Chapter 101: Chapter 101

Adelie

The guards rushed over, their eyes wide with concern. I was locked in a gaze with Kairos, his eyes revealing his identity. His eyes never lied. My heart ached, the pain sharp and sudden like a fresh papercut.

Time seemed to stand still. We were frozen, none of us daring to move or speak. We were safe, but only for now. If we could, we would have stopped time right there, never leaving that moment.

“Is the doctor still with us?” I asked the guards, my eyes never leaving Kairos. I wasn’t sure who was still with us, who had the sense to leave.

“Yes, Luna,” one of them replied.

“Get someone to bury the bodies in my basement. Tell them to be respectful. And lock your Alpha in a cell,” I ordered, my gaze still fixed on Kairos. He just stared back, not blinking.

I wondered what he was thinking. Did he understand what he had done? What he had been forced to do?

“Keep a close watch on him. Don’t leave him alone. If necessary, have the doctor sedate him. Have the dose ready,” I added.

Kairos reacted to this, his eyes welling up with tears. I wanted to cry too, but I couldn’t let him see me like that. I couldn’t let the pack see me like that.

Especially when Kairos couldn’t lead them. But I couldn’t let myself down either. I knew I was stronger than I felt.

“And tell the pack to prepare for evacuation.”

Kairos nodded. That was all I needed. His approval.

I left quickly, heading for Archibald’s pack. I needed a safe place for my people. It wasn’t far, and together, we could stand a chance.

I couldn’t abandon them. We were too few now, many had already left.

As I crossed into their territory, a guard greeted me. “Luna of the Night walkers pack? How can we assist you?” he asked.

“I need to speak with your Alpha. Where is he?” I asked.

He communicated with the Alpha through a mind link. I could always tell when they did that, their eyes would shift, an energy radiating from them.

“He’ll be here soon. He said he’ll find you,” the guard informed me before leaving me alone in the middle of the pack.

I planned to wait there, but then I saw Delilah. It felt like it had been forever since I last saw her. She noticed me and smirked, making her way over.

“You were supposed to help Kairos lead, not destroy everything,” she sneered.

She looked terrible. Exhausted, frail, too thin.

“It’s been a while,” I said. It wasn’t just because I had been imprisoned. It was more than that.

“Yeah, sorry I didn’t visit you in your basement,” she snapped back.

I nodded. “I get that you don’t respect me as Luna, but I want to know what you did to protect your allied pack.”

“I don’t interfere with my Alpha’s business,” she retorted, which was unlike her.

“Since when do you stay out of anyone’s business?” I knew she wanted to lash out at me, but then Archibald arrived.

“Adelie, what can I do for you?” he asked.

I glanced at Delilah. “I’d like to speak with you privately,” I said, and he immediately led me away.

We entered his study. It was much nicer than mine, fit for a king. It hadn’t been long since I lived here.

His study had always been a place of grandeur, but today it seemed to shine with an extra layer of gold. I’d only been in here a handful of times, but it felt different now.

He settled into his chair behind the desk, and I took the seat across from him. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

A nervous laugh escaped me. “Archibald, I’m...I’m struggling to understand why you didn’t step in to help my pack,” I started.

He looked at me, sipping his drink. “What do you mean?” Was he really that oblivious? I’d lived among his pack. I’d served him. I’d seen his leadership firsthand.

He was an exceptional Alpha to his own pack. It was hard for me to comprehend how he could be so indifferent towards an allied pack.

“I don’t think there was any training happening in my pack…” I began.

“Well, there was, but Alpha Kairos put a stop to it.” That didn’t sound like Kairos at all.

“My absence led to chaos in my pack. Innocent humans were killed. Surely you’ve heard about what’s been happening with Kairos?” I asked, my frustration mounting.

He didn’t seem surprised, so he must have known.

“You did nothing?” I asked, incredulous. “Didn’t you care about what was happening?”

“If it comes down to hurting my pack or not, I’ll always choose not to.” I never thought he could be so cowardly.

“I couldn’t do anything if their leader was present and you weren’t. I couldn’t communicate with Kairos like I used to. And I didn’t know where you were. I assumed you were there.”

I felt a sting of betrayal. Our packs were supposed to be united, stronger together. But he’d done nothing.

And now, I didn’t have the luxury of time to seek justice.

“Archibald, I need to know that you’ll fight for my pack like it’s your own when the time comes. And I want you to know that my pack would do the same for you.”

“I can’t fight for a pack that isn’t mine when I have my own to look after. Our packs may be allies, but they’re still separate. I still have my pack, and Kairos still has his. I can’t risk losing what the Night walkers pack lost under Mia’s rule.”

“If Kairos isn’t cured soon, he’ll come after you. He wants your pack, Archibald!” I hoped that would get through to him. “He wants to kill you!”

Archibald’s calm gaze sent a chill down my spine.

“What do you propose?” he asked. “He’s welcome to try, but I have my entire pack ready to protect me and themselves. I’m not afraid, and I won’t live in fear of what he might do.”

“Then please, protect my pack. They’re in danger being so close to him. Shelter them until we can cure Kairos.”

His eyes narrowed. “You believe he can be cured?”

I straightened my back. “Yes.”

He studied me, waiting for me to elaborate or change my mind, but then he nodded.

“I’ll take in your pack, but I expect them to fight if Kairos attacks. I expect them to do what’s right, even if it means going against their Alpha.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but it was a fair point. I couldn’t expect my pack to blindly follow an Alpha who wasn’t in his right mind.

I wanted to believe that my pack would know right from wrong. “I understand. But please, protect them.” That was all I could say.

He stood, placing a hand over his heart. “I will.”

