Chapter19
+25 BONUS
Clara’s POV
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The familiar scent of cedarwood on Kael brought back a flood of memories from the past three years.
It all made me sick.
“Let go of me.” I pushed him away coldly, taking a few steps back.
ou thou were dead… I thought I’d
“Clara… I’ve been looking for you for so long…” Kael’s eyes were filled with tears. “I
never see you again…”
“You must be disappointed,” my voice was as cold as frost. “Sorry to let
down, Kael. I didn’t die.”
“No, I’m not disappointed,” he shook his head eagerly. “I’m so happy, so incredibly happy you’re alive. Clara, I have so much to
tell you…”
“We have nothing to talk about,” I cut him off. “Everything that needed to be said has been said.”
“Clara, let me explain…” Kael tried to get closer. “I know I was wrong, I know I hurt you, but…”
“But what?” I sneered. “But now you’ve realized I’m useful again?”
“No! That’s not it!” his wolf was desperate. “I found out the truth. I know you’re the one I was always supposed to protect…”
“The truth?” A flicker of irony crossed my eyes. “Kael, do you really think I care what truth you’ve discovered now?”
“What I care about is that you spent three years hurting me, and now you think a few apologies will let us start over.”
“I don’t want to start over…” he said, his voice full of pain. “I just want a chance to make amends…”
“Make amends for what?” I advanced on him. “For the Silver bust you injected me with? For the child you made me lose? Or for the kisses you shared with Selene in the moonlight?”
Kael’s face went pale.
“Clara… about the child…”
“That’s enough,” a cold voice came from behind me.
Asher strode forward, shielding me behind him.
He radiated a powerful Alpha aura, a pure, ancient power that made every wolf in the room feel its weight.
“Alpha,” Asher’s voice was dangerously soft. “I suggest you unhand my mate.”
“Mate?” Kael’s eyes flashed gold. “She is my Luna!”
“Former Luna,” Asher corrected him. “Clara is dead, remember? Died in a rogue attack.”
The two powerful Alphas stood face to face, their auras clashing violently in the air.
The other wolves in the gallery instinctively backed away, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.
“Who are you?” Kael’s wolf radiated a murderous intent. “What right do you have-”
“I am Asher Moonwhisper,” Asher’s gaze was as sharp as ice. “Heir of the Moon–Ember pack, and Clara’s healer.”
“More importantly,” he took a step forward, “I am the one who truly protects her.”
“Protect her?” Kael sneered. “What right do you have to say that? She’s my-”
“Your what?” Asher cut him off, his eyes burning with fury. “Your prisoner? The broodmare for your heir? Or the victim you
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Chapter19
+25 BONUS
spent three years destroying?”
The words pierced Kael, and his wolf began to roar with agitation.
“I admit I made mistakes, but-”
“Mistakes?” Asher’s voice was laced with ice. “You call systematically poisoning her a mistake? Forcing her to lose her child a mistake? Letting that venomous woman torment her a mistake?”
“Enough!” Kael roared. “You don’t know the situation-”
“I don’t know?” Asher’s wolf fully unleashed, silver energy pouring out like a tidal wave. “I know every scar on her body. I know every bit of damage done to her soul. I know every ounce of pain she endured to get away from you!”
The lights in the gallery flickered as the two Alphas‘ power struggle shook the entire space.
“And you,” Asher said, enunciating each word, “are the one who caused all of it.”
A flicker of hurt crossed Kael’s eyes, quickly replaced by rage.
“I came here to apologize, to make amends-
“Apologize?” Asher scoffed. “You think an apology works? You think a few words can erase three years of torment?”
He advanced on Kael, until they were only an arm’s length apart.
“Let me tell you a fact,” Asher’s wolf let out a low growl. “The only reason Clara is standing here today is because she is a survivor. And you… you almost killed her.”
“I never wanted to kill her!” Kael protested.
“But everything you did was killing her,” Asher’s eyes burned with hatred.
The murderous intent in the air grew thicker, both Alphas on the verge of exploding.
Asher’s wolf roared, “And you still have the nerve to show your face to her!”
