Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon after, they moved Jace into the medical tent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
$64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the other Warriors whispered in tight, nervous circles outside, their voices repeating the same words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia saved him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe acted faster than the medics.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCaptain Alaric\u2019a son\u2026 gods.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands were still slightly trembling, so I tucked them under my thighs to keep them still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace lay on the bed beside me, breathing steady now. I\u2019d checked his pulse so many times I knew it by heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d just started to relax, just barely. When the air outside shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heavy. Electric. Like a storm rolling in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I heard footsteps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not normal ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha steps. Angry, frantic, coming-for-blood steps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked toward the tent entrance just as the flap was shoved open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His chest was rising and falling too fast, his eyes wild like his wolf was barely held back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beta Zane was right behind him, trying and failing to keep up with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s gaze locked on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I swear the world stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia,\u201d he said, voice sharp and broken at the same time. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, \u201cTell you\u00a0<\/p>\n
what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you were here.\u201d He stepped toward me, jaw clenched. \u201cThat something happened. That you were involved in it. That-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stopped, breathing hard. \u201cYou scared the hell out of me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat tightened. \u201cTheo, I\u2019m fine, Jace needed help, so I helped. That\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not all,\u201d he said quietly, and the softness in his voice almost undid me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:28 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were in danger again and you didn\u2019t even think to call me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth, but movement beside us cut everything off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace groaned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned forward instantly. \u201cJace? Hey, open your eyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He blinked up at the tent ceiling, confused, then turned his head toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he recognized me, his eyes widened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou-\u201d His voice was hoarse. \u201cYou saved me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat crept\u00a0<\/p>\n
into my face. \u201cYou had a seizure. I just did what I could\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d His voice was firmer this time. \u201cEveryone else froze. You didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The tent went silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Captain Alaric rushed in moments later, relief crashing over his face when he saw his son awake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Jace wasn\u2019t looking at his father, he was still staring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d he said. Loud. Clear. \u201cYou saved my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric swallowed hard and nodded to me deeply. \u201cKaia\u2026 my family owes you a debt. We can\u2019t repay you in this lifetime\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath stuttered. No one ever owed me anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo moved closer, and I felt the warmth of his hand settle gently on my shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His touch was careful, like he thought I might break, or vanish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me take you home,\u201d he said softly, looking at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded, unable to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo, thank you for coming\u201d Captain Alaric bowed his head to Theo. \u201cAnd for taking her home for me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIts nothing.\u201d Theo replied. \u201cLook after your son, Alaric\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo turned to Jace and said. \u201cChamp, get well soon. Alright? We will go for a spar after that\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, Alpha?\u201d Jace\u2019s eyes lit up in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly if you get well soon, Jace\u201d Theo pinched his nose gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIll get well soon,\u201d Jace excitedly said. \u201cThen, I will come to find. Keep your promise, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:28 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, Jace\u201d Theo says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled at their little interaction. Jace seemed to idolized Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I mean who wouldn\u2019t admire a powerful and thoughtful Alpha like him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJace,\u201d I moved to the little boy and kissed him goodbye. \u201cI will come to see you again tomorrow. Take all your medication\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smiled. \u201cI will, Healer Kaia\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood boy\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo and I left the tent and went home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The walk back to the house was quiet. I could touch the tension between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didnt want to bring it up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s better. This way nobody would get hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for walking me home, Alpha Theo\u201d I say to him when we reached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting, I rushed to my chamber, slamming the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart was pulling me to check outside. To talk to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I peeked through the window and saw that he returned to his chamber already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara is going to be his Luna. I dont want to ruin this for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is important for him and the pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stormed into Cara\u2019s private balcony without knocking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heels hitting the marble, threatening to break it down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara looked up from her cup of herbal tea, arching her brows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look like you swallowed a porcupine,\u201d Cara said dryly. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slammed the door shut. \u201cThey\u2019re talking about her again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara set her cup down. \u201cWho?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia!\u201d I hissed. \u201cYour son\u2019s little stray! That slut!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara sat back, annoyed. \u201cWhat now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:28 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a breath, my voice trembling with panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe just saved Captain Alaric\u2019s son.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara froze mid-blink. \u201cSaved\u2026 what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My words spilled fast, frantic,\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJace had a seizure during training. A bad one. Everyone panicked. Kaia ran in and healed him or stabilized him or whatever she does. And then-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw clenched. I hated even saying it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCaptain Alaric bowed to her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s eyes widened. The cup trembled in her hand before she set it down sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlaric bowed\u2026 to her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice was awfully low, almost a whisper of disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded furiously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire training unit witnessed it. The warriors are talking. Saying she has real skill. Saying she\u2019s useful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara stood up abruptly, pacing by the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means,\u201d she muttered, \u201cKaia isn\u2019t just some stray anymore. She has standing. Respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She whipped around. \u201cAnd if she has the warriors on her side-Elara,\u201d she said slowly, \u201cif they start defending her, she\u2019ll be impossible to get rid of.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you she was going to be a problem. The way Theo looks at her-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara snapped, \u201cEnough. You should never have gone away in the first place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stiffened. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard me,\u201d Cara said coldly. \u201cIf you had stayed back, this would be simpler. But now Theo refuses to even consider you. He barely tolerates your presence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s lip curled. \u201cAnd Kaia is becoming a threat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paced like a caged wolf. \u201cSo what do we do?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara narrowed her eyes. \u201cWe push harder. Quietly. Smarter. We make sure the pack sees her as a danger, not a\u00a0<\/p>\n
savior.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned in, voice low and sharp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:28 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo more soft moves. If Alaric respects her, then we turn others against her. We isolate her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed, nodding quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if that doesn\u2019t work?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara looked out the window, her expression chilling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we remove her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled shakily, fear and satisfaction mixing in my gaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d I whispered. \u201cBecause if she stays here\u2026 Theo will never look at me again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s eyes hardened. \u201cHe won\u2019t look at you anyway unless you make him need you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, coldly. \u201cAnd Kaia\u2019s existence is making that impossible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e0a\u0e2d\u00a0<\/p>\n
155 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom now, I won\u2019t go easy on Kaia\u201d I bite my lips, irritated. \u201cThis is her fault for coming between me and Theo\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara looked at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. That\u2019s the spirit, Elara\u201d Cara commented. \u201cLets make the first move while the stakes are high\u00a0<\/p>\n
I poured myself a glass of wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it to me, Cara. It will be done\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCheers\u201d Cara raised her teacup to me. \u201cTo you becoming Luna\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. Clicking glasses with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCheers to us\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 39 Chapter 39\u00a0 Soon after, they moved Jace into the medical tent.\u00a0 $64\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27284\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}