Forbidden Howls

Chapter 2: The Weight of Expectation

The soft morning light streamed through the heavy curtains of Lia’s room, casting long shadows across the floor. She lay still beneath the covers, her mind racing long before her body had stirred. Sleep had eluded her after what had happened the night before—her encounter with Kael in the garden, the charged words exchanged, the way his presence had set her pulse on fire.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him.

The memory of his dark eyes locked on hers and the intensity of his words replayed in her mind, over and over. He had said he came to see her, and the truth of it had rattled her. She wanted to dismiss it as a fleeting moment, something brought on by the tension of the Unity Gala, but she couldn’t. Not when his voice echoed in her mind, deep and certain.

“You don’t belong here. Not in this life they’ve planned for you.”

Lia closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, trying to push the thoughts away. It wasn’t just about Kael—it was about everything. The expectations that weighed on her like a suffocating blanket. She had been raised her entire life to serve her pack, to one day unite with Damon and secure their family’s future. And yet, standing there last night with Kael had made her realize just how much of her future had already been decided for her.

But what could she do? The path had already been laid.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Lia?” Her mother’s voice was muffled but gentle. “It’s time to get up. Your father is expecting us downstairs.”

Lia’s heart sank. She knew what this meant—discussions about the gala, about the future, about her and Damon. The pressure was building, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could withstand it.

“Coming,” she called back, forcing herself out of bed.

The dining room felt formal, the tension from the Unity Gala still lingering in the air. Lia’s father sat at the head of the table, his expression one of quiet authority. Across from her, Damon sat with a small smile on his face, speaking easily with her parents about the night’s success.

Lia felt like an outsider in her own home.

“Last night went well,” her father said, turning his attention to her. “The packs are showing signs of cooperation, but we need to solidify our alliances. You understand how important this is, don’t you, Lia?”

Lia nodded, though the words felt heavy on her tongue. “Yes, I understand.”

Her father’s eyes softened, though his tone remained firm. “Your engagement to Damon will secure our future, not just for our pack but for all the others looking to us for leadership. You two are the perfect match. It’s time we make it official.”

Damon’s gaze slid toward her, a hopeful light in his eyes. He reached for her hand across the table, his touch warm but lacking the intensity she had felt in the garden with Kael.

“I’ve always believed in us,” Damon said softly, his voice sincere. “I know we’ll be strong together.”

Lia wanted to believe him. Damon had never been anything but kind, loyal, and dependable. He had always been there for her, steady and unwavering. But as she looked into his eyes, she couldn’t shake the memory of Kael’s dark, piercing gaze, the way his presence had made her heart race.

This wasn’t fair to Damon. He deserved better than her uncertainty, but how could she commit to a future that felt like a cage?

“I…” Lia’s voice faltered, and she pulled her hand away gently. “I just need a little more time.”

Her father frowned, clearly unhappy with her hesitation. Damon’s smile dimmed but didn’t falter. “I’ll wait as long as you need,” he said softly, but the look in his eyes told her that he was worried. He could sense the distance between them, even if he didn’t fully understand why.

Kael sat in the large, dimly lit room that served as his council chamber, the weight of his responsibilities pressing heavily on him. His Beta, Garrick, paced the length of the room, his expression dark.

“We shouldn’t have gone to that damn gala,” Garrick muttered, his voice thick with frustration. “It’s a waste of time, playing nice with Blackstone. They’re no allies of ours, Kael. You know that.”

Kael leaned back in his chair, his eyes focused on the table before him. “I know.”

“Then why did we go?” Garrick stopped, his gaze piercing as he looked at his Alpha. “What did we gain from this charade?”

Kael’s jaw tightened. He hadn’t told Garrick the real reason he had accepted the invitation to the Unity Gala. He hadn’t explained why he had gone against his better judgment and stood among his enemies, pretending diplomacy mattered.

Because the truth was, he hadn’t gone for politics or alliances.

He had gone because of her.

Lia.

Even now, her name sent a jolt through him, a pull he didn’t fully understand. He had been aware of her existence for a long time—the daughter of the Blackstone Beta, poised to marry Damon and secure their pack’s future. But seeing her, being close to her, had changed something in him. She wasn’t just a pawn in Blackstone’s game. She was… something else. Something he couldn’t ignore.

“I went because it was necessary,” Kael said finally, his tone dismissive. “We need to know what they’re planning. The peace is fragile, Garrick, and it won’t take much to break it.”

Garrick’s expression hardened. “You’re too close to this. We should be preparing for war, not wasting time at their parties.”

Kael stood, his towering presence filling the room. “I know what I’m doing.”

Garrick stiffened, his Alpha’s authority clear in his stance, but the tension between them was palpable. Kael knew Garrick was right to be wary—his attention was divided, and it was dangerous. But the pull toward Lia was undeniable.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since the garden. The way she had looked at him, the way her voice had trembled, but not with fear—with something else, something he hadn’t expected. Desire? Curiosity?

He couldn’t be sure. But what he did know was that he had to see her again.

Lia wandered through the estate gardens later that afternoon, her thoughts still spinning. Her parents were expecting an answer soon about her engagement to Damon, and she could feel the pressure mounting with every passing hour.

She knew she couldn’t avoid the inevitable forever, but something inside her rebelled against the idea of surrendering her future so easily.

Her heart raced at the thought of Kael. Why did he affect her like this? It wasn’t just his presence, or his words in the garden—it was the way he made her feel, like she was standing on the edge of something unknown and thrilling. Something dangerous.

She heard the soft rustle of leaves and turned sharply, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, she thought it might be him. But it was Damon, walking toward her with a quiet smile.

“I thought I might find you here,” Damon said, his voice warm and familiar.

Lia forced a smile, though her heart sank. She couldn’t escape him—or the future that awaited her.

“I needed some air,” she said, trying to sound casual.

Damon nodded, stepping closer. “I know things have been intense lately,” he said softly. “But I want you to know that I’m here for you, Lia. No matter what.”

His sincerity made her chest ache. Damon was everything she should want—stable, dependable, and good. But the fire she had felt with Kael, the electricity that sparked between them, was missing. And she wasn’t sure how to move forward knowing that.

“Thank you, Damon,” Lia said quietly, turning away from him slightly. “I just… need more time.”

Damon’s smile faltered, but he nodded. “Take as much time as you need,” he said softly, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his voice.

As Damon walked away, Lia felt the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She couldn’t stay in limbo forever.

But how could she choose between a future of duty and security with Damon, and the dangerous unknown that Kael represented?