Chapter 5 : Fractured Echoes

KAI’S POV

“What’s happening?”

My beta, Jerome, asked in confusion as he stared at Elias on the ground.

I didn’t give him an answer, instead I turned my attention back to Elias, he looked pale as he clutched his chest.

“Kai… please…”

I felt guilty watching him clutch his chest in such pain. I should hold him, I should hug him and tell him that this was a prank, but I couldn't because this was reality.

Around us the small crowd murmured as confusion rippled through their voices. Jerome leaned in close with his brows furrowed deep. “What is going on, Alpha Kai?”

I straightened up slowly, ignoring the fire in my veins as I watched Elias push himself off the ground. Dirt smudged on his knees as tears streamed his face. His hazel eyes locked on mine as it filled with hurt and defiance that made my heart ache more.

“I, Elias Thorne, reject you Kai Blackwood as my Alpha and my mate.”

Pain struck my chest so bad that I doubled over, clutching at my shirt like I could rip the agony out with my bare hands.

“Ahhhh…” a guttural groan escaped my lips before I could clamp down on it.

Xerxes howled inside my skull furiously and broken, twisting in ways that made my vision blur with black spots. The bond snapped clean leaving raw edges that burned hotter than any shift I ever endured.

“What the hell, Kia? Mate?” Jerome asked in a whisper.

The rejection stole the words from my mouth, sending me staggering backward, so painful that I bite my tongue hard enough to taste blood. Jerome grabbed my arm, steadying me. “Kai, are you okay?”

I shook him off, my chest heaving, and before I could say anything to Elias, I heard footsteps from behind me. I turned and saw my father walking towards us with anger and frustration.

“What’s this commotion about, Kai?” He thundered.

Elias could not stand the intense pressure or questioning, he bolted into the trees as soon as he could. Every instinct screamed to chase him down, pin him against a trunk and beg him to take his rejection back, but duty chained me in place with Seraphina and a life without him.

“No… he’s our mate… don’t let him go—” Xerxes groaned painfully in my head.

Fear spiked cold in my gut as my father got to me, the kind that always came with his presence. I forced a blank face, swallowed the lingering ache and met his amber eyes that mirrored mine.

“Nothing to bother about, Father,” I muttered. “Just a minor disruption.”

He narrowed his gaze, scanning the dispersing group, then he nodded once. “Remember the deal, Kai.”

I nodded. Of course I could never forget the deal we had, if I did someone had to pay with his life and that someone was going to be… never mind.

Jerome waved the onlookers away. “Show’s over. Get back to the hall.”

They scattered, muttering about the wolfless freak’s breakdown. I followed Father to the platform where Seraphina stood, smiling triumphantly as her hand extended for mine. The bonfires roared brighter now as the music swelled again, laughter echoed as toasts rang out for the new alliance.

I lifted a glass, forced a grin and clinked it against hers but every sip tasted like ash as Elias’ teary face plastered in my head.

This was all my fault. I should have rejected him last night when he begged me to, but I didn’t because as bad as it sounds I had to admit that I wanted him, I craved him, and Xerxes felt safe with him. I pushed it down focused on the dances swirling around us but my eyes kept darting to the tree line wondering if Elias made it home or collapsed somewhere in the snow.

The night dragged on endless with talks and howls under the moon until guests trickled away, leaving the hall littered with cups and embers. When I finally got the strength to leave I forced my legs to move to my room. Sleep evaded me as Xerxes paced endlessly, groaning and crying in my head. I was going to find him in the morning and make him understand why I did what I did.

Morning finally came gray and heavy with clouds promising more snow. I dragged myself to Moonridge Academy halls buzzing with gossip about last night’s drama but there was no sign of Elias in the corridors or classrooms. His empty desk in history class stared back at me mocking as I shifted in my seat ignoring sideways glances.

Part of me wanted to corner Marcus, his step brother and demand answers but pride held me back along with the risk of sounding too invested in the pack-reject. By lunch the worry gnawed harder, turning my stomach sour. I spotted Marcus at a table laughing with betas and strode over, slamming my tray down opposite him.

“Where’s your brother?” My voice came out harsher than I expected.

Marcus looked up, his smirk fading into confusion. “Elias? Hell if I know. He didn’t come home last night, maybe he’s probably sulking somewhere like the drama queen he is.”

One of the betas leaned in from beside him, his eyes glittering mean. “Good riddance to bad rubbish if you ask me.”

I gripped the table edge as my knuckles turned white. “None of you thought of looking for him?”

Marcus shrugged. “Why bother? The kid’s always causing trouble. He’ll crawl back eventually.”

I stood abruptly as the chair scraped loud and walked away, my heart pounding. Elias was out there alone, wolf-less and vulnerable with rogues patrolling the borders hungry for easy prey.

I couldn’t stay back in school and pretend that Elias’ disappearance wasn’t on my mind. I quickly grabbed my bag and belongings and walked out of the academy. When I got home I called a secret meeting with the head warrior behind my father’s back, because if he knew my intentions to find Elias he would deal with me or worse.

“I want you to organize a search party,” I said in a low and commanding voice. “Elias Thorne went missing after the ritual. Start at the eastern treeline and fan out.”

The enforcer blinked with surprise etching his face. “Alpha Kai, are you saying we should start looking for the half-breed? With all due respect, why waste such resources on him? If your father finds—”

“Enough,” I half-yelled, cutting him short. “Elias is important to me and I don’t care what you or my father think of him. All I care about is finding him and bringing back safely. So get moving.”

He nodded quickly and walked out. From his expression and that of the team of four he assembled I could tell that they weren’t interested in this search, I could hear them murmuring and grumbling about the pointless hunt. But I di

dn’t care, all I cared about was for them to find my Elias and bring him home.