Lucas
I found Kaelen in his office, hunched over paperwork as usual, his brows furrowed in
concentration. The man had a way of burying himself in work, as if by doing so, he could shut out
everything else in his life. It was no surprise that he’d let so much slip between his fingers over the
years. But today, I was here to push him in the direction I needed him to go.
“Kaelen,” I said, leaning against the doorway casually. He glanced up briefly before returning to
whatever document had captured his attention. “How’s the honeymoon planning going?”
He didn’t look up this time, just grunted. “It’s not. Alara canceled it.”
I felt a flicker of surprise, but I quickly masked it with a neutral expression. That was unexpected,
but it didn’t change the plan. “She canceled it?”
Kaelen sighed and set down his pen, finally giving me his full attention. “Yeah, she said it wasn’t the
right time. I think she’s still upset about everything that’s going on.”
I nodded slowly, though inside, I was already forming my response. Alara canceling the honeymoon wasn’t ideal, but I could still steer this in the direction I needed. “I get that, but maybe going on the honeymoon would help. You two could use the time away from everything. You’ve been through a lot lately, and honestly, a vacation might be exactly what you need.”
Kaelen leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know, Lucas. She’s been
distant ever since the wedding, and now with everything hanging over our heads, I’m not sure if it’s
the right move.”
This was my opening. I couldn’t let him back out now. “That’s exactly why you need to go,” I insisted, stepping further into the office. “Get away from all this–away from the pack, the responsibilities, the constant pressure. Take her somewhere that’ll help the both of you relax and
reconnect.”
Kaelen raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Where are you suggesting?”
“Crestwood City,” I said without hesitation. “It’s perfect for what you need right now. Beautiful views, luxurious hotels, and far enough from here that you can both actually take a break.”
Kaelen gave me a pointed look. “You do realize that Crestwood City is part of Bastian’s territory, right?”
I shrugged. “So what? Bastian might be a bit of an ass, but he’s not going to cause trouble if you’re just there for a honeymoon. Besides, it’s neutral ground. People from all packs visit. You won’t be
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stepping on his toes.”
+25 Pants
His expression darkened slightly at the mention of Bastian’s name, and I could tell he wasn’t sold on the idea. “It’s not that simple. You know the history between us. The last thing I need is to be in his territory with Alara, stirring up old rivalries.”
“Come on, Kaelen,” I pressed. “Bastian’s got his own issues to deal with, and besides, this is about you and Alara, not him. You deserve this time with her. You’re telling me you’re going to let a petty feud stop you from giving her the honeymoon she deserves?”
Kaelen’s jaw tightened, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to say no. I knew him well enough to know that he was always cautious when it came to anything involving Bastian, but he was also feeling guilty. Alara’s been pulling away, and Kaelen, for all his faults, didn’t want to lose her completely. I was counting on that guilt.
After a long pause, he finally sighed. “Fine. But only if Alara agrees to go. I’m not going to force her into something she doesn’t want.”
I nodded, satisfied with his answer. “Fair enough. But trust me, she’ll come around. You two need
this.”
He didn’t respond, just gave me a tired look before turning back to his paperwork, signaling that the conversation was over. But I had what I needed. Kaelen was going to take Alara to Crestwood City, and that was all that mattered.
I walked out of his office, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The plan was in motion, and everything was falling into place. Kaelen was walking right into my hands, and he didn’t even realize it. Taking Alara to Crestwood City was the perfect opportunity for me to execute the next phase of my plan.
Crestwood was Bastian’s territory, yes, but it was also the last place Kaelen should be taking his soon–to–be wife. Too many eyes, too much risk. And the fact that Kaelen was so blinded by his guilt and confusion made it all the easier for me to manipulate him into going. Bastian wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. All I had to do was create the perfect storm.
And then there was Kaida. I wasn’t done with her, either. Kaelen might have written her off after the divorce, but I knew better. There was something more there, and it was only a matter of time before it came to light. Once it did, it would throw everything Kaelen had planned with Alara into
chaos.
But for now, all I needed to focus on was getting Kaelen to take that damn honeymoon. Once they were in Crestwood, everything else would fall into place.
The fact that Alara had canceled the trip only made it easier for me to push him in the direction I wanted. I knew Kaelen well enough to understand that he was driven by a desire to fix things. He
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felt responsible for the distance growing between him and Alara, and he was willing to do
whatever it took to mend that rift.
He just didn’t realize that the rift wasn’t his to fix.
As for Alara… well, she was another story. The moment I told her I had feelings for her, I saw the
hesitation in her eyes. She wasn’t immune to me, not by a long shot. But she was still clinging to
the idea of loyalty, of doing what was right. It was admirable, really. Too bad it wouldn’t last.
She was trying to hold onto something that was already crumbling. And once we were all in
Crestwood, she’d have no choice but to face the truth. Kaelen didn’t love her the way she needed
him to, and deep down, she knew it.
The honeymoon was just a delay–an attempt to salvage a marriage that was doomed from the start. But I had no intention of letting them ride off into the sunset. I’d wait for the right moment to reveal the truth, to make Kaelen realize that his ties to Alara were as fragile as the lies holding them together.
But that moment wasn’t yet. First, I needed Kaelen to agree, to get on board with this trip. Once they were in Crestwood, the pieces would fall into place.
Kaelen thought he was solving a problem. He didn’t know he was walking straight into one. And when it all came crashing down, I would be right there, ready to pick up the pieces.
Because in the end, it wasn’t about loyalty or duty. It was about getting what I wanted. And what I
wanted was Alara.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
