Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Adelie

Esty and I were on our way to the pack, but she wasn’t up for idle chatter. Meanwhile, I was lost in thoughts of the tiny life growing inside me. I was pregnant, and I didn’t need a test to confirm it.

How had Esty known so quickly? I didn’t ask her. I was carrying a child, but it didn’t feel like the right time to discuss it. I felt like a ticking time bomb, with grief as my constant shadow.

How could I bring a child into a world like this?

Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of joy, thinking about how much Kairos wanted to be a father. I could almost see his face light up when I would tell him.

After discovering the lengths my parents went to protect me and my sister—a sister I hoped to one day acknowledge as such—I knew my child would be loved, regardless of the hurdles we’d face.

I was resolved to reach the pack, set things straight, and bring back my loved ones. But now, I was also scared, and I wasn’t entirely sure why.

I figured Esty’s presence was just messing with my head. She wasn’t exactly the nurturing type. Being pregnant wouldn’t change my priorities, it just meant I had one more person to protect.

“Someone will be waiting for my signal,” she finally broke the silence, pulling me out of my reverie.

She hadn’t mentioned calling anyone else before. “Who?” I asked.

“My brother, Burton,” she replied, her face devoid of any familial affection.

I had no idea she had a brother. She was quite the chatterbox, yet she’d never brought him up. I’d always assumed it was just her and her daughter.

But that didn’t really matter. “Can he help?”

“He’s been working behind the scenes for the past hundred years. He ensures that beings like Christopher don’t harm mythical worlds, and that creatures like us don’t interfere with humans.”

Her tone was laced with disdain as she spoke of him.

“Hundred years?” I echoed. “Is he immortal?”

She rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they might get stuck.

“He was granted immortality for using his sight for good. The gods rewarded him with eternal life in exchange for his guardianship of worlds,” she explained.

“But let’s focus. What’s your plan once we reach the pack?” she asked, steering the conversation back on track.

“I take it you’re not exactly fond of him,” I noted. She shot me a glare but didn’t respond. How could they be on good terms when Burton was doing the work of the gods while Esty was doing...well, the opposite?

I decided to answer her previous question.

“The prison cells are on the deserted side, so we’ll have to sneak around. It’ll likely be heavily guarded. Once there, I can immobilize the guards while I rescue Maeve and Fala.”

And that’s exactly what we did. As we emerged from the forest, we were cautious, scanning our surroundings for any signs of being spotted. I noticed two guards stationed by the prison doors.

But then it hit me. “They can mind link others,” I whispered to Esty. “Trapping them won’t work.” I was frustrated with myself for overlooking such a crucial detail.

“Can’t you just knock them out?” She rolled her eyes. “Just choke them a little.”

“I don’t want to kill them,” I retorted.

As I was trying to come up with a new plan, Esty offered a solution. “I’ll distract them,” she said.

I was about to question her when she suddenly feigned a fall, crying out in pain.

I seized the opportunity and made my way to the entrance while the guards rushed to Esty’s aid. I mentally noted the need for better training for them.

I hurried into the prison, scanning the cells for familiar faces. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw that the cells were filled with four men. “They brought in a treat,” one of them slurred, clearly intoxicated.

I could honestly say I’d never laid eyes on these men before. “Who are you?” I questioned, my surprise not hindering me from approaching the cells.

“Who are you?” one of them retorted, his tone hostile.

“I’m the Luna of this pack,” I replied, but they didn’t seem impressed.

“Luna?” he slurred, clearly intoxicated. “I’m Hank.”

I shook my head, puzzled. “What are you doing here? Why are you locked up?”

“Can’t remember,” one of them mumbled.

I jumped when I heard someone enter, but it was just Esty. “What happened to them?” I asked her.

“They’re resting,” she replied, her gaze falling on the drunken men. “Maeve and Fala sure look different.”

She scrunched up her nose, as if she’d caught a whiff of something unpleasant. “Goodness, they’re humans,” she declared.

The two men shared a glance before bursting into laughter. “Poor excuses for ones,” they cackled.

I exited the room, Esty trailing behind me. I noticed the two guards sprawled unconscious on the floor. I glanced back at her. “Oh, they’ll be fine,” she reassured me as I hurried towards my house.

It was then that I noticed the pack was deserted. In broad daylight. Where was everyone? I didn’t care anymore if I was seen.

I was still the Luna, and even if the pack despised me, it didn’t mean I was powerless. I’d frightened them before, and I could do it again. I could defend myself against an irate mob.

I stormed towards my house. “Are you sure, Adelie?” Esty called after me, but she continued to follow.

I pushed open the grand door and was immediately met with loud music and the entire pack partying, drinks in hand. Some were passed out against the wall. The place was a mess.

My shoes stuck to something on the floor. Alcohol was spilled everywhere. I ventured further inside, but no one acknowledged me. No one greeted or even insulted me.

A few pack members glanced my way, but I assumed they were too drunk to recognize me. I wandered around until I spotted Maeve descending the staircase. She looked relieved when she saw me.

She rushed towards me. Feeling her body against mine, the familiarity of her presence, I needed her. I buried my face in the crook of her neck. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I am so sorry, Adelie.”

I pulled away to look at her. “For what?” I asked.

“For not doing more… I didn’t think it would go this far,” she confessed.

“This isn’t your fault,” I reassured her, but she didn’t seem convinced. “What happened here?” I asked.

“Kairos is…he’s bad,” she admitted.

“How bad?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“You’d think if he came to his senses once in a while, it would be easier. We could ask him how he’s feeling and how to help him, right?” she suggested, but I just shrugged.

Maeve looked fragile, frightened, and exhausted. But then I realized what she’d said. “Has he? Has he come to his senses?” I asked.

She shrugged, looking around. “He should soon. Right now he isn’t.”

