Chapter 39: Chapter 39

ADELIE

“Your stance needs to be firm, and you need to believe in your own strength,” Kairos instructed the women during their first training session.

The packs of Kairos and Archibald had formed a solid alliance, essentially merging into one. Kairos believed in the importance of the women training alongside the men, a concept foreign to Archibald’s pack.

This was a new challenge for both the women and Kairos, who was tasked with their training. I joined them, knowing I needed to learn to fight, given my inability to shift into my wolf form.

My experience in physical combat was limited, to say the least.

“Confidence can be sensed by your opponent. It can make them feel inferior, causing them to doubt their own abilities,” Kairos explained, his voice taking on a tone I wasn’t familiar with.

He was a strong alpha, resolute and clear about his goals.

His pack, I assumed, understood him better than the women standing before him, their faces filled with apprehension, worried about making a mistake.

But Kairos wasn’t like that. He valued effort over perfection. He would only be disappointed if you gave up without trying.

“Physical strength initiates the fight, but mental strength determines the outcome. If you don’t believe you can win, you won’t,” he said, his words slicing through the air as his gaze swept over each woman.

Even from the back, where I was trying to stay out of his way, I felt his gaze linger on me a bit longer than the others.

It felt wrong that he was training me. He was quick to raise his voice when something wasn’t right, but I knew he wouldn’t do that with me.

I had proof. An hour ago, I messed up a kick, but he simply told me to try again, while he reprimanded the others.

On the other hand, not many were willing to train women. It was a challenging task, teaching women of all ages and sizes to fight.

“In a fight, you need to believe that you are in control, regardless of who your opponent is or how strong they are,” he said.

I noticed some women starting to wobble. They weren’t accustomed to the physical exertion of running, doing push-ups, and high kicks.

For Kairos, it was a mere warm-up. But for these women, who had never trained before, it was overwhelming. Their knees were shaking from standing for so long.

I mind-linked Kairos. ~“Maybe a five-minute break?”~ I suggested. He dropped his stern demeanor and looked around, noticing the women’s flushed faces.

“Alright,” he sighed, clearly frustrated with the slow progress. “Five minutes,” he announced, and the women’s faces lit up at the prospect of a short rest.

“They need to learn discipline,” Kairos said, approaching me.

“They will, but they need time. These women have never trained before. They were only taught to care for children and do pack work. Even Alpha Archibald was against the idea of training women,” I pointed out.

“That’s only because it means his mate has to train too, and she’s not thrilled about it,” he countered.

It was true. Delilah, even as Luna, was lax in her duties. She preferred a life of leisure.

During my time in their pack, I heard rumors that Delilah was refusing to have children with Alpha Archibald, which explained their lack of offspring. She didn’t want anything to disrupt her comfortable lifestyle.

“I also think it’s inappropriate for me to be training you, considering I can’t say no to you,” Kairos said, attempting to sound stern, but I could tell he was just teasing.

I moved closer to Kairos, adjusting his shirt collar. “I feel like I’m getting the royal treatment, having a say in everything. I’d rather work alongside everyone else. I don’t mind doing the grunt work.”

“You’re Luna now, ruling this pack with me,” Kairos reminded me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“But we’re not alone anymore. Archibald’s pack is our ally, making our combined pack have two alphas and two lunas. It’s a bit tense, having so many leaders.

“Too many cooks spoil the broth. I’m ready to step down anytime. I’m okay with Luna being just a title,” I admitted.

Kairos looked at me, then at his feet. “The last time I tried to make you that, I almost destroyed you,” he confessed, kissing my hands.

“This time, I have a say in it, and I’m telling you I’m okay with that. If others want to rule, let them,” I said. Kairos chuckled.

“I’m not letting them rule alone, and I certainly won’t rule alone. I need someone with me, preferably someone who’s a werewolf, forest nymph, and death angel,” he said, smirking.

“Wow. What are you going to do with all three of them? So many options,” I teased him. He lifted my chin with his thumb and kissed me, causing Madeline to squeal with delight.

“I only need one, perfect as she is,” he said. “But now I think it’s best if we go back to training,” he suggested, and we resumed our training, sweating profusely and making our bones ache.

This was all new to me. I was still the least experienced in the Night Walkers Pack.

Training ended, and everyone slowly gathered their jackets and water bottles, heading back to their homes.

I saw Luna Delilah by the benches, wiping sweat from her face. Her hair was braided, and her cheeks were flushed from the workout.

I must have been staring because she looked right at me and started walking toward me. It wasn’t that I hated her, but more that she thought she was superior to everyone else.

She was a good Luna but didn’t like me. I knew she didn’t like me. From the day I joined the Silver Moon Pack, she had looked down on me, and nothing had changed.

I was still under her thumb, or so she thought.

“Adelie.” Delilah greeted me, nodding her head. “Do you think this training is the right thing to do?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

“What do you mean?”

“Women in training. Your alpha said it’s for our protection. But if the Night Walkers Pack is so strong and powerful,” she said, her tone almost mocking, which irritated me, but I kept my cool, “can’t the men protect us?”

