Chapter 2: Kairos Garcia

Kairos

Kye, my wolf, was speaking to me. For most Werewolves, this wouldn’t be unusual. But for me, it was a first in two years.

Kye was mad at me, and I couldn’t blame him. I was the reason for his silence. I’d hurt him in the worst way possible—I’d taken away our mate.

Today, Kye decided to break his silence. He didn’t answer my questions or even acknowledge my presence.

His words were a jumbled mess. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but I was just glad he was speaking. Even when I was in my wolf form, he’d refused to communicate.

I was in my study when Raphael, my Beta, entered with a single knock. Raphael was the only one who could enter my study without permission. He used to be my best friend, but after the tragedy two years ago, I didn’t deserve friends.

“Alpha! We’ve received a message from the Dark Moon’s pack.”

“What does it say?” Messages were rare, given our pack's reputation.

“Their Alpha and his best warriors want to train here.”

This was unexpected. No one willingly came here anymore. We used to receive countless messages from other packs.

Now, they only knew the stories about me and my pack. We were the damned pack. Few outside my pack knew the truth about that night, and no one was allowed to speak of it.

I rose from my leather chair and walked to the window behind me. “What’s in it for us?” I asked, gazing at the distant pack houses.

I lived alone in my large house, separate from the rest of the pack. Even my sister, Fala, didn’t live with me. She found my place too depressing and chose to live at the pack house.

She said my home had lost its charm. It was isolated, which was probably why I liked it. I preferred solitude.

Especially now.

From my vantage point, I could see people walking. My pack, the Night Walkers Pack, once had over two thousand members. Now, we were down to one hundred and eighty-one, not counting the children.

We had many children, most of whom had lost their parents in battle. The rest were reminders of the werewolves we’d lost.

All of this was my fault. My pack members were blind if they didn’t see that. I could have prevented it, but I was blinded by love. I could never forgive myself.

Despite the tragedy, my respect among the pack had only grown, and I despised it. So many lives lost, so many loved ones gone. Yet, they still revered me.

“Alpha Hans offers fair pay,” Raphael explained. “Our warriors are among the strongest. Other packs fear us. This could show them we’re reliable, trustworthy, even helpful.”

Raphael continued, “We need to expand our pack. The pack members deserve to be seen as more than prisoners.”

“Is that what they say? They’re prisoners?” I mused aloud.

Raphael chuckled. “The stories never end. They’re so scared of us, they’ll make up any excuse to hate us.”

Raphael was intelligent, but he mistakenly thought we were friends. He’d been with me since I first became Alpha. I often wondered why he didn’t fear me.

“They fear us?” I asked, but Raphael sighed in confusion. “They’ve never feared our pack. For the past two years, they’ve feared me.”

“Alpha, they don’t know what happened. Everyone has a different version of that night. You’re a myth to them.”

I wasn’t in the mood to dwell on the past. My focus was on doing what was best for my pack. “Inform Alpha Hans that I’m in agreement. I’ll send him the dates for their training,” I instructed.

My Beta, looking satisfied, left my study.

It was nearing midnight, yet my wolf was restless. Something was off. Perhaps he was losing his sanity from the prolonged silence.

~What’s going on?~ I asked him.

~Run! We need to run. Deep into the woods. There’s a place. A massive tree. Full moon. It’s there. We need to go now…~

His behavior was odd, but at least he was communicating. The least I could do was follow his lead. Maybe he’d fully open up to me.

I set aside my work and did as my wolf suggested. I grabbed a bag for my clothes. I had no idea how far my wolf would take me, but it didn’t matter. This was the least I could do for him.

As I entered the forest, I stripped, packed my clothes into my bag, and shifted into my jet-black wolf form, carrying the bag in my teeth.

I let Kye take full control. He ran like a madman. We were now far from our pack.

Kye was dangerously close to the neighboring pack’s territory. ~Slow down. We’re outside our territory,~ I warned him, regaining control.

~We need to go there,~ he insisted.

~Why?~ I asked.

~Can’t you feel it?~ he responded.

There was a strange pull towards our neighboring pack, but only in one direction.

I didn’t understand it. I could be walking into a death trap, even though I knew this pack was friendly and harmless.

I dressed and let my feet guide me.

This forest was pristine and beautiful. Not a single leaf or branch littered the ground. It was unlike our forest. This one was well-maintained. Keeping a forest this clean must be laborious. How did they manage it? How did they find the time?

As I ventured deeper into the neighboring pack’s territory, a sweet scent grew stronger. It was a fresh blend of lilies and sandalwood, potent yet soothing and tranquil.

