Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Chapter 10
ALINA

The next time I woke up, a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. My head felt heavy, and my limbs were sluggish as if I were trying to move through water. I blinked, my vision clearing slowly, and realised that I was somewhere strange. My hand travelled up to my head and I pressed against it lightly.

What the hell was going on? I tried to remember what happened the last time I was awake, and I immediately remembered. Kai was standing in front of me. He had punched Xavier and had made someone to make me unconscious. A wave of anger surged through me, making my chest tighten. I wanted to get out of this place, and I wanted to get out now.

I felt something cool pressed against my forehead. I turned my head slightly and saw Kai sitting on the edge of the bed. I hadn't even noticed him before. He was holding a cold towel, which I guessed he was using to press on my forehead. The fact that he thinks he can touch me after everything he has done makes me want to genuinely ask where he sourced his audacity from.

"What the hell did you just do?" I snapped, jerking away from his touch, the words coming out less harsh than I'd intended because of my sore throat. I shoved his hand away when he tried to press the cold towel on me again, glaring at him with all the fury I felt.

He didn't move or flinch. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh, and set the towel aside. "I had to bring you back to the pack." He said quietly, like he was trying to keep himself calm and not appear nervous.

I sat up, my head spinning slightly, but I ignored it. "Bring me back? You kidnapped me." My voice rose with each word, my anger boiling over. "What is wrong with you? What even made you think you could take me away from my pack and bring me back here against my will after what you told me the last time we met?"

He opened his mouth and paused, like he had lost the words he was going to say, then he took a deep breath, "Alina, I know I've made a mistake," he started, his voice tight, "but I had to do this. I couldn't let you stay there."

I shook my head, laughing because I couldn't even believe we were having a conversation like this, "You think you get to decide what's best for me? Who the hell do you think you are?" My ire increased with every second that passed and with every statement he spoke.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his face. "I'm trying to apologise, Alina. I know what I did, how I hurt you when I di-"

I didn't want to hear it. "You mean when you slept with me and then rejected me as your mate?" I cut him off, my voice sharp. " I don't want your apology, Kai. I want you to take me back to my pack. Now."

He flinched, looking pained. That brought me satisfaction, but not enough satisfaction to tolerate seeing his face for another minute again, "Just hear me out, please. I realised I can't live without you. I tried, but-"

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You think I care about your pain? You think your guilt makes it better?" I could feel the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let him see me break. "You're a liar, Kai. I'll never forgive you, and I certainly won't believe anything you say."

"Alina, please..." He stretched his hand to touch me, but I swatted him away before he could touch me. Somehow, the thought of his hand on me made me want to cringe. I did not want any part of him to come close to me ever again.

"No!" I yelled, my entire body trembling. "Take me back to my pack. I don't want to stay here with you."

His jaw tightened, and I saw another flicker of hurt flash across his face. But then his expression hardened. "You don't understand," he said, his voice low. "That pack you went to and the whole people there are not what they seemed to be. I know you think they are good people, but I promise you they are not. They are rebels who betrayed their own pack and live in solitude. They're dangerous, Alina. I couldn't let you stay there."

I glared at him. How did he ever think I was going to believe him when he was trying to bash the people who have taken me in and have loved me for three months? I did not care what he really thought about them, "You're just saying whatever you can to keep me here," I accused. "You're lying. I do not care what you say about them because I know I am safer and happier with them than I have ever been anywhere else. I want to go back."

He looked genuinely frustrated, as veins popped on his forehead, "I'm not lying, Alina," he insisted. "I'm trying to protect you." I scoffed. "Protect me? From what? The only person I need protection from is you, Kai."

The words hung in the air between us. His eyes were red from hurt, and that brought me even more satisfaction. I wished him this kind of pain for the rest of his life for what he had done to me that day, three months ago. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, he looked like he had finally given up on his useless attempts to make me stay with him.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice quiet. "I'll take you back. But it has to be in the morning. The woods are dangerous at night, and I won't risk your safety."

I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to soften, "Tomorrow morning, then. First thing."

He nodded, his expression weary. "First thing," he agreed. There was a heavy silence between us for a moment as I looked away from him, and I could feel his gaze on me but I refused to meet his eyes. Looking at him was only going to make me more disgusted with him.

"Can I stay with you?" he asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper.

I stared at him, incredulous. The fact that he thought he could ask me that kind of question only pissed me off more, "Are you kidding me? No. Leave this room, and if you won't, as it is your palace, then I will leave."

For a moment, he looked like he might argue, his lips parting as if to speak. But then he just nodded, his shoulders slumping." Alright, I will leave," he murmured, turning away. He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. "I am really sorry, Alina," he said softly as he looked down at my stomach. I considered the possibility that he knew I was pregnant, but I threw that out almost immediately. It wasn't possible, and I also did not want him to know about it.

I turned my back to him as I readjusted my position on the bed.

"Get out." My voice was firm and harsh, and I loved it. He left, closing the door quietly behind him. I lay in that position, feeling my chest close up from the pain I felt that night. I had never felt more alone, betrayed, and hurt by anyone. He was supposed to protect me, not discard me like I was a piece of garbage after he had just slept with me. I felt a tear escape down my cheek, and I angrily wiped it away. I wouldn't cry for him. Not again.

I propped myself up and sat down, wrapping my arms around myself, feeling the weight of that memory pressing down on me. I had thought I had moved on from all of this, but apparently, I haven't. I was just so distracted with Xavier and the pack that I forgot about how much it hurt. I was not going to let Kai see me like this. I wiped away with angry tears, then laid back down, staring at the ceiling, hoping the hours passed by quickly.

My mind was spinning with thoughts of what he had said about the pack, about the rebels. Part of me wanted to believe him, to think that he was telling the truth. But a bigger part of me knew better. Kai might be the most selfish person I knew. He was the alpha of the entirety of the Seven Isles. I was sure that he was used to lying to get his needs done, I wouldn't fall for it. I was betrayed by him once. If I allowed myself to fall for this betrayal, then I would only have myself to blame for this time.

With that thought, I went to sleep, hoping the hours quickened so I could be reunited with Xavier as soon as possible.