Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Adelie

She sat with her back to me, her platinum hair dancing in the breeze that slipped through a tiny crack in the window.

“Esty,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

She was perched by the only window, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility of Kairos walking in.

“How is Maeve?” she asked. How did she know about Maeve already? Did she possess some sort of sixth sense? Could she read minds?

Being around her always left me feeling unsettled, as if she could see right through me. But if she could read minds, wouldn’t she already know about Maeve?

“H-how?” was all I could manage to stammer out.

She finally swiveled around to face me, her slender hand gripping the back of the chair.

“I know everything,” she said, a smirk playing on her lips. She shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s not so bad. She’ll grow stronger. I’m sure she’ll come to appreciate it. It’s just another thing that makes her extraordinary, don’t you think?” she asked, one eyebrow arched in question.

“I don’t think becoming a vampire was ever on her wish list,” I retorted.

Her lips puckered into a pout. “You, of all people, should understand the allure of having special abilities,” she countered.

I didn’t find it all that appealing. If I were just a regular werewolf or even a normal nymph, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with Esty.

There would be no proposition from her, and I could live in peace.

They say everything happens for a reason. But what if I don’t want that reason to bring me so much pain? What if I just want everything to stop?

Being extraordinary isn’t always a blessing. There’s a certain charm in being ordinary. Being ordinary and making a difference—that’s what truly defines greatness.

Being different means you’re destined to stand out. But being born different isn’t a talent. The real talent lies in creating something out of nothing.

Be the ashes that ignite into a flame without a spark. A pre-existing fire can burn higher, but a fire that starts from nothing can burn brighter.

I shook my head, refusing to engage in this conversation with her. I crossed my arms defensively.

“Someone could have seen you,” I pointed out, highlighting the risk of her presence here. Kairos would lose his mind if he found a stranger in our room.

Or maybe I was just afraid that she could harm someone. I didn’t want her anywhere near my pack.

She stood up, letting out a heavy sigh. “Oh, honey, I’m much more stealthy than you give me credit for. Besides, where’s the thrill in secret meetings?” She smirked, but I couldn’t shake off my unease.

Kairos was in the house. Even Helen could walk in any moment. I kept glancing nervously at the door, every little noise making me jump.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharp.

I heard footsteps approaching, but I didn’t move.

I recognized those steady, carefree steps. They belonged to someone who had nothing to worry about, someone who just kept doing his never-ending job.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Death sauntering in, stopping at a safe distance, just observing us.

“I’m ready to proceed with our deal. Your first treatment is scheduled for eight o’clock tonight. We’ll meet at our usual spot, but be careful to make sure it’s actually me this time.

“I’ll guide you to our location,” she said, picking up her coat from the bed and slipping it on. She checked her reflection in the mirror, smoothing her hair and tugging at the wrinkles on her face.

“How… how long will it take?” I asked. I needed to ensure that Kairos wouldn’t have to worry.

I knew he would worry anyway, but I didn’t want him to spend every minute anxiously checking the clock, wondering if something had happened to me.

I knew that’s what I would do if our roles were reversed.

She ran her fingers through her hair, pouting at her reflection in the mirror. “I’m not sure. This is new territory for me. But I’d guess it could take around twelve hours.”

She stated it as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Twelve hours?” I echoed, taken aback. I’d anticipated a quick process, maybe an hour at most.

She glanced back at me, an eyebrow arched. “Don’t expect me to conjure your wolf in a matter of minutes,” she retorted, as if this was about me wanting my wolf.

I wouldn’t risk my life for something I could live without. This wasn’t about my wolf. It was about all the other wolves in our pack.

“It’s a process that requires time and patience from both of us. I’ve chosen the optimal time for you to align with the planets. Exactly one day before the full moon.

“That way, your wolf will have the maximum strength to recover.”

~How am I going to explain to Kairos that I’ll be gone all night? He already despises my lies, and he has every right to.~

“Be prepared and don’t be late. I detest waiting,” she declared, striding past Death, whose gaze was fixed on me. He didn’t even glance at Esty. He didn’t care.

After Esty left, I braced myself for shouts from Kairos or Helen. She was wandering around in broad daylight, and I was certain she was using a spell for protection.

It seemed like something she would do.

I met my father’s gaze. He observed me silently, just standing there.

That was what I despised the most: his silent judgment, his unspoken message that whatever I was doing was foolish and I should reconsider.

From a young age, he never verbally reprimanded me when I made a mistake, he just stared at me, and I understood.

I let my arms fall to my sides. “What? I’m listening. Tell me.”

He shrugged. “Tell you what?” he countered.

“About the risks, the danger. I’ve heard it all before,” I replied, rolling my eyes and flopping down on the edge of my bed.

“Seems like you’re already aware,” he responded. “I doubt there’s anything I can tell you that your husband hasn’t already said. I understand why you’re doing this. And I respect it.

