CHAPTER 8 UNDER HIS ROOF
942 Words
The moment Aria stepped into Kael’s home, she felt it.
Power.
Not the overwhelming, crushing kind she had felt from him before—but something deeper. Controlled. Rooted. Like the walls themselves held authority.
Everything about the space reflected him.
Dark wood. Clean lines. Minimal decoration.
Nothing unnecessary.
It was intimidating… but strangely calming.
“Stay here,” Kael said as he walked further inside. “I’ll have someone bring you what you need.”
Aria frowned slightly. “I don’t need—”
“You do,” he cut in, not harshly, but firmly. “You’ve been running all night.”
She opened her mouth to argue—
Then closed it.
He wasn’t wrong.
“Fine,” she muttered.
Kael paused briefly, glancing at her as if he wanted to say something more. But instead, he simply nodded and disappeared into another room.
Aria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Alone at last.
Her eyes moved around the room slowly, taking everything in. This place was nothing like the crowded, noisy pack house she had grown up in.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
For a moment, doubt crept in.
What am I doing here?
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady her thoughts.
Everything had changed so fast.
The rejection.
The forest.
The bond.
Kael.
It was overwhelming.
Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, a soft knock interrupted her.
Aria turned.
“Come in,” she said.
The door opened slowly, revealing a young woman carrying folded clothes.
Unlike Nyra, her expression was gentle.
“Alpha Kael asked me to bring these for you,” she said politely.
Aria hesitated. “Thank you.”
The woman stepped inside and placed the clothes neatly on a nearby chair.
“I’m Lira,” she added with a small smile. “If you need anything, you can call me.”
Aria gave a slight nod. “Aria.”
“I know,” Lira said softly, then quickly looked away as if she had said too much.
That didn’t go unnoticed.
“You… know?” Aria asked.
Lira hesitated. “Everyone does.”
Aria’s stomach tightened slightly.
Of course they did.
She was already being talked about.
“Is that a bad thing?” she asked carefully.
Lira shook her head quickly. “No. It’s just… unusual.”
That didn’t sound reassuring.
Before Aria could ask more, Lira bowed her head slightly. “I’ll leave you to rest.”
And just like that, she was gone.
---
Aria changed into the clothes quickly.
They fit perfectly.
Too perfectly.
As if they had been prepared for her.
That thought made her pause.
Before she could think too deeply about it, the door opened again.
Kael.
Her heart reacted instantly.
Annoyingly.
“You should rest,” he said, his gaze briefly scanning her to make sure she was alright.
“I’m not tired,” she replied automatically.
He raised an eyebrow.
“You’re exhausted,” he corrected.
“I’m fine.”
Kael stepped closer.
Too close.
Aria’s breath caught as his presence wrapped around her again, strong and steady.
“You don’t have to pretend here,” he said quietly.
The words hit deeper than expected.
She looked away. “I’m not pretending.”
“Then why are you still standing like you’re ready to run?” he asked.
She froze.
He noticed that too?
Her fingers curled slightly. “Maybe because everything in my life just changed overnight.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to face it alone.”
Her eyes lifted to his.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The tension between them returned—stronger, heavier, harder to ignore.
“You trust me very easily,” she said suddenly.
Kael shook his head slightly. “No. I trust the bond.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is for me.”
Aria didn’t know how to respond to that.
Before the silence could stretch further—
The door swung open.
Hard.
Nyra.
Her sharp eyes landed instantly on the two of them—standing too close, too quiet.
Something dark flashed across her face.
“I didn’t realize you were… busy,” she said, her voice cool.
Aria stepped back immediately.
The moment broke.
Kael didn’t move.
“State your business,” he said, his tone turning cold.
Nyra crossed her arms. “The council is asking questions.”
“Let them,” he replied.
“They’re not asking about the rogues,” she added pointedly, her gaze sliding toward Aria. “They’re asking about her.”
Silence.
Aria felt the shift instantly.
This wasn’t just personal anymore.
This was political.
Kael’s expression didn’t change, but his voice dropped slightly.
“She stays.”
Nyra’s lips tightened. “You’re making a mistake.”
“No,” he said calmly. “I’m making a decision.”
The tension in the room snapped.
Nyra held his gaze for a long moment… then looked at Aria again.
This time, there was no attempt to hide it.
Dislike. Challenge. Warning.
“You don’t understand what you’ve stepped into,” Nyra said coldly.
Aria met her gaze, steady despite the unease in her chest.
“Then I’ll learn.”
Nyra’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, without another word, she turned and left.
The door shut behind her.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Aria exhaled slowly. “She doesn’t like me.”
Kael didn’t look surprised. “She doesn’t trust easily.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Aria said.
“I know,” he replied.
Their eyes met again.
And this time…
Neither of them looked away.
- Writer
