The Emberclaw Pack members were already leaving, their faces a mix of forced smiles and thinly veiled relief. I watched as Eli trailed behind his father, Alpha Lucan, who was deep in conversation with his advisors. 

Devin, ever the dutiful host, was seeing them off with his trademark charm. I leaned against a pillar, watching the spectacle unfold. Tarek sidled up next to me, looking as exasperated as I felt.

“Think they’ll actually make it back without imploding?” Tarek muttered.

I grinned. “One can only hope.”

As the last of the Emberclaw delegation exited the hall, Marcus wasted no time in calling a meeting. Typical. The man loves his meetings almost as much as he loves his overly complicated plans. I trudged into the council room, Tarek by my side, and took my usual spot at the back, where I could roll my eyes in peace.

As Marcus droned on about the importance of this union and the potential benefits for our pack, I zoned out, letting my mind wander. I couldn’t help but think about Eli’s face when we left. He looked like he was being led to the gallows, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him.

Devin, sitting at the head of the table next to his father, looked every bit the perfect alpha heir—stoic, composed, and disgustingly responsible. It was almost comical how seriously he took this whole thing.

“Kai, are you even listening?” Tarek hissed, nudging me with his elbow.

I snapped back to reality and forced a grin. “Of course, I am. Riveted by every word.”

Tarek shook his head, clearly exasperated. “You’re impossible.”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Just trying to survive the tedium, my friend.”

Marcus finally wrapped up his speech, and the room began to empty. Devin approached me, looking as composed as ever. “Hey, Kai. Can we talk for a minute?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Sure, why not? Got nothing better to do.”

Devin led me to a quieter corner of the room. “I wanted to thank you for earlier, for trying to lighten the mood with Eli.”

I shrugged. “Just doing my part to keep things interesting. Besides, he looked like he could use a laugh.”

Devin smiled, that annoyingly charming smile that always seemed to catch me off guard. “He did. And so do you, sometimes.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Dr. Phil. I’ll be sure to book a session.”

Devin’s expression softened. “Kai, I know this isn’t easy for you either. I appreciate your support, even if it’s wrapped in sarcasm.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but something in his gaze made me pause. There was genuine gratitude there, a warmth that I rarely saw in him. It was almost disarming.

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” I muttered, looking away. “I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

Devin chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

As we left the council room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. Maybe it was the shared burden of this ridiculous marriage plot, or maybe it was just the fact that Devin was the only one who seemed to get me, even a little.

I waved Tarek off with a quick goodbye. I knew he’d be worried about me, but I wasn’t in the mood for another round of “Kai, are you okay?” Instead, I headed straight home, where I knew a different kind of chaos awaited me.

My mom, ever the force of nature, greeted me at the door. “Kai! There you are. How was the ceremony? Was it as miserable as expected?”

I kicked off my shoes, dropping my bag by the door. “Oh, you know, the usual, a little bit of soul-crushing despair. Same old, same old.”

She laughed, the sound bright and warm. “Well, come on in. I made your favorite stew.”

“Stew? You’re trying to butter me up, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” she said with a wink. “But mostly, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

We settled into the kitchen, the familiar smells of home wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. My mom, despite all her boldness, always knew how to make me feel at ease. She set a bowl of stew in front of me, her eyes studying my face with a mix of concern and amusement.

“So, tell me everything. How bad was it?”

I took a bite, savoring the taste before replying. “Well, Eli looked like he was contemplating jumping out a window, and Devin was his usual annoyingly perfect self. And of course, Marcus gave us another pep talk about the importance of this union.”

She rolled her eyes. “Marcus and his speeches. The man loves the sound of his own voice.”

“Tell me about it,” I said, shaking my head. “I thought I was going to fall asleep halfway through.”

Her expression softened as she looked at me. “Kai, I know you hate all this, but it’s important to play along sometimes. You know how much I worry about you.”

“I know, Mom,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “But you also know I can’t just be what everyone expects me to be.”

She sighed, reaching out to touch my hand. “I understand, believe me, I do. But I just want you to be safe. And if that means dressing properly and playing nice for a while, then maybe it’s worth it.”

I frowned, looking down at my stew. “It’s not that simple. I can’t just conform to their expectations. I need to be myself.”

“I get that,” she said softly. “But there’s a way to be yourself without putting yourself in danger. I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

I looked up, meeting her gaze. There was so much love and worry in her eyes, it almost made me feel guilty for causing her so much stress. But I couldn’t just give in to the pressures of our society. I had to find my own path.

“Mom, I promise I’ll be careful. But I can’t just go along with this marriage or pretend to be something I’m not. I need to have the freedom to choose what I want to do and who I want to be with.”

She squeezed my hand, her expression a mix of resignation and pride. “I know, Kai. I just hope you find a way to balance being yourself with staying safe.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Somehow.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, the usual lively banter filling the kitchen. My mom’s sharp wit and easy laughter made everything seem a little less bleak. Despite all the chaos in my life, I never felt unloved or unsupported because of her.

Later that night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her words echoed in my mind. She just wanted me to be safe, to avoid the mistakes that could lead to regret. But how could I do that without sacrificing who I was? The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silver glow on the walls, and I felt the weight of the future pressing down on me.

For now, all I could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time. And with my mom’s unwavering support, maybe, just maybe, I’d find a way to navigate this mess without losing myself in the process.