(KAEL'S POV)
The bond felt like barbed wire under my skin.
Aria's heat was spiking through our connection. Not just warmth anymore. Fire. Need so intense it made my vision blur. And underneath it, cutting deeper than the physical, was her shame. Her rage at being on her knees. Her terror that I'd actually leave her there.
My wolf wasn't just snarling anymore. It was tearing me apart from the inside. Claws raking down my spine. Teeth in my throat. Every instinct I had screaming mark her mark her MARK HER.
But Vivian was right. Twenty witnesses. Coercion. The bond wouldn't hold if the council challenged it. They'd call it invalid, auction her off anyway, and I'd have branded her for nothing.
My teeth were still pressed against her throat. I could feel her pulse. Fast. Terrified.
"Kael." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Let go."
I couldn't. Couldn't make myself pull back. Couldn't make myself accept the choice Vivian was forcing.
"Your Majesty." Vivian's voice was patient. Like she had all the time in the world. "The northern district is deteriorating as we speak. Every moment you delay, those three Omegas suffer. Surely you understand that as king, you have a responsibility to...."
"Don't." The word came out as a growl. "Don't talk to me about responsibility when you're the one who drugged her. When you created this whole fucking situation."
"Did I? Or did I simply force you to confront a choice you've been avoiding for days?" She tilted her head. "Love or duty. Personal desire or the good of the many. It's the same choice your father faced with my sister. We both know how that ended."
The comparison hit like a fist to the gut. But it also clarified something.
My father had chosen wrong. Had chosen his obsession over his duty. Had kept Evelyn locked up while his kingdom burned. Had thrown her from a tower when she tried to leave because if he couldn't have her, no one could.
And Vivian thought I'd make the same choice.
Expected it, even. Wanted me to prove I was just like him.
Fuck that.
I pulled my teeth away from Aria's throat. Felt her shudder against me. Relief or disappointment, I couldn't tell.
"There's a third option," I said.
Vivian's smile faltered. "I'm sorry?"
"You're giving me two choices. Abandon Aria or abandon my duty. But you're all forgetting something." I looked at Crowe. At Marcus. At every council member still on their knees fighting my dominance. "I'm not just an Alpha. I'm the Alpha King. Which means I don't need your permission for shit."
"The council voted—"
"The council used illegal methods to force a vote while the subject was incapacitated. That vote is invalid." I kept my voice level. Cold. "But more importantly, you're operating under a fundamental misunderstanding of how power works here."
Marcus managed to get to his feet. Barely. "Your Majesty, the Council Charter clearly states—"
"I don't care what the charter states. Here's what's going to happen." I adjusted my grip on Aria, pulled her closer. "I'm going to the northern district. And Aria is coming with me."
The room erupted.
"That's insane—"
"You can't transport an Omega in heat—"
"The liability alone—"
I let them shout. Let them argue. Let them think they had a say.
Then I released enough Alpha dominance to shut them all up.
The silence was instant. Absolute.
"She comes with me," I repeated. "Because leaving her here means she gets auctioned the second I'm gone. And taking her means I can handle both situations. The three Omegas get the help they need. Aria stays under my protection. Everyone wins."
"Everyone wins?" Crowe had gotten control of his voice back. "You're going to concentrate four Omegas in heat in one location. Do you understand what that will do? Every unmated Alpha within a mile radius will lose their minds. We'll have riots. Deaths. Mass chaos."
"Then I suggest you clear the area and reinforce security."
"This is not a request you can make—"
"It's not a request." I met his eyes. Let him see exactly how serious I was. "It's happening. You can either help or get out of my way. Choose."
Vivian was studying me with an expression I couldn't read. Not anger. Something else. "You're willing to risk civil unrest for one Omega?"
"I'm willing to risk anything to prove I'm not my father." The words came out harder than I intended. "He chose obsession. Locked Evelyn up. Sacrificed his kingdom for one woman and then killed her when she tried to leave. You think I'm going to make the same mistake?"
"Aren't you?"
"No. Because I'm not locking Aria up. I'm bringing her WITH me. She's not a prisoner. She's not property. She's a person who deserves protection while I handle a crisis that's part of my job as king." I looked at each council member in turn. "If you want to vote me out for that, do it. But do it after I've handled the situation. Because right now, three Omegas are suffering and we're standing here arguing about bureaucracy."
The logic was sound. They knew it. I could see it in their faces.
Marcus was the first to speak. "Under specific conditions."
"No conditions."
"Your Majesty, we can't simply—"
"Yes, you can. You can let me do my job. Or you can try to stop me and we'll see how that works out." I started backing toward the door. "I'm giving you one chance to make this easy. After that, I stop asking permission."
Something shifted in the room. Not surrender. Calculation.
Marcus exchanged a look with Vivian. Some silent communication I didn't catch.
