Chapter 59
Kael
The parchment crumpled slightly beneath my grip. I hadn’t realized how tightly I was holding it until the thick paper began to wrinkle between my fingers.
My eyes swept across the neat handwriting for what felt like the tenth time, hoping the words would somehow change but they didn’t.
Councilman Cedric would be arriving in Blackbourne. He wasn’t just arriving quietly, instead, he was expecting a formal reception and, more infuriatingly, a grand ball in his honor.
I lowered the parchment onto my desk and leaned both palms against the polished wood.
Just a one week’s notice. One miserable week. Why? Why hadn’t Councilman Cedric informed me weeks ago?
He knew better than anyone how Blackbourne functioned. He knew I disliked unnecessary ceremonies, lavish celebrations, and noble politics disguised as entertainment.
So why now? More importantly… Why was he coming at all?
I began pacing across my study, unable to remain still. My heavy boots echoed against the stone floor as one question chased another through my mind.
Why visit my pack? Why insist on hosting a ball here of all places?
Why now, when every waking hour of mine was occupied with strengthening our borders against a possible vampire invasion?
Nothing about the timing sat right with me. Absolutely nothing p>
Beta Bastian stood nearby, quietly watching me pace. Unlike most people, he knew better than to interrupt while I was thinking.
Eventually he spoke. “At least the nobles will be pleased because they’ve been asking for a ball since the beginning of the year p>
He folded his hands behind his back. “Some might even see this as an opportunity to strengthen alliances p>
I let out a humorless laugh. “Strengthen alliances.” The words tasted bitter. “You know perfectly well I have never cared for dancing, music or nobles trying to outdress one another p>
A faint smile crossed his face. “I know, Alpha Kael p>
“I’m not exactly what anyone would call a ball-loving Alpha.” I said again.
“No.” His smile widened slightly. “I don’t believe anyone has ever mistaken you for one p>
I sighed and rubbed my temple. “This isn’t about whether I enjoy hosting a celebration… It’s about the timing p>
I walked toward the large map hanging on the wall.
Every marked road… Every forest… Every border… My attention had been consumed by preparations for war.
None of those things left room for entertaining half the region.
I stared at the southern border. Could Councilman Cedric’s visit truly be innocent? Or… Was there another reason? Perhaps a far less pleasant reason.
I turned slowly to face him. “Beta Bastian p>
“Yes Alpha p>
“What if this isn’t simply a visit?” I couldn’t help but ask.
He frowned. “What do you mean, Alpha p>
“What if someone sent him p>
His expression became thoughtful. “The High Council? I guess that wouldn’t surprise me p>
I resumed pacing. “The council has always disliked how independently Blackbourne operates. They tolerate me, they respect our strength but that doesn’t mean they trust me p>
Beta Bastian nodded slowly. “They’ve tried to influence your decisions before p>
“They have and they failed woefully p>
Silence settled between us then another possibility entered my thoughts. One that tightened every muscle in my body.
’Selena!’ I stopped walking immediately.
The spy, the one who had stolen Alpha William’s cloak… He had infiltrated my territory, found Selena and had taken the cloak then disappeared without attempting to capture her.
Why? At the time, none of it had made complete sense.
But now… my mind began connecting pieces that had never quite fit together.
“What if I murmured. “What if that spy wasn’t working for Alpha William p>
His eyebrows drew together. “You’ve considered that before p>
“I have but I’ve never found another explanation.” I stared at the fireplace. “What if he served someone else entirely p>
“The High Council?” Beta Bastien asked.
“Perhaps… They have the resources, the influence and the reason p>
Beta Bastian crossed his arms thoughtfully. “If they suspected Selena was here… They wouldn’t necessarily act immediately p>
“Instead, they’d wait, they’d gather proof and what better opportunity than a ball p>
A celebration where dozens of noble officials would be in attendance.
Servants rushing everywhere, guests wandering freely throughout the castle and there would be Hundreds of eyes watching.
If anyone wished to identify Selena… A ball would make their task infinitely easier.
Beta Bastian remained silent for several moments before finally speaking. “We still have to prepare for the ball. Councilman Cedric said he’ll arrive in one week’s time so the preparations need to begin immediately p>
I knew he was right but still… Every instinct inside me resisted opening Blackbourne’s gates to outsiders.
