"Oh, sorry," Isaldora feigned a sheepish innocence, her lips curving like she was trying hard not to laugh. "Guess I just got a little tired," she drawled, putting on the most pitiful little sigh. "You know, since I'm merely human and all. My energy levels are not sooo much blessed as yours." She covered a yawn with the back of her hand, eyes gleaming a they flicked to Adrien's father, who was seething like a bull.
Then, ignoring everyone else completely, who looked like someone just kicked the daylights out of them, she turned her head lazily towards Kaelith, tuning the rest out.
Almost gently, she pressed her hand against his, where it was locked tightly around her waist.
"By the way," she looked into his eyes, and damn those eyes were dreamy and the way he was looking at her, damn, but she gathered her act.
"My back's starting to get stiff from being held like this," she said calmly, gesturing to the awkward angle he was holding her in. His fingers were digging into her skin, and she was sure she would have a nasty bruise.
For the first time, Kaelith's expression toned down a bit, looking guilty, his hold instinctively loosened around her. Though it was clear he didn't want to let go, as he still held her.
But Isaldora wasn't just going to stand there. She peeled his arm away, ignoring the way he resisted.
"I'll wait in your office," she said lightly, tone smooth but edged with sharpness. "Till you're done dealing with… this. Well, this drama." She gestured lazily toward the vampires and the scrutinizing crowd, her boredom plain as day.
And just as she turned to leave, she leaned close enough for Kaelith alone to hear, her voice honeyed but mocking,
"Better be quick, Alpha. We've got more important things to do."
She turned on her heel, tossing her hair over her shoulder, and added sweetly to the corridor, "Pleasure meeting you all—non-humans."
Kaelith's eyes trailed after her retreating figure, his wolf snarling at the distance, but
Victor's voice broke the silence, slicing through the air like a blade.
"Well, did you all hear that?" His tone dripped venom as he turned to the gathered council. "The human mate of the Prince Kaelith dares mock us—mock this council. The sheer audacity." He sneered with disgust.
Kaelith clenched his fists. "Watch your tongue, King Victor."
"Your pathetic little human mate is the one who should watch her tongue, and she better learn some manners," King Victor spat, fury rolling off him. "I won't tolerate such disrespect. You should be grateful I didn't tear her apart where she stood."
Kaelith's head whipped around, the crack of his patience snapping clean. A guttural growl ripped from his chest, echoing like thunder in the corridor. The air thickened, and everyone flinched under the weight of his dominance—all except Klaevan, Victor and Adrien.
"You'd better watch your tongue before speaking of my mate," Kaelith snarled, voice rough with his wolf pushing forward. "Or you'll be the one torn to shreds."
Adrien bared his fangs, stepping forward, eyes flashing red as he hissed. "Are you threatening us, mutt?"
Kaelith's lips curled back, feral and sharp. "Test me, leech. See how fast you regret it. Don't forget whose land you are standing on." His voice was darker now, laced with a dangerous growl that reverberated down the corridor.
Adrien and Kaelith were about to lunge at one another when King Klaevan's heavier growl thundered.
"Enough!"
Victor and Adrien held Kaelith's glare, their hatred palpable, but reluctantly they stepped back. Kaelith backed down as well but his eyes were blazing, daring them to make a move.
A sharp, cold laugh broke from one of the witches, though her jeweled fingers twitched nervously at her side.
"Your Highness," she said smoothly, bowing her head just enough to keep her words from being blatant disrespect. "No one doubts your power. But a mighty wolf like you, bound to a puny human? It's… a mismatch."
Kaelith's gaze snapped to her, cold enough to freeze blood, and he stepped forward,
"Who I'm bound to is none of your damn business. And don't mistake me for someone who cares about your opinion. She's mine — and that makes her above every concern."
"Your highness, with all due respect," The High Alpha of the West spoke as he gave Kaelith a careful, grim look.
"You need someone with power, with influence. A prince of your standing deserves a mate who strengthens you, not weakens you. And a human mate will be nothing but a liability. A weakness you can't afford."
