Chapter 154
The silence after Mira's question settled heavily through the room.
Ariana stood beside Kael without moving, but she felt the tension in him immediately. His body had gone rigid again, not because he was afraid, but because of the weight behind the question itself. Mira watched him steadily from the doorway, calm and patient in a way that made it clear she expected a real answer and intended to wait for it.
Ariana looked at him too.
Not because she doubted him, but because she understood that this moment mattered more than anything that had happened since they left the clearing. This was no longer just about the Lycan or the bond. It was about choice, and everyone in the room knew it.
Kael exhaled slowly before finally speaking.
"Yes," he said quietly.
The word was not loud, but it changed the atmosphere instantly.
