Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Kairos was watching me like a hawk, as if he was afraid I'd say something to embarrass him. Was his ego so fragile that a bit of foolishness could shatter it?

I had a proposal I wanted to share with the King. I wanted to make a difference. I just wished Kairos had more faith in me.

Was Kairos really that self-conscious in the King's presence?

The King was standing right before us, and in unison, we both bowed our heads. “King Leonard, how was your journey?” Kairos inquired.

“It was a long trip. Traveling through the mundane world is never enjoyable, but I’m pleased to be here now that the times are once again in our favor,” the King replied.

I saw Kairos’s jaw tighten. The King's comment was less than gracious.

I knew that Kairos had no part in the reason they had parted ways: it was solely because the King didn’t want to tarnish his image.

He turned his gaze to me. “Speaking of…this must be your Luna Adelie?” he asked, immediately looking to Kairos for confirmation.

I still had a voice, and I wouldn’t let the King belittle me. I wouldn’t let Kairos answer for me and reduce me to a mere title.

“That’s correct,” I responded, drawing his attention back to me. “Adelie Murrell was my birth name, but it’s Garcia now.” I held his gaze firmly.

He glanced down for a moment, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Well, I’ve heard impressive things about your abilities,” he said.

That caught me off guard. “All the way to your pack?” I asked for clarification.

“People enjoy discussing intriguing matters. And I’m eager to learn more about you.”

I acknowledged him with a quick nod.

“King Leonard, may I inquire about your Queen’s well-being?” Kairos asked. It seemed strange that she hadn’t accompanied him.

“We’re expecting our fourth child soon. I didn’t want her to travel.”

“Congratulations. But for now, let’s head inside,” Kairos suggested, and we all entered our home. I noticed the visitors’ eyes widen at the sight of all the plants.

One of the King’s advisors muttered something to another, but I was certain we all heard it. “A bit over the top.”

“I beg to differ,” Kairos interjected.

“I believe we should all support the talents some of us possess. And I have no issue allowing my mate to create an environment in which she feels most comfortable, so it’s not excessive.”

I glanced back at the man, who was now studying the floor.

We all moved into the library, where a large table had been prepared for our discussion.

Kairos and the King began discussing mundane matters like the state of the pack. How was it functioning? How many members did it have? And so on.

For a while, the King spoke about his own pack, responding to a question Kairos had posed. I wasn’t really listening, and when I glanced at Kairos, I saw he wasn’t either.

His gaze was fixed on one spot. Unblinking. Unmoving. Absent.

I slowly reached under the table to touch his knee. He didn’t respond, so I gently squeezed it and he jumped. He quickly turned his attention back to the King, his face flushing slightly.

Was he embarrassed that I’d noticed? This wasn’t typical behavior for Kairos.

They continued their conversation for hours.

I was eager for them to finally address the issue that interested me, and when they finally did, my boredom evaporated.

“And now to your concern. Peter Adams,’’ the King said.

“Yes. We believe it would be best to send him to your labor camp, but we’re not sure his actions can be so easily forgotten. I want to set a precedent that I won’t tolerate abuse in my pack.”

Kairos looked at me. “Luna Adelie suggested that we could demote him to Omega status.”

He got to the point quicker than I expected, as if it was the most natural thing to say. King turned his gaze on me. “You see being an Omega as a punishment?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his question. “Not at all. I’ve lived my entire life as an Omega, and I wear that title with pride. I’ve never hidden it, and I never will.

“The punishment for him would be to experience the humility that comes with being an Omega. To work as an Omega does, and to never question orders.

“Peter is a harsh man, and he needs to understand that his actions have repercussions.”

King posed another question. “What about his abilities? He’s a mid-rank wolf, which means he has the strength and skills to serve as a fighter and protector of the pack.”

“I don’t want protectors who harm their own in my pack,” I retorted, perhaps a bit too sharply.

King didn’t seem fazed by my response. He remained as composed as ever.

“So, you’ve made up your mind then. Look, I’m not here to tell anyone how to run their pack. But I’ll be honest, no wolf will accept this decision.

“Don’t rule out the possibility of resistance. Wolves don’t take kindly to changes in the status quo.”

“But you’re considering it?” Kairos interjected, a mischievous glint in his eye. He knew King well, and it seemed they had a close relationship. Surely that bond couldn’t have faded over a few years.

King stroked his bearded chin thoughtfully. “I’ll allow it. It’ll be intriguing to see the outcome.

“But I must warn you, Kairos, your pack has already endured a Luna’s betrayal. Your mates.” Kairos stiffened in his seat.

He hated discussing Mia, and he despised when others brought up anything related to that incident. He didn’t enjoy blaming himself.

He felt guilty, but that didn’t mean he wanted to dwell on it.

“Things won’t be easy for either of you. Like it or not, wolves are creatures of instinct, and we protect what’s ours. If they need to rebel against you, they will.

“But if you’re willing to risk it all again, go ahead.”

Kairos’s expression hardened. His lips curled, his nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched. “Again?”

“I let my Luna, the queen, implement many changes. I trust her, and she’s proven herself to be trustworthy, strong, and dependable. We share equal power.

“But you’ve seen your Luna defy everything and everyone. Now, you’re doing it again. You’re letting your Luna make the decisions.”

Was he trying to provoke me, or was he speaking the truth? “You have a choice to make, to trust her and follow through. But there’s no guarantee she won’t repeat her actions.