That was it. Kaelith's growl ripped through the corridor, raw and dangerous. "If weakness bothers you so much, then pray I don't decide to test yours. You've got a whole pack, don't you? It would be a shame if I started cutting them down one by one." He gave a slow, cold smile, making the alpha swallow hard.
He knew very well who he was dealing with and exactly what Kaelith was capable of. He wasn't ruthless just in names.
The tension snapped like a whip—until Klaevan's voice boomed through the corridor, commanding silence.
"That's enough." His tone left no room for argument. "Prince Kaelith's mate is not a matter for this council. She is his, and that's the end of it. No further word on it will be spoken."
Alpha Klade stepped forward, a smile tugging at his lips, easing the heavy air. "I'd say this is a cause for celebration, not dispute. Our prince has found his mate—finally. That is what matters."
"A human mate is rare, yes… but destiny rarely makes mistakes." The High Priestess Sereyna, who was quiet till now, added softly, "She carries a strength… and a potential. I'd tread lightly before underestimating her."
Her voice held a mystery. She had been silently observing Isaldora and was intrigued by how she didn't falter in their presence.
The corridor quieted. Displeasure still simmered in a few eyes, but no one dared speak further.
Kaelith stood there, chest still heaving with restrained fury, every muscle wound tight, rage simmering just under his skin. How dare they question what destiny chose for him. He could still see the judgment in their eyes, which enraged him.
——
Isaldora found herself wandering around Kaelith's office, taking everything in. Honestly, she'd expected it to be a little… flashier. He was the Alpha Prince, after all. But the place was shockingly simple. Everything was neat, sharp, and to the point, also not that dark.
Her eyes trailed on the only portrait hanging on the wall. It was a family picture. His parents looked every bit the royals they were, but had that parental warmth in their eyes and smiles.
Then Kaelith, who was smiling as if he was forced to do that, and Lira, who had the same energetic smile. But there were two more figures. A younger boy who could've been Kaelith's twin, just smaller, and a little girl who looked like Lira's mini copy. So, he has two more siblings. A small smile kissed her lips for a second.
She drifted toward the bookshelf, scanning the rows of heavy leather-bound books, when something unusual popped out. Among the stack of books on the right, a scroll sat slightly apart. It screamed… important. Totally out of place, instantly sparking her interest.
"Now what's this?" she murmured, leaning in. Her hand hovered, just about to touch it—
The office door slammed open, and Kaelith stormed in like a raging bull.
"Finally, about time. Took you long enough, Alpha." She smirked at him, straightening herself.
His eyes snapped to the side and landed on her. He hadn't noticed her presence till he heard her voice. He almost forgot that she said she would be waiting for him. Before she could even think, he was across the room in front of her.
Next thing she knew, his hand was at the back of her neck, roughly pulling her straight into his chest.
Her eyes went wide. "Uh—excuse me?" Didn't she give him a memo before not to touch her again? Okay, well, she didn't protest in the corridor for a while, but scratch it, that was a different situation, okay.
She squirmed a bit, thinking that he was being his usual overbearing self, but then she felt the tension running through him. His whole body was stiff like a bowstring ready to snap. She could feel the way he was trembling.
She managed to look at his eyes, and they weren't burning with the heat or that possessiveness he'd cornered her with nights ago. They were hard and pulsing with barely-contained rage.
Something in her gut shifted. Against her better judgment, her voice softened. "What happened?" But he didn't say a word.
"Oh," she murmured lightly, something must've happened with Adrein and his father. She thought, remembering the fiasco. Though she didn't care much about what happened after, it mustn't have been nice considering the mood Kaelith was in.
Instead of pulling away, she found herself leaning in, her body giving in before her mind could catch up. Her arms slipped around his solid frame, holding him tighter than she meant to. She could feel his heat even through his shirt as her fingers threaded into the hair at the back of his neck. Her nails grazed lightly over his skin in slow, soothing strokes, as if reminding him to breathe. A low shiver rippled through him, and his hold tightened, drawing her closer against him.