I rose to leave, but he wasn’t finished. His gaze was fixed on the floor, lost in thought.

“Adelie, I need to be upfront with you,” Archibald began. “When Kairos first took you from us, I told him to return you if he ever had second thoughts.”

“I was aware of his reputation, so I thought you’d be back soon. You were a valuable member of our pack.” I was unsure where Archibald was heading with this.

“I’m extending an invitation for you to rejoin us, to lead alongside me. Not just as my Beta, but as a true leader, equal to me and my Luna. I know you have the spirit and heart to guide a pack.

“But I worry that you’re not fully aware of the danger within your own pack,” he added, pausing to gauge my reaction.

I had always felt his affection for me. During my time with them, he had looked after me, even though I was merely an Omega. “I have my own pack now, Archibald. I am a Luna.”

He nodded in acknowledgment. “Indeed, you are. Guard your pack well, Adelie,” he advised, his expression unchanging, “and remember…I offered you a chance at a better life.” His words left a lingering sense of unease in my mind.

I returned home to find someone had come to remove the bodies. Burton was seething. “We can’t ignore this any longer. Kairos must be dealt with,” he declared.

I understood his logical approach, but I couldn’t accept it. Yet, the thought persisted. What if it was the only solution? “What will happen to Christopher if Kairos is killed?” I asked.

“It’s a risky situation. Once Kairos is gone, we have roughly ten minutes to secure Christopher. We can only capture him as he’s departing. We’ll conduct a ritual and guide him to the afterlife,” he explained.

“You make it sound simple. What’s the risk?” I inquired.

“He could attach himself to another person, or he could escape. A friend of mine is bringing a portal for his soul.”

“That doesn’t seem too difficult,” Esty chimed in.

I was still grappling with the idea of Kairos’ death. “Have we explored all possible ways for Kairos to survive?” I questioned.

Burton’s anger was palpable. “If I have to kill one to save many, I won’t hesitate,” he retorted. It was a harsh reality. I was unsure of the extent of Christopher’s power.

I didn’t know his boundaries. I didn’t know how much time we had before he unleashed even more chaos.

Esty, standing close by, sensed my discomfort. She gently touched my back. “It’s for the best,” she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.

I knew she was right. Yet, despite everything, I still believed we were destined to be together. Why else would we have endured all this if it wasn’t meant to be?

Even if it was short-lived, he was my soulmate. No one else could take his place.

I shook my head, struggling to find the right words. “When…when will you…do it?”

“I’ll get started right away,” Burton replied, but I felt he misunderstood. I didn’t mean to sound eager.

“It should take a few days. Our immediate task is to keep Kairos stable.” With that, he left.

Only Esty remained with me. “He does care, but his concern for the world outweighs everything else,” she said, and I simply nodded.

What else could I say? They weren’t wrong. I wasn’t naive. It was painful, but then again, the truth always was.

I saw my father enter. Without uttering a word, he headed towards the library. I followed him, ensuring the doors were shut behind us.

I leaned against the closed doors as he watched me.

“Talk to me, sweetheart,” he urged. But I just stared out the window, my fingers drumming against the door behind me.

It felt like the end of everything. Was this what my parents had fought for?

What was it my mom always tried to shield me from? Suffering? She'd always instilled in me the importance of doing right, being happy, showing kindness, and protecting others. But now, I wanted to protect my own heart. Kairos was my heart.

I despised myself. I was no longer the good girl she'd raised. I'd lied, killed, and betrayed. I was a vessel of pain and I felt tainted. “I discovered what Maeve really is,” I confessed to him. “Were you aware?”

His nonchalant lift of an eyebrow was all the confirmation I needed, even before he spoke.

“I’m privy to many things, many of which I’m not at liberty to disclose. I have rules to abide by. I never forget, but over the years my memories have overshadowed other things.

“And yes, now that you bring it up, I am aware,” he admitted.

I didn’t hold it against him for keeping it from me. His rules were complex. Even for his own daughter, he shouldn’t bend them, though he occasionally did.

“They told me that Kairos needs to be eliminated. He’s causing harm to others,” I admitted, squeezing my eyes shut as if I could disappear into the darkness behind my eyelids.

“I know it’s for the greater good. I just…wished there was another way. Anything. Burton is preparing to kill him. And what can I do? What can I say to make him hesitate?

“He’s taken many lives, and I can’t justify that.”

My father finally spoke up. “I have ushered many souls from this world. But I don’t want to take his.” He sighed heavily. “I’ve spoken with the deceased, Love.”

“You said you couldn’t do that much.”

He nodded. “And I paid a steep price for it. I don’t have a solution for you, but you should know that the departed enjoy speaking in riddles.

“They never give a straight answer. Their only remaining pleasure is to deceive the living.”

“It doesn’t matter. What did they tell you?” I pressed.

“To seek the day the firstborn of Garcia’s son first saw the light.” And just like that, any glimmer of hope I had was extinguished.

All I knew was that time was running out. “I have two days, two days to find her, and then what? What if she also speaks in riddles?” I fretted. “I don’t give a damn about it if I can’t save Kairos.”

“He doesn’t have to die,” he insisted.

“Father, Burton won’t consider any other option.”

“Because he doesn’t know of any other option. He doesn’t care to find one for a single person who has caused so much harm,” he pointed out.

“Do you have a plan?” He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t have something to offer. He never showed up empty-handed.

I noticed his smirk. “How much faith do you have in yourself?” he asked. I just shrugged, unsure of what he was getting at. “How much do you trust yourself to only half-kill Kairos?” he posed.

“Half-kill?”

“When his soul is teetering between life and death, could you bring yourself to kill him just enough to not lose him?”