Chapter 381 The Meeting

Chapter 381: Chapter 381 The Meeting

Kaelen’s POV

The next morning, I woke up before Talia.

She was still sleeping beside me, and her face was peaceful in a way it had not been for days. The light from the window fell across her features, and I watched her for a moment. She had awakened something inside herself the night before. Something powerful that was so powerful. And I had made a decision of my own.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and I reached for the mindlink.

"Cain," I called through the link. "Are you awake?"

Cain’s voice came through, low and steady. "I am awake, Alpha."

"Meet me in the war room," I said. "And bring Jax and Silas. I have something I need to tell you."

There was a moment of silence, and I could feel Cain’s curiosity through the link. "Is everything okay?"

"It will be," I said. "Just meet me there."

"I will gather them," Cain replied. "We will be waiting."

I ended the mindlink, and I dressed in silence. Then I walked to the war room, where Cain, Jax, and Silas were already waiting for me.

The hallway was quiet, and the torches flickered low in their brackets. I passed by the great hall and the library, and I could hear the soft sounds of the stronghold waking up around me.

The warriors were already in the training yard, and I could hear the clash of their swords in the distance.

I reached the war room door, and I paused. I could hear Cain, Jax, and Silas inside, with their voices low and murmured. They did not know why I had called them, and I knew they were worried.

I took a breath, and I pushed open the door.

I stood at the head of the table, and I looked at the three wolves who had been with me through everything.

Cain was standing by the window with his arms crossed and his eyes watchful. Jax was leaning back in his chair, but I could see the seriousness behind his usual grin. Silas was sitting quietly, with his hands folded on the table.

"I have made a decision," I said, and my voice was steady.

Jax raised an eyebrow, and I saw the curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What kind of decision, Alpha?"

I took a breath, and I let the words come. "I am going to build up a tolerance to silver."

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. I had been thinking about this for days, ever since I watched Talia break those silver bars with her own blood. She had sacrificed so much, and she had pushed through pain that would have broken anyone else. And I had stood by, helpless, because the silver had weakened me.

But I would not be helpless again.

The room went silent, and I watched their faces change. Cain’s jaw tightened, and Jax’s grin disappeared, and Silas’s calm expression flickered.

Silas was the first to speak, and his voice was careful. "Kaelen, that is dangerous."

"I know, Silas," I said.

Jax leaned forward, and I saw the disbelief in his eyes. "Dangerous? Kaelen, that is insane. The silver could kill you."

"It will not kill me if I do it slowly," I explained.

Cain spoke, and his voice was low. "You do not know that, Alpha."

I looked at him, and I felt the weight of his words. "I know that I cannot fight at my full strength if the silver takes me down. So I know that I need to be ready."

Silas shook his head, and I saw the worry in his eyes. "There has to be another way."

I looked at Silas, and I felt the determination burning in my chest. "There is not. I will not go into battle knowing that the silver is my weakness. I will not put Talia at risk."

Cain shook his head. “In what way do you plan to build a tolerance, Alpha?”

I looked at Cain, and I felt the weight of his question. "In the private training yard. It is secluded, and no one will bother us there. I will start with a thin chain, and I will wear it for as long as I can. Then I will do it again the next day, and the next, until my body learns to tolerate it."

Silas nodded slowly, and I saw the understanding in his eyes. "And you want us to keep this quiet."

I nodded. "Talia cannot know. Not yet at least. Although, she will feel it through the bond, and she will try to stop me.”

Jax stood up, and I saw the frustration on his face. "Kaelen, you are talking about torturing yourself. For what? For a slight chance that you might be able to fight through the pain?"

I met his gaze. "For the chance to protect my mate, and for the chance to protect my pack. That alone is worth any pain." I countered.

Jax opened his mouth to argue, but Silas held up his hand. "Let him speak."

Jax closed his mouth, but I could see the frustration still burning in his eyes. He had always been protective of me, ever since we were pups, even though he was always the most playful one in the group. He did not like seeing me in pain, and he did not like the idea of me causing myself pain on purpose.

I looked at my friends, and I felt the weight of my decision settling over me.

"I am going to start with small amounts of silver," I said. "Just enough to trigger the reaction. And then I am going to do it again, and again, until my body learns to tolerate it."

Jax shook his head. "How long will that take?"

I shook my head. "I do not know. It could be weeks, or maybe months."

Silas looked at me. "And if it does not work?"

I met his gaze. "Then I will have tried. And that is more than I can say if I do nothing."

Cain walked to me, and he placed his hand on my shoulder. "I will help you."

Jax huffed. “Of course, you will support him.”

I looked at him, and I saw the understanding in his eyes. Cain had been a soldier before he came to Shadowfang. He had been captured once, and he had been tortured with silver. But he had survived, so he knew what it took to endure pain.

"Thank you, Cain," I said.

Jax sighed, and I saw the resignation on his face. "Fine. But if you collapse, I am carrying you back to your room by myself."

I almost smiled. "Deal."