Forbidden Howls

Chapter 13: Torn Between Two Worlds

The room was still, bathed in the soft glow of late afternoon sunlight. Lia’s breathing was steady now, though the dull ache in her arm was a constant reminder of how close she had come to losing everything. She stirred, blinking slowly as she adjusted to the brightness, her body heavy with the weight of healing.

Beside her, Kael sat quietly, his eyes focused on the fire burning low in the hearth. He had hardly left her side since they had returned to Silverclaw territory, watching over her with a fierce protectiveness that she couldn’t ignore. His presence was both comforting and complicated—every glance he gave her carried a depth of feeling she wasn’t sure she could fully understand.

Lia shifted, wincing as she tried to sit up. Instantly, Kael was at her side, his hand on her shoulder, steadying her. “Easy,” he said softly. “You’re still recovering.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, though her voice was weaker than she wanted it to be. She glanced at the bandage wrapped around her arm, her thoughts returning to the battle that had almost erupted. “We don’t have time to wait.”

Kael’s expression tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, edged with tension. “You can’t keep pushing yourself like this. You almost died, Lia. You need to rest.”

She looked up at him, her heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between them. She knew he was right, but the clock was ticking. Damon’s retreat had been temporary, and everyone knew it. The fragile peace between their packs could shatter at any moment, and when it did, there would be no stopping the bloodshed.

“I can’t just lie here while everything falls apart,” Lia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Damon… he’s not going to stop. He’s convinced that war is the only answer.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, his dark eyes flashing with anger at the mention of Damon. “He’s blinded by his jealousy. He doesn’t see what’s at stake.”

Lia lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. Damon’s jealousy had always been there, simmering beneath the surface, but she had never thought it would push him to this point. He had been her friend, her protector—but now, he was a threat to everything she was trying to save.

“I know,” Lia said quietly. “But he’s still Blackstone’s Beta. My father listens to him. The pack listens to him.”

Kael’s hand reached out, gently brushing her cheek, pulling her gaze back to his. “What about you, Lia? Who do you listen to? Who are you loyal to?”

The question hung in the air between them, heavy and unresolved. Lia’s heart ached as she tried to find the answer, but it felt impossible. She had spent her whole life loyal to her family, to her pack. But now, everything was different. She wasn’t just Blackstone anymore. Her connection to Kael, to Silverclaw, had changed her.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m torn, Kael. I’m loyal to my pack, to my father. But I can’t ignore what I feel for you.”

Kael’s gaze softened, his fingers still resting against her skin. “You don’t have to choose right now. All that matters is that we find a way to stop this war before it begins.”

Lia swallowed hard, nodding. “You’re right. But how do we do that when Damon won’t listen? When my father won’t even trust me?”

Kael’s expression darkened. “We need to find a way to reach Damon before it’s too late. If we can convince him to stand down, maybe the others will follow.”

Lia’s heart raced at the thought. Confronting Damon now, after everything that had happened between them, seemed impossible. But she knew it had to be done. If there was even the slightest chance of preventing war, she had to take it.

“I’ll talk to him,” she said, her voice stronger now. “I’ll make him see reason. He has to listen.”

Kael’s fingers tightened around hers, his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to do this alone, Lia. I’ll be with you.”

Lia nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over her. She wasn’t alone in this, not anymore. Kael was beside her, fighting for the same peace she wanted so desperately to achieve. Together, they might have a chance.

Damon paced the length of his room, his thoughts a tangled mess of guilt and anger. He had replayed the events of the battle over and over in his mind, each time feeling the weight of his failure crush him more. The image of Lia, standing between him and Kael, her body crumpling under the force of his strike—it haunted him.

What had he done?

He had been blinded by rage, consumed by his jealousy of Kael. And now, he had hurt the one person he had sworn to protect.

The door creaked open behind him, and Damon didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

Ronan stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. “The pack’s uneasy,” Ronan said, his voice low. “They’re questioning your decision to pull back.”

Damon clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “I made the right call.”

“Did you?” Ronan asked, his gaze sharp. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you lost control. You attacked Lia.”

Damon flinched at the words, his chest tightening with guilt. “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

“Accident or not, you almost killed her. And now she’s with Silverclaw.”

The words hit Damon like a punch to the gut. He had already known it, of course—had seen Kael carry Lia away, protect her as if she were his. But hearing it from Ronan made it real, undeniable.

“She’s not safe there,” Damon growled, his voice filled with frustration. “Kael’s manipulating her. He’s using her to weaken us.”

Ronan shook his head, stepping closer. “I don’t think that’s true, Damon. Lia’s strong. She’s not the kind of person who can be manipulated so easily. You need to face the truth. This isn’t about Kael. This is about you.”

Damon’s breath caught in his throat, his anger deflating as Ronan’s words sank in. He knew his Beta was right, even if he didn’t want to admit it. His jealousy, his fear of losing Lia—it had driven him to this point, pushed him to make reckless decisions.

“I have to make this right,” Damon said, his voice low. “I have to fix this.”

Ronan nodded, his expression softening. “Then start by apologizing. To Lia. To the pack. Show them you can lead without letting your emotions get in the way.”

Damon stared at the floor, the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him. Could he even fix what he had done? Could Lia ever forgive him?

He didn’t know. But he had to try.

The next morning, Lia felt a surge of determination as she dressed, preparing to leave the safety of Silverclaw territory and return to Blackstone. Her arm was still weak, but the pain had dulled to a manageable throb. More importantly, her mind was clear.

Kael watched her from the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Lia nodded, meeting his gaze. “I have to do this. Damon needs to hear the truth. And my father needs to know that war isn’t the answer.”

Kael stepped forward, his eyes softening as he reached out to take her hand. “Be careful, Lia. Damon… he’s not the same man he was before.”

“I know,” Lia said quietly, squeezing his hand. “But I’m not the same woman, either.”

Kael’s lips twitched into a small smile, though his eyes were filled with concern. “I’ll be close by. If things go wrong—”

“I know,” Lia interrupted, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Thank you, Kael.”

With a final glance, Lia turned and made her way out of the Silverclaw compound, her steps sure despite the uncertainty ahead. She was going back to Blackstone—not just to stop a war, but to face the consequences of everything that had happened.

It was time to confront Damon. Time to confront her father. And most importantly, it was time to confront herself.