CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57

Kael’s POV.

I slid into the vehicle, my heart pounding, my fists still clenched, the sting of my knuckles raw from punching Nicholas.

The air was hot, the forest thick around the Fang pack’s territory, the midday sun glaring through the trees.

My side throbbed, but my anger burned hotter, Nicholas’s mocking smile, "Weak" and his cold laugh fueling my rage.

Elijah’s death, his blood pooling in my packhouse, shot by someone I knew Nicholas sent, pushed me to the edge.

My wolf, Zeus, growled, his rage sharp, urging me to go back, to fight, but I stayed put, my jaw tight, my eyes hard.

Brian climbed into the driver’s seat, his face pale, his brown eyes wide with worry. "Alpha, you shouldn’t have punched him," he said, his voice shaky, his hands gripping the wheel.

"Nicholas won’t let that go. You’re risking war." His words were urgent, his fear real, but my anger drowned him out, my heart racing, my mind on Nicholas’s bloodied lip, his shocked eyes.

"Drive," I growled, my voice low, my glare burning into him, my hand slamming the dashboard.

Zeus roared, his strength surging, my patience gone. Brian opened his mouth, his eyes pleading, but my growl deepened, my eyes fierce, and he shut up, his hands quick as he turned the engine, the car rumbling to life.

We sped out, the Fang pack’s walls fading, the road bumpy, the trees a blur, my heart heavy with anger and regret, Elijah’s lifeless body flashing in my mind, his family, Sonia and Liam, still out there, my promise to save them unkept.

The drive was long, the silence heavy, Brian’s worry loud in his glances, my anger simmering, my wound throbbing.

By the time we reached the Shadow Claw packhouse, the sun was lower, the air cooler, the stone walls tall and familiar.

I got out, my boots slamming the gravel, my anger spilling over, my heart racing. I stormed inside, Brian following, his steps quick, his face tense.

The halls were quiet, maids stepping aside, their eyes dropping, their whispers soft. I reached my study, the door heavy, the room dim, the candle’s light weak, the air thick with the smell of old books and leather.

I paced, my boots loud, my hands shaking, my anger boiling, Nicholas’s laugh, Elijah’s blood, mixing with my guilt for leaving Aria behind, her sleepy face in the morning haunting me.

"Get the guard in charge," I said, my voice sharp, my eyes burning into Brian, my pacing stopping.

"The one handling Elijah’s case." My heart pounded, needing answers, needing to know who killed him, how they got into my packhouse.

Brian bowed, his face serious, and left, his steps quick, the door shutting softly.

I paced again, my hands clenching, my wound burning, my mind spinning. Nicholas’s smirk, his lie, "I don’t know what you’re talking about" and my fist hitting his face played over and over, satisfaction mixing with fear.

Had I pushed too far? Would he bring war? Zeus growled, his rage steady, but my heart was heavy, Elijah’s death a failure, my pack’s safety at risk.

The door opened, a guard stepping in, his armor scratched, his gray eyes nervous, bowing low, his voice shaky. "Alpha," he said, his hands clasped, his head down.

"What’d you find?" I asked, my voice hard, my eyes narrowing, my fists clenching.

"Anything suspicious? Any lead on who killed Elijah?" My heart raced, my anger flaring, needing something, anything, to point to Nicholas, to prove I was right.

The guard’s eyes dropped, his voice small. "Nothing, Alpha," he said, his hands trembling.

"We’re just assuming. No clues yet." His words hit hard, my anger exploding, Zeus roaring, his frustration sharp.

Nothing? A man shot dead in my packhouse, and they had nothing?

I charged forward, my boots slamming, grabbing his neck, my fingers tight, lifting him slightly, his eyes wide, his breath choking.

"Search harder!" I growled, my voice booming, my eyes burning into his.

"Be serious! Someone killed my prisoner, and you’ve got nothing?" My heart pounded, my wound throbbing, my anger blinding.

The guard nodded, his face pale, his voice choked. "I’ll try, Alpha," he said, his words desperate.

I let go, his body stumbling, his hand on his throat, coughing as he left, the door shutting hard.

I collapsed into my chair, the wood creaking, my hands shaking, my heart heavy. My mind went to the punch, Nicholas’s bloodied lip, his shocked eyes, and I didn’t care what it cost, he deserved it, his lies, his schemes, his guard’s death on his hands.

