The girl is conscious

Kieran sat in his chair, his mind still lingering on the meeting he had just concluded. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he had no time to dwell on it. A soft knock echoed through the room before a young maid entered hesitantly, her head bowed.

"My Alpha, Old Luna Elara demands your presence in her chambers immediately," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kieran didn't respond immediately. He simply waved his hand, dismissing her, and she scurried out of the room. With a sigh, he rose from his chair and strode toward his mother's chambers.

As he made his way down the dimly lit corridor, he caught the hushed voices of a few maids huddled near one of the pillars. They spoke in whispers, but his enhanced hearing made their words crystal clear.

"I heard he found a mate," one of them said, a sneer in her voice.

"As if anyone could tolerate him. He'll probably scare her away," another chuckled.

Kieran didn't acknowledge them, but his jaw tightened. The rumor had spread faster than he expected. It seemed Lyle had wasted no time in ensuring the entire Pack was aware of this so-called revelation.

Annoyed, he halted in his tracks and turned to one of the guards. "Call Lucas."

The guard nodded and disappeared down the hall. Within moments, Lucas arrived, his expression unreadable as he bowed slightly.

Kieran's voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "Kill them."

The maids gasped, their eyes widening in horror as they fell to their knees. "Alpha, please—"

Their pleas were ignored. Kieran had already turned and continued his walk to his mother's chambers, their screams fading behind him.

When he entered, Old Luna Elara stood with a warm smile on her face. Her son's presence always brought her a sense of pride, no matter the darkness that surrounded him. She stepped forward and embraced him, something only she dared to do.

"I heard the news," she said, stepping back to look at him. "You've found your mate?"

Kieran hesitated. He had been prepared to dismiss the idea outright. After all, the girl was human, a mere weakling he had found by chance. But as he looked into his mother's hopeful eyes, he found himself unable to take that away from her.

So he nodded, offering her a small smile.

Elara clasped her hands together. "This is wonderful, my son! When can I meet her?"

"Calm down," he said smoothly. "I will bring her home soon."

Elara's joy was palpable. "At least now Lyle won't be a threat anymore," she murmured.

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they only reminded Kieran of the turmoil that had erupted earlier that day. Lyle's arrogance, his attempts to undermine him—it was all infuriating.

Elara seemed to notice the shift in his expression, and a flicker of concern passed through her eyes. "The maids told me what happened," she said, folding her arms. "You hurt your brother this morning, didn't you?"

Kieran didn't deny it. He merely held her gaze, unrepentant.

She sighed, disappointment lacing her voice. "I know Lyle has been difficult, but you shouldn't harm him. No matter what happens, he is still your brother."

Kieran scoffed. "He has never seen me as his brother, so why should I care?"

Elara's palm connected lightly with his shoulder, a mother's reprimand rather than a true strike. "Don't say such things."

He exhaled sharply but said nothing further. "I'm going to my office. I have work to do." Without another word, he turned and walked out.

As soon as he left, an elderly maid entered. She was Elara's most trusted servant, one who had been by her side since Kieran was a child.

She approached silently, kneeling beside Elara's seat to massage her back. "How long do you plan to keep up this lie?"

Elara closed her eyes, leaning into the touch. "As long as my pups are safe, it doesn't matter," she whispered with a bitter smile.

Meanwhile, Kieran was making his way back to his office when Lucas and Garrick intercepted him.

"The girl has regained consciousness," Lucas reported. "Healer Agnes just sent word through the crow."

Garrick added, "Should we reply and say you're not coming?"

Kieran considered this for a moment. The rumors had already spread, thanks to Lyle, and Fenrir, his wolf, had already told him that the girl wasn't his mate. And yet… there was a strange pull toward her, something unexplainable.

Perhaps she could be of use. If the Pack believed he had a Luna, it would solidify his authority until his real mate was found.

"No," he finally said. "I'll go see her now."

Lucas and Garrick exchanged glances but nodded. They moved quickly to prepare his horse.

Just as Kieran was about to mount, he saw Old Alpha Cedric approaching from the other side of the courtyard. The former Alpha walked with slow but purposeful steps, his gaze locked onto the path leading to Elara's chambers.

Kieran didn't stop to greet him. He sighed, pulling himself up onto his horse. Lucas and Garrick mounted their own steeds, ready to accompany him.

Without another word, they rode off toward Healer Agnes's dwelling, the wind howling around them as they galloped through the territory.