It was intoxicating. I felt dizzy. A strange, familiar, and long-forgotten sensation washed over me. What was it? I recognized this feeling, but from where?

My wolf was silent now, seemingly waiting for my next move. I didn’t stop. It wasn’t my wolf guiding me anymore. It was me.

Then, a girl came into view. No, not a girl. A young woman. She was frolicking among the trees, twirling as if she was breathing fresh air for the first time.

She wore a long, flowing white dress that accentuated every curve of her delicate body. She seemed as light as a feather, almost floating.

Her beauty was unparalleled, like a handcrafted masterpiece. Her dark hair shimmered under the moonlight as it cascaded down her back.

I continued walking until she picked up a piece of fabric from the ground. She noticed me and our eyes met.

Her eyes were a stunning blend of silver and forest green. Her lips were plump and full. Her skin was soft and porcelain-like, flawless.

She was the epitome of divine beauty. She was perfect, angelic.

She broke our gaze and put on the fabric she’d picked up. It was a cape. She covered her head with a hood, but I kept walking towards her.

Suddenly, I stopped. ~Mate!~ My wolf exclaimed, breathless.

~Mate?~ No, this couldn’t be!

She turned towards me, but her gaze was fixed on her feet. I couldn’t see her face.

She was my second chance. I looked up at the moon.

~Why, Moon Goddess? Why have you burdened this woman with a mate like me? I can’t treat her as a mate should be treated. I can’t allow myself to feel again, for the sake of my pack.~

But now that I’d met her, I couldn’t be without her, and she couldn’t be without me. I would never be a worthy mate to her, nor would I try. I was sorry, Moon Goddess, for not being a worthy mate.

She would be close enough for us to not lose our minds, but I wouldn’t let her close to my heart. I couldn’t let history repeat itself.

“What’s your name?” I found myself asking her.

“Adelie Murrell,” she replied, her voice as sweet as honey.

Even though her gaze was cast downward, her posture was impeccable. She carried herself with a grace and elegance that was hard to ignore.

“I’m Kairos Garcia, Alpha of the Night Walkers Pack,” I told her.

My declaration seemed to catch her attention, but she remained hidden beneath her hood. She must have known who I was, but I wondered which version of me she had been told about.

“Would you consider joining my pack?” I asked her.

She paused for a moment before responding, “If that’s what I must do, Alpha.”

“Inform your Alpha that I’ll be there to pick you up tomorrow. Pack your belongings and be ready by five in the afternoon. I’ll personally escort you to my pack,” I commanded. Without another glance, I turned and headed back to my own pack.

My wolf was silent, angry that I hadn’t embraced her. But I couldn’t. I also couldn’t reject her—it would be a death sentence for both of us. Few werewolves survived rejection, and those who did often lost their minds.

Rejection was the cruelest act imaginable.

Back at my house, I immediately mind-linked my Beta. ~I need you in my study. Now!~

He didn’t respond, but I knew he’d received my message. I had interrupted his sleep, but this couldn’t wait until morning.

My Beta entered my study, hastily adjusting his jacket. “Alpha, what’s so urgent at this hour?” he asked.

I leaned back in my chair. “I went for a run…” I began, my voice trailing off.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What happened? Were there vampires? Rogues?” I quickly shook my head.

“No… I met a woman. A woman who is my second chance mate,” I confessed, waiting for his reaction.

His face lit up with a smile. “That’s fantastic news!” he exclaimed, but his joy quickly faded when he noticed my somber expression.

“You don’t seem happy, Alpha. Why is that?”

“If I had known the moon goddess was planning to give me a second chance, I would have begged her not to,” I admitted, slamming my fist on the table. My Beta’s expression shifted between anger and sadness.

“But the pack… they need a Luna,” he argued. That was one of the reasons I couldn’t just let her go.

“Yes, and that’s why she’s coming here tomorrow,” I replied, keeping my face as impassive as possible.

“So, she’s coming because she’s Luna, not because she’s your mate?” he asked, clearly confused.

“She will never be my mate!” I declared.

“You don’t want her, but she’s coming here?” He laughed mockingly. “You can’t fight the mate bond.”

“I can, and I will,” I retorted, raising my voice. “I won’t let her blind me again.”

“Alpha, give her a chance. Give yourself a chance,” he pleaded. How could he say that after what happened with the previous Luna? “She won’t be like… her. You need…”

“That’s enough, Beta. In the morning, inform the pack about her arrival,” I interrupted him.

“Alpha, you’re being unfair. I would give anything to have a mate, and so would all the other mateless wolves,” he shouted, slamming the door shut behind him.

She will be just another member of the pack, living under the same roof as me. The mate bond will have no power over me…