But my chest tightened, fear creeping in, my pack’s safety, Aria’s safety, at stake.

Zeus whined, his worry soft, his love for her strong. The door opened, Brian stepping in, his face less tense, his eyes bright.

"Alpha," he said, his voice steady, his hands clasped. "Elijah’s wife, Sonia, and his boy, Liam, are here. We found them. They’re in the packhouse." My heart lifted, relief washing over me, but sadness followed, sharp and heavy.

Elijah was gone, his family safe but too late, my promise half-kept. I nodded, my voice low, my eyes dropping.

"Make sure they’re fed," I said, my heart aching, my hands clenching the chair.

"Take care of them." Brian bowed, his face serious, assuring me with a nod. I waved him off, my voice rough.

"Go." But he hesitated, his eyes meeting mine, his face tense.

"Alpha," he said, his voice low, his hands fidgeting.

"Sonia wants to see her husband." My heart dropped, my breath catching, sadness crashing over me, Elijah’s bloodied body flashing in my mind, his empty eyes, his family waiting for a man who’d never come back.

My throat tightened, my eyes burning, tears I wouldn’t let fall.

"Hide the truth," I said, my voice shaky, my heart breaking. "For now." I couldn’t face her, couldn’t tell her Elijah was dead, shot in my packhouse, under my watch.

The guilt was too much, my anger at Nicholas mixing with my sadness for her, for Liam.

Brian’s face softened, his voice gentle. "She might hear it from the guards," he said, his eyes pleading.

"It’s better if you see her yourself, Alpha." His words were kind, his loyalty clear, but my heart sank, my hands shaking, the thought of facing Sonia, of seeing her hope break, too heavy.

"No," I said, my voice low, my eyes dropping, my chest tight.

"I can’t. Not now." My heart ached, my sadness overwhelming, knowing it would break me to see her, to tell her the truth.

Brian stood by the door, his brown eyes soft, his voice gentle, urging me to see them. "Alpha, you should tell Sonia," he said, his hands clasped, his face tense.

"She deserves to know." His words were kind, but my heart sank, my throat tight, the thought of facing her, of breaking her hope, too much.

I shook my head, my voice low. "I can’t," I said, my eyes dropping, my chest aching.

"It’ll break me." My wolf, Zeus, whined, his sadness matching mine, his love for my pack pushing me, but my fear held me back.

Brian stepped closer, his voice steady, his eyes pleading.

"She’ll hear it from someone else," he said, his hand on my shoulder, his touch firm. "You’re her Alpha. Be strong for her." His words hit hard, my guilt growing, my heart racing.

I nodded, my jaw tight, my hands clenching, knowing he was right. "Fine," I said, my voice rough, my eyes meeting his. "Take me to them."

We left the study, my boots heavy, the packhouse halls dim, torches flickering, maids whispering as we passed.

My heart pounded, my sadness deep, but I followed Brian, his steps quick, leading me to the living room where Sonia and Liam waited.

The door was wooden, simple, but it felt heavy, like a wall I couldn’t cross. I stopped, my heart breaking, my eyes locked on the door’s grain, my hands trembling.

Brian pushed it open, the hinges creaking, and I froze, my breath catching, tears burning as I saw them.

Sonia sat on a couch, her dark hair loose, her face tired but soft, smiling at Liam, who played on the floor, his small hands tossing a wooden toy, his laughter bright.

He was so happy, so unaware, his brown eyes shining, his curls bouncing. My chest tightened, my heart shattering, tears filling my eyes.

Elijah should’ve been here, playing with his boy, holding his wife. I’d saved them, brought them to my pack, but I’d failed him, let him die.

My tears burned, my throat tight, my guilt overwhelming, Zeus whining, his sadness heavy.

Brian leaned close, his voice a whisper. "Go in, Alpha," he said, his hand on my arm, urging me.

I shook my head, my eyes on Liam, my heart too broken to move. I turned, my boots shifting, ready to leave, to hide from this pain, but a small voice boomed, loud and bright.

"Daddy, is that you?" My heart stopped, my body freezing, shock hitting hard.

I turned, my eyes wide, and Liam ran to me, his tiny feet quick, his arms open, his mother’s gasp too late to stop him.

He hugged my legs, his voice happy, calling me "Daddy."