Chapter 47: Chapter 47

ADELIE

I trudged back to the pack, my mind heavy with the weight of my actions. I'd given in to her experiment, breaking the promise I'd made to Kairos to keep him in the loop.

But if I hadn't, Esty would have killed again. Even if we managed to shield Fala, others would still fall victim.

The pack was stirring, people beginning their daily tasks. But there was a palpable tension in the air, a sense that things weren't quite right.

I was dressed for training, but I hadn't done a single exercise. I headed home, hoping to find Kairos still in bed. But his bed was empty, his boots missing.

Next, I tried his study. I knocked on the door and heard a gruff, “Busy,” from the other side.

Ignoring his protest, I cracked the door open. “Everything okay?” I asked.

He looked up, a smile softening his features. “You don’t need to knock, Adelie. And ‘busy’ doesn’t apply to you,” he said, gesturing for me to come in. He was buried in paperwork.

As I sat down across from him, he put his work aside.

“You’ve been training?” he asked, eyeing my attire.

“Just a bit. What are you up to?” I deflected, not wanting to delve into my faux training session.

“Sorting out monthly payments, food supplies,” he replied. “Go on, ask. I know why you’re here.”

I bit my cheek, hesitating. “How are you holding up?” I finally asked.

He sighed. “As well as can be expected. I’ll manage,” he said. “We’re holding Raphael’s memorial at midnight, after the children are asleep. They don’t need to witness the grief.”

Another knock echoed through the room.

“Busy,” Kairos called out again, not even glancing at the door.

I could tell he wanted solitude. “What if it’s important?” I asked, opening the door to find Riley retreating. She turned at the sound of the door.

“It’s Riley,” I told Kairos. He motioned for me to let her in.

I ushered her in and closed the door. She approached Kairos, her head held high.

“Alpha, I have a suggestion for the next beta,” she said, catching Kairos off guard. I hung back, observing the scene unfold.

“Riley, there’s no rush to find a new Beta. Your brother was exceptional. I doubt I’ll find anyone as good, but I will find someone. You don’t need to worry about it,” Kairos said. “But I appreciate your concern. Thank you.”

Riley looked taken aback. “Alpha, won’t you even consider my suggestion?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

He sighed. “Alright, who do you have in mind?” he asked.

“I was thinking...me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You? Raphael was chosen for his bravery, strength, and quick thinking. He won a competition to become Beta. He excelled in every task,” Kairos said, his finger tapping his chin.

“I can do everything he did. I’m offering myself as your Beta. I’m ready to serve you in Raphael’s name, to fulfill his duty to you,” she said.

We stared at her in silence. “Raphael would have wanted this,” she added.

“I know you’re capable, Riley. You’re strong and brave, just like Raphael,” Kairos said, turning to me. “Adelie, what do you think?” he asked, and I stepped forward.

“I’m not sure my opinion matters here. You’ll be working closely with your beta. They need to be someone you’d trust with your life and the pack.”

Riley looked at me, her eyes filled with apprehension. She was worried I wouldn’t agree with her suggestion. “I see no reason why Riley wouldn’t be capable of that and more. But it’s your decision,” I told her. Riley’s gaze immediately shifted to Kairos.

“Take some time to rest, Riley. I’ll think it over,” he told her.

Riley looked like she wanted to argue, but she seemed to reconsider. She simply nodded. “Thank you,” she said, leaving the room with her head held high.

Once she was gone, I approached his desk again. “You don’t think she’d make a good beta?” I asked. Kairos rose from his chair and slowly made his way around the desk to stand beside me.

“I think she needs to ask herself if this is what she really wants. It’s not an easy role to fill. Right now, she needs to recover from everything that happened with Raphael and take some time to think it over.

“I don’t want her making a decision in the heat of the moment.” Kairos ran his fingers up my arms. “I believe she could be a good beta…” he said, his voice trailing off.

“But?” I could tell there was more.

“Would you be comfortable with me working closely with another woman? Sometimes around the clock. Even going on trips with her for a few days when necessary?” he asked.

