KAEL
Kael reached the border in fifteen minutes instead of twenty.
Dorian Ashford stood waiting with fifty armed wolves behind him. They were positioned in perfect military formation. A show of strength designed to intimidate.
It was working.
Kael's own border guards looked nervous. Only twelve wolves on duty. Outnumbered four to one. If Dorian decided to attack, they would be slaughtered in minutes.
Dorian smiled when he saw Kael approaching. That politician's smile that never reached his eyes. He was handsome in a cold way. Silver-gray eyes that calculated everything. Perfect posture that screamed authority.
Kael hated him instantly.
"Alpha Dravenwood." Dorian's voice was smooth as silk. "Thank you for meeting me on such short notice."
"You brought an army to my borders." Kael kept his voice level. "That does not feel like a friendly visit."
"Just a precaution. The roads are dangerous these days. So many rogues running wild." Dorian's smile widened slightly. "Speaking of which, I heard you captured Ember Blackthorn. The Black Ember herself. Quite impressive."
Word traveled fast. Too fast.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "How did you hear about that? She was captured less than twelve hours ago."
"I have scouts everywhere, Alpha. Good information is worth more than gold." Dorian took a step forward. His wolves stayed perfectly still behind him. "The entire territory is buzzing with the news. The rogue who killed Luna Seraphina finally caught. Justice will be served."
There was something in Dorian's tone that made Kael's wolf growl.
"She is my prisoner. She will face justice in Silvercrest."
"Of course, of course." Dorian nodded like that was perfectly reasonable. "But there is a small complication. You see, Ember Blackthorn also killed three of my wolves last month. Ironclaw Pack has equal claim to her punishment."
Kael's jaw clenched. He knew about those deaths. Ember cut through Ironclaw enforcers like they were nothing. Left their bodies on display as a warning.
"She killed my Luna. My claim comes first."
"Does it though?" Dorian tilted his head. "Pack law says multiple injured parties share jurisdiction. We could execute her together. Joint ceremony. Show the territories that Alphas stand united against rogues."
It sounded reasonable. Logical even.
But Kael's wolf snarled at the idea of Dorian anywhere near Ember.
"I appreciate the offer but I will handle this myself."
Dorian's smile never wavered. "I understand. This is personal for you. Seraphina was your mate. You want revenge."
"I want justice."
"Of course. Justice." Dorian's eyes glinted. "But justice can be complicated. Especially when emotions are involved. Which is why I am offering to help. Let me take the rogue off your hands. I will execute her publicly. Clean. Simple. You can avoid the mess of doing it yourself."
The way Dorian said it made Kael's skin crawl. Like he was doing Kael a favor. Like Kael needed help handling his own prisoner.
"Why do you care so much about this?" Kael's voice dropped. "You have plenty of rogue problems in your own territory. Why travel all the way here for one wolf?"
"Because Ember Blackthorn is not just any rogue." Dorian's expression hardened slightly. "She has been killing Alphas for years. Making us all look weak. Her capture sends a message. But only if her execution is handled properly."
There was something else. Something Dorian was not saying.
Kael studied the rival Alpha's face. Looking for tells. For cracks in that perfect politician mask.
Then it hit him.
Dorian wanted to look strong. Wanted to be the Alpha who executed the infamous Black Ember. The glory. The reputation boost.
This was about politics. Not justice.
"The answer is no." Kael's voice was firm. "Ember stays in Silvercrest custody until I decide otherwise."
Dorian's smile faded slightly. "I was afraid you would say that."
The air grew heavy. Tense.
Dorian's wolves shifted behind him. Restless. Ready.
"There is another reason I came." Dorian's voice lost its friendly tone. "I heard some interesting rumors on my way here. Disturbing rumors actually."
Kael's wolf went on high alert. "What kind of rumors?"
"That you brought Ember back alive instead of executing her on sight. That you protected her from your own Beta when he tried to kill her." Dorian paused. "That the mate bond struck between you."
The world went very still.
How did Dorian know about the bond? Only Kael's enforcers witnessed it. And they were loyal. They would never share Alpha business with outsiders.
Unless someone talked.
"I do not know what you heard but it is wrong." Kael kept his expression neutral.
"Is it?" Dorian's smile returned. Sharper this time. "Because my scouts spoke to some very reliable sources. Your own pack members actually. They said the Alpha is compromised. That he cannot kill the rogue because of the bond."
Rage burned through Kael's chest. Someone in his pack was leaking information to Ironclaw. Betraying him to a rival Alpha.
"Who told you this?" Kael's voice was dangerously quiet.
"Does it matter?" Dorian shrugged. "The whole territory will know soon enough. Word spreads fast when an Alpha shows weakness."
"I am not weak."
"Then prove it." Dorian's eyes gleamed. "Execute the rogue. Today. In front of witnesses. Show everyone that the mate bond does not control you."
