No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 05

No Cage In This Silent Night Chapter 05

Kael Draven POV:

Greythorn University faculty apartments.

Elyse finally drifted off. I sat across from her on the small sofa, when a sharp pain lanced through my chest. Came from the mate bond. Like shards of glass driving into my wolf. He was howling in

agony.

“Kael? What’s wrong?” Elyse propped herself up. “You look terrible.”

I breathed deep, waiting for the ache to subside.

“I’m fine.”

I poured her water and handed it over. “Probably just from running over here. Need a minute.”

Elyse bit her lip. Fear still lingering in her eyes.

“Thank you. If you hadn’t come, I might’ve—”

I nodded.

She reached for my fingers, trying to say more.

I frowned, instinct telling me to pull back. But she was still trembling. Fine. A traumatized Omega.

Just a kid.

My mind drifted to Lyra.

I’d left in a rush. Was she awake? Or just pretending to sleep?

I fired off a text.

[Elyse is okay. Don’t worry, go back to sleep.]

Five minutes. No reply.

My chest tightened. But then-it was three in the morning. Normal. She was just asleep. I pocketed

the phone. Gently slipped my hand free. Leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.

Morning.

Stepping out of the faculty building, I noticed something off.

Everyone I passed looked at me strangely.

A colleague patted my shoulder. “Draven, congrats, man. You and Blackthorn are mates. Didn’t

think you’d keep it that quiet.”

His wife laughed. “Don’t tease them. They’re clearly a couple.”

I was baffled.

“Wait.” I cut in. “Elyse and Taren’t mated. I have a Luna.”

I pulled two invitation cards from my pocket.

“My partner’s Lyra Vex. The ceremony’s next month. You’re both invited.”

They exchanged glances. Awkward silence.

“…Not Blackthorn? But you two are always-”

The other quickly cleared his throat. “Right, right. Congratulations, man.”

They walked off fast. But not before I caught a muttered five feet away: “What the hell. Has a Luna

and he’s sleeping in an Omega’s apartment.”

My step faltered. Frown deepening. Elyse was my mother’s student. Practically a sister. What was wrong with looking out for her?

But it kept happening.

Everywhere I went at Greythorn, people were wishing Elyse and me “a lifetime of happiness.”

Then I walked into combat training.

The second I stepped onto the floor, the students started hollering.

“Draven! When’s the ceremony with Blackthorn?”

“Instructor, is Elyse your partner for the dual-tactics demo today? We’re all waiting to watch!”

I stood in the center of the gym. Scanned the room. My face went cold.

“Enough.”

Silence.

“Lately, I’ve heard a lot of rumors about me and Blackthorn.”

“Let me make this clear once.”

“Elyse Blackthorn is my mother’s student. That’s it. My partner is Lyra Vex. The ceremony’s in one

month. I don’t want to hear any other version.”

A hand went up near the back.

“Instructor, if Blackthorn isn’t your Luna…” A student stood. “Why do you always pair with her for tactical demos? Isn’t dual-coordination supposed to be for mates?”

I frowned. “Coordination drills are teaching exercises.”

Another voice cut in. “Last month’s simulation-you gave the last protection slot to Blackthorn.”,

“And you never corrected anyone who called her your Luna.”

“Everyone can see the way you treat her.’

“So, you don’t actually acknowledge your real Luna, do you?”

No answer.

My breathing went heavy. My hands clenched at my sides, then unclenched.

No one spoke. But the looks they gave me-like I was someone who betrayed his partner.

I scoffed internally. This was absurd. I’d done nothing wrong. Those small considerations were just common decency. A responsibility toward my mother’s student.

Lyra wouldn’t misunderstand. She was sensible. Not like these kids, blowing things out of

proportion.

Class ended, my phone buzzed.

Margaret. Dozens of messages.

[Kael! Have you seen Lyra’s post on the pack board?!]

[What happened?!]

[Why did she break off the engagement?!]