Chapter 22

Kayla

“Due to your lack of romantic history, Nicholas and Kayla, your application has been denied.”

The elder’s cold words echoed in the room, each syllable cutting deeper into my chest. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. They were… denying my application? Over this?

Then, anger erupted like a volcano inside of me.

“That’s ridiculous!” I snapped, stepping forward. “You want proof? Fine, here’s proof!”

Ignoring the way Nicholas’s hand twitched—whether in protest or warning—I tilted my head to expose the fresh mark on my neck.

The skin still throbbed slightly from the bite, the pain a constant reminder of what he had done. What we were to each other now: chosen mates. Sort of.

“See this?” I demanded. “This is a mating mark, given to me by my husband. Does that look like a sham to you?”

The elder adjusted his glasses and studied my mark for a moment. But then he exchanged a disbelieving glance with the silver-haired woman seated beside him.

“Miss Kayla,” he said slowly and carefully, as if speaking to a child, “while the mark does suggest a recent bond, it is hardly enough to convince us of a true relationship. Such marks can be made without genuine connection, as you well know.”

I frowned at the blatant reminder of Liam’s infidelity, of the fact that he had given me a mating mark without actually caring for me in the slightest. But I quickly schooled my expression, not wanting to give them the satisfaction.

“Besides,” the silver-haired woman said, “word has it that he only gave you that mark today.”

My jaw clenched. I glanced at Nicholas, taking note of the flash of annoyance in his eyes. “It’s not just about the mark,” I retorted. “We’re chosen mates now—”

“Chosen mates, yes,” the silver-haired woman interrupted me, her voice icy. “But as you are undoubtedly aware, a mate bond with someone who lacks a wolf is not the same. It lacks the intensity, the depth that true mate bonds carry.”

The other elder nodded in response to her. “If you had a wolf, then perhaps your bond would actually mean something,” he said. “But you don’t. And it doesn’t.”

I flinched at their words, feeling an involuntary pang go through me. Yes, my lack of a wolf meant that a mate bond wouldn’t be as… intense as it should have been. But it didn’t mean that the bond wasn’t there, in some capacity.

“So you’re just going to use my wolflessness against me?” I shot back, feeling my stomach twist with hurt. “You’ve just been looking for an excuse to take Bluemoon from me, haven’t you? I’ve done everything you’ve wanted—I’ve married, appointed an acting Alpha—”

“Miss Kayla,” the elder cut me off sharply, “even with all of the aforementioned considered, why should we entrust you with a pack? You are a wolfless female child. You cannot lead your pack in battle. You cannot feel the mate bond or the pack bond fully. What do you bring to the table that makes you more qualified than someone else?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came. My nails dug into my palms as frustration and despair threatened to overwhelm me. I had fought so hard for Bluemoon, sacrificed so much. How could they not see that, after all this time? Why did my lack of a wolf always seem to be the one thing that they cared about?

Just as my resolve began to crack and I felt my lower lip begin to quiver, Nicholas stepped forward.

“That’s enough.”

His voice was low but held an edge that made the entire room fall silent. He slipped an arm around my waist, tugging me close to his side. The gesture startled me as much as his sudden defense, and I felt my breath catch slightly, even though I knew this was just an act for the council.

“You may think you know Kayla,” he said, his amber eyes sweeping over the guild, “but you don’t.”

The elder raised an eyebrow. “And you do?” he scoffed. “Didn’t you only just become involved with her less than a week ago?”

Nicholas’s arm tightened around me, his tone unwavering. “Kayla loves strong coffee, no sugar, just a splash of cream. She hates roses—finds them pretentious—but adores wildflowers because they remind her of the fields near her old home. She bites her lip when she’s thinking hard, and when she’s angry, she curls her fingers into fists like she’s trying not to punch someone. Which, judging by her current expression, she’s probably considering doing right now.”

I blinked, completely thrown by his words. How did he know all that about me? I hadn’t told him any of that, especially not the part about the flowers.

“She reads in bed before sleeping,” Nicholas continued, his voice softening ever so slightly as he glanced down at me, “and she always puts her bookmark on the left-hand page.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Not just because he had somehow noticed those things, but because they were true. Every single one.

Had he… researched me somehow? Or was I just that much of an open book?

The room was silent as every guild member’s gaze turned to me. I swallowed hard, willing myself to keep my composure. Quickly, I realized what this was: another one of his acts. Our acts. And I couldn’t stand here looking dumbfounded, otherwise it would ruin everything.

“Yes, my darling,” I said, forcing a smile as I leaned into Nicholas, playing the role as best I could. “You know me so well.”

The elder exchanged a glance with the silver-haired woman. The murmurs of the council filled the room as they conferred amongst themselves.

Minutes dragged by, each one feeling like an eternity, until finally the elder cleared his throat.

“We will reconsider your application,” he said slowly. “However, there will be conditions.”

“Conditions?” I echoed, wary.

“You and Alpha Nicholas will be under scrutiny for the next month,” the silver-haired woman explained. “If we find any evidence suggesting your relationship is not genuine, the application will be permanently denied.”

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. It wasn’t a victory, but it was something. “Thank you,” I said quietly, although the words felt hollow in my mouth.

As we left the room, my legs felt like they might give out beneath me. The tension, the humiliation, the sheer effort of holding myself together—it all hit me at once.

“Thank you,” I said again, this time to Nicholas, as we stepped into the sunshine. I stopped and turned to face him. “But… how did you know all that stuff about me?”

He shrugged curtly, his expression unreadable. “I notice everything,” he said simply, smoothing down his shirt. “Call the driver and head home now.”

I frowned, confused by his sudden coldness. “What about you?”

“I have some matters to attend to here. On my own.”

“Matters?” I pressed. “What kind of—”

“Don’t follow me, Kayla,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. Before I could say another word, he turned on his heel and strode away. But he didn’t head back in through the front door.

I stood there, watching as he glanced over both shoulders as if checking to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Then, without so much as a glance at me, he slipped through a side door at the back of the guild hall.

The door closed quietly behind him, leaving me with more questions than answers.