THE CHASED MATE

Chapter Fifteen

Kael noticed the shift in the pack’s energy almost immediately. The camaraderie he’d worked so hard to foster seemed strained, cracks forming in the once-solid foundation. Whispers followed him wherever he went, and even his closest allies seemed hesitant to speak openly.

It didn’t take long for him to trace the source of the unrest back to Ethan.

“You need to address this,” Lyra said one evening as they sat by the fire in Kael’s cabin. She had been avoiding Ethan as much as possible, but his words lingered, gnawing at her confidence.

Kael stared into the flames, his jaw tight. “I don’t want to escalate things. He’s looking for a reason to challenge me.”

“And if you don’t stop him, he’ll tear the pack apart,” Lyra said, her voice sharp.

Kael looked at her, his golden eyes searching hers. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Lyra hesitated, the weight of her secrets pressing down on her. She’d kept her past with Ethan buried, afraid of how Kael might react. But now, she realized her silence might be doing more harm than good.

“I knew him before I came to this pack,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “We were part of the same rogue group. Ethan... he doesn’t like losing, Kael. And he sees me as something he’s entitled to.”

Kael’s fists clenched, the muscles in his jaw working as he processed her words. “Did he hurt you?”

Lyra shook her head. “Not physically. But he’s manipulative, and he knows how to get under my skin. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

Kael reached for her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “He’s not going to take anything from you. Or from us. I promise you that.”