Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

And then–snap.

Her canines extended. Her body jerked forward.

Before she could stop it, her wolf took over–and she bit.

Hard.

Draevyn recoiled, pulling back with a sharp inhale, his hand catching the edge of his bottom lip where blood now trickled freely.

Kaelani froze.

Mortified.

“I’m–oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she stammered, backing away as her hands trembled. “I didn’t… it wasn’t me. It was…”

His eyes met hers.

Deep. Knowing

“I know,” he said softly.

Kaelani winced inwardly, retreating to the quiet space inside her mind where her wolf lingered like smoke.

“What the hell was that?” she snapped.

Her wolf only snickered, low and smug

Draevyn pressed a thumb against the corner of his mouth, catching a drop of blood. His expression–unshaken, maybe even

amused.

“I see,” he murmured, “it won’t be an easy feat—winning both of your hearts.”

He looked up, eyes gleaming. “But I’m always up for a challenge.”

Kaelani’s wolf gave a dismissive huff, her voice cool and sharp.

“Never yours.”

Draevyn’s voice was smooth and confident.

“There’s a place I’d like to show you tomorrow. It’s hidden deep in the Fae realm. Sacred. Beautiful. I’d be honored if you’d come with me. No masks. No obligations. Just you and me… if you’re willing to give me a chance.”

Her wolf stirred–unimpressed.

Kaelani heard the low rumble of a growl in the back of her mind, but she silenced it with a breath.

A soft smile curved her lips as she met his gaze.

“Of course. I’d love to.”

He nodded, almost like he hadn’t expected her to say yes. Then, after a beat,

“Shall we return to the celebration?”

Kaelani looked past him, toward the moon–drenched path winding back to the court. “No… I think I’ll stay here a little while. Let the quiet settle. I’ll come back soon.”

He didn’t push

As you wish.

And just like that, he slipped back into the trees–leaving only the fading echo of his presence behind.

Kaelani sat on the bench tucked beneath the sweeping alcove of vines. The air was still. Cool. Firelights drifted like embers in the dark, and above her, the stars blinked through drifting clouds.

She exhaled. Slowly.

“You don’t like him,” she said aloud–to the beast inside her.

Her wolf bristled. Not with anger… but resistance. A growl rippled beneath Kaelani’s ribs.

“I know.” Her voice was quiet. Bruised. “But he’s been kind. Gentle. Accepting of me from the beginning.”

The growl tapered off–but her wolf didn’t answer. Only listened, from somewhere deep inside.

Kaelani sighed, the weight of truth heavy in her chest.

“You hadn’t fully awakened yet, so you didn’t witness that morning. The one when our mate” her voice cracked on the word, “—couldn’t even look me in the eye… and treated me like I was nothing but a liability to his perfect little life.”

She swallowed hard.

“I’ve never admitted this to anyone. Not even to myself. But to you… I’ll say it.

It hurt.

Gods, it hurt.”

Her eyes glistened as she lifted them to the sky.

“It shattered something in me I didn’t know could break. Because for the first time in my life…. I thought I was finally enough. That someone… needed me just as much as I needed them.

Her hands curled into fists.

“But he didn’t choose me. He chose silence. Reputation. Fear.”

Her voice trembled like wind through leaves.

“And in that moment… whatever hope I had left in love

She hesitated. Then whispered:

“It died.”

Her wolf whimpered, feeling the ache that echoed through Kaelani’s chest like it was that morning all over again—the moment everything cracked, when hope crumbled and pain took root.

Kaelani closed her eyes, breathing through it.

A long silence stretched between them. Not empty—but heavy. Shared.

Then Kaelani spoke again–quietly, gently.

“I think I owe it to myself… to try. To give Draevyn a chance.”

She paused, pressing her palm over her heart.

“Maybe… maybe you can try too?”

Her wolt didn’t growl this time.

Just whimpered once more—low and mournful–before curling inward like a creature too tired to fight. She didn’t agree. But she didn’t resist either. She simply lay still… subdued by the weight of Kaelani’s lifelong pain and the desire not to deepen it.

Kaelani gave a sad smile–barely there–as her gaze lifted back to the sky.

The twin moons hung high above, glowing like soulmates untouched by time. A perfect pair.

Bound. Eternal.

“I’m doing the right thing…” she said softly, almost as if saying it aloud would make it feel true.

Her voice wavered.

“…Aren’t I?”

Comments