<h4>Chapter 212: The decision.</h4>


    <strong>Charis</strong>


    "A good choice, Alpha Raymond," Kael nodded with a pleased expression. "Though it is not in my manner to promise the heavens, but I can assure you that I would do anything in my power to bring ter home."


    "That’s a relief," Alpha Raymond nodded, as his gaze flicked to me again, then back to Kael. "Are youing down now? I’d assume you’d need some briefing on our findings. That sort of thing."


    Kael nodded, his expression serious now. "I’ll be down shortly."


    "Good." Raymond paused at the door, then turned back. "I have one question first."


    "What?"


    "How did you know you’re a Bloodborn Wolf?"


    The room went very still. I looked at Kael, wondering what he’d say.


    "Does it matter?" Kael asked carefully.


    Raymond studied him for a long moment. "Yes. It matters very much."


    "Why?"


    "Because no Bloodborn Wolf knows what they are unless someone tells them." Raymond’s voice was quiet but firm. "It’s notmon knowledge. It’s not something you can research online or find in books. The only way you’d know is if someone from the old tribes told you or someone with direct knowledge."


    Kael’s jaw tightened. He didn’t say anything.


    "I’m not asking you to reveal your source," Raymond continued. "But I am asking you to protect their identity. Bloodborn Wolves... there are people who would hunt them and use them. People like the Collectors." He paused. "If someone trusted you enough to tell you the truth about yourself, then you need to guard that secret carefully. For their sake and yours."


    "I will," Kael said quietly.


    Raymond nodded. "Good. Then we have an understanding." He turned to leave, then stopped once more. "And Kael? Thank you. For helping find my son."


    "We haven’t found him yet."


    "But we will. Because of you." Raymond’s expression softened slightly. "You figured out what the rest of us couldn’t. That deserves acknowledgement."


    Then he left, closing the door quietly behind him.


    I sagged against the bed, all the arousal from moments agopletely gone, reced by embarrassment and worry and a dozen other emotions I couldn’t name.


    Kael sat down beside me. "Are you okay?"


    "Am I okay?" I let out a shakyugh. "ter’s father just walked in on us half-naked. While his son is missing. No, I’m not okay. I feel terrible."


    "We weren’t doing anything wrong," Kael said.


    "It feels wrong," I insisted. "One of our mates is missing, maybe being hurt, and we were... we were..."


    "We were being human," Kael finished. "We were takingfort in each other. There’s nothing shameful about that."


    "But the timing—"


    "The timing doesn’t matter." He turned to face me fully. "Charis, we don’t know what’s going to happen when we go to rescue ter. We don’t know if we’ll all make it back. So yes, I wanted to be with you. I wanted to tell you I love you. I wanted to touch you and kiss you and make you feel good, because what if I don’t get another chance?"


    The words hit me hard. He was right. We were about to walk into danger. The Collectors were violent, organised, and dangerous. Any of us could get hurt. Or worse.


    "I’m scared," I admitted quietly.


    "Me too."


    I looked at him in surprise. Kael never admitted to being scared.


    "I’m scared we’ll be toote," he continued. "I’m scared they’ve already hurt him. I’m scared that even if we find him, we won’t be able to get him out safely." He took my hand. "But I’m more scared of not trying. Of letting fear stop me from doing what needs to be done."


    I squeezed his hand. "When this is over, when we have ter back safe, we need to have a serious talk. About the Bloodborn Wolf thing. About Elena. About Isolde being connected to all of this, and trying to figure it out.


    "I know."


    "You can’t keep secrets from us, Kael. Not anymore. We’re supposed to be mates. That means trusting each other."


    "I do trust you," he said. "More than I’ve ever trusted anyone. That’s why I told you about my mother, the vision and about everything."


    "But you haven’t told Rhett and ter."


    "I will," he promised. "When the time is right. When I have all the answers instead of just pieces of the puzzle."


    I wanted to push harder, to make him promise to tell them everything right away. But I knew Kael well enough by now to know that pushing would make him shut down.


    "Okay," I said. "But soon. We can’t keep operating with half-truths and secrets. It’s going to tear us apart."


    "I know." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead gently. "I promise. Soon."


    A knock at the door, softer this time.


    "Come in," Kael called.


    The door opened to reveal Rhett. He took one look at us—me with messy hair and a wrinkled dress, Kael shirtless until a moment ago—and raised his eyebrows.


    "Really?" he said. "Right now?"


    "Don’t start," I muttered, standing up and smoothing down my dress.


    "I wasn’t going to say anything," Rhett said, though his smirk suggested otherwise. "I just came to tell you they’re ready to move out. Everyone’s gathering in the front."


    "We’ll be right there," Kael said.


    "And also my dad said if he’s going to give you resources to go and bring ter back, that you can’t take Charis," Rhett said softly, his gaze straying to me.


    "Your father said or you suggested it?" Kael blew hot.


    "Fine, I suggested it, and my reasons are valid. It’s too dangerous out there, Kael. You cannot carry your weakness and parade it in front of people like that. If they know one bit that you like Charis, I don’t want to imagine how things can spiral because of that."


    "I don’t have a weakness," Kael insisted. "Charis is not my weakness; besides, I’d feel uneasy leaving her here."


    "Yeah, because you’re leaving her to hounds and rogues," Rhett scoffed. "I love Charis more than you can ever understand. I know that she favours you more than me and ter, but that hasn’t diminished the love I feel towards her. You cannot control everything, Kael. We’re partners, and you alone cannot decide for everyone."


    "I don’t control everything, Rhett. I am speaking from experience, something you would never know because you’ve lived your life sheltered behind these walls. This could be a fucking goddamn trap to take me out of the borders of Ravenspire and..."


    "Are you fucking insane?" Rhett scoffed. "Are you trying to use my dad?"


    "Yes!" Kael shrugged. "I don’t trust anyone as a rule, including you, Rhett. I cannot trust Charis to be left alone with you and your father. So she goes with me."


    "No, she will not," Rhett said coldly, straightening to his full length. He was at least two inches taller than Kael. "Provisions have not been made for her; she’ll remain here."


    I took in a deep breath, massaging my temples.


    "Guys," I said softly, but none of them answered me; they were too deep into their feud that they didn’t hear my voice. "Guys!" I said louder this time, calling their attention to me.


    "Both of you are talking about me as if I am not here. This is the exact possessive behaviour I was trying to avoid. You feud more than youmunicate, and for the life of me, I still don’t know why the Moon Goddess paired us together."


    "I’m only looking out for your safety, Charis, and you know that. Kael needs a warm body whom he can fuck conveniently."


    "What did you say?" Kael’s face had turned red with rage.


    "Exactly what you heard, I..."


    The words didn’t finish from Rhett’s mouth before a p rang through the room.