He addressed Tasim, “You did the right thing.”
Tasim shook his head, rubbing his temples. “I sure hope so, Alpha Kai. I sure hope so.”
The caravan leader shuffled away, still shaking his head and muttering about ‘hot-headed Alphas’ as he disappeared into the dispersing crowd.
Reiya unclenched her hands, realizing how deeply she’d been digging her nails into her palms.
The weight of stares, especially from Jodhar’s men who’d now lost a leader and a comrade, was palpable, and so was the animosity. She folded her arms across her chest and suppressed a shudder.
No more trouble, she vowed to herself, just until they reached Dune Crest. Surely, she could manage that.
But a small, uneasy voice whispered in the back of her mind: with Jodhar out there, simmering in his anger, nothing was certain.
Kaelen turned to her, his expression softer now, though his eyes still held the last embers of his fury. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” she said, though her voice wavered. “But I wonder if we should’ve just ignored Jodhar?—”
“No.” Kaelen cut her off gently, his conviction unshakable. “Jodhar wasn’t going to stop, Yara. Not with you. If he stayed, he would’ve kept pushing, testing every boundary until we had no choice but to act. A lot can happen before we part ways tomorrow afternoon. This was the only way to ensure your safety until then.”
Reiya swallowed. “And if he comes back?”
Steel edged his smile. “Then he’ll regret that too.”
Alarik stepped closer, his gaze cautious as he clamped a hand on Kaelen’s shoulder—a mix of encouragement and warning. “Men like Jodhar don’t take humiliation lightly. They aren’t above underhanded means. We must stay vigilant.”
Reiya’s hand instinctively brushed the dagger hidden in her pocket. The crowd had dispersed, the caravanserai had quieted, but the mercenary’s glare still lingered in her mind.
Kaelen might have won this fight, but she knew: the war with Jodhar was far from over.
Chapter Thirty-Two
REIYANA
They returned to the Xians’ wagon, where the air still hummed with the aftermath of the fight. Word had spread—whether from direct witnesses or through embellished whispers passed from ear to ear. Some cast sidelong glances, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reiya felt the weight of their stares scorch her back, but she kept her gaze forward.
If Jodhar’s taunts had left anyone suspecting she was an Omega, so be it—there was no undoing that now.
She just had to endure a little longer.
Tomorrow afternoon couldn’t come soon enough.
The Xian family’s fire, at least, was an oasis of normalcy. Su Lian and Ru Rong worked side by side, the rhythmic chopping of vegetables and the hiss of meat on hot stones filling the air with a comforting familiarity.
Reiya stepped into their midst, immersing herself in routine. She rolled out the dough in smooth, even strokes, the scents of cumin and sumac rising as she sprinkled the rounds with the spice mixture. Around her, conversation ebbed and flowed—talks of crafts, trade, and the day’s work.
No hushed mentions of Jodhar. No murmurs of the fight.
She listened, but it seemed the world was already moving forward, as if nothing had happened.
Good—let it stay that way.
She pressed her fingers into the dough, grounding herself in the warmth beneath her hands, the steadiness of the task. A shadow flickered at the edge of her vision. Her hands stilled when Xian Jun approached.
“Things have taken a turn,” he murmured in his wife’s ear.
Su Lian arched a brow, curiosity flickering in her gaze.
“Elder Tasim decommissioned Jodhar,” the man continued, dusting his hands off. “For breaking the rule.”
