Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Adelie

Lunchtime rolled around, and I heard Kairos return home. I didn’t join him, though. My hunger wasn’t for food, but for the wild.

I hadn’t ventured into the forest for a week, and tonight was the full moon. The wolves would be out later than usual.

I found myself standing by the door, preparing myself as if it was a great feat. Yet, I was terrified to return to where it all started.

The door felt heavier than usual as I pushed it open. There wasn’t a trace of sunlight. The sky was overcast, already dark.

I stepped onto the wet grass, my cardigan the only barrier against the chill wind.

The grass had lost its vibrancy, and countless leaves had fallen, painting everything in shades of orange. It felt like I’d lost years while I was cooped up. I couldn’t even recall the end of summer.

I slowly made my way to Maeve’s house, hoping she would accompany me to the forest.

I passed several people, but their stares didn’t seem as intense. If they did look, they saw me as Luna, not as some oddity.

Nathan greeted me on my way, but I didn’t want him in the forest. I needed Maeve.

I knocked on her door in our usual rhythm. As always, James answered. “Luna Adelie, what a pleasure to see you,” he said, stepping back to let me in.

“Is Maeve home?” No sooner had I asked than she appeared and embraced me. It was unexpected, yet so necessary. I had been avoiding any physical contact.

“I’ll make some tea,” James offered, leaving us in our embrace.

“I missed you,” Maeve murmured, her face buried in my neck. She felt colder, looked paler.

We pulled apart and I studied her altered eyes. She was still Maeve, with her curly blonde hair, but her eyes belonged to someone else.

She led me to the kitchen by the hand. “I was starting to worry, but Alpha assured me you were just resting.”

We sat down, and James brought us tea before leaving us alone.

She shook her head as if waking from a dream. “I’m sorry, did you need something?” she asked, looking embarrassed.

I felt guilty. I hadn’t come just to visit her, even though she had always been there for me, always protected me.

I was too wrapped up in my own world. As depressed as one could be, feeling like I had nothing left to lose.

“I wanted to see how you were doing,” I lied.

She had been so happy to see me, but now she was staring at her hands. “I don’t know. I don’t know how I’m doing,” she admitted, forcing a smile.

She glanced around before leaning in closer. “If it wasn’t for James, I think I would have left a long time ago,” she whispered.

“Where?” I asked. “Why would you want to leave?”

“I don’t feel like I belong here. I see all these vampires and think how strange it is for them to be here. And then I realize I’m one of them.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

“Alpha has to get blood for me. He supplies me with blood.” She looked at me. “Isn’t that awful? Adelie, I’m just another burden he has to bear, and for what?

“So I don’t hurt those around me.”

I took her hands in mine. “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she sobbed. “I hate this. I hate this new part of me.”

I fought back tears, tried not to show her how sorry I was. How guilty I felt. And how guilty I truly was. Did she even realize that? I had done this to her. I had made her hate herself.

I'd caused so much pain. If only I'd left earlier, I could've spared her this fate. Maybe even saved Raphael.

I'd attempted to heal her. I'd given it my all, but I'd failed. How could I ever hope to heal anyone when I'd messed up so badly? Esty had transformed me into someone I didn't want to be. At least she'd given me a choice.

But I hadn't given Maeve a choice. I'd forced this on her.

Why couldn't I just leave? I could survive alone in the forest. But Kairos, my mate, my love, was what kept me here.

I wanted to shout out my apologies, but I held back. Instead, I held her hands tighter.

“You're not a burden to anyone. Kairos is just protective of his pack. You're part of that pack. If he didn't care, he'd let you go. But he can't do that.

“He cares about you because you're important to him. You're a vital part of this pack. Losing you would be a disaster. We need you here.

“Kairos needs you here. James. And so do I,” I told her. “I know you're stronger than this. You're not a quitter. I know it's tough.

“But I can count on one hand the people who could endure what you're going through, and you're one of them. If you leave, I'll never forgive you, Maeve.”

I struggled to smile. “If you leave, I won't be able to go on without you. I won't be able to face this if I see you give up. Please don't leave.”

We stayed like that until her tears dried. “I won't, I promise.”

I smiled at her, and she laughed, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. “Such a mess,” she chuckled.

“And you? I can't believe you're feeling better. You've changed. You don't even smell like a werewolf anymore.”

“Did I ever?” I asked, not realizing that I had.

She shrugged. “It wasn't as strong as the rest of us, but now that it's gone I notice it missing. So, how is it?”

I smiled. “It's not great, but I'm managing.” I crossed my arms. “I'll be okay,” I assured her, “but I still need to catch up on everything I've missed these past few days.”

