Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy Chapter 99

ARIA

"I know," Kael said, his voice rough. "I know she is. And I want her to be happy. I genuinely want that for her. But—"

He stopped himself, shaking his head.

"But it's hard to watch," I finished for him.

"Yes." He turned to look at me, and I saw the vulnerability in his eyes that he usually kept hidden. "Does that make me terrible? That part of me still feels possessive of her even though I have no right to? That watching her with Jason makes me want to—" He cut himself off again.

"It makes you human," I said. "Or wolf, I suppose. It makes you someone who cared deeply about another person and is struggling to watch them find that same connection with someone new."

"You should hate me for it," Kael said. "For feeling this way about her when I'm bonded to you."

"Maybe," I admitted. "But I don't. Because I understand complicated feelings. Because I know that love isn't always clean and simple and confined to one person at a time. Because you chose me, Kael. You're building a life with me. And whatever you feel about Ivory, whatever complicated emotions surface when you see her with Jason—those don't change the choice you made."

He pulled me closer, pressing his forehead against mine. Through our bond, I felt his gratitude, his love, his relief that I wasn't punishing him for feelings he couldn't entirely control.

"I don't deserve you," he murmured.

"Probably not," I agreed lightly. "But you're stuck with me anyway."

We stood there for a moment, just breathing together, letting the complicated emotions settle into something manageable. Around us, pack members continued discussing Ivory's demonstration, their excitement palpable in the air.

A breakthrough that could change everything. A healer who was becoming a legend. A pack that was learning to navigate new dynamics and complicated relationships.

And at the center of it all, two people—Kael and I—trying to build something real while ghosts of the past kept intruding.

It wasn't perfect. But maybe perfect wasn't the goal. Maybe the goal was just... this. Being present. Being honest. Being willing to work through the difficult parts instead of pretending they didn't exist.

"Come on," I said finally, pulling back. "We should mingle. Show the pack that their Alpha and Luna support what Ivory's accomplished."

Kael nodded, squaring his shoulders and sliding back into his public role. We moved through the crowd together, accepting congratulations as if we'd had anything to do with Ivory's success, answering questions about next steps and implementation timelines.

The evening air was cool against my skin as I slipped out of our chambers, leaving Kael to handle some administrative matters that had piled up during the day's excitement. I needed space. Needed to walk and think and process everything that had happened.

More than that, I needed to understand my pack. To see how they really felt when they thought no one important was watching.

So I walked. Through the corridors of the pack house, past the common areas, out into the grounds where the last light of sunset painted everything in shades of gold and amber.

My first stop was the training grounds.

The evening practice session was winding down, warriors cooling off after what looked like an intense workout. I stayed in the shadows near the equipment shed, not hiding exactly, but not announcing my presence either. Just observing.

Two young warriors—men in their early twenties—were stretching near the water station, their conversation carrying clearly in the quiet air.

"Did you see the demonstration today?" the first one asked. "Ivory's a genius. An actual genius."

"Always has been," his companion agreed. "Remember when she developed that healing salve that cut recovery time in half? Or the pain relief compound that doesn't make you drowsy? She's been revolutionizing how we handle injuries for years."

"And now this. Food that grows in minutes. Can you imagine what that means for the pack? For any pack that gets access to this technology?"

"She'll be famous," the first warrior said. "Other packs will want her. Want her research. Want her expertise. We're lucky she's stayed with Shadowmere this long."

"She'd never leave," his companion countered. "This is her home. Her pack. Everything she does is for us."

"Even after everything that's happened?" The first warrior's voice dropped slightly. "The attacks, the threats, the Luna situation?"

"What Luna situation?"

"Come on. You've seen how things are. We went from hoping Kael would finally bond with Ivory once the curse broke to getting this random omega from Blackwood instead. Everyone knows why Ivory's been distant. Everyone knows what she lost."

My stomach clenched, but I forced myself to keep listening.

"The new Luna's not that bad," the second warrior said, though his tone was uncertain. "She's trying, at least."

"Trying isn't the same as succeeding. What has she actually contributed? Ivory saves lives, develops revolutionary compounds, puts herself in danger to protect pups. And the Luna? She walks around looking lost and occasionally helps in the kitchen."

"That's harsh."

"It's honest. We don't need a Luna who's just taking up space. We need someone who actually adds value to the pack. Someone like..." He trailed off meaningfully.

"Ivory," his companion finished. "Yeah. I know. Everyone knows. But it's done now, isn't it? The bonding happened. We're stuck with what we've got."

Stuck with what we've got. The words echoed in my mind as I slipped away, not wanting to hear more.

I made my way toward the kitchens next, where the evening meal was being prepared. The rich smells of cooking food filled the air—roasted meat, fresh bread, vegetables sautéed with herbs. Some of those vegetables, I realized, were probably from Ivory's demonstration. The pack was already incorporating her miraculous produce into their meals.

The kitchen was bustling with activity, staff moving efficiently between stations. I found a quiet corner near the pantry entrance where I could watch without being in the way.

Martha, the head cook, was directing operations with her usual stern efficiency. But even she seemed lighter today, occasionally glancing toward a basket of impossibly fresh tomatoes with something like wonder in her expression.

"These are remarkable," she said to one of her assistants. "I've never worked with produce this perfect. Not a blemish, not a soft spot. It's like they were grown specifically for cooking."

"Ivory really outdid herself," the assistant agreed. "The whole pack's been talking about nothing else all day."

"As they should." Martha began slicing the tomatoes with practiced precision. "That girl has done more for this pack than most people manage in a lifetime. And she's still young. Imagine what she'll accomplish in another decade."

"If she stays," another kitchen worker chimed in. "I heard she's been talking about leaving. Can you imagine? Losing Ivory because we couldn't protect her from that Blackwood business?"