Kael's wolf snarled. The thought of killing Ember made something in his chest crack.
"I will execute her when I am ready. Not before."
"And when will that be?" Dorian's voice hardened. "Because every day you delay looks worse. Makes wolves question if you are fit to lead."
"My pack trusts my judgment."
"Do they?" Dorian gestured toward Silvercrest territory. "I heard hundreds of wolves gathered yesterday demanding her death. That Seraphina's sister publicly accused you of dishonoring her memory. That does not sound like trust, Alpha Dravenwood."
How did Dorian know all of this? His information was too detailed. Too accurate.
Someone was feeding him everything that happened inside Silvercrest.
Kael felt control slipping. His pack was leaking like a broken dam. Dorian was circling like a predator who smelled blood.
And Ember was locked in a cell below, vulnerable to all of it.
"What do you want, Dorian?" Kael's patience was gone. "Stop playing games and say it directly."
Dorian's politician mask dropped. What remained was cold calculation.
"I want you to hand over the rogue. Let Ironclaw handle her execution. You can attend if you wish. Get your closure."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I take her by force." Dorian's voice was calm. Matter of fact. "I have fifty wolves here. You have what, twelve on border duty? I could cross into your territory right now and there is nothing you could do to stop me."
Kael's Alpha power flared. Every wolf on both sides flinched.
"Try it and see what happens."
Dorian held up his hands. "Peace, Alpha. I am not looking for war. Yet. I am offering you a way out of an impossible situation."
"There is no impossible situation. Ember is my prisoner. End of discussion."
"Is she?" Dorian's eyes narrowed. "Or is she your mate? Because if it is the latter, pack law gets very complicated. A fated mate cannot be executed without breaking sacred bonds. The Moon Goddess does not take kindly to wolves who kill their mates."
Kael's chest tightened. He knew that. Every wolf knew that.
Killing a fated mate was considered one of the worst sins. Even if that mate was a criminal. Even if they rejected the bond.
The Goddess gave the bond for a reason. Destroying it brought consequences.
"She rejected the bond." Kael forced the words out. "That makes it void."
"Does it?" Dorian smiled. "Because rejections take time to fully sever. Days. Sometimes weeks. Until then, the bond still exists. Still connects you. And if you kill her while the bond is active, you might as well kill yourself too. The pain will destroy you."
Kael knew that too. Heard stories of Alphas who killed their mates in rage or war. Most went insane. Some died from the grief.
The mate bond was sacred. Permanent. Even rejection could not break it instantly.
"I will handle it." Kael's voice was hard.
"Then handle it fast." Dorian's expression turned serious. "Because I am giving you three days. Execute her properly or I will take her by force and do it myself."
"You are threatening war over one rogue?"
"I am threatening war over an Alpha who is too compromised to lead." Dorian stepped closer. "If you cannot kill a mate who rejected you, what does that say about your strength? Your judgment? Every Alpha in the territory will see weakness. And weak Alphas do not keep their territories long."
The words hit like physical blows.
Dorian was right. Other Alphas were watching. Waiting to see if Kael would fold. If the mate bond made him vulnerable.
One sign of weakness and they would all circle. Challenge. Attack.
"Three days." Dorian's voice was final. "Execute her publicly or I will call for a leadership vote. An Alpha compromised by a mate bond with a murderer is unfit to lead. The council will agree with me."
Kael's blood went cold.
A leadership vote. If enough Alphas agreed Kael was compromised, they could force Silvercrest to elect new leadership. Strip him of everything he built.
"You cannot do that." But even as Kael said it, he knew Dorian could.
Pack law allowed for votes when an Alpha became unfit. It was rare but legal.
"I can and I will." Dorian's smile was cruel now. "Unless you prove me wrong. Kill the rogue. Show everyone the bond does not control you. Or lose everything."
Kael's hands shook with rage. His wolf wanted to rip Dorian's throat out. Wanted to challenge him right here for daring to threaten.
But Dorian had the numbers. The political support. The perfect excuse.
Kael was trapped.
"Three days, Alpha Dravenwood." Dorian turned to leave. His wolves fell into formation behind him. "I suggest you use them wisely."
He paused and looked back. "Oh, and one more thing. I would watch your pack carefully. Someone very close to you is feeding me information. Someone who wants to see you fail."
Then he walked away. Fifty wolves following like a silver tide.
Leaving Kael standing at the border with his world crumbling around him.
Three days to execute his mate or lose his pack.
Three days to find proof about Seraphina or live with doubt forever.
Three days before everything he built turned to ash.
And somewhere in his territory, a traitor was watching. Waiting. Reporting his every move to enemies.
Kael's wolf howled in rage and frustration.
He had three days to save Ember and his pack.
Or lose them both.