KAIROS
The sight of Esty approaching her with a syringe filled with a dark liquid was horrifying.
Adelieâs body began to tremble, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as adrenaline surged through her.
Tears streamed down my face, but what did my dignity matter when she was facing the unknown?
My spirit was in a battle for survival, and everyone was watching.
Esty was there, along with a group of others Iâd brought with me to face whatever awaited us.
But there was no enemy to fight.
Esty was crucial to Adelieâs survival, even though she was the one who had killed Raphael.
Watching Esty touch Adelieâs neck, preparing to inject her, I felt myself shattering.
Esty stepped back, and I was ready to rush to Adelieâs side.
But Esty raised her arm, stopping me.
Why did I listen? I wasnât sure, but something made me pause.
This wasnât the end, it was just the beginning.
Perhaps an explosion, something familiar, would have been more comforting than this unknown.
But how could I predict what would happen when there was nothing ordinary about Adelie?
Adelie looked up at the sky, as if searching for something, but I knew she was feeling something.
She scratched at her neck, spun in circles, and tugged at her hair.
âNo!â she screamed, and I couldnât help but run to her.
But I was stopped by Nathan and John.
âAlpha, stop!â someone shouted, but I couldnât identify who.
All I could do was watch as her pain intensified.
She fell to her knees, letting out a piercing scream.
Her hands clawed at the ground as her voice broke in ways Iâd never heard before.
My heart felt like it was being torn apart, my chest aching in sync with her screams.
My body trembled, but it felt selfish to be in pain when she was suffering so much.
Her wrist twisted, silencing her screams.
Her bones began to snap and crack, the sound echoing over her cries.
Shifting is least painful for young wolves.
Adelie was young, but far too old to be shifting for the first time.
Why hadnât Esty found her when she was younger?
Why make her shift now, when it was so dangerous?
Some watched in awe, others in horror, as more people gathered to witness the spectacle.
I did nothing to stop them, too shocked by the scene unfolding before me.
Iâd seen many shifts in my life, but this was happening too quickly.
âEsty, why is it happening so fast?â I asked, my voice almost a shout.
âIt shouldnât have happened this fast! It should have taken hours,â she replied, shaking her head.
A shift could last a whole day, but it was usually not this brutal.
I could see a wolf struggling to emerge.
Was that Madeline, so desperate to be free?
A skeletal figure flickered over Adelie, taking the form of a wolf.
Paws, ears, all sharp and bony, began to break through.
This wasnât a normal wolf.
It was different, not like us.
A foot, bony and large, emerged fully in the shape of a wolfâs.
Its fur was matted and patchy, looking sickly and untouchable.
Her second leg emerged fully. This was happening too quickly. It felt wrong, and I was certain others felt the same.
I glanced at John. As a doctor, heâd seen his fair share of gruesome sights. But even he seemed taken aback, his hand covering his mouth.
His eyes were wide with shock. The others mirrored his reaction.
Her spine snapped into place, her fur bristling. A deep growl rumbled from her throat.
She was transforming. A quick shift like this would be a dream for any wolf. But Adelieâs wolf didnât seem dreamlike. She continued to growl, saliva dripping from her mouth.
I noticed a few wolves in the crowd beginning to shift. They were frightened, unsure of what Adelie was thinking.
I didnât want to consider the possibility of her turning on us, driven by her primal instincts.
Iâd seen pups lose control during their first shift, but Iâd never seen anything like this with Adelie.
And perhaps the most alarming part was the size of her wolf form. It was unnatural.
âWhat did you do to her?â I asked Esty, who was standing next to me. Iâd expected Adelie to transform into a normal wolf. This wasnât normal.
âItâsâ¦,â she began, but seemed uncertain. âItâs a wolf,â she finished. I couldnât argue with that.
It was a wolf. But if Iâd seen it elsewhere, I wouldnât hesitate to say it was sick.
I instinctively removed my shoes, preparing to shift if necessary. I cautiously approached Adelie, or was it Madeline? I wasnât sure anymore.
John tried to stop me, his arm blocking my chest, but I brushed it aside.
âSheâs my mate!â I told him, confident that she wouldnât harm me.
He grabbed my shoulders, looking me in the eyes.
âThink, boy! She doesnât even understand whatâs happening. You think you know better? In situations like this, the mate bond doesnât matter,â he yelled.
He was older and likely wiser, but I was the Alpha. Yet, he dared to speak to me like this.
âKairos, listen to me! You may be the Alpha, but Iâm telling you, keep your distance! Sheâs dangerous now!â he shouted, as if volume would make his words more convincing.
âBut sheâs also your Luna!â I retorted.
He might be cautious, but she was his Luna. What did he expect from me? To forget she was my mate?
âAnd so was Mia!â he yelled, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Iâd thought the same of Mia. Iâd idealized her as my mate, making excuses for her. Iâd been wrong.
I shook my head. I wouldnât make the same mistake. Adelie was good, Mia never was. Adelie had proven her goodness from the start.
âSheâs not Mia!â I shouted back, pushing him away.
âWe donât even have a Beta!â
That was the only thing he said that I was willing to hear. I didnât have a Beta. I wouldnât let Riley assume that role again.
John was preparing for the worst. If both pack leaders were injured, someone else would need to lead, even if Adelie turned on me.
I scanned the crowd, noticing one wolf already shifted. I motioned for the wolf to approach.
John was right. I needed to leave someone in charge, especially given Adelieâs unstable state.
Maeve approached me, taking a wide berth around Adelie.
âIâm making you my second-in-command,â I told her, not waiting for her response before I left. There wasnât time to hang around for her acceptance or refusal.
I moved closer to Adelie. âAdelie!â I shouted, but she was too busy sniffing her surroundings and growling intermittently to pay me any mind.
She seemed to be in her own little world. She growled again as I approached.
âAdelie, how are you doing?â I asked, but she just growled in response. âMadeline?â I tried again.
This time, she lifted her head and I was able to look into her eyes. But they werenât Adelieâs eyesâthey were Madelineâs.
I moved closer, ignoring her warning growl. I suppose I had only myself to blame when she swiped her claws across my shoulder.
She was quick, and I wasnât ready for her. Nathan started to come over, but I waved him off. I was okay, just caught off guard. That was my fault.
She took a step in my direction, growling a warning again.
âGot it,â I muttered, clutching my shoulder. It wasnât too bad. I guessed she wasnât in the mood for conversation, but she wasnât mind-linking me either.
~âMadeline, please respond,â~ I mind-linked her.
I knew she heard me because she glanced at me, her expression almost guilty.
~âIâm trying to help you,â~ I told her. ~âI want to help you and Adelie. Please, talk to me. Iâm your mate.â~
She shook her head. ~âMy mate is Kye. Youâre not,â~ she replied. Her words surprised me, but at least she was communicating.
~âThen let me speak with Adelie,â~ I pleaded.
She shook her head again, but this time she maintained eye contact. ~âAdelie isnât here,â~ she said.