Kael’s footsteps echoed through the packhouse, each stride heavy with purpose. He had just returned from the training grounds when his eyes fell on Rosalie’s empty room. The scent of her perfume lingered, mixed with something else—a trace of Alec’s presence. His wolf stirred uneasily in his chest, and he knew, without a doubt, that something was off.
He didn’t have to search long. As soon as he reached the training grounds, he saw them—Rosalie and Alec, locked in a sparring stance. Alec was holding back, but Rosalie’s movements were quick, her hybrid powers beginning to manifest with every strike.
“Rosalie!” Kael bellowed, his voice low and dangerous.
Rosalie froze mid-motion, her eyes wide with surprise. Alec, too, turned at the sound of Kael’s voice, his expression unreadable.
Kael stalked toward them, his anger flaring with every step. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, his voice sharp as a knife.
Rosalie stood tall, her chin lifted defiantly. “I’m training, Dad. Something you’ve been too busy to help me with.” Her voice was steady, but Kael could hear the underlying frustration.
“You think this is training?” Kael’s voice grew louder. “You’re sneaking out, meeting with him—an Alpha—and you think I’m supposed to just stand by?”
Alec’s gaze flickered between Kael and Rosalie, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. “You’re out of line, Alpha,” he said coolly. “This is none of your business.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed, his wolf itching to make Alec back down. But he kept his cool, trying to focus on his daughter. “You’re my daughter, Rosalie. You are my responsibility. And I won’t let you put yourself in danger by getting tangled up with him.”
Rosalie’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t back down. “You don’t get it, Dad. I’m not a pup anymore. I can handle myself.”
Kael’s temper flared, and he took a step closer, his voice low and threatening. “You’re not ready for this. For him. You don’t know what you’re dealing with, Rosalie.”
“Maybe it’s you who doesn’t get it,” Rosalie shot back. “You’ve always treated me like I need your protection, but I’m not weak. I’m strong, and I need to learn how to be stronger. Alec’s just helping me figure that out.”
Alec raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the tension. “I’m just showing her what she’s capable of,” he said, his tone calm but purposeful.
Kael’s eyes locked on Alec, and the tension between them was thick. “Stay away from my daughter,” Kael growled, his wolf pushing against his skin.
Rosalie stepped forward, placing herself between Kael and Alec. “I’m not a little girl anymore. You don’t get to control me,” she said, her voice steady but full of conviction.
Kael’s jaw clenched. “You’re under my roof, and you’ll follow my rules,” he said, his words like a final command.
Rosalie didn’t flinch. “Then maybe I don’t want to live under your roof anymore.”
Kael’s eyes darkened. He didn’t say anything, but the weight of his silence was deafening. Bella appeared at the edge of the training grounds, walking toward them with a calm, purposeful stride. Her gaze met Kael’s, and she placed a hand on his arm to steady him.
“Kael,” she said softly, her voice gentle but firm. “We can’t shelter her forever. Rosalie is growing up, and we have to let her find her own way.”
Kael turned to Bella, his frustration evident. “I’m not sheltering her. I’m protecting her.”
“And you’re suffocating her,” Bella countered gently. “She’s not just your daughter—she’s our daughter. She needs room to breathe, to make mistakes, to find out who she is.”
Rosalie’s eyes softened as she looked at her mother, but she still held her ground. “I’m not going to sit around and wait for you to tell me who I’m supposed to be. I need to figure that out for myself.”
Kael ran a hand through his hair, trying to suppress the rush of emotion that had taken over him. “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
“I won’t be,” Rosalie reassured him, though her voice lacked the certainty that usually came with her confidence. “But I need your trust. I can’t do this if you don’t trust me.”
Kael’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him as he realized the truth in her words. He looked at her, his expression softening. “I don’t want to lose you, Rosalie. You’re everything to me.”
“I know, Dad,” Rosalie replied quietly. “But I’m not a child anymore.”
Later that evening, after everything had settled, Kael stood alone in the packhouse, his thoughts racing. Bella had convinced him to at least allow Alec to stay for the Crescent Howl ball, but Kael wasn’t sure if he was making the right decision. Alec was an Alpha—strong, determined, and clearly interested in his daughter. Kael couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease at the thought of Alec around Rosalie.
Just then, Alec walked into the room, a cocky grin on his face. Kael turned to face him, his stance tense, but he kept his voice level. “You’ll stay for the ball. But I’m watching you, Alec. Stay away from Rosalie.”
Alec’s grin only widened as he met Kael’s gaze. “Don’t worry, Alpha. I’ll behave… for now.”