Chapter 35

Sunlight streamed through the partially opened curtains, casting warm patterns across Kane's bed. I woke slowly, momentarily disoriented by unfamiliar surroundings before memories of the previous night flooded back. The Gala, Raymond's abandonment, the excruciating pain of the mate bond, and finally—Kane.

I turned my head carefully to find him already awake, propped on one elbow, watching me with an unreadable expression.

"Morning," he said quietly, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Morning," I echoed, suddenly acutely aware of our situation—my naked body tangled in his sheets, the intimate proximity we shared, the vulnerability of waking in someone else's bed.

Unlike our previous encounters, there was no immediate rush to separate, no hasty gathering of clothes and awkward avoidance of eye contact. Instead, we remained where we were, suspended in a strange, fragile moment of connection.

"How's the mark?" Kane asked, his gaze flickering to my neck.

I touched it reflexively, surprised to find it cool beneath my fingertips. "Quiet now. The pain's gone."

Kane nodded, a shadow crossing his face. "Until next time."

The words hung between us, acknowledging the unspoken pattern—my desperation driving me to his door only when the mate bond's agony became unbearable.

"About last night," I began, unsure what I even wanted to say. An apology? A thank you? Both seemed inadequate.

"Why did you really come to me?" Kane interrupted, his gaze direct and challenging. "And don't say it was just about the pain."

The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to offer the easy answer—that of course it had been about the pain, about our arrangement—but something in his expression stopped me.

"I was hurt," I admitted softly. "By what I thought I heard in the corridor. By your rejection when you found me. And still, when the pain became unbearable, you were the only one I wanted to turn to."

Kane's expression softened slightly. "Do you know why I walked away when I found you?"

I shook my head.

"Because I'm tired of being your second choice," he said, the words coming out in a rush. "Tired of being used only when you're in pain, only when Raymond pushes you to the breaking point. I want—" He stopped abruptly, as if catching himself on the edge of a dangerous admission.

"You want what?" I pressed.

Kane looked away. "It doesn't matter."

I reached out, touching his face gently to bring his gaze back to mine. "I didn't just come for physical relief last night," I said, the truth surprising even me as I spoke it. "I came because I trust you. Because when I'm with you, I feel... seen. Like I matter as more than just a title or a political piece."

The admission hung in the air between us, creating a momentary but profound connection. Kane covered my hand with his, turning his face slightly to press a kiss against my palm—a gesture so tender it made my breath catch.

"I'm sorry about what you overheard," he said. "Those women—they've been trying to get information about us since the day I arrived. When you heard me laugh, I really was just deflecting their questions, not agreeing with them."

"I believe you," I said, and realized I meant it.

Kane shifted to sit up against the headboard, the sheet pooling around his waist. "Speaking of information, I heard some interesting gossip at the Gala that you should know."

I propped myself up beside him, grateful for the slight shift in conversation. "What kind of gossip?"

"Giana was asking very specific questions about the Alpha Council hierarchy—who controls what votes, which members are allied with which territories." His expression grew serious. "The kind of questions someone with political ambitions would ask, not a rogue girl supposedly concerned only with her mate."

A chill ran through me, remembering Luna Marianne's warning from the previous night. "I noticed something similar when I overheard her talking to Raymond. Her knowledge of pack politics seems... extensive for someone with her background."

"Too extensive," Kane agreed. "And she's gathering supporters among the younger pack members, especially those from the outer territories. They treat her with unusual deference for someone who hasn't even been formally recognized as Raymond's mate."

I frowned, piecing together fragments of observations that had seemed insignificant individually but now formed a troubling pattern. "What do you think she's planning?"

Kane shook his head. "I'm not sure yet, but—"

A sudden, urgent knocking interrupted us. We both tensed, exchanging alarmed glances.

"Luna Aurora?" called a voice through the door—one of the younger pack messengers. "Are you there? Alpha Raymond has called an immediate pack meeting. Everyone is required to attend."

Kane pressed a finger to his lips, signaling me to remain silent.

"The Alpha is looking for you," the messenger continued. "He sent me to check your quarters, but you weren't there."

"Tell him I'll be there shortly," Kane called out, his voice deliberately casual. "I've been reviewing security protocols with several guards since dawn."

There was a pause, then: "Yes, sir. But have you seen the Luna?"

"I believe she mentioned an early morning run to clear her head after the Gala," Kane replied smoothly. "Check the eastern trails."

We waited in tense silence until the messenger's footsteps receded.

"An 'immediate pack meeting' the morning after the Gala?" I said, already sliding from the bed and gathering my discarded dress. "Something's happening."

Kane nodded grimly. "And I'd bet my inheritance it involves Giana."

I dressed hastily, finger-combing my tangled hair. "I need to get to my quarters and change before anyone sees me like this."

"Use the service corridor," Kane suggested, pulling on his own clothes with efficient movements. "I'll create a distraction near the main hall to draw attention away from that route."

At the door, I paused, suddenly uncertain. "Kane, about last night—"

He crossed the room in two quick strides, cutting off my words with a kiss that left me breathless. "We'll talk later," he promised against my lips. "For now, best to arrive at the meeting separately."

The journey to my quarters was mercifully uneventful. I showered and changed in record time, donning the formal Luna attire required for official pack functions. By the time I reached the council chamber, most of the pack had already assembled.

I faltered in the doorway, taken aback by the scene before me. The chamber had been decorated with ceremonial banners and formal wreaths—the traditional symbols used for pack appointments. At the center of the room stood Raymond in full Alpha regalia, and beside him, looking triumphant in a gown clearly designed to complement his, stood Giana.

The arrangement of the room left no doubt about what was about to happen. This wasn't just a meeting—it was Giana's formal appointment ceremony.

I took my place at the front of the assembly, noting with growing unease the presence of several unfamiliar wolves scattered throughout the crowd. They stood slightly apart from the regular pack members, their expressions watchful and calculating. Most wore the simple clothes of outer territory wolves, but there was a sharpness to their gazes that suggested greater sophistication.

Giana's supporters—strategically positioned throughout the room.

Just as Raymond prepared to speak, the door opened once more. Kane entered with measured steps, his expression carefully neutral, though his eyes sought mine immediately. The subtle nod we exchanged went unnoticed by most, but I saw Giana tracking the interaction, her lips curving into a satisfied smile that sent a chill down my spine.

She had been waiting for this moment. But why did she look pleased to see Kane and me exchanging glances? What advantage did she see in our connection?

As Raymond began the formal opening words of the ceremony, I could only wonder what new humiliation awaited me—and whether this time, it might be more dangerous than mere embarrassment.