Wrapped in My Enemy’s Arms

Chapter Nine

Kael’s POV

“Why isn’t she healing?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Kiara didn’t look up from where her hands hovered over Ayla’s chest, sweat beaded at her temples.

“She’s blocking me,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m trying here Kael.”

“Then try harder!”

Her head snapped up, eyes blazing. “Whatever is happening to her isn’t normal. She’s draining my power more than it should”

My jaw tightened, a pang of worry I couldn’t admit to twisted my chest.

“Your wife will be fine,” Kiara added after a moment, “But hovering like this isn’t helping. Leave so I can concentrate.”

“She’s not my wife,” I muttered, already turning towards the door. “Not yet.”

The door shut behind me but the tension didn’t ease.

Something about this attack didn’t sit right with me. Wolves within this pack don’t move like that without reason. Jealousy alone doesn’t explain their coordination and cruelty. And if they knew what Ayla was— or what she carried. Then this was no random act

“Alpha Kael,”

I turned to see Riian approaching me, his expression grim.

“Are they ready?”

“Yes Alpha”

Touching my mate was a mistake none of them would ever repeat. Even without knowing who she is to me, they would learn to fear.

Riian and I approach a small gathering of betas, two elders and in the middle, the four wolves who thought they would go unpunished for their crimes.

The atmosphere is tense and the moment I walk in, everyone’s head, including the elders, bowed down.

“You may rise.” My voice is sharp and stern.

“Omega, step forward.”

The omega who Ayla had beaten in a fight some days ago stumbled forward, shaking. Before he could speak, another wolf dropped to his knees. He was young, and his scent reeked of fear and guilt and something—familiar. His scent struck something sharp in my chest, He carried Ayla’s scent.

My muscles locked.

“Cian forced me to do it,” He shouts, fingers pointed at the omega.

“He threatened me, he did it all. He knows she’s my friend so he forced me to lure her to a corner” he cries.

A scoff escapes me before I could stop it.

I turned slowly. “And what do you have to say about these accusations,Cian?”

His heartbeat spiked— fast, erratic. His pupils dilated as his gaze flickered briefly to the elders before settling back on me.

“I accept my punishment, my Alpha,” Cian said, lowering his head. “I allowed my anger to cloud my judgment. I never intended for things to go this far.”

Elder Moren clears his throat, before stepping forward.

“Do you know why we’re the most feared pack?” Elder Morem asks

“Because we stand united and we have a great leader.” He answers his own question.

“You’ve violated the rules today and you four shall be duly punished!” He says before stepping back.

“The warriors among you will be stripped of rank and placed on permanent guard duty and the rest of you will patrol the outskirts of the mountain.” Elder Moren said.

It was justice, but it wasn’t enough. Deep down, my wolf raged, I wanted to tear each of them apart for trying to defile my mate, but I swallowed it whole.

When the gathering has dissolved, I call Riian to my side.

“Give them—“

“I know what you want Alpha, they’ll regret trying to touch what belongs to you” Riian whispers.

“Good”.

Riian wasn’t just my second-in-command and beta, he is a friend and someone that understands me better than anyone would but I can’t tell him about Ayla yet. I needed to stabilize things first.

I see Elder Moren approaching me with a knowing gaze and I dismiss Riian immediately.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he cleared his throat.

“ But you can’t avoid fate or destiny. I warned you about her and less than a month, she has already stirred rivalry within the pack.”

“I’ll handle it,” I replied evenly. “But I need to take my leave urgently.”

“By urgent, do you mean her?” He responds

I stopped walking.

“Yes, Elder.”

When I returned to Ayla’s room, Kiara was asleep beside her, completely drained.

“Alpha,” Riian calls from the doorway.

“Yes.”

He stepped in, then froze when Kiara shifted in her sleep. His ears turned slightly red.

“I’ve made sure their punishment is stricter than required,” he said.

“Good,” I replied.

“Escort Kiara to her room.”

Riian nods and taps Kiara gently on her shoulder.

“I heard him, I can leave on my own.” Kiara mutters with her eyes still shut.

Disappointed Riian faces me and shrugs his shoulders before stepping out.

“How’s she?”

Kiara gets up and faces me, stretching before placing her hands at akimbo.

“I’ll leave you to ask her when she’s up.” She murmurs before stepping out.

And then it was just us.

Ayla’s eyes opened slowly.

They were dull, and hurt showed in them.

“I’m sorry,” I said, the words rough in my throat.

“I should have protected you better.”

She pushed herself up slowly, holding her ribs with her left arm. Pain flashed across her face but she didn’t stop until she sat up.

“Don’t,” she said sharply. “Don’t stand there pretending this is about protection.”

“Ayla—“

“You’re the Alpha.” She snapped. “You can do whatever pleases you.”

She pauses, before continuing

“I know what happens next,” she continued bitterly. “You’ll decide I’m too much trouble and you’ll cast me aside. Just like everyone does. Why not hurry with it and shorten my suffering.”

This time a tear slipped off her eyes which she wipes immediately.

My chest tightens.

“I hate you,” she said, meeting my gaze fully now.

“For what you are, for what you make me feel and for what I can’t escape.”

The bond pulled tight in my chest. But I didn’t move, and neither did she.

She’s my mate and my time is running out. The curse is acting fast because of her blood.