I hadn’t considered that. I trusted Kairos, but when he put it that way…

“Should I be worried?” I asked him. He smirked in response.

“I just want to make sure you won’t feel uncomfortable if she becomes my go-to person or if I need to take her with me on trips,” he said, playing with my hair at the nape of my neck.

I looked into his eyes while he seemed to be focused on everything but that. He watched as my hair fell over his hand.

When he finally met my gaze, I looked deeply into his eyes. It felt like we were even breathing in sync.

“I trust you,” I told him. “Now, I have to ask: Nathan has been alone with me many times. Are you okay with that?”

I asked the question playfully, expecting him to say he trusted me. Instead, he placed his hand on my waist and pulled me against him, our bodies pressed together.

“I’m not comfortable with the idea of any other man being close to you. I trust you, but I don’t trust that every man has pure intentions around you.

“If I found out they didn’t, I wouldn’t blame them, but I’d want to rip their throats out with my bare hands,” he said.

His words made me catch my breath, and I could feel my cheeks heating up.

“I don’t own you, Adelie. I know you’re not my property and you have every right to do whatever you want. But you’re my mate. I want you.”

He looked down and shook his head. “I need you to be only mine. I have no intention of sharing you with anyone else, except for those who will share our blood,” he said.

The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock on the wall.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You want kids?” I asked him. He looked at me, tilted his head, and winked.

“I don’t have forever, but I want to experience everything with you. I want to start a family with you: raising our own children from scratch and teaching them our ways.

“I want to teach them everything we know and watch them discover everything we don’t. I want a family with you. Please tell me you want that too,” he pleaded, as if it was the only thing he needed in that moment.

I hadn’t really thought about it. Sure, I’d daydreamed about us having a family, with a few pups running around, but I hadn’t given much thought to having kids.

I wasn’t sure if Kairos was ready to be a father.

“Kairos, let’s not rush things. We have all the time in the world,” I tried to reassure him.

I wasn’t convinced that Kairos was thinking clearly. His best friend had just passed away, but that didn’t mean he was destined for an early grave too.

More than anything, I was uncertain about my own future. I yearned for my wolf form—not for myself, but for the safety of our pack.

I didn’t want Esty to cause any more harm, to take any more lives. And the last thing I wanted was to bring children into this world while undergoing the transformation.

His demeanor changed, becoming distant. “Don’t you want kids?” he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

I moved closer to him, cradling his face in my hands. “Of course I do. Just not right now. We’re still adjusting to our alliance with Archibald’s pack. We have enough on our plate.”

I tried to sound convincing, but I could see Kairos’ gaze fixated on my restless hands.

“You’re not telling the truth,” he accused, pointing at my fidgeting fingers. “Why are you so nervous?” he probed.

“I’m not lying,” I retorted, forcing my hands to still.

“What’s the real reason then?” he pressed. I couldn’t tell him about the pact I’d made with Esty. He’d insist I back out.

I had no other choice if I wanted to keep the pack safe from her. If she was capable of such deceit, who knew what else she was capable of?

I crossed my arms defensively. “Why does it matter so much? I just don’t want kids right now. I will, eventually. What’s the big deal?” I countered.

“I don’t have an issue with you not wanting kids now. I’d respect you even if you never wanted them. I have a problem with you not being honest,” he clarified.

“I’m not lying,” I insisted, but he just clenched his jaw and retreated to his desk, burying himself in paperwork. “I’m not,” I repeated, but he didn’t look up.

Finally, he met my gaze. “Promise?” he asked, and my heart stuttered. I couldn’t promise him that. I couldn’t respond. I just stood there, silent, until he looked away.

I despised this feeling of betrayal. In a way, I was betraying him, but only to keep him safe.

“Will you be at the memorial?” he asked, changing the subject. I nodded in response.

“Okay,” he said, his tone suggesting indifference. But I knew him better. I left his study without another word.

I hated this. Lying to Kairos was bad enough, but upsetting him, especially now, was worse. But I had no other choice.

