CHAPTER FOUR
772 Words
Kael had no intention of waiting for Lucien to make his next move.
The following evening, the annual council gathering brought together the leaders of allied packs — a perfect breeding ground for political games, and exactly the kind of stage Lucien thrived on.
The hall was a wide, high-ceilinged expanse lined with torches and draped banners. The air smelled faintly of spiced wine and candlewax. Wolves in tailored suits and elegant dresses mingled in tight clusters, exchanging smiles that often masked sharpened teeth.
Kael arrived with Ronan at his side. His gaze swept the room, scanning faces until it landed on the one he was looking for.
Lucien.
The Alpha of Crescent Fang was standing near the far table, a crystal glass of red wine in his hand, laughing softly at something a pack elder had said. His suit was dark and perfectly cut, his hair slicked back, his smile… practiced. Everything about him radiated controlled charm.
And then Kael saw it — the brief flicker of Lucien’s gaze toward Selene, who stood across the room speaking to one of the healers. It was subtle, but Kael didn’t miss the way Lucien’s smile curved just a little more when his eyes lingered on her.
Kael moved.
“Ronan,” he murmured, “give us a moment.”
Lucien’s attention shifted as Kael approached, and for a heartbeat, the other Alpha’s expression flashed with something almost predatory before smoothing back into pleasantness.
“Kael Blackthorn,” Lucien greeted warmly, as though they were old friends. “It’s been far too long.”
Kael didn’t return the smile. “Not long enough.”
Lucien chuckled lightly, taking a measured sip of wine. “Straight to business then?”
“I hear you’ve been speaking with my Luna,” Kael said, his voice low but carrying weight.
Lucien tilted his head slightly. “Your Luna is… remarkable. Intelligent. Poised. I simply enjoy her company.”
Kael stepped closer, the air between them taut. “Stay away from her.”
“Why?” Lucien’s smile didn’t falter. “Are you afraid she might find our conversations… refreshing?”
The edge in his tone wasn’t lost on Kael. He wasn’t just challenging him as a rival Alpha — he was testing the fault lines in Kael’s marriage.
Kael’s voice dropped even lower, his eyes locked on Lucien’s. “You’re not the first wolf who’s tried to stir trouble in my territory. But you’ll be the first who regrets it this much.”
Lucien’s gaze flicked toward Selene again, just for an instant. “I wonder, Kael… is it trouble if she comes to me willingly?”
Kael’s fists tightened at his sides. He wanted to drive his hand through Lucien’s smug expression right there in front of the council. But that would give Lucien exactly what he wanted — a public c***k in the Blackthorn Alpha’s control.
Instead, Kael forced his voice into a steady growl. “You think you’re clever. You’re not. You’re just another vulture circling, hoping to pick apart what you didn’t build.”
Lucien took a slow sip of wine, unbothered. “And yet, vultures have a way of eating well… when the prey is already bleeding.”
The implication was sharp and deliberate.
Kael leaned in just enough so only Lucien could hear. “You touch her, speak to her again, or breathe my name in a way that turns her against me… and I’ll end you. Not your pack. Not your position. You.”
Lucien’s smile finally faltered — but only for a heartbeat. “Such devotion,” he murmured. “If only she could hear you now.”
Kael stepped back, his expression unreadable. “Consider this your only warning.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and crossed the room to where Selene was still speaking with the healer. She looked up at him, surprise flickering across her face.
“Everything alright?” she asked.
He studied her for a moment, forcing his tone to remain calm. “Fine. Let’s go.”
She hesitated, clearly sensing the undercurrent of tension but choosing not to press it here. As they walked toward the exit, Kael felt Lucien’s gaze burning into his back — not as a sign of retreat, but as a promise that this wasn’t over.
Outside, the cool night air hit him like a splash of water. He exhaled slowly, aware that he had just drawn the first real line in a war that was no longer about whispers and rumors.
It was about Selene.
And neither of them would stop until one of them lost.
- Writer
