Duty calls

Kael stayed.

He didn't mean to, but something about the warmth in this place… in her… rooted him to the spot.

Asha moved gracefully between patients—crushed herbs here, bandaged wounds there. Her hands never trembled. Her voice was steady. Gentle. Confident.

She was born to heal.

And he?

He was born to rule.

Yet watching her now, Kael didn't feel like an Alpha.

He felt like a man. Just a man… admiring a woman who somehow made chaos feel like calm.

But then he started to notice it.

His people—wolves from the pack—those who came for treatment… they were tense.

Their eyes flicked toward him too often.

Their backs were too straight.

Their voices were too quiet.

Because the Alpha was in the room.

He could feel it in the air—their unease, their awareness of him.

No matter how quietly he sat in the corner, no matter how relaxed he tried to appear…

His presence shifted the entire room.

And he hated that.

He wanted them to be comfortable. To see Asha without feeling his gaze weigh on their shoulders.

But more than that—he just… didn't want to leave.

Not yet.

He folded his arms, leaning back slightly, eyes still on her.

I should go. Give them space.

But his body didn't move.

Because her laugh—light and low as she tucked a loose curl behind her ear—made something in his chest clench tight.

No.

He wasn't going anywhere.

Of course it had to be Luca.

Kael barely had a moment to breathe, to sit in silence and watch Asha work, before the voice buzzed into his mind like an irritating wasp.

"Kael, where are you? I've already gathered the elders like you asked—"

Kael shut his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose.

Moon Goddess, protect Luca… or you might be receiving one of your sons sooner than expected.

He cracked one eye open, staring at Asha as she gently tied a bandage on a young pup's paw, smiling softly as she spoke words too low for him to hear.

Peace.

That's what she gave him.

And she never asked too many questions. Never pried. Never pushed.

She just… existed. In a way that made the storm inside him still.

Kael stood slowly, reluctant. His body already feeling the pull of duty again.

Being Alpha is work, he reminded himself. Always has been.

But now, he had a refuge. A resting point. A woman with steady hands and eyes that saw too much and still didn't run.

Whenever the weight becomes too much… I'll come here.

He turned to go—but not before she looked up, sensing him.

"Alpha business?" she asked softly.

He gave a wry smile.

"Luca business. Which somehow always becomes my business."

She laughed—light and amused. "Better you than me."

He chuckled, already backing toward the door.

"Keep a seat warm for me, healer."

She raised an eyebrow, playful.

"It'll be here. Don't expect tea, though."

Kael grinned. "I'll bring wine next time."

And with that, he left—his heart lighter, his mind clearer, even as duty waited to pounce on him outside.