek gently.
The touch nearly destroyed me.
“Lyra,” he murmured quietly, “you’re still my mate.”
Tears burned unexpectedly behind my eyes.
Because he sounded sincere.
And because sincerity now felt heartbreakingly insufficient.
Before I could answer—
A dark voice echoed from the corridor entrance.
“For now.”
Kael’s entire body went rigid.
I turned sharply.
Draven stood several feet away watching us with cold, unreadable eyes.
And suddenly…
The fragile moment between my mate and me shattered completely.
- Writer