“Alpha Kairos thought it was best, and in this pack, women have always trained.” I stated the obvious, but her glare at me intensified.

I returned her glare with equal intensity.

Delilah leaned closer, “But has this pack always been this small?” she questioned, and my breathing quickened; she was disrespecting my pack.

“If this is such a good idea, why didn’t all those trained women save this pack two years ago? If women hadn’t been trained, they would have stayed with the children, and those children would at least have mothers now.

“Now all you have is a broken pack with broken families. Archibald agreed only as a favor to new allies. He won’t always agree with what Alpha Kairos has to say, not when his ruling style has proved such a disaster.”

She kept talking, and I couldn’t help but get involved.

I grabbed her wrist. “You’re speaking about my pack!” I warned her. “The pack you once feared. The alpha did what was necessary for our safety, and you dare to criticize?”

My face was a mask of revulsion.

“Sure, I’ve heard the tale of him murdering his own mate. Doesn’t that tell you something? He killed his one and only true mate, the one he was supposed to love above all. The pack mattered more to him.

“I’m not saying it wasn’t courageous or the right thing to do, stopping Mia. But I am saying that only a total psychopath could do it.

“Adelie, he killed his mate, and I think you’re aware that the bond with an original mate is the strongest. Don’t you think he could do the same to you—his second chance? You’re second to him, not first,” Delilah said.

My blood was on fire.

Madeline, my wolf, seized control of my spirit, furious at Delilah’s words about our mate. I gave her a slight shove, causing her to stumble but remain upright.

I moved closer to her, and she retreated, maintaining her composure but her eyes betraying a hint of fear.

“I am Kairos’s mate, and he is mine. I’m appalled by the garbage you’re spewing. I am a deserving Luna of this pack, and you should respect me for putting up with you.

“In my mind, I fantasize about tearing your head off when you speak like that.

“We are both leading our packs as allies now, forced to make decisions that impact us both. And I won’t voice how much I loathe you or believe you disrespect my pack or my alpha.

“But I am an adult, and I can manage my emotions and express what I need to, rather than spouting every thought,” I said, striding across the field as she steadily retreated.

“I’m not some childish name-caller, and if I can’t stand you, I’ll pretend I can and tolerate your presence, just as you should tolerate mine.”

I finally halted. “Do you understand?” I asked, proud of my strength.

She looked at me, chewing on her lower lip in contemplation until a smirk formed. “You think you intimidate me but do you even understand what being Luna entails? You don’t even have a wolf form, girl.”

She blinked and pursed her lips, reflecting on my words about her immaturity.

Finally, my anger got the better of me. The ground beneath me began to tremble, and Delilah backed off and started to shift.

My root creature burst from the ground, and Delilah’s wolf form took over her. We stood eye to eye. My chest heaved. I was hot and agitated, and I wanted to let loose.

~Show her her place.~ I was worthy enough.

“Fight me, prove that I’m unworthy, Luna, I dare you!” I challenged her, using my Luna voice. She didn’t back down but narrowed her eyes at me, growling.

A muffled shout came from our side. Delilah didn’t back down, but she also didn’t attack as we locked eyes. I needed to put her in her place.

The root creature advanced, and Delilah’s wolf growled, ready to pounce, but then a voice interrupted my attack.

“Lunas!” Archibald shouted, and Delilah immediately turned her attention to him while my angry gaze stayed fixed on her. She didn’t retreat but shifted her gaze from me to Archibald.

“Not feeling so clever now?” I taunted as a soft growl came from her side.

“Adelie!” Kairos’s voice rumbled across the ground, low and angry. I didn’t flinch. My adversary was in front of me. Never take your eyes off your adversary.

I continued to advance, my creature trailing behind me. Delilah backed away cautiously, growling.

“Adelie, halt!” Kairos commanded me with his alpha voice. It didn’t faze me.

“Archibald, seize her!” Kairos’s voice echoed, but I didn’t grasp his meaning until he was right next to me, yanking me towards him. Meanwhile, Archibald was securing Delilah, who was still in her lupine form.

“Snap out of it!” Kairos commanded, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were a shade darker, his hands gripping my sides.

“Back off!” I warned, lifting my chin defiantly.

“Adelie, what the hell is wrong with you? Cut it out!” His demand was stern. I glanced at Delilah, now being led away by Archibald, and I commanded my creature to dissolve back into the earth.

“You don’t get to boss me around!” I retorted, wrenching myself free from Kairos’s hold.

“And you don’t get to lose control like that!” His voice was laced with fury. “She’s on our side!” He spat out the words as if they were some sort of justification.

“She insulted me, my pack, and you!” I shot back, standing my ground.

“That’s irrelevant! You’re the Luna, Adelie. Everyone looks up to you. And this is how you behave? A Luna’s job is to keep the peace, not stir up trouble!” His accusation stung.

I couldn’t bear to be there any longer. I spun on my heel and started to walk away.

“You can’t just stroll off like it’s no big deal!” he called after me.

“What are you going to do? Lock me in my room?” I spat back, the memory of him doing just that still fresh in my mind.

His face remained impassive. I continued my trek back to the house. I needed to calm down, rein in my anger, and forget this whole mess.