Chapter 3 The price of disobedience

Kaelen's POV

The heavy oak door clicked shut, cutting Elara off from the rest of the world and locking the corridor behind her. I turned back toward my father's desk, my jaw clenched. I expected anger; I got something far worse. Roderick leaned forward, his voice low and glacial, every word an order. Sit down. And listen to me carefully. This is not a suggestion. I sat. My father's eyes were piercing, evaluative-and hard as stone. That girl is suspicious. More than suspicious. Roderick tapped his finger on his desk, right where he had seen the medallion. That medallion she wears is no coincidence. It is ancient. It is forbidden. And it belongs to a past we buried long ago. She is a threat, Kaelen. I don't yet know what she is hiding-but I know she does not belong here. He leaned in closer, dropping his voice until it seemed to fill the entire room. You are going to stay away from her. You will not speak to her. You will not look for her. If you approach her again-if you take even a single step close enough to catch her scent-you will lose far more than your place as heir. You will lose your life. Do you understand? Stay away... or die. My blood ran cold. This wasn't an empty threat. I had seen my father make good on far worse promises before. Your future is already mapped out, Roderick continued, firm, and unyielding. You will be the next Alpha. This pack needs you. But an Alpha does not let outsiders-especially suspicious outsiders-weaken him. If you can not control yourself, if you let this girl distract you, you are not fit to lead. And you won't live long enough to try. I nodded slowly, my fists clenched. I understand. I'll stay away from her. Good. Sit down. Roderick settled back into his armchair. Now, get out of my sight. And remember-keep your eyes open. She is dangerous. Don't let her fool you. I stood up and headed for the door. But before I could step out, a strange, sharp sensation tugged at my chest-a throbbing, a pull, something I couldn't quite explain. I told myself it was just relief. Just fear. Nothing more. I took a step into the corridor-but I didn't leave. I stopped. I shouldn't have looked. I shouldn't have cared. My father had been clear-death was the price. I was supposed to walk away. Forget her. Be the Alpha. So why were my feet carrying me toward the front window instead? I told myself it was just to make sure she was gone. Just to be certain she had vanished and that I could finally breathe. Nothing more. It wasn't because I needed to see her. It wasn't because a part of me wanted to know she was safe. I reached the window and looked outside. The sun had vanished. The full moon, low and immense, bathed the courtyard in a pale, silvery light. Elara stood at the bottom of the steps, pausing to pull her coat tighter against the cold. She looked small. Alone. Completely unaware. And then I saw it. From the edge of the West Woods, a shadow moved. Not a person. Not a deer. Something too big, too dark, too silent. It emerged from behind the trees-a massive wolf, its coat black as night, its eyes gleaming faintly in the moonlight. It wasn't moving like a wild animal. It was stalking. Slow, cautious, its gaze fixed straight on her. A lone wolf. A rogue. My breath caught. The beast was closing in fast. Any second now, it would pounce. I spun around-my mind screaming a single command: Go save her. But my father's voice struck me like a physical blow: Stay away... or die. If I went out there, I was breaking every rule. I was forfeiting my right to be Alpha. I was throwing away my life. I knew it. My father meant every word. But I couldn't just stand there and watch her die. I turned back toward the study door, my heart hammering so hard it hurt. I had to go. I had to try. I stepped back into the office, my face calm, my voice steady-lying through my teeth. Father-I left my phone in the classroom. I need to go get it before they lock up for the night. Roderick looked up, sharp and suspicious. Now? It's late. It will only take a minute. I kept my voice even, fighting every instinct that screamed at me to run. I'll be right back. My father watched me for a long, dangerous moment. Then he gave a single nod. Go. And make it quick. And remember what I told you. One false step... and it all ends.

I turned and walked out fast, but not running. Not yet. But the second the door slammed shut behind me, I broke into a sprint. I didn't know why I was doing this. I knew the price. I knew I was risking my entire title, my future, my life for a girl I was supposed to despise. But the pull was too strong. Stronger than fear. It's stronger than my father. It's stronger than anything I had ever felt. I burst through the front doors into the cold night air-and froze. The wolf was halfway across the courtyard. It had stopped. Head low, shoulders bunched-ready to spring. Elara stood just a few yards away, completely oblivious, still turning to leave.

My blood turned to fire. I didn't think. I didn't weigh the cost. I just moved faster than I should have been able to-straight toward her and the beast, howling her name into the night. But before I could reach them, the wolf raised its head. Its eyes didn't fix on Elara-they locked onto mine. And it smiled.