Chapter 68: Chapter 68

“Did she share that with you?” Kairos questioned. She hadn’t. She’d only told me that I’d be gaining my wolf form, and she’d be gaining notoriety from it. I shook my head slowly in response.

“We have to leave,” he stated, guiding me back towards our pack.

“Why?” I queried.

“The longer you’re under the moonlight, the quicker the transformation will occur. I can’t let you… I can’t let you die, Adelie,” he confessed, his voice breaking slightly.

“She doesn’t want me dead. She needs me alive, Kairos. She wouldn’t risk it if my death was a certainty,” I reasoned.

I was convinced this was the truth. She needed me alive, not out of affection or concern, but because I was her guinea pig.

“There have been instances where a werewolf’s soul doesn’t find a body, and times when they’ve tried to take form.

“They all manage to reach the shifting stage, only to die in excruciating pain. What is she doing to you?” he inquired.

Was there any point in concealing the truth now? Was I really going to die?

“She’s been injecting me in the neck,” I admitted.

“What is she injecting?” he pressed, but I had no response.

“I don’t know,” I confessed, and naturally, Kairos wasn’t pleased.

“Fantastic!” he exclaimed, his frustration evident as we stepped onto the pack’s territory. “How can I reach her? Where can I find her?” he demanded.

“You can’t,” I replied, and after that, he remained silent, simply leading me to the pack’s prison.

“Kairos?” I called out to him as he guided me inside, and I noticed Nathan already there, his gaze fixed on his feet.

But we didn’t stop at the prison itself. Nathan opened a door that led to a basement, where the most ruthless criminals were held.

“Kairos?” I whispered his name as we descended the stairs—down and down. It felt as deep as a grave.

The walls and floor were made of dark stone. Spider webs were scattered all around.

When we finally reached the bottom, I noticed a doctor, and a large bed complete with pillows and blankets. There were lamps and even a rug, giving it an almost homely feel.

Perhaps under different circumstances, I would have found it cozy, but not now. Not when Kairos had brought me here without any explanation.

I spotted a stack of my clothes neatly folded on a chair and realized I wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

“Sit,” Kairos commanded, and I didn’t have the energy to resist.

The doctor immediately requested my hand. I didn’t question it. I simply extended my arm and he injected something into it.

“This will slow the process until we can figure out how to stop it entirely,” he explained.

But what about Esty’s agreement? If they didn’t release me, she would come after me. She would harm them…

“She mentioned that it wouldn’t occur after just one exposure,” I stated, glancing at Kairos.

I didn’t believe these were the appropriate measures. Why was everyone suddenly so on edge?

Kairos addressed the doctor. “Thank you, I’ll take it from here,” he said, his voice strained.

I heard the heavy door close. “I feel okay,” I murmured.

“For now,” he responded, settling down on the cold stone floor, not even looking at me. “Why?” he nearly sobbed. “Of all the deals you could have made, why did it have to be this one?”

“Kairos, she needs me alive. She’ll ensure I survive this,” I asserted as confidently as I could.

“Is she some sort of miracle worker?” he retorted with a bitter smirk. Kairos shrugged his shoulders.

“Sure, your Death side might make your situation unique, but it doesn’t make you invincible,” I said.

“What makes you so sure you can survive this?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. “Sometimes, sheer determination isn’t enough.”

I shot back, “So, how long do you plan on keeping me here?”

“Until I figure out how to stop your shifting,” he replied, leaning his head back against the wall.

“And how long will that take?” I asked, aware that if no one had the answer, it could be more than just a few hours.

“I’ll stay with you, but I’ll have to leave tomorrow. Are you okay with that?” he asked, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“You can’t just lock me up and expect me to stay put. Esty will come looking for me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her from hurting anyone here,” I said, my voice rising with each word.

In response, he stood up, mirroring my actions.

“I don’t want you to die!” he yelled. “When a werewolf finds his mate, his only duty is to keep her safe! To protect her from everything!

“I’m trying to do that! I want to do that! But you won’t let me. You think you can handle everything on your own, but you can’t. How am I supposed to keep you safe when you won’t cooperate?”

“Why do you think I married you?” I asked, stopping him in his tracks.

“What?”

“I married you because you make me feel safe. You’re my safe haven, and no one else can make me feel as secure as you do.

“But I won’t feel safe if you lock me up and expect me to do nothing. I made a deal with Esty to protect this pack.

“In a twisted way, I feel safe when I’m protecting others because I can—”

He interrupted me. “You’ll die.”

“You don’t know that—”

“Do you want me to let you out now?” he asked, his voice shaky. “It’s a full moon tonight. You’ll reach your peak earlier. Let’s just get it over with, right?” he said.

I knew he didn’t mean it. If I asked him to protect me, he’d gladly put me in a glass box to keep me safe. But then who would protect him?

I walked up to him, standing just inches away. Neither of us reached out to touch the other.

“When will you understand that no one can protect me?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m not meant to be protected. I need to protect others. You can’t tame me, Kairos. Don’t try to make me someone’s burden. I won’t stand for it, and I know you know that even if I die, it will all be worth it.

“I’m sorry that there’s a chance my way of life will hurt you more than it will hurt me. I’m sorry. But don’t pretend you didn’t know this when you chose me.

“You can’t expect ordinary from someone who isn’t ordinary herself.” I placed my hand on his warm cheek. Like a lost puppy, he leaned into my touch.

“I don’t like my routine disrupted. I seem to despise extraordinary things. Ironic, isn’t it?” he chuckled.

“But how do you expect me to react when you refuse to do what’s safe now? You always think you’ll be fine, but what if you’re not? Why can’t you let me try to find a way?” he asked.

“Fine, but the moment Esty comes looking for me, I won’t stay here a second longer,” I said, and he seemed to relax a bit.

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, as gently and softly as a falling feather.

“I’m in love with you,” he confessed, a teasing grin dancing on his lips, daring me to express my love in the way only two people alone in the darkness can.

We fell asleep entwined in each other’s arms, and I was drifting into the abyss of sleep when suddenly, a jarring pain shot through my spine. I hadn’t moved an inch, but the pain was undeniable.

~It’s nothing,~ I tried to convince myself. ~Just a muscle spasm, nothing out of the ordinary.~ But my mind wasn’t buying it, not when I was in this altered state. Kairos was sound asleep, oblivious to my discomfort.

I shifted slightly away from him, careful not to wake him. He remained undisturbed.

Sitting up, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. Maybe my intuition was onto something.

I glanced down at my bare arms. There was a strange movement beneath my skin, like spasms rippling up and down. The same sensation began in my legs. It felt as if something was trying to escape from within me.

And then I felt it—the horrifying sensation of my bones beginning to fracture.