CHAPTER 180: FRACTURED FIRE

Thorne

Sleep refused to come. No matter how many times I turned, how many breaths I took, Josie’s face wouldn’t leave my mind. Her lips, soft and trembling under mine, the way her power had hummed against my skin like the earth itself was answering to her heartbeat. I should’ve been angry that she lost control. I should’ve been cold enough to shut it all out like I always did. But I couldn’t. I kept seeing her in that field, her hands buried in the dirt, grass springing to life around her like she was born to command it.

She didn’t even realize how powerful she was. That both thrilled and terrified me.

The door creaked open. My jaw clenched. The scent hit me before the voice did—sweet and hesitant. Carolyn.

"Alpha Thorne," she whispered, stepping into the room. "Josie said she doesn’t wish to come down."

For a second, I thought I misheard her. I pushed off the bed, muscles coiled tight. "What did you just say?"

"She said... she’s not feeling up to breakfast."

Not up to—? My vision blurred red. "Bring her down," I snapped.

Carolyn flinched, her fingers twisting in her apron. "Alpha, maybe—"

"Now, Carolyn!"

The door slammed open behind her before she could move, and Kiel strode in like he owned the place. His hair was damp from a shower, shirt half-buttoned, expression hard as stone. "Why the hell are you barking at her?"

I turned on him. "Stay out of this, Kiel."

He crossed his arms, smirking. "No. I’m done watching you play god with everyone around you. Why should Josie leave everything she’s doing just to run to you every time you snap your fingers?"

Carolyn stood frozen between us, eyes darting like she was waiting for someone to explode. Varen appeared next, leaning casually against the doorway. His eyes were narrowed, but the mischief there didn’t fool me.

"Enough," Varen said, voice deceptively calm. "Carolyn, you’re dismissed."

She fled so fast the air seemed to rush with her.

I glared at him. "I wasn’t done—"

"Too bad," Kiel cut in. "You don’t get to command her like she’s one of your soldiers."

I took a step closer. "You think you know what’s best for Josie? You don’t even know half of what happened."

"Then tell us," Varen said, pushing off the wall and walking into the room. "Because from where I’m standing, you look like the only one who keeps screwing things up."

The anger came fast, sharp, and unwelcome. "Watch it."

"No," Varen snapped, eyes flashing gold. "You watch it. You’ve been on edge ever since she showed up, Thorne. You don’t even realize that she’s the reason you’re losing control."

I laughed without humor. "That’s rich coming from you. The same one who thought dragging her into the field was a good idea?"

Kiel scoffed. "At least we tried. If we hadn’t shown you what she could do, you’d still be treating her like some fragile doll you could lock away whenever she didn’t obey you."

"Enough!" I roared, the sound echoing off the walls. The air seemed to thicken, our scents tangling like a challenge.

Silence fell for a long moment, broken only by the pounding of my heart. I drew in a slow breath, forcing my voice down to something almost steady. "I made a mistake, alright? But Josie was wrong too."

Varen groaned. "Of course. It’s always her fault with you."

Kiel slammed a fist on the table. "For the love of the moon, Thorne, do you ever listen to yourself?"

I clenched my jaw. "You weren’t there. You didn’t see what happened with Ruby."

Both their heads snapped toward me.

Varen frowned. "Ruby?"

"Yes." I exhaled, pacing to the window. "Josie... lost control again. Ruby said something, and she—she hurt her. The power—she can’t control it, and it nearly cost us someone’s life."

Kiel’s expression shifted, confusion mingling with disbelief. "Josie told you that?"

"No," I muttered. "She wouldn’t admit it."

"So, let me get this straight," Varen said, rubbing a hand over his face. "You accused her, punished her, and never once asked for her side of the story?"

I spun to face him. "Because she’s guilty! You didn’t see her eyes, Varen. That wasn’t just anger—it was something darker."

Kiel stood, stepping closer, voice low. "Or maybe it was hurt. Maybe she’s tired of being blamed for things she didn’t do."

I looked away. "You don’t understand. She—"

"No, you don’t understand," Varen interrupted. "You’re so obsessed with control, you can’t stand the idea that Josie might not need your permission to exist. Did you even ask her what really happened?"

The guilt that had been buried deep inside of me twisted like a knife. I swallowed it down. "I wasn’t ready to hear it. Every time she opens her mouth, it turns into another argument. She won’t admit when she’s wrong."

Kiel let out a harsh laugh. "You’re unbelievable."

The tension was suffocating. I could feel their frustration pulsing through the room, mixing with my own. The silence that followed was worse than the shouting.

Finally, Kiel sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. If you won’t believe her, then maybe you’ll believe what we find."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

He didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed my wrist in a grip so tight my bones creaked.

"Get your hands off me," I snapped.

"Shut up and come on."

Varen followed silently as Kiel dragged me down the hallway. I didn’t fight him—at least not yet. Something in his tone told me resistance would be useless. We descended the stairs, the sound of our boots echoing on the marble.

When we reached the glass corridor that led toward the east wing, I realized where he was taking me.

"Don’t tell me—"

Kiel didn’t even slow down. "Ruby’s house," he said flatly.

My chest tightened. "She’s recovering. She doesn’t need—"

"She’s lying," Kiel snapped. "And you’re going to see it."

The path wound through the garden until the glass house came into view—a shimmering structure surrounded by rose bushes and vines curling like serpents up the walls. The morning light bled through the transparent panels, spilling golden reflections across the floor.

A maid stood near the entrance, clutching a basket of towels. When she saw us, her eyes widened. "Alphas—"

Kiel shoved her aside without missing a step. "Move."

"Hey!" I growled. "She deserves respect."

"Then tell that to the woman inside who’s been poisoning Josie’s name," Kiel shot back.

Before I could argue again, he slammed the door open.

Ruby’s scream echoed through the room.

She sat on her bed in a silk robe, hair cascading over her shoulders, a book falling from her lap as she scrambled to cover herself. "What—what is the meaning of this?!"

Varen leaned against the doorway, silent but watchful, while Kiel stalked forward, his every movement coiled with anger.

"Tell us what happened with Josie," he demanded.

Ruby blinked rapidly, feigning confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I’m talking about," Kiel growled. "You accused her of attacking you. You spread it all over the staff like wildfire."

Her lip trembled slightly before she gathered herself. "I... I must’ve misremembered. It was all very fast."

"Misremembered?" I said, stepping forward. "Ruby, you nearly lost consciousness that day. You expect me to believe you forgot how it happened?"

She looked at me then, eyes glassy and full of something I didn’t want to name. "Thorne, you’ve always been so protective. I know you’re only trying to do what’s best for everyone."

The tone—sweet, manipulative, carefully practiced—ignited something in me. I realized too late how easily she could twist things, how quickly she could make me doubt what I’d seen.

Kiel’s jaw clenched. "You’re lying."

Ruby gasped softly. "Excuse me?"

He took another step forward. "You’re lying, Ruby. I can smell it all over you."

Her fingers twitched against her robe, eyes darting between us. "I don’t know what you think—"

"Enough," Kiel snarled, his Alpha aura slamming into the air like a thunderclap. Ruby flinched, shrinking back against the headboard.

"Kiel—" I started, but he didn’t hear me. Or maybe he didn’t care.

His hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her throat.

Ruby choked, clawing at his wrist. "K-Kiel—"

"Tell me the truth," he hissed, voice dropping into something primal.

Varen didn’t move. I didn’t either. The room seemed to tilt, every heartbeat a hammer strike in my skull.

Ruby’s eyes widened as her breath hitched, panic flooding her face.

Kiel growled as he moved over to her, choking her in response.