Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Chapter 143

ARIA

145 Pearts

Margo was still giggling, though she’d managed to get herself under better control. “It really was spectacular though. The explosion was like something from a theatrical production. All these bright colors and this whooshing sound and then suddenly everything was on fire.”

“Not helping, Margo,” Ivory muttered, but there was no real heat in it.

Nina had finished her examination and stepped back. “They’re both fine. Minor smoke inhalation, no burns beyond some singed hair and clothing. They got out quickly enough to avoid serious harm.

“The shed?” Kael asked.

“Salvageable, probably,” one of the pack members who’d been fighting the fire reported. “The structure is sound. We’ll need to clear out the damaged materials and rebuild some of the interior, but the bones are good.”

“Make it a priority,” Kael ordered. “Healer Ivory’s research is valuable to the pack. I want her workspace restored as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Ivory said, still not quite meeting his eyes. “I’ll compile a list of what was lost and what needs to be replaced. And I’ll be more careful in the future. Much more careful. This won’t happen again.”

The crowd was starting to disperse now that the excitement was over and everyone had been confirmed safe. Pack members drifting back to their interrupted duties, still talking about the explosion and Ivory’s uncharacteristic mistake.

I noticed how people were treating the incident-not as a serious crisis, but as a somewhat amusing mishap. Evidence that even the perfect Ivory could make mistakes. That even the pack’s most competent healer could get distracted and blow up her own workspace.

It was almost… humanizing. The kind of incident that might actually make her more relatable rather than less respected.

Kael lingered for a moment longer, clearly wanting to say something more to Ivory but uncertain what would be appropriate. Finally, he just nodded and turned back toward where I stood at the edge of the dispersing crowd.

“Let’s head back to the main house,” he said, falling into step beside me. “I should review the damage reports and make sure resources are allocated properly for the repairs.”

We walked in silence for a few moments, the sounds of cleanup continuing behind us. I wanted to ask about what I’d seen-about how he’d been ready to rush into a burning building the moment he thought Ivory was in danger. About how he’d frozen when he saw me watching. About what that moment had revealed about his priorities and instincts.

But I couldn’t figure out how to phrase the question without sounding accusatory or insecure. How to acknowledge what I’d witnessed without turning it into a confrontation.

12:49

Chapter 143

De

+5 Fears

“You stopped.” I said finally, keeping my voice carefully neutral. “When you saw me. You were going to go in after them, but you stopped.”

Kael was quiet for a moment, his expression troubled. ‘It wasn’t life-threatening at that point,” he said, and I could hear him choosing his words carefully. “The fire was contained, pack members were already responding appropriately. There was no need for me to rush in when we had the situation under control

It was a reasonable explanation. Logical. The kind of thing an Alpha should say about properly assessing a crisis before acting.

It was also a deflection. We both knew it.

“I saw your face,” I said quietly. “Before you saw me. I saw how worried you were. How ready you were to go in regardless of whether it was necessary.”

“Of course I was worried,” Kael said, and now there was something raw in his voice. ‘Ivory is a valued pack member. An irreplaceable healer. The thought of her being hurt or killed in a fire-that would be devastating for everyone.”

“For you.” I corrected gently. “It would be devastating for you, specifically. Not just as Alpha concerned about a pack member, but as someone who cares about her personally.”

Kael stopped walking, turning to face me fully. “Aria, I’m not going to lie to you about my feelings. I care about Ivory. I always will. She’s been part of my life for fifteen years, and that history doesn’t just disappear because circumstances changed.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m not asking you to pretend she doesn’t matter to you. I’m just… trying to understand how to navigate situations like this. Where your instinct is to protect her, but you stop yourself because I’m watching. Where you’re clearly conflicted about being there for her versus appearing appropriately committed to me.”

“It’s not about appearances,” Kael protested, then paused. “Or maybe it is. Maybe I don’t know anymore. I want to be there for Ivory when she needs help because that’s what friends do. But I also don’t want to hurt you by making it seem like she’s always my first priority.”

‘But she is.” I said, and tried to keep any accusation out of my voice. “In moments of crisis, your first instinct is to protect her. That’s not a criticism, Kael. It’s just an observation. An acknowledgment of reality.”

“Wan do you want me to do?” Kael asked, and he sounded genuinely confused. Frustrated. “Tell me how to handle this better. Because I’m trying, Aria. I’m trying to be committed to you while not abandoning a friendship that matters to me. And I keep getting it wrong somehow.”

Before I could answer. before I could even figure out what answer I wanted to give, a guard appeared. Running toward us with obvious urgency, his expression troubled.

“Alpha Quel’ the guard called out, slightly breathless. “I apologize for the interruption, but your presence is needed immediately.”

“What’s happened?” Kael asked, instantly shifting into Alpha mode. “Another emergency?”

“Not exactly, Alpha. The guard glanced at me, then back to Kael, clearly uncomfortable. “There’s been a development at the neutral dungeons. With the prisoner Damon Cross.”

My blood ran cold. I felt all the color drain from my face, my stomach dropping as if I’d just fallen from a

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