“Consider why Alphas give their Lunas so little power. Why a Luna isn’t an equal, but a second in command.”

My perspective shifted. This was Kairos’s pack. His home. He was raised here. Was I asking too much of him?

Kairos needed to do this himself. He needed to rebuild his pack to make up for his past mistake. He’d done everything he could, but here I was, imposing my own rules.

I glanced at Kairos. He was silent, deep in thought, his eyes on me.

I turned to King, who was conversing with his Beta. I rose from the table. “Excuse me,” I muttered, heading for the door.

I didn’t get far. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the room, followed by Kairos’s voice. “Adelie has another suggestion about modifying pack ranks.” I turned to look at him.

All eyes were on me, but I only saw him. “She is my equal, a leader just as I am. She is my Luna, the leader of this pack alongside me.

“Her decisions don’t need my approval. She can do whatever she believes is best for the pack,” he declared.

The room fell into a hush. Not a soul stirred. Kairos gave me a nod. “Go ahead, share your thoughts,” he urged.

King seemed intrigued. Kairos took a seat, and I made my way back to mine.

I cleared my throat, gathering my thoughts. “As Kairos mentioned, I’m proposing a change to the pack’s ranking system. I want every wolf to be treated equally, their status determined not by their birth rank but by their demonstrated abilities.”

King leaned forward. “What’s your plan?” he asked. I hadn’t prepared a response, and panic began to set in. The concept was grand, but I was unsure of how to implement it.

Kairos stepped in to help. “We could assess them when they reach maturity. Raise them all equally, allowing everyone the same opportunities as they grow.

“And once they’ve proven their capabilities, we assign them ranks.”

Whispers began to circulate among our guests. Even Nathan seemed uneasy, fiddling with his collar.

Was he concerned? Nathan hadn’t exactly proven himself to be a formidable fighter. He was simply born into his rank.

“Would this separate families?” King asked, uncertainty in his voice.

“We aim to level the playing field. An Omega could have Beta offspring, and Betas could become Omegas. We’ll raise them all equally. No labels until they’re ready to fight,” Kairos clarified.

“And they’ll all coexist. There won’t be any segregation in their living areas. No more Omega or mid-ranks.”

“They won’t be pleased,” King warned.

“So…you’re not in favor of the idea.”

“It’s merely an observation. They’re resistant to change,” King replied, but his expression suggested approval.

He fell silent. The room was filled with puzzled faces, prompting Kairos to break the silence. “What’s your verdict?” he asked.

King turned to me. “Proceed. But keep me updated on the progress.” He rose from his seat, prompting everyone else to do the same. “Now that we’ve settled this, I’d like to take Peter and return to my pack.”

Kairos looked taken aback. “I thought you’d be staying for a few days.”

King glanced at Kairos, then back at his pack. “Could you give us a moment?” he asked, waiting for everyone to exit. “Could someone get Peter ready?” he requested, and Kairos signaled to Nathan.

Once the door closed behind him, King began to pace the room. “I had intended to stay. To reminisce about the old days. But now I have my own pack, my own rules.

“I’ve never prevented anyone from altering the rules, and this mindset has stuck with me. For this reason, I need to remain impartial. I don’t want to be present when these changes take place.

“I don’t want to give the impression that I favor any particular pack or set of rules. And if something as significant as this is happening, I won’t be here to witness it and attach my name to it. I’ll let you do as you please.

“But let me be clear, Kairos, this is not how I govern.” And just like that, I’d driven a wedge between King and Kairos.

Kairos nodded, his expression unreadable.

We all filed out, and shortly after, Peter was brought out. He was unshackled but his head was bowed. King’s pack was ready to depart.

King and Kairos were exchanging final words. “We have vehicles waiting a few miles from here.” King clapped Kairos on the shoulder. “Keep me posted.”

He turned to me and bowed his head. “Luna Adelie. I may not have mentioned this, but I wish you all the best in adapting to your new self,” he referred to my wolf.

“But something tells me that you’re not one to back down easily.” He gave a small smirk.

“She isn’t,” Kairos affirmed, taking my hand in his.

And just like that, King and his crew departed, with Peter trailing behind.

I looked up at Kairos. “Did you want him to stay?” I asked.

He gave a nonchalant shrug, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. “Adelie, he’s the King. He can’t risk his life for me.”

“You could’ve refused me, but you let me go back and present my idea to him. You were against it initially, then you changed your mind. Why?” I questioned him.

Was he doing all this because he felt obligated? Because the King had belittled me? Because he felt the need to protect his mate? “I wanted to. Plus, I’m done living in fear of the past.

“I’ll give you everything you deserve. Take all the power you want. Rule the pack in any way you want. I trust you completely.”

I looked at him, stunned. “You didn’t have to do that.”

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Do what?”

“Declare all that in front of the King. You’re still the Alpha. I don’t feel any less powerful if you lead. And you certainly don’t have to prove anything to me.”

“But I wanted to. I trust you. Do as you please. You don’t even need to consult me. I’ll let you do whatever you want. Even if you decide to banish me, go ahead.

“Because I trust your judgment,” Kairos said.

I glanced around, checking if anyone was nearby. But everyone had gone back to their duties. I looked into his eyes. Why was he saying all this?

“First a dagger through your heart and now banishment?” I asked. “Who do you think I am?”

He didn’t respond, just took my hand and kissed it. “I think we have some announcements to make.”