Chapter 297
Chapter 297:
“Play along, little wolf,” Kain whispered, his voice a dangerous, gravelly purr that sent a traitorous shiver down my spine. “The Elder needs to believe her Queen is safe and cherished p>
Adelina POV
The heavy black silk duvet formed a suffocating, dark cocoon around us. I was paralyzed against Kain’s rock-hard chest, drowning in the overwhelming scent of ancient cedar and the terrifying, possessive rumble of his beast.
Outside our bedroom door, the soft squeak of Elder Maeve’s wheelchair slowly faded down the hallway.
The second the sound vanished, Kain’s steel grip loosened. I scrambled out from under him, my chest heaving as I bolted for the master bathroom. I slammed the door shut and braced my hands against the cold marble vanity. Turning on the faucet, I splashed freezing water onto my face, scrubbing frantically at my skin. I wanted to wash away the phantom heat of his touch, to scrub off the intoxicating scent that clung to me like a brand. But I was wolfless, fragile, and entirely trapped in a cage built by a Lycan.
An hour later, the tension in the penthouse thickened into something tangible.
𝖣𝗂s𝖼𝗼𝘷𝗲𝘳 ոе𝘄 𝘀t𝘰𝗋𝗶𝘦𝘴 𝗼𝗇 𝗴𝘢𝘭𝘯𝗼𝗏е𝗹ѕ.𝗰o𝗺
Almon Blackwell, the former Alpha King, stood in the dining room. His massive, lion-like presence commanded the space, radiating a suffocating scent of ancient parchment and raw, unyielding power.
“The city is no place for an Elder with a fractured Inner Wolf,” Almon stated, his voice echoing off the obsidian dining table. “Maeve will be moved to the Blackstone Estate immediately. The forest environment and our Pack Healers will serve her better. It will also give you two the privacy needed to complete the Marking p>
Panic spiked in my veins. “No,” I blurted out, standing up. “She stays with me. I can care for her p>
Beneath the table, Kain’s massive hand clamped down on my knee. It wasn’t a comforting touch — it was a silent, crushing Alpha’s Command. Even without an Inner Wolf, the sheer, suffocating weight of his aura forced the breath from my lungs, pinning me to my chair.
Dr. Evans cleared his throat and stepped forward. “I have already approved the transfer, Queen Adelina. Medically speaking, the Estate is the only viable option for a Soul-Fracture p>
I looked at my grandmother. Elder Maeve offered a vague, distant smile. “I would like to see the trees, child. The forest is calling p>
My objection was dead on arrival — overruled by medical authority, my grandmother’s own fractured mind, and the terrifying Lycan sitting beside me.
Within twenty minutes, Almon, Maeve, and the medical team were gone. The heavy penthouse doors clicked shut, leaving behind a deafening, hollow silence.
I stood in the center of the sprawling white marble living area, wrapping my arms around myself. Kain stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching me with dark, unreadable eyes.
“I’m moving my things to the guest room,” I said, my voice trembling slightly as I turned away.
“Look up, Adelina p>
I paused, following his gaze to the far corner of the ceiling. Tucked discreetly into the molding was a sleek, black dome camera.