“But I also know that it might result in me losing you entirely,” he admitted.

It might not matter to me, but for others, it could end in tragedy.

“You don’t know that,” I retorted instantly. Esty didn’t want me dead, but even I was afraid that it might happen.

“And yet I know it’s a possibility. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s safe when I’m aware of the risks.

“You’re allowing her to experiment on you without any proof that it will work. And you don’t even know how she’s going to do it,” he pointed out, each word stinging like a slap.

“And yet, I know that even if she tore you apart, you wouldn’t utter a word, but just weep silently because you believe in the cause.

“I can’t say your sacrifice is wrong, Adelie. But I won’t lie and say that I support this or want you to go through with it.”

He took a few steps closer to me. “I am Death. I’ve seen it all: countless deaths, countless souls on my hands. I once took the soul of the woman I loved. Taking my child’s soul would shatter me just as much.

“But I can’t hold you back. You’re an adult, making your own choices. But please, be careful,” he pleaded.

“I’ll try,” I promised. “But… even if I… for some reason don’t survive… It will still have been worth it,” I managed to say, my voice hoarse and weak.

He approached me, and I stood up, wrapping him in a tight hug. “But why are you here?” I asked. He seldom visited unless someone was on their deathbed.

“Maeve,” he uttered, catching me off guard.

“Is something amiss?” I asked, my concern for her instantly piqued.

“Not exactly,” he replied. “She’s transitioning into a vampire. Vampires aren’t truly alive.”

His presence here puzzled me, not that I minded his company. He usually showed up when someone passed away. “Are you here to claim her soul?” I inquired.

“It’s not as simple as that,” he said, his voice wavering. “She’s evolving into a hybrid. Part of her will remain living, breathing, and part of her… won’t,” he clarified.

He locked eyes with me. “How much does Kairos know?” he asked, and I knew he wasn’t referring to Maeve.

I shook my head, letting out a weary sigh. “Not much.”

He nodded, understanding.

“Stay safe, darling,” he said, planting a kiss on my forehead before heading out. Just then, Kairos entered.

Death brushed past him, mere inches away, and shot me a smirk, still finding amusement in his invisibility. After all these years, it still brought him joy.

“Were you conversing with someone?” Kairos asked.

“My father was here,” I replied nonchalantly. It took him a moment to comprehend. I wasn’t sure he’d ever consider it normal, and I understood his confusion.

The entire world could believe I was fabricating him. There was no concrete proof of his existence.

He moved towards his closet and selected a jacket. “Where are you headed?” I asked.

“I’m attending a meeting at Archibald’s pack with Beta. The usual stuff. Delilah feels it’s unfair that meetings are always held here. Would you mind staying home?” he asked.

“Just in case someone needs something. And if you’re free, there are monthly reports on my desk in my study.

“You could organize them into the appropriate folders and review some orders I placed. Let me know if we need anything else,” he suggested.

“You have a better understanding of the pack members. You interact with them more than I do. Whenever I ask them, they always claim they don’t need anything.”

“Absolutely,” I responded eagerly, pleased to be of assistance. “How long will you be away?” I asked.

“I believe a few hours,” he replied, almost ready to depart. I could tell he was in a hurry, but I couldn’t let him leave without a heads up.

“Could you be back by eight?” I asked, and he immediately slowed down, turning to face me. I noticed my hands fidgeting and clasped them behind me.

“Why?” he queried. I met his gaze, my lips slightly parted. I was on the verge of saying something, but I didn’t know how.

This was yet another instance of me navigating without a roadmap. I glanced at the ceiling, hoping to find the right words.

Perhaps fabricating a lie would be easier, but what could I say? That I had plans to visit someone? Who?

Lying wouldn’t make things easier. Too many lies were already straining our marriage.

He approached me as if he’d forgotten his earlier rush.

Kairos halted right before me. His scent filled my nostrils, something so enticing and intimate. He was so close, his scent was all I could perceive.

There was a liberating feeling in knowing that I was the only one who could experience him this close. Without any physical contact, I felt his presence.

A smirk tugged at the corners of my mind, knowing he was mine, destined for me. The most wonderful aspect of werewolves was standing right in front of me.

He gently touched my chin with his fingertips. It felt like I would follow wherever he led, I would go wherever he wanted, and he was aware of the effect he had on me.

I was ready to let him shape me into anything he desired. I would willingly surrender myself to him, even if it meant becoming something monstrous.

Love. It's the one thing that makes us realize we aren't as self-sufficient as we believe. We aren't as fond of our solitude as we claim.

When the right person enters your life, you understand that everything else was just a tiny spark, a precursor to the volcanic eruption that is love.

He murmured against my skin, “You’re shaking too much for this to be insignificant. I can tell you’re speaking about the thing I fear the most. So, tell me,” he urged.