“I don’t want them here! I barely trust half the nobles who’ll attend and now they expect me to welcome all of them into my home p>
He let out a quiet breath. “If the invitation had come from anyone else… I’d advise refusing but this is Councilman Cedric and refusing him won’t simply offend councilman Cedric p>
His tone became more serious. “It could offend the High Council p>
I hated admitting it but he wasn’t wrong. Politics had never interested me. Unfortunately… Ignoring politics didn’t make them disappear.
Another thought entered Beta Bastian’s mind. “We could hide Selena. We could keep her away from the celebrations p>
I slowly shook my head. “It won’t work p>
His brow furrowed. “Why not p>
“Because if that spy found her once I met his eyes. there’s nothing stopping whoever sent him from finding her again, especially during a ball p>
Everything would unravel.
“She’ll be surrounded by people,” I said quietly. “Every eye inside the castle will eventually turn toward the servants and if someone already knows what she’s supposed to look like p>
I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t need to because Beta Bastian understood.
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “If we cancel the event… It sends the wrong message p>
I nodded reluctantly. “It does p>
“Councilman Cedric may still be your friend but he’s also a councilman now.” Beta Bastian’s voice remained respectful.
“Whether he wants to admit it or not… his first loyalty belongs to the High Council. Only after that… will he see the town he came from- Blackbourne p>
I closed my eyes briefly because he was right again. That was the frustrating part because every argument he had presented made sense.
I simply disliked every single one of them.
After several moments of silence, I finally exhaled. “Very well, the preparations begin p>
“I’ll inform the headmaid immediately.” Beta Bastien said.
I nodded once. “Tell her to begin assigning duties p>
“Yes, Alpha.” Beta Bastian bowed before leaving the study.
The heavy door closed quietly behind him and silence returned but my thoughts refused to settle.
Instead… they drifted toward only one person. Selena! How do I protect her from people I couldn’t even identify? How do I hide someone who attracted attention simply by existing?
The memory of our last encounter surfaced uninvited. Her anger and the hurt in her eyes.
The way she stormed out after I had spoken without thinking. I knew I had wounded her though not intentionally but that hardly mattered.
I had seen disappointment in her expression and I hadn’t forgotten it… neither had my wolf because he had remained restless ever since.
He wanted me to find her, to comfort her and to claim her. Every hour I delayed only worsened his frustration and mine as well.
I left the study without another destination in mind. My feet carried me through the familiar corridors almost automatically.
Servants hurried past carrying folded fabrics, others scrubbed polished floors as preparations for the ball had already begun spreading through the castle faster than gossip ever could.
Eventually… I found her. She stood among several maids in one of the outer courtyards.
Her sleeves were rolled to her elbows as she worked beside the others. She laughed softly at something another maid said and the sound reached me despite the distance.
I remained hidden beneath the stone archway simply watching. She looked tired… working hard had clearly taken its toll.
Yet…She still smiled, and she still encouraged the others around her.
A strand of hair escaped from behind her ear and without thinking, I imagined walking over, brushing it back into place, holding her face and pulling her into my arms.
My wolf stirred immediately and the thought of claiming her came so naturally it almost startled me.
Every moment I spent near her… every conversation, every accidental touch and every stolen glance… only made the restraint harder.
What exactly was I waiting for anymore? The consequences had always existed. They hadn’t disappeared.
Would they ever? Or was I merely torturing both of us by pretending distance would somehow make this easier?
She looked up unexpectedly and for one dangerous moment, I thought she had spotted me but instead she returned to her work.
I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
My restraint was wearing thinner with every passing day and soon… I feared it would no longer exist at all.
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. The force of the mindlink almost made me stagger.
“Alpha!” Captain Garrick’s voice rang urgently through my mind.
“What is it?” I snapped due to the unappreciated interruption.
“The warriors at the southern border have encountered resistance from the landowners p>
I frowned before speaking again. “Then you should handle it p>
A brief hesitation followed before he spoke again. “It’s more complicated than that p>
My patience thinned instantly. “Explain p>
“The lands in question were recently sold to the noble houses of Hawthorne and Kavanagh p>
I closed my eyes for a brief moment because those two houses were among the oldest noble families in Blackbourne.
Families whose loyalty to the crown stretched back generations.
Families whose alliances had helped raise Blackbourne to the strength it enjoyed today.
I groaned inwardly.
Just when I thought this situation couldn’t become any more complicated… it had.