“What does that even mean?”

She was trying to explain when I saw the source of her worry descending the stairs. Kairos, in all his glory, was skipping down the steps, laughing to himself.

He looked down and saw me. I wasn’t sure whether to flee or stay put, but he was smiling. He looked terrible, like he hadn’t slept. “My wife is here!” he announced loudly, and a few heads turned our way.

He approached me, and I braced myself for an attack. But instead, he pulled me into a dance, spinning us around quickly.

“I guess I should be angry. Kairos set you free. But here you are again,” he said, grinning. “You just can’t seem to resist me, can you?”

“Christopher, what have you done to this place?” I asked.

He just chuckled. “It’s a party!” He released me and moved towards some of the pack women. He grabbed Riley, twirled her around, and then sat down, pulling her onto his lap. Then he kissed her.

He was actually kissing Riley. My blood was on fire. I could feel the lump in my throat as my cheeks flushed. Then my gaze shifted to other pack members who were watching me.

Maeve came up to me. “It’s not Alpha Kairos,” she reassured me.

But how could I not feel betrayed at this moment, seeing Kairos’ body with another woman? Yet, I didn’t want to be in her place either.

I turned my attention back to Maeve. “Where is Fala?” I asked, feeling guilty for not asking sooner.

Maeve shrugged, her eyes darting around. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since Kairos escaped.”

I tried not to imagine the worst, but Esty’s expression worried me. I needed to find Fala.

I glanced at Esty. “Where is Burton?” I asked.

“He’ll be here when he can.”

I didn’t press her for more information. Instead, I led Maeve to one of the empty rooms, away from the music, away from everything.

“What do I do about him?” I asked, but she just stared at me blankly. “When you got rid of him, what did they do?” I asked, and her jaw dropped slightly.

She knew that I knew. But it wasn’t her fault she was possessed. I didn’t want her to feel guilty.

“The person who is possessed needs to be half-dead. When his soul is teetering between life and death, only then can Christopher leave. But it’s not that simple. You can’t just get rid of him…

“There has to be someone else to transfer him to,” she said, looking down. “And Adelie…he won’t survive it,” she whispered.

She wasn’t really giving me the answer I was looking for. “Maeve… how did you escape him?”

She scratched the back of her neck and tangled her hand in her hair, either thinking or panicking. I wasn’t sure. I hated that she was taking so long to answer.

“I didn't know it would be Kairos,” she said. “I didn’t even know Kairos back then.” I didn’t like this. “They took him away from me, and he chose Kairos.”

She was crying, tears streaming down her face, while I was trying to process what I was hearing.

“Maeve.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Explain.” My mind was filling with thoughts that made me feel angry and sad and betrayed.

“A man took Christopher from me and transferred him to Kairos,” she sobbed. “I didn’t know him. I didn’t know what was happening. They didn’t explain anything to me.”

“How long ago was this?” I asked, struggling not to yell. To punch the wall. I needed to feel something other than this.

“Four years.” So, this must have happened while she was working in the vampire coven.

I laughed, but not because anything was funny. “You knew all this time?” I couldn’t contain my anger anymore. And now I understood why she had been apologizing to me.

Why she didn’t want to be the Beta. Why she was so upset right now.

“You let me wonder what was happening to him. If you had told me sooner… You were the one who imprisoned me, not him! You kept this from me and him!

“You could have saved him a long time ago, but you did nothing!” I shouted.

“He’s beyond saving, they said! I was hoping you’d unearth something I missed,” she retorted, her voice echoing with desperation. But then she inhaled deeply, steadying herself. “They told me he was destined to die like this, that his fate was sealed four years ago.

“For four years, I’ve been here, fulfilling his every request. I was the best support he could have because I felt responsible for his condition. I made a promise to myself to be his pillar of strength while he lived.

“That’s why I abandoned my past life and brought Maya and James along. I let go of everything to make his remaining days meaningful. I did everything in my power to make these years bearable.

“Day and night, I did everything, and yet it wasn’t enough. I never stopped seeking help. But I found nothing.”

“But you had a family when you joined this pack… Mia tore it apart. Was it worth it?” It felt like I was seeing Maeve for the first time. And I wished I hadn’t.

“They weren’t my family. We were allies, cohabiting. It was simpler to explain,” she confessed, tears streaming down her face again.

“I wanted to do more for Kairos. I tried to find a cure, but there wasn’t one. Adelie, I’ve searched everywhere, but there’s nothing.”

“What do you mean there’s nothing?” I was gasping for air. “You were liberated from him. He can be, too!”

“Because Kairos isn’t just possessed, he’s cursed. And only the death of the one who led him to Kairos can break it.”

“Cursed?” I echoed. “Curses can be broken,” I reassured myself. Was I trying to convince myself?

“I want you out of my sight, Maeve.” I exited the room before her, unable to bear the sight of her tears any longer.

I returned to the living room, where inebriated women were draped over Kairos. I recognized a few from Archibald’s pack.

Why hadn’t Archibald and Delilah intervened? We were allies. They should have done something. They should have at least kept their pack at bay.

This couldn’t be the end. There had to be another way.

Suddenly, I saw Kairos shove the women aside, rise to his feet, and storm up the stairs. He didn’t even glance my way. But his smirk was gone.

He didn’t seem in the mood to party anymore. And no one was around to follow him or intervene. I couldn’t just leave him alone.

But the pack was here, drunk and unruly. I took my time while Kairos was absent and paused halfway up the stairs. This was my pack! The one I had pledged to unite with. The one I was united with.

Esty noticed me and silenced the blaring music. This incensed them as they realized their Luna had returned. This could go one of two ways.

And I knew how it would unfold when they began to charge at me angrily. “Seize her!” one of them bellowed.