Because He's Whole!

Clara's POV

The next day, a maid knocked and entered, saying someone was at the front gate looking for me—sent by Morlinelder to deliver herbs, and insisting on handing them to me personally. I set down my tools and hurried toward the entrance.

An SUV was parked outside the gate, a tall blond man standing beside it.

The moment I saw him, surprise flickered through me. "Eli?"

Eli turned, a warm smile spreading across his face as he strode toward me.

"Clara, it's been a while." He handed me an elegant wooden box. "Morlinelder asked me to bring this to you. The moonvine inside is well-preserved—the elder specifically instructed that it must be delivered to you in person."

I took the box, catching the cool, medicinal fragrance from within, and felt a weight lift from my chest. "Thank you so much, Eli. This is exactly what Kyel needs right now." I gave him a genuine smile.

Eli looked at me, something complicated flickering in his eyes. He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "I heard about the marriage arrangement. Clara, are you doing alright here? Has anyone from Silvermoon been giving you trouble? I've heard that Kyel... his temper is rather difficult, and his legs..."

Hearing him mention Kyel's legs sent an uncomfortable prickle through me. I cut him off immediately. "Eli, I'm doing fine. Kyel treats me well, and everyone here respects me."

I needed him to understand—I was married now, and I loved my husband. I didn't need anyone's pity or concern.

Eli sighed, pulling a somewhat worn notebook from his pocket and handing it to me. "Alright, if you say so, then I'm relieved. But besides delivering the herbs, I have something else for you. I found this a few days ago while organizing the academy lab. I thought you might need it."

I took it and opened to the first page, recognizing both my handwriting and Eli's. "This is... the perfume notes we wrote together at Moon Academy?"

"Yes." Eli nodded with a smile. "Back when we were researching the integration of lunar fragrances with spiritual energy, we practically lived in that lab for a whole month. These notes contain all our experimental herb combinations, including sections on nerve soothing and trauma repair. I thought it might help with your current research."

Looking at the notebook stirred some nostalgia in me. Those days at the academy had been simple—just us and our work with fragrances. But I knew clearly that my feelings for Eli had only ever been those of friendship and collegiality, nothing more.

I held the notebook close and smiled at him. "Eli, thank you so much. I can't believe you kept this."

We exchanged a few more words about herb preservation before he drove away.

I walked back carrying everything. As I entered the main hall, I instinctively glanced up toward the second floor and saw the corridor window standing open. Kyel sat in his black wheelchair, half-hidden in the shadows by the window frame.

I had no idea how long he'd been watching. His expression was stormy, his hands gripping the wheelchair armrests so tightly his knuckles had gone white.

My heart clenched. When had he come there? How much had he seen? Would the sight of Eli and me standing together plant suspicions in his mind? He was already sensitive because of his condition—I was terrified he might misunderstand.

I wanted to call his name, to explain, but he simply gave me one cold look before turning his wheelchair and retreating into his room.

The entire estate fell eerily quiet for the rest of the day. At dinner, Kyel didn't come downstairs. The servants said he wasn't feeling well and didn't want to eat. Worried, I prepared his medicine and carried the bowl to his room.

When I pushed open the door, the room was pitch black—not a single lamp lit. Kyel sat by the window with his back to me, staring out at the darkness.

"Kyel, it's time for your medicine." I set the bowl down and moved to turn on a light.

"Don't." His voice was ice-cold, devoid of warmth.

I withdrew my hand and crouched beside him instead, studying his profile. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Kyel slowly turned his wheelchair to face me. In the faint moonlight, his eyes bored into mine with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"Who was the man who delivered the herbs this afternoon?" His tone was frigid.

"That was Eli. He's Morlinelder's assistant, and he was my senior at Moon Academy." I answered honestly.

"Your senior." Kyel let out a cold laugh. "You two seemed to be having quite the pleasant conversation. You smiled at him so warmly."

I frowned, trying to explain patiently. "Kyel, you've misunderstood. He was just delivering the herbs and happened to bring along some notes we co-wrote back at the academy. Those notes will be very useful for your treatment."

I needed him to understand that everything I did was for him.

But he clearly wasn't listening. His jealousy and insecurity had already stripped away his reason.

"If he's such an important friend, why have you never mentioned him to me before? How many other things are you hiding from me, Clara?" His voice suddenly rose, taking on an accusatory edge.

This unexpected suspicion stung. To help heal his legs, I'd spent every day poring over obscure ancient texts until my eyes ached, my fingers stained with herbs that wouldn't wash clean. I'd given so much, and now he was interrogating me over a senior who'd delivered medicine.

I stood up and looked down at him. "Kyel, he's just my senior. We barely kept in touch after graduation. Why would I need to specifically mention him? What is there to hide? Is this really how little you trust me?"

"Is that so? Just a senior?" Kyel's breathing grew labored. He gripped the armrests and leaned forward, like a wounded animal. "An Alpha who went out of his way to deliver herbs to you personally, who still keeps the notes you wrote together years ago. Clara, do you think I'm a fool?"

Seeing his face filled with suspicion and coldness, all the exhaustion and frustration I'd been suppressing suddenly surged to the surface.

"What exactly are you implying? Are you suggesting there's something between him and me? I spend every day researching for your legs, staying up all night formulating treatments until my hands ache. And now you're standing here interrogating me, questioning my integrity, all because of a senior who delivered medicine?"

"Because he's whole!" Kyel suddenly roared, cutting me off. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me, his chest heaving violently. "He's a whole Alpha! He has functioning legs! He can walk with you, work on fragrances with you, give you everything you want! And me? I'm a broken Alpha in a wheelchair! I can't even stand up! I don't even know if my legs will ever work again!"

His shout reverberated through the room, making my ears ring. Watching his anguish, I finally couldn't hold back my tears.

"Didn't you refuse to trust me at first too?" I looked at him, my voice trembling. "I thought after everything we'd been through, you'd finally understood how I feel. But now you're negating everything I've done because of one senior. Do you think I'm staying out of pity?"