Chapter 65: Chapter 65

Kairos

Maeve was the one standing there, and instinctively, I recoiled from Riley as if I had a reason to. But the truth was, there was no reason to be alarmed.

I just didn’t want anyone to misconstrue the situation. My conscience was as clear as a summer sky. I knew that for a fact.

There was no force on earth that could make me betray Adelie.

Adelie had her doubts about Riley’s intentions, believing they weren’t as pure as they appeared. It was a tough pill to swallow.

Raphael had always been my right-hand man, holding a special place in my heart. How could his sister disappoint me so profoundly?

Maybe it wasn’t a big deal. She hadn’t done anything, after all. Perhaps I was just so accustomed to Raphael’s ways that I couldn’t overlook anyone else’s shortcomings.

I was used to having Raphael as my right-hand man, and I couldn’t let anyone else fill his shoes because, honestly, there was no better Beta than Raphael.

I thought that by taking his sister under my wing, I would make him proud… but was he proud to see her behave this way?

I saw Maeve’s eyes, now a deep shade of red, watching me. She was clad in a sweater with an oversized hood, presumably to avoid drawing attention to her eyes.

People would find out eventually, and their hatred for vampires would only intensify.

Her gaze flickered between me and Riley, who was now staring at the floor in embarrassment.

Even if Riley was just trying to make a point, it didn’t excuse her behavior. She had disrespected me, her alpha. Her beta title didn’t give her the right to speak to me in such a manner.

If Raphael had spoken to me like that, I wouldn’t have minded because he wasn’t just my beta. He was my friend, and he had earned that respect over time.

He had earned my friendship and the right to speak to me as an equal. He was my equal, my other half.

Maeve seemed unsure of where to look or how to react. And I knew that if she was here, not even bothering to knock, her reasons must have been significant.

She was always so independent, rarely seeking my advice or guidance. She was a lone wolf. Her coming to me meant it was important.

And her situation was indeed dire. Despite appearing fine, she was far from it.

“I’m sorry,” Maeve muttered, as if she had interrupted something. But her arrival was timely, preventing Riley from digging herself into a deeper hole.

She left the room, and naturally, I followed her, brushing past Riley.

Maeve had already made it to the first floor when I caught up with her, grabbing her arm to stop her. “Maeve… listen.”

“I am sorry, Alpha,” she blurted out, eager to escape my presence. “I should have knocked. I’m sorry.”

“No.” I interrupted her. “Nothing happened. Riley lost her cool, and she will face the consequences,” I clarified.

“Alpha. It’s not my place to know,” she insisted. But she was Adelie’s friend, and I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea about me.

I needed her to understand the situation. I didn’t want any rumors, even though I knew I had done nothing wrong. I cared about what people might tell Adelie.

“I need you to know that it wasn’t what it seemed,” I insisted.

She didn’t respond, just stared at me blankly.

“I am loyal to Adelie. There’s no question about that. But things are happening, and I don’t want her to doubt me.”

I let out a deep sigh. “Please believe me,” I pleaded, realizing I was begging an omega. What did I, as an Alpha, owe to a simple omega?

The issue at hand wasn’t about titles or ranks. It was about basic human respect, acknowledging that we were all the same. I didn’t want to cause Adelie any pain with baseless gossip.

Adelie looked at me, her eyes filled with sincerity. “Alright, Alpha,” she agreed, but I wasn’t entirely convinced.

I glanced up the staircase, hoping to spot Riley so I could send her away. But she was nowhere in sight.

I couldn’t bear to face her now. I wouldn’t let her disrespect me like that. I was her alpha, and she needed to respect my authority. It wasn’t the other way around.

I turned my attention to Maeve. She was trying to meet my gaze while simultaneously avoiding it. Not because she was afraid of me, but because she didn’t want me to see her red eyes.

She wasn’t accustomed to her eyes being different from everyone else’s. Even vampires didn’t have eyes like hers. Perhaps it was a result of her hybrid nature, a unique blend of genes.

“Let’s head to my library for a chat. I assume that’s why you’re here,” I suggested. She simply nodded in agreement, and I led her to my library, the second safest place I could think of.

I shut the door firmly behind me and gestured for Maeve to take a seat. She declined, so I sat while she remained standing.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “So, what’s on your mind?”

She glanced around the room, taking in every detail as if she was seeing it for the first time.

“I… don’t think I belong here,” she confessed, her gaze still wandering. She wasn’t referring to the library.

“You mean the pack?” I asked. She responded with a noncommittal shrug.

“Maeve, you’re a part of this pack. This is your home. How can you not belong in your own home?” I questioned, even though I had a hunch about her answer. I needed her to voice it.

“Alpha,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “You know what Adelie—I mean Luna allowed me to do to her. I’ll need more, and I can’t keep doing that to people here—”

She would have continued, but I couldn’t let her go on with that line of thought.

“Maeve, you belong here. You always have, and you always will. We can find ways for you to get the blood you need without harming anyone here.

“I’ll ensure you get the necessary amount from a reliable and safe source,” I assured her, and her mouth fell slightly open in surprise.

“Alpha, I can’t ask you to do that. You have more important things to worry about. Besides, I’m just an omega. I don’t want you to have to look after me.”

“It’s not about whether I have more important things to do. You’re a member of my pack. It’s my duty to protect you. It doesn’t matter what rank you hold. As long as you’re here, you’re my responsibility.

“I’ll take care of everything you need if it means you’ll stay. I don’t want you to leave, Maeve.

“We can make this work. Leaving isn’t the solution. This is where you belong,” I insisted.

“They won’t understand,” she murmured, referring to the other pack members.

“We’ll help them understand,” I promised, and she nodded, tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you, Alpha,” she whispered, wiping her tears away.

“I know you’re loyal to Luna, but you need to tell her. It’ll only hurt her more if you keep it a secret,” she advised, bowing her head in respect. “Thank you, again.”

After she left, I sat in silence, lost in thought. I didn’t want to discuss it with her, but perhaps it was the right thing to do. The only thing I could do.

I climbed the stairs and entered my study, annoyed to find Riley still there.

“Who do you think you are?” I demanded, startling her.

She stood up and faced me. “The workday isn’t over yet,” she retorted, causing me to chuckle.

“Your workday has ended. You’re no longer my beta, you’re just a disappointment to the title—a disgrace to your brother’s legacy.”

“I don’t want you around anymore,” I told her.

I could see she was gearing up to argue. “Leave. Now!” I commanded.

She didn’t put up much of a fight. After she left, I retreated to my room where Adelie was resting, following Maeve’s advice.

I opened the door to find Adelie asleep, finally at peace. Her face looked more like herself. Maybe all she needed was to sleep off whatever had happened.

But seeing her like this more than once… and what if it got worse? I leaned against the door frame, taking in the sight of her. I wanted nothing more than to protect her. But how?

Without thinking, I reached into my pocket and found the bracelet. I pondered for a moment. What other options did I have?

Could this girl, Melanie, be the answer?

It was still early. I could make it back home before dark.

I headed to the pack center and found Nathan.

“Hey, I need you to take over for the day,” I told him, catching him off guard. He nearly dropped the box he was carrying for the vampires.

“Me?” he asked, taken aback.

“Yes, Luna isn’t well, and Riley is no longer the beta. Can you handle it?” I didn’t wait for his response. “Thanks.”

“But where are you going?” he asked.

“I need to ensure the safety of everyone in the pack.”

It wasn’t a complete lie.