Betrayed By One. Bound To Three-Chapter 45: Kael’s Anger.

Kael did not stop walking until the stone walls of the palace gave way to the open training grounds behind it.

The morning air was colder there, sharper against his skin, and he welcomed it. It did little to quiet the storm inside him, but at least it did not suffocate him the way the dining hall had.

He stood near the edge of the field, fists clenched at his sides, replaying every second of breakfast. Loretta’s voice. Her smile. The deliberate way she had looked at him when she spoke about kissing one of the rogue brothers.

Even though he knew she had lied against him, he couldn’t openly confront her.

She had seen him.

Not leaving some random corridor.

Leaving Selena’s room.

Loretta had not just seen him. She had understood exactly what she had seen.

He dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly, trying to steady the heat in his chest.

Footsteps approached from behind.

He did not turn.

Ronan’s scent reached him first, calm and grounded, followed by Edris’s quieter, steadier presence.

Neither of them spoke immediately. They took their places beside him, looking out over the empty stretch of land where warriors usually trained.

"What happened?" Ronan asked at last.

His tone was even, not accusing, not curious in a careless way. It was the voice he used when something mattered.

Kael’s jaw tightened. "Loretta saw me."

Edris’s eyes shifted slightly. "Saw you where?"

"Leaving Selena’s room," Kael said flatly.

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Ronan’s gaze hardened just a fraction. "When?"

"This morning. After I left."

Edris folded his arms loosely across his chest. "And she approached you?"

Kael let out a humorless breath. "She did more than approach. She cornered me in the hallway and started talking as if we shared some secret."

Ronan glanced sideways at him. "What kind of talking?"

"The kind meant to provoke," Kael replied. "She teased and hinted that if I had gone to Selena’s room, it must have been for reasons she would find interesting."

Edris’s voice remained calm. "And?"

"And I warned her off," Kael snapped. "I told her clearly that she should mind her business."

Edris studied him carefully. "Did you do anything with her?"

Kael turned sharply, anger flaring in his eyes. "Why would you ask me that?"

Edris did not flinch. "Because she announced at breakfast that she kissed one of us. Because she left your scent on her deliberately. Because if she is building a story, we need to know what pieces she has."

Kael’s hands curled into fists. "I did not kiss her."

"Then explain why she smells like you." Edris’s voice remained calm.

Ronan stepped in before the tension could rise further. "Lower your voice."

"I am not lying," Kael said, his chest rising faster now. "She tried to get close. I made it clear there would be nothing between us."

"And yet she spoke as if there was," Edris said quietly.

Kael looked away, anger and frustration twisting together inside his chest.

Ronan’s voice hardened slightly. "You need to handle your emotions better."

Kael’s head snapped toward him. "My emotions?"

"Yes," Ronan replied steadily. "If Loretta decides to start a rumor, if she suggests you were in Selena’s room for reasons the pack would not accept, it will not only hurt Selena. It could spoil her plans entirely."

The reminder landed heavily.

They all knew what Selena was trying to do. She was walking a careful line inside this palace, earning trust where she had none, building influence quietly. A scandal would not simply bruise her pride. It would weaken her position.

"And we do not want that," Ronan finished.

Kael exhaled sharply, the fight draining from him just enough for reason to slip in. "I know."

"Do you?" Edris asked gently.

Kael shot him a glare.

"I am going to see her," Kael said abruptly. "I will explain before Loretta twists it further."

Ronan shook his head once. "Not right away."

Kael frowned. "Why not?"

"Because she is probably angry," Ronan said. "Or hurt. Or both. You walking in there now, still burning like this, will not help."

Kael’s shoulders tensed. "She deserves to hear it from me."

"And she will," Ronan replied. "But not while you look ready to tear down walls. Give her time to cool off. Give yourself time to cool off."

Kael looked away again, knowing there was truth in it and hating that truth.

Edris spoke next. "Ronan and I will go."

Kael’s head turned slowly. "Go where?"

"To Selena," Edris answered. "We will speak with her. Clarify what happened. Make sure Loretta’s words do not take root."

Kael stared at him in disbelief. "You think that is your place?"

Edris held his gaze evenly. "It is all of our place. This affects all three of us."

Kael let out a harsh laugh. "That is interesting, coming from you."

Ronan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Kael."

But Kael was already stepping forward, the restraint he had barely gathered slipping again. "If you had not slept in her room last night, I would not have gone there this morning."

The words landed like a blade.

Edris’s posture did not change, but something cold flickered in his eyes.

"You were the one inside her room first," Kael continued. "You started this. I went there because of you. Because I needed to know what was happening."

Edris remained silent.

"And now you want to play the hero," Kael pressed, voice low and dangerous. "You want to walk in there, calm and reasonable, and fix the mess so you can stand beside her again as the perfect mate."

Ronan stepped forward this time, placing himself slightly between them. "Enough."

But Kael was not finished. "Do not pretend this is only about protecting her plans. You just want to be closer to her."

For a brief moment, anger flared in Edris’s eyes, sharp and unmistakable.

But just as quickly, it vanished beneath control.

He took a slow breath. "You are not thinking clearly."

"I am thinking very clearly."

"No," Edris said quietly. "You are thinking emotionally."

Kael’s jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

Edris stepped closer, his voice still calm but edged with steel. "If you truly care about Selena, then you will not let your pride make this worse."

Kael did not respond.

"Cool off," Edris continued. "Only come near her when you have returned to your senses."

The words were not cruel. They were firm.

Measured.

Edris turned away then, signaling to Ronan with a brief glance.

Ronan hesitated for a second, studying Kael carefully. "He is right about one thing," he said quietly. "This is bigger than your anger."

Kael did not look at him.

Ronan placed a hand briefly on his shoulder, a silent warning and reassurance all at once, before following Edris toward the palace.

Kael remained standing alone on the field.

The wind moved around him, cool and restless.

He closed his eyes for a moment, replaying his own words.

If you had not slept in her room.

The accusation echoed in his head, and beneath the anger, something else began to stir.

Fear.

Not of Edris.

Not of Ronan.

But of what Loretta might do next.

And whether Selena would believe him when the time came to explain what really happened.