"Fine," he said finally. "Take her. But when you return, the auction proceeds as scheduled. Three days. And if this situation goes badly, if there's violence or loss of life because of your decision, the council will vote to remove you. Immediately."
It was still a trap. Just a different shape.
But it bought time. And time was all I had.
"Agreed."
I didn't wait for them to change their minds. Just turned and carried Aria toward the door. Vivian's guards blocked the way.
"Move," I said quietly.
They looked at Vivian. She nodded.
The path cleared.
We made it into the corridor before Aria spoke. "That was stupid."
"Probably."
"They're going to use this against you."
"Almost certainly."
"And you did it anyway." Her voice was strained. Another heat wave building. "Why?"
Because the thought of leaving her in that cell made me want to tear my own skin off. Because I'd rather burn my kingdom to the ground than prove Vivian right about me being like my father. Because somewhere in the last three days, this woman had become more important than my crown.
I didn't say any of that.
"Because it's the right thing to do."
"Liar."
My mouth twitched. Almost a smile. "Yeah."
---
Commander Ashford was waiting at the end of the corridor. Ten guards behind her. All in tactical gear. All looking nervous.
She took one look at Aria in my arms and swore. "Sir, with all respect, this is—"
"I know what it is. We're doing it anyway." I looked at the guards. All mated Alphas like I'd requested. Good. "Anyone uncomfortable with this assignment can leave. No consequences."
None of them moved. Better.
Ashford's jaw was tight. "Route?"
"Back corridors. Avoid main halls." I adjusted Aria's weight. She was shivering despite the heat burning through her. "And someone get her something warm."
One of the guards hesitated. Young guy. Maybe twenty-five. His eyes kept darting to Aria then away. Like he couldn't decide if looking was disrespectful or necessary.
"Problem?" I asked.
"No sir. Just—" He shrugged out of his jacket. Held it out at arm's length. Wouldn't come closer. Smart. His wolf was already reacting to her scent even through the mating bond that should have protected him. "Here."
I took it. Wrapped it around Aria's shoulders. She buried her face in the fabric. Trying to hide. Trying to be smaller.
I hated that. Hated that they'd reduced her to this.
"Let's move."
We made it one corridor before it started.
A junior council aide. Mid-twenties. Coming out of a records room with his arms full of files. He froze when he saw us. His nostrils flared. The files hit the floor.
"Omega." His voice cracked on the word.
Two guards moved to intercept. Got between him and us. The aide tried to push past them. Couldn't. But he wasn't backing down either. Just standing there, shaking, staring at Aria like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
"Stand down," Ashford barked.
He didn't stand down. Couldn't. His wolf had taken over. I could see it happening. Eyes starting to glow. Muscles tensing. Teeth lengthening.
I hit him with enough dominance to drop a bull.
He collapsed. Hit the floor hard. Whimpering.
"Get him to medical," I ordered. "Sedation. Twenty-four hour hold."
We kept moving.
Made it another fifty feet. Turned a corner. Ran into three more wolves. All male. All going the wrong direction until they caught Aria's scent.
Then they turned. Stared. Started walking toward us.
The guards formed a barrier. Weapons drawn. Non-lethal rounds but the threat was clear.
"Back away," Ashford commanded.
They didn't back away. One of them smiled. Lazy. Predatory. "Come on, Commander. Sharing is caring."
The rifle crack was deafening in the stone corridor.
The tranq dart caught him in the shoulder. He staggered. Went down.
His companions charged.
More gunfire. Bodies hitting the ground. It was over in seconds but it felt longer. Felt like the beginning of something that wouldn't stop.
"How far to the transport?" I asked.
"Two more corridors. But sir, we have to go through the main atrium. There's no other route unless we backtrack and that adds twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes Aria didn't have. I could feel the next heat wave building through the bond. Minutes away. Maybe less.
"Through the atrium. Fast."
"Sir—"
"That's an order."
We ran. Aria bounced in my arms. Made a sound that was half pain, half something else. The movement was aggravating her heat. Making it worse.
"I'm sorry," I muttered. "Almost there."
"Stop apologizing." Her voice was muffled against my chest. "Just stop getting us into situations that require apologies."
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
The atrium opened ahead of us. I could hear it before we got there. Evening meal service. Voices. Probably a hundred wolves.
Ashford stopped at the entrance. "Sir. We should wait. Clear the room first."
"No time."
"Then at least let me go first. Announce your presence. Give them a chance to—"
I walked past her. Into the atrium.
A hundred conversations died mid-sentence.
A hundred wolves turned to stare.
And Aria's scent hit them like a bomb.
The unmated ones stood. Couldn't help it. Ten, fifteen, twenty of them. Eyes glowing. Wolves rising. The mated ones looked uneasy. Caught between instinct and loyalty.
No one moved. Not yet. They were still processing. Still trying to figure out if this was real or some kind of mistake.