I stood up, not wanting to discuss it further. I couldn't burden her with that.

“Do you need help?” she asked.

“No, I'll manage, but thank you.”

She walked me to the door. “Take care,” I said, hugging her one last time.

“You too,” her voice muffled against my shoulder.

I turned away, feeling tears well up. I lowered my head and hurried towards the forest, stumbling along the way.

I reached the first tree at the forest's edge and leaned against it. And I cried. I allowed myself to cry. It hurt. Why did it hurt so much?

These past few days I'd felt numb, but now I felt like a wreck.

I didn't feel love anymore, and had I even thought about Maeve or anyone else? No!

I looked around, surrounded by trees. I ventured deeper into the forest. I wasn't scared now. I was only scared of the ~idea~ of being here.

But now, I felt safer than I had in a long time. And I kept going further in, slowly absorbing energy from the forest. Letting the forest flow through my veins.

I saw a pile of leaves that looked inviting. How peaceful it would be to just lie there. I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes.

I imagined falling, not caring if my head hit the damp ground. But I didn't reach the leaves. I was still standing, just leaning a bit.

Not what I was expecting.

I glanced over my shoulder, noticing the intertwined roots that had prevented me from tumbling down. A natural bed, designed to keep me from falling.

Did I create that? My heart began to pound. Suddenly, the roots vanished and I stumbled. I quickly regained my footing and looked again.

I had done that! I hadn’t realized I could. But then I remembered the blooms of my root creatures. They were made of roots. Why had I assumed that was the extent of it? The potential was limitless.

Was it time for me to feel joy? I felt joy. I was joyful because I could create something new. I was joyful because my element was with me. I was the creator.

My joy was short-lived when I noticed a figure approaching.

Esty. She moved towards me cautiously, observing my every move. I walked towards her, stopping just within reach.

“I’m sorry,” she said. I scoffed. She was sorry? Why was she here again? After the incident, she had vanished.

Kairos had tried to locate her but to no avail; she had disappeared. I didn’t want to think about what Kairos would do to her.

But would he still do that now? Would he still torment anyone who dared to harm his mate if I was no longer his mate?

I was his wife, but to werewolves, that meant very little. Would Kairos be willing to protect me from Esty?

And what did she want now? Was she going to try to manipulate me again?

Yet, I felt like this time I would still follow her. I wouldn’t want to, but I wouldn’t return, either. I would disappear with her.

“Okay,” I responded. “You should be. You should be ~more~ than sorry. You don’t comprehend what you took from me. You took my wolf for nothing. ~Nothing.~

“And now you don’t even possess it. You don’t have anything you desired. You tormented me and my loved ones for nothing. And I’d like to do so much to you.

“I want to inflict the same pain you caused me. I want to torture you in the same manner. Take something equally important from you.

“But…I don’t know what I can take that would make us even.” My face was expressionless, but for the first time, hers wasn’t. She looked remorseful. But I felt no sympathy for her.

“You could kill me right now,” she suggested.

I laughed at her. “Death isn’t a severe punishment. For a creature like you, it’s a liberation. A gift.”

I turned away from her and noticed a young girl, who appeared to be a teenager. She had a very thin face, but she stayed at a distance, just observing us. I looked at Esty for an explanation.

Her gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before returning to me. “She isn’t here to make you feel sorry for me or to fight you. I’m here for you to kill me.”

She attempted to hand me a dagger, but I didn’t accept it. I didn’t even consider it.

“She’s here to collect my remains. I am prepared for you to do it however you wish. Make me suffer if you must. I won’t resist. I’ll die with honor.”

She stated it clearly and confidently.

“Is that your child?” I asked. She nodded. “The child is innocent,” I said, ready to leave. But she grabbed my arm.

“She won’t watch. She will come after for what’s left of me,” Esty responded.

How monstrous did she think I could be? “I’m not leaving that child motherless.

“I despise you with every fiber of my being, but killing you would never be enough to make me feel better about it. I just want you to leave. And never seek me again. That’s all I ask.”

“Let me help you then,” she said, trying to conceal her relief that I didn’t want to kill her. That was almost amusing.

“I don’t need your help,” I retorted instantly.

“I can’t grasp the depth of mate love. I can’t comprehend the intensity of the bond, but I can picture how devastating it would be to abruptly lose that love you once held so dear.

“I want to help you two find that love again.”

I stared at her, repulsion creeping over me.

“We can manage just fine without your help,” I retorted, turning my back to her. But she just wouldn’t let it go.

“You’re a nymph, Adelie. Nymphs don’t experience love like the rest of us. They simply ~can’t~ love in the same way. Their hearts belong to nature above all else.”