Adelie
I spent the day in solitude, lost in my thoughts. Iâm an Angel of Death, a servant of the afterlife. Iâm the beacon for lost souls, guiding them to salvation. Thatâs my purpose, their salvation.
But Iâm also a nymph. Iâm determined to balance these two worlds within me. I canât ignore the nature that thrums in my veins.
I approached my mirror, now dressed in one of my long gowns. It was a simple, gray lace dress with short, fluttery sleeves.
My hair was swept to one side, adorned with a flower above my ear. Just like my mother preferred, a floral touch to my hair.
Questions about my existence swirled in my mind, gnawing at my heart. When it came to matters of the heart, it was always about my mate.
I felt guilty for lying about my original mateâs death. Kairos was making an effort to be a good mate. But why was I holding back? He could love me the way mates should, and I could reciprocate.
Was it because of Alpha Hans? I knew Alpha Hans had marked and mated another wolf. The memory of the pain it caused me was still fresh. It still stung, the thought that I could have been the one he marked if I had been good enough. Rejection.
I was filled with shame, feeling unworthy because my own mate didnât want me. You only get a second chance at mates, not a third or fourth. What if Kairos only wanted me because I was his only option? What if he didnât desire me the way I yearned for him to?
Earlier, Helen had brought lunch to my room since I refused to leave. The food remained untouched on my table. My window was open, and I heard cars pulling in. I peeked out to see three cars and two small buses.
I remembered a pack was coming for training. The Night Walkers Packâs training was intense. Every woman trained as hard as any man. They finished their sessions drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
The cars stopped, but my wolf, Madeline, was restless. She was howling. Something was off. I needed to see who was in those cars, but then there was a knock on my door.
âCome in,â I called, and Kairos entered.
âAdelie. You look beautiful,â he said, stopping in his tracks to smile at me. I returned his smile, albeit awkwardly. Madeline was sensing something.
âThe pack is here. I think it would be best if they met their Luna,â he suggested, and I nodded.
I was always just their Luna. And what was wrong with that? Nothing at all. I just wished, for once, to be his mate. He had never called me his mate.
Alpha extended his hand for me to take. I didnât hesitate and took it. His hand was soft and warm. We had never held hands like this before. It felt intimate, too intimate, making me blush like a schoolgirl.
We walked hand in hand down the corridor and the stairs. With each step, Madeline started to murmur something, but I couldnât understand her. Why was Kairos affecting her like this? We had been closer before, but she hadnât reacted this way.
We descended the stairs. I was slightly behind him, still holding his hand. I kept my gaze on my feet to avoid tripping over my dress. Kairos was moving a bit fast, but it wasnât bothersome, so I didnât say anything.
âWelcome to the Night Walkers Pack,â Kairos announced cheerfully as we reached the bottom. I looked up and my gaze landed on a man with his back to us. As Kairos spoke, he turned around, but he wasnât looking at Kairos. He was looking at me, his mouth slightly agape.
Madeline fell silent and my heart stopped. The sight before me was a shock. I never thought Iâd see him again. Alpha Hans was staring at me. Our eyes locked. He glanced at my hand, intertwined with Kairosâ.
I quickly withdrew my hand from Kairosâ and immediately regretted it when I saw his face. He looked shocked, his face pale. Did he realize that Alpha Hans was my original mate?
âAdelieâ¦â Alpha Hansâ voice wavered. âItâsâ¦you.â
The air was thick with tension. I could still vividly recall that day. The brutal rejection. The billowing black smoke. The blade plunging into my motherâs heart.
What was he going to do now? Would he lash out at me? Would he try to haul me away, imprison me for being a monster?
Yet, in spite of it all, I still loved him. The bond between mates was so potent that even after the atrocities committed against me, my love for him persisted.
He took a few tentative steps towards me, and my heart felt like it was on the brink of bursting. I recoiled as he extended his hand towards meâ¦
But his touch was soft. He held my hand in his, and tenderly brought it to his lips.
âMy mate,â he murmured, his eyes filled with love and remorse. âIâm so glad to see you again.â
I was stunned.
My eyes darted to Alpha Kairos, his face a mask of shock and fury.
I was trapped between two matesâ¦
Oh no...