I kept walking. Straight across the open space. Guards flanking me.
Made it maybe twenty feet before the first one cracked.
Young Alpha. Kitchen staff by his apron. He lunged.
Ashford shot him. The tranq took him down mid-leap. He hit the floor and slid.
That broke the dam.
Five more charged. From different directions. The guards were good. Got three of them. But two made it through.
I had to put Aria down to fight. Hated doing it. Hated letting go.
The first Alpha reached me. I caught his punch. Twisted. Broke his wrist. He screamed. I hit him with dominance and he dropped.
The second was bigger. Smarter. Went for Aria on the floor instead of me.
Big mistake.
My wolf took over. I didn't remember moving. Didn't remember the decision. Just remembered the feeling of his throat in my hand. The sound of bone cracking. The wet gurgle as he tried to breathe through a crushed windpipe.
"Kael." Aria's voice cut through the red haze. "Kael, stop. You're killing him."
I was killing him. My hand was literally crushing his throat. Another second and he'd be dead.
I let go. Let him drop. Gasping. Alive. Barely.
More Alphas were moving now. The violence had triggered something. Ancient pack instincts about dominance and hierarchy and who had the right to claim the Omega.
It was going to be a slaughter. They'd keep coming and I'd keep putting them down and eventually someone would die.
Then Aria's projection hit.
Not fear this time. Not anger. Something else entirely.
Calm. Absolute, overwhelming, impossible calm.
It washed over the room like a wave. Every wolf who felt it stumbled. The charging Alphas stopped mid-run. The shouting went quiet. Even my wolf went still.
Just... stopped.
"Enough." Aria's voice was quiet but it carried. She was still on the floor where I'd put her. Hair a mess. Jacket falling off one shoulder. Eyes blazing. "I'm tired of everyone fighting over me. So stop. All of you. Just stop."
And they did. Every single wolf in that atrium. Frozen. Staring at her like they'd never seen an Omega before.
Maybe they hadn't. Not one like her.
"Move," I told Ashford.
We ran. Through the atrium. Out the far side. Into the vehicle bay where the transports were waiting.
Aria went limp in my arms the second we were through the doors. The projection had cost her. She was shaking. Paler than she should be.
"Almost there," I promised.
The transport was armored. Windows tinted so dark they were basically black. Guard detail already inside. Engine running.
I climbed in. Set Aria on the bench seat. She slumped against the wall.
Ashford followed us in. Slammed the doors. "Go. Now."
The transport lurched into motion.
We made it through the palace gates. Into the city. Away from the immediate danger.
But I could still feel wolves gathering. Not following yet. But aware. The scent of four Omegas in one location was going to spread. Soon every unmated Alpha in the city would know.
And they'd come looking.
Aria's head dropped onto my shoulder. "That was close."
"Too close." My hands were still shaking. From adrenaline. From the near-miss with killing that Alpha. From the weight of what I'd just committed to.
"When we get there," she said quietly. "The northern district. What's the plan?"
"Assess the situation. Verify the three Omegas are legitimate. Establish protection. Get them medical care."
"And then?"
"Then we figure out who's behind this. Why they're appearing now. What they want."
She was quiet for a moment. Then: "Kael. Promise me something."
"Anything."
"If it comes down to choosing between me and doing the right thing? Choose the right thing."
The request felt like a knife between the ribs. "Aria—"
"Promise me. Because if you don't, if you sacrifice other people for me, I'll never forgive you. And I'll never forgive myself."
I wanted to promise. Wanted to tell her I'd choose her every time.
But she was right. If I became the kind of king who sacrificed innocents for personal gain, I'd be exactly like my father.
"I promise."
Her hand found mine. Squeezed. "Liar."
The transport took a corner too fast. Aria gasped. Another heat wave hitting. Her grip on my hand went tight enough to hurt.
Through the bond, I felt her fear spike as something occurred to her. Something that made her go rigid.
"What?" I asked.
"The three Omegas." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "In the northern district. Did anyone verify who they are? Where they came from? What pack they belong to?"
My stomach dropped. "No. Why?"
"Because this is too convenient. Three Omegas appearing exactly when needed to force you away from me. Three Omegas with no names, no packs, no histories." She looked up at me. "What if they're not victims, Kael? What if they're bait?"
The transport turned another corner. Through the tinted window, I could see the northern district approaching.
And rising above it, black against the evening sky, was smoke.
Something was burning.
Ashford swore. Grabbed her radio. "All units, this is Alpha command. Report. What's the situation?"
Static. Then a voice. Young. Panicked. "Commander, we have a situation. The building where the Omegas were being held— it's on fire. And the Omegas are gone."
Gone.
I looked at Aria. Saw my own realization reflected in her eyes.
This wasn't a rescue mission.
It was a trap.
And we'd just walked right into it.