Chapter 2
Kael dressed slowly and stepped toward the crowd, his expression cold, unapologetic.
"Fifteen thousand in pack funds to repair this space," he said. "And find who started that fire. We didn't touch any candles."
His sharp, silver-flecked gaze swept over the acolytes. "Or did one of you break your vows to spy on me?"
"By the Moon Goddess, we shall never do such a thing!"
Kael was furious. "Then who did it?"
"I did."
Kael turned toward the voice and saw Elara. At once, his arrogance faded, and panic flashed in his eyes.
He frowned and reached for her, but she stepped back, her wolf snarling in warning.
"Elara, why are you here?" Kael asked.
Elara laughed bitterly. "If I hadn't come, I would've missed the show."
He smelt her rage and tried to soothe her, his tone softening. "I can explain. Lila doesn't want the Luna title. She just wants to stay by my side. I kept her here so I wouldn't upset you."
Elara's eyes were hollow with disappointment. "You're so shameless. I wish the fire had burned you both alive."
Kael's face darkened, his voice hoarse. "You started the fire on purpose?"
"Yes," Elara said without hesitation.
"You humiliated me in front of the entire pack." Lila got dressed and stormed over, slapping Elara hard across the cheek.
Elara didn't hesitate to slap her back, harder, her wolf baring her fangs. "You're the rogue omega stealing another's mate. How dare you hit me?"
Lila stared at her, stunned. Then she held her red, swollen cheek and threw herself into Kael's arms, sobbing. "She hit me."
Kael held her and lifted his eyes to Elara, his voice casual. "Calm down, Elara. You're still carrying our pup."
Tears spilled down Elara's cheeks. "You said you came here to pray for our baby and me. This is your idea of prayer? How could you treat me like this?"
Suddenly, she laughed, "You're unworthy of being Alpha. You betrayed your fated mate."
In wolf society, breaking the mate bond was rare. She never imagined Kael would be unfaithful.
She'd first heard Lila's name a year ago, the new omega pack secretary who'd walked in on her first day and openly bragged she was going to win the Alpha's heart.
Kael had been Lila's idol, and she'd clawed her way into the pack to be near him.
Back then, when Kael mentioned it, Elara had thought Lila was kind of interesting.
"Interesting?" he'd wrapped his arms around her from behind, nuzzling her neck. "You don't think I'd choose her over you?"
Elara had turned and hugged him, sure. "Nope, I know you'll never betray me."
Thinking about it now, it was honestly a slap in the face.
The omega had indeed stolen the man every wolf called the perfect mate in just one year.
"Enough, Elara," Kael sighed, irritated. "You've had your tantrum. Drop it."
He pushed Lila toward Elara. "Lila, apologize to her. This ends now."
Lila pouted, tears still in her eyes. "Apologize? Everyone saw me naked. You don't care about me at all."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "What do you want, then?"
"She hit me. We're even," Lila said, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Even?" Elara trembled with rage. "You're the other woman. How dare you?"
She lifted her hand to strike again, but Kael caught her wrist.
She turned to him, eyes blazing. "You're defending her?"
His gaze was ice. "I said, enough."
"Too bad. I'm not finished," Elara shot back.
She lifted her other hand, but before she could swing, Kael shoved her hard.
"Elara, haven't you embarrassed yourself enough today?" he snapped. "Are you trying to destroy everything? You act like a feral she-wolf."
He shoved her away with his Alpha strength, sending her crashing into the edge of a wooden table.
Her back slammed into the hard edge. White-hot pain shot through her, and her vision blurred.