Balancing Acts
1246 Words
The dining hall buzzed with muted conversation as Kael led Ivy through the room, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. It wasn’t overly possessive, but it carried an unspoken message. Ivy wasn’t sure if it was meant to reassure her, control her, or simply remind the pack of her supposed place. The warmth of his touch prickled along her spine, a constant presence she couldn’t quite ignore.
The room itself was grander than she’d expected for a pack dining hall. Long wooden tables stretched across the space, polished smooth from years of use, their surfaces lit by flickering lanterns hanging from wrought iron fixtures. Wolves of all ages sat shoulder-to-shoulder, passing plates of food and exchanging low words that barely carried over the hum of activity. Despite the seemingly casual atmosphere, Ivy could feel the weight of their attention.
“They’re curious,” Kael murmured as they walked, his voice low enough for her ears alone.
“That’s one word for it,” she muttered back. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, catching the way conversations dipped and heads turned just slightly in their direction.
“They’re not hostile,” Kael added, his tone calm, almost casual.
“Not yet,” she replied with a faint smirk. “But give it time. I’m great at making first impressions.”
His lips quirked in a faint smile. “I’ve noticed.”
They reached the head table, and Kael pulled out a chair for her. Ivy slid into the seat, lifting her chin as she scanned the room. The weight of so many gazes lingered on her like a low-pressure storm, heavy and expectant. Conversations resumed, but the quiet curiosity remained, a pulse running through the room that Ivy couldn’t ignore.
Kael settled beside her, his movements as smooth and deliberate as ever. His calm presence grated on her nerves—she hated how he could seem so unaffected while she felt like every breath was being analyzed.
“You’re glaring again,” he said softly, passing her a plate of food.
“I’m observing,” she replied, leaning closer to him. “Don’t worry, I haven’t started planning anyone’s funeral yet.”
Kael chuckled, his laugh low and warm. “Good to know.”
The food was simple but hearty—roasted meats, vegetables, and fresh bread that smelled faintly of herbs. Ivy nibbled at her plate, her appetite overshadowed by the hum of conversation around her. Most of it was mundane—discussions about hunting schedules, supply runs, and the upcoming winter preparations. But one exchange near the end of the table caught her attention.
“The northern pack is moving too close to the border,” a man said, his voice low but urgent. “We can’t keep ignoring it.”
Ivy’s fork paused mid-air. She glanced at Kael, who speared a piece of meat with calm precision. His expression didn’t shift, but she caught the slight tension in his shoulders.
“You heard that, right?” she murmured.
Kael’s silver eyes flicked to hers, his tone measured. “It’s under control.”
“Is it?” she asked, her voice sharp enough to draw a glance from someone across the table. “Because it doesn’t sound like it.”
His gaze lingered on her, steady and unreadable. “You’ll have to trust me on this one.”
Ivy snorted softly, setting her fork down. “Trust isn’t exactly my thing.”
“I’ve noticed,” Kael replied, a faint glimmer of amusement in his voice.
---
The small building where Liam was recovering was quiet, its walls lined with shelves of herbs, tinctures, and bandages. Ivy pushed open the door carefully, stepping inside with the cautious grace of someone used to treading lightly.
Liam was propped up in bed, his thin frame swaddled in blankets. His pale face was brighter than it had been the last time she’d seen him, and he gave her a tired but genuine smile.
“Hey, trouble,” Ivy said, pulling a chair closer to his bed.
“Hey yourself,” Liam replied, his voice still rough but stronger than before. “I was starting to think you forgot about me.”
“Not a chance,” Ivy said, smoothing his hair back. The gesture was automatic, her fingers tracing over the soft curls with practiced ease. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he said, though his tone didn’t match his words. “The healer’s been fussing over me nonstop. It’s annoying.”
“She’s keeping you alive,” Ivy countered, her tone sharper than she intended.
Liam huffed a small laugh. “You sound like Kael.”
Ivy froze, her fingers stilling in his hair. “Excuse me?”
“You do,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Bossy. Overprotective. Weirdly good at making people do what you want.”
“First of all,” Ivy began, crossing her arms, “I’ve always been good at making people do what I want. Second, Kael is the Alpha. Bossy is literally his job description.”
“Sure,” Liam said with a smirk. “Whatever you say.”
“Get some rest,” she said, standing and grabbing his empty mug. “You’ll need your energy when I have to drag you out of here.”
He laughed softly, his eyes closing as exhaustion pulled him under. Ivy lingered for a moment, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. Her heart twisted in her chest. He looked so small, so fragile.
She swore to herself, not for the first time, that she wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
---
The sun was dipping low as Ivy and Kael walked together along the edge of the training yard. The sky burned with streaks of orange and gold, and the faint hum of pack life carried on the cool evening breeze.
“I overheard something interesting during dinner,” Ivy said, breaking the silence.
Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Oh?”
“The northern pack,” she said. “Someone said they’re moving too close to the border.”
Kael’s gaze shifted briefly to the horizon before returning to her. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“You keep saying that,” she replied, her voice sharp. “But it sounds like you’re ignoring a problem that’s not going to go away.”
Kael stopped walking, turning to face her fully. “It’s not being ignored. I have people watching the situation. When it’s time to act, I’ll act.”
“And what happens if they move first?” Ivy asked, crossing her arms.
“They won’t,” Kael said, his silver eyes steady.
The tension between them crackled in the air, unspoken but undeniable. Ivy wanted to push further, to demand an explanation for his confidence, but something about his gaze made her hesitate.
Instead, she turned toward the packhouse, her voice lighter. “You know this is all temporary, right? You keep asking me to play my part, but what happens when the act is over?”
Kael’s lips curved faintly. “Everything is temporary, Ivy. But that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant.”
Her breath caught, but she refused to let him see her falter. “Good talk,” she said, striding toward the house.
Kael didn’t follow immediately, and she felt his gaze lingering on her back as she disappeared through the door.
- Writer
