Kael’s POV

“What’s all this chaos for?”

I turned my head slowly, and there she was…Luna Mae. My mother. She always had this imposing aura,right now she look angry and confused at the same time.

Her voice sliced through the tension like a dagger, and I could practically hear the gossip dripping from the maids’ mouths as they lingered on the stairs just behind her, pretending to clean just to gather bits and bits of gossip.

Donika stiffened behind me. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights,torn wedding dress, hair disheveled, arms trembling. No doubt Mother had already pieced together half the story in her head, and the rest would be pulled out of me with force.

“Mother,” I said tightly. “Please wait in my office. I’ll be with you shortly.”

Her eyebrow rose like a challenge. “I certainly hope you have a good explanation, Kael. And it better not involve dishonoring this pack.”

“I said I’ll explain mother,” I repeated, firmer this time.

She hesitated, then gave a sharp nod and disappeared down the corridor toward my office with the grace of a queen.

I turned back to Donika. She looked shocked, eyes darting to the warriors still groaning on the floor. Her breathing was uneven and coming out in pants.

“Donika,” I said softly, stepping toward her. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” She flinched at my voice but didn’t pull away when I gently reached for her hand.

I walked her back to my room, ignoring the stares and whispers from nosy staff in the hallway. The maids were going to have a field day with this and it’s just a matter of time the whole pack knows I’m harbouring a woman in my house.

Once inside my room, I closed the door and exhaled slowly. She stood near the foot of the bed, arms crossed protectively over her chest, her torn dress sagging pitifully off one shoulder.

Scanning her from head to toe,she looked a mess,“I’ll get you something to change into,” I said, crossing to my closet. “You’ll be more comfortable.”

She didn’t answer.

I pulled out a dark grey T-shirt and a pair of sweats,soft, oversized, and clean. I handed them to her carefully. “Here,this should fit.”

She stared at the clothes, then looked up at me, frowning and tears in her eyes. “Why… Why did they do that to me? I didn’t even ask them for help as they claimed.” She sounded like a hurt child and it tugged at my chest.

I felt rage boil again in my chest, but I forced it down. “They’ll be dealt with. You’re safe now. But next time,don’t wander off alone.”

She blinked off the tears and now pure anger filled her eyes. “So I’m a prisoner?”

“No,” I said quickly, “but you’re in a new pack, Donika. One with rules. Hierarchies. You’re a visitor.” Well,for now.

She looked at me, eyes searching mine. “Why, Kael? Why did you take me?” I hesitated,the timing isn’t right yet.

Fenris stirred. “Tell her.Let her know she’s ours.”But I couldn’t. Not yet so I blocked him out of my head.

“Because I couldn’t watch you marry someone who doesn’t deserve you,” I said instead and I sounded lame but She nodded slowly,tho not entirely convinced. She took the clothes and disappeared into the bathroom without another word.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

By the time she came out, she looked… smaller. The shirt swallowed her frame, and the sweatpants hung low on her hips,she was really skinny.

I heard her shift behind me on the bed as I reached for the door. I paused.

“I have something to deal with,” I said. “I’ll be back,a personal maid will be assigned to you and you can ask for anything more.” I had just mind linked with my Beta to hand pick someone who was around her age group and would be efficient.

I didn’t wait for a reply.The moment I stepped into my office, I was met with a long exhale and a pair of furious eyes.

Mother stood by the window, arms crossed with an angry scowl. “Took you long enough.”

“Mother,” I greeted, shutting the door. “Let’s get straight to it.”

“I’d love to,” she snapped. “Perhaps you can explain why there’s a girl hiding in your bedroom, torn wedding gown, with half the pack gossiping that you kidnapped a bride from another Alpha’s ceremony?”

“She wasn’t safe where she was.” I stated and my mother looked ready to throw hands.

“She’s a ThornClaw wolf Kael,what happens to her is not any of your business.”

“She’s not part of them anymore.” I snap at her at this rate.

Her brow lifted suspiciously. “And you decided that for her?” I didn’t answer.

Her tone turned cold. “Who is she, Kael?Are you hiding something from me”

I was torn between telling my mother the truth but lying at this point will get me nowhere. “She’s… someone who needs protection.”

“Is she yours?”

I looked away. “She is, isn’t she?” she asked, voice suddenly sharp and then she let out a gasp realization. “Don’t tell me she’s THE ONE, your second chance mate?” Her face lit up in excitement but it dimmed almost immediately.

“You brought her here without protocol. Without warning. Without so much as notifying the Elders. I have warriors asking me if their Alpha has finally gone rogue. I get that you’re Lycan but protocols are there for a reason.”

“She’s under my protection.”

“That’s not enough. You know that. She’s not been introduced. No one knows who she is or why she’s here. Except for me and you”

“She doesn’t have a wolf,” I said quietly. “She won’t survive a full ceremony,not right now.”

Mother froze.

“She’s wolfless?” Her voice cracked with disbelief. “You brought a wolfless female as a Luna into this pack, dressed her in your clothes, put her in your bed?”

“She’s not in my bed.”

She let out a loud sigh while rubbing her temples.”I don’t want to talk about her being wolfless if you’re okay with her that way.” Turning back to me she adds “That doesn’t matter. But You know how this works, Kael.” Her voice was like steel. “If she stays hidden, she’s seen as a threat not a mate. And threats don’t last long in this pack. You either claim her or cast her out.”

I stiffened,casting her out wasn’t an option. “It’s not that simple.”

“Actually, it is.”

“She’s not ready.”

“Then get her ready,” mother said angrily. “Because you have forty-eight hours to introduce her to the Elders and the pack as your Luna.”

I took a step forward. “Mother…”

“She will not be protected otherwise. And the moment the Elders hear whispers of her presence before you acknowledge her? You won’t be able to stop what happens next.”

I swallowed hard. I might be Lycan but protocol must be followed. “Two days, Kael,” she repeated. “Choose. Or I will.” She walked past me and left the room.

Fenris stirred restlessly repeating “I told you so.Go tell her and mark her,she’s ours.”

I can’t. She’s not ready and could break or chase her trying to claim her. I couldn’t force Donika into this. She wasn’t some bargaining chip. She’d already had her freedom ripped away once. I wouldn’t be the next one to do it.

The pack would want answers. And I only had two days to figure out how to keep her safe,without destroying the last fragile thread of trust between us.

I looked toward the hallway where my room was as I tried to come to a decision. I didn’t know how I wanted to handle this matter in two days,butI knew one thing for sure.

Losing her would kill me