Chapter 158
The silence after Kael's words felt dangerous.
Not because anyone moved, but because nobody did.
The wolves outside the house had gone completely still, and Ariana could feel the tension spreading through the clearing like something alive. Every pair of eyes remained fixed on Kael now, watching the way he stood in front of her without hesitation, the way the pressure around him had shifted the moment the Alphas implied the council might come after her directly.
The oldest Alpha studied him carefully.
"You're proving our point," he said quietly.
Kael didn't move. "Then maybe your point was weak to begin with."
"That isn't protection anymore."
"No," Kael replied evenly. "Now it's a warning."
Ariana felt the words settle through the room immediately.
The Alphas did too.
The younger wolf near the doorway exchanged a brief glance with the others before speaking carefully. "Kael, think about what you're doing."
"I am."
"You're putting the territory at risk."