As midnight neared—the time we’d honor Raphael—I changed into a somber black dress that covered my arms and neck. I styled my hair with black roses.

Kairos was across the room, struggling with his tie as he dressed in a black suit.

I approached him, taking the tie in my hands. I could feel his gaze on me. “How can we be so different yet fit together so perfectly?” he mused.

I met his gaze as I finished his tie. “I don’t know, but we do, don’t we?” I replied, not expecting an answer. “I don’t ask you to change, and you don’t ask me to.”

I was about to walk away when he grabbed my arm. “Promise me it’s nothing serious,” he said. “The reason you don’t want kids,” he added.

I looked at him, hopeful. I didn’t want to argue or upset him. I never intended to break my promises, but sometimes it was necessary.

“I promise,” I said, breaking my vow to always be honest with my mate.

His hands cradled my face as he leaned in for a kiss. I reciprocated, but the sweetness of the moment was tainted by the bitterness of my deceit.

He pulled away, a smile gracing his lips. “Let’s do this,” he said, and together we walked towards the cemetery nestled at the back of our pack’s territory.

The place was teeming with people, their hands clutching candles that pierced the darkness of the midnight sky. The silence was punctuated by the occasional sob, a testament to the grief that hung heavy in the air.

Riley stood by the closed casket, her back ramrod straight. Tears streamed down her face, but she remained silent.

She was putting on a brave face, but I couldn’t help but wonder why. She had every right to break down. Everyone grieves differently, but I couldn’t help but worry that her stoicism was doing more harm than good.

I pressed a kiss to Kairos’ cheek before making my way to Riley. I stood beside her, offering my support.

“If there’s anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. I can only imagine what you’re going through,” I said, the memory of my mother’s death and the pain it brought resurfacing.

“Thank you,” she replied, turning to face me. “When I assume my role as beta, I’ll remember your kindness,” she said, her gaze steady and almost intimidating.

Her words struck me as odd, considering the beta was supposed to be subordinate to the alpha and luna. I brushed it off, choosing not to dwell on it.

Her grief seemed to have momentarily evaporated. “That’s not really up to me,” I told her, reminding her that Kairos hadn’t officially accepted her as beta yet.

“You’re the luna. You have some sway over your alpha,” she countered, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“I don’t want to influence him,” I retorted, struggling to maintain my sympathy for her. “This is his decision to make. He’s the one who’ll be working closely with his beta.”

“But he needs to know that I can be even better than Raphael was. He’s aware of that, but a little more praise wouldn’t hurt. It would only further my cause,” she said.

I was taken aback by her audacity, especially at Raphael’s funeral.

I stepped closer to her. “What makes you think you’re better than Raphael?” I asked, offended by her arrogance. Raphael had been an exceptional beta.

“I have the ability to lead alongside the alpha,” she replied.

She wanted to lead with him, but that was my role alongside Kairos. She was power-hungry. Why this sudden desire for power? She was born into a beta family. Why wasn’t that enough?

Kairos joined us. “We should take our seats. The funeral is about to start,” he said, and Riley bowed her head in acknowledgment.

I was taken aback by her compliance. “Is everything okay?” Kairos asked as we walked away.

“I think so…” I replied, following him to the front row.

“What did she say?” he asked, studying my face. “She must have said something.”

“She said something strange,” I admitted. A wave of unease washed over me. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be beta. Maybe I didn’t want her to be.

The funeral commenced with an elder leading a prayer.

“She’s grieving. Don’t take her words to heart. Hopefully, the beta position will bring her some comfort,” Kairos said. “It seemed like she genuinely wanted it, not just for Raphael’s sake.”

“You’ve already accepted her?” I asked, taken aback. It hadn’t even been a day.

“Yes. We spoke a few hours ago. She knew what she was doing when she asked me. I’m sure Raphael would have approved,” he said, his smile gentle. But then he noticed my shock.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

I shook my head, a strange sensation churning in my stomach. “No, nothing at all,” I managed to say through clenched teeth.

I was determined not to let her rattle me.