Chapter 20 Chapter 20
ΚΑΙ
I paced outside Maria's door, my mind racing. I couldn't remember the last time I had come to her room-usually, I'd just call for her to come to me. But today was different. Today, I didn't have the answers. I needed help. I needed advice, and Maria was the only one I could think of who might actually know what to do.
I took a deep breath and knocked. A moment later, the door creaked open, and there she was my younger sister, with her long black hair tied back in a messy bun and that faint scar running along her cheek, a reminder of one of her horse training sessions that had gone wrong years ago.
"Kai?" She blinked in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. "What are you doing here? You never come to my room."
I gave her a tight smile, trying to keep my nerves in check. "Yeah... I figured it was about time I broke that habit." Maria raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, come on in. You look like you've got something on your mind."
She stepped aside, allowing me to enter. Her room was cluttered, as usual-training gear scattered around, books piled on her desk, and a couple of swords propped up in the corner. I sat down in the chair she offered, running a hand through my hair as I tried to gather my thoughts.
She sat across from me, crossing her legs and leaning back, waiting patiently. "So... what's going on, big brother?" she asked, smiling slightly. "You look like you're about to burst."
I hesitated, unsure of how to even start. My mind kept replaying everything-Alina, the harem women, the elders pressing me to take the throne, and the mess I'd made of everything. How was I supposed to explain this to Maria without sounding like a complete fool?
"Where's Nina?" I asked, trying to stall for time. Our youngest sister, Nina, was usually around, and her absence felt strange.
Maria shrugged, raising an eyebrow at my obvious deflection. "I don't know. Out training, probably. But don't change the subject. What's wrong, Kai?"
I sighed, feeling my shoulders slump. "It's... complicated," I muttered, trying to avoid the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.
She gave me a pointed look. "Well, you came here for a reason. So spit it out."
I glanced up at her, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I wasn't used to being this vulnerable, especially not with Maria. But I had no other choice. "I need to win back my mate," I finally blurted out, my voice rough.
Maria blinked in surprise, but then she sat up straighter, her expression becoming more serious. "Alina?" she asked softly.
I nodded, my throat tight. "Yeah. I don't know how to fix things with her. I've messed everything up, Maria, and I don't know where to start."
Maria tilted her head, studying me for a moment. "Okay, slow down," she said gently. "Start from the beginning. What happened? Give me a timeline."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I tried to put the pieces together. "Well, it all started when she was offered to me as a mate by her pack, but I... I slept with her and then rejected her as my mate." I winced as the words came out, feeling the weight of my actions pressing down on me. "And now, I've brought her back because I need her to ascend the throne, but she doesn't know that."
Maria stared at me, her mouth falling open slightly. She winced, shaking her head slowly. "Kai... that's really bad. Like, really bad."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I know. Trust me, I know."
She let out a long breath, leaning back in her chair. "Well, you've definitely got a mess on your hands," she said bluntly. "But you came to the right place."
I looked at her, hopeful but unsure. "What should I do?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.
Maria tapped her fingers against the arm of her chair, thinking for a moment. "First off, you need to stop pushing the sensitive topics. Every time you talk to her, it's about the baby, the pack, the throne... and that's just going to make her feel more distant. You need to focus on her. Get to know her, who she is beyond the problems."
I nodded slowly, realizing how much sense that made. Every conversation with Alina had been tense, centered around things that were only making things worse. "Okay," I said. "But how do I start? Every time I try, it feels like she puts up a wall."
Maria smiled softly. "You need to break that wall with something meaningful," she suggested. "Give her something sentimental, something from her pack that will remind her of home. It'll show her that you care about more than just the throne."
I frowned, thinking. Something from her pack? Then, it hit me-the box of chocolates. The ones that had been gifted to me by Alina's pack alpha. They'd told me those chocolates were only eaten by the elite of the Blackstone pack, a special delicacy. It might be a small gesture, but it was something.
"The chocolates," I murmured, more to myself than to Maria.
She raised an eyebrow. "Chocolates?"
I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Her pack gave me these chocolates when she first came here. Only the elite in her pack ate them. Maybe I could give them to her, strike up a conversation."
Maria's eyes lit up, and she grinned. "Perfect. Women love chocolates, especially ones with sentimental value."
I smiled for the first time in what felt like days. "Thanks, Maria. I really needed this."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Anytime, big brother. Now go get those chocolates and try to start fixing this mess you made."
I nodded, standing up and giving her a quick hug. "You're the best, you know that?"
"I know," she said, smirking. "Now go. You've got work to do."
I left her room and headed back to mine, my mind buzzing with nervous energy. I opened the drawer where I had stored the chocolates and stared at the ornate box. My heart pounded in my chest as I mentally rehearsed what I was going to say to Alina when I gave them to her. I didn't want to mess this up. Not again.
As I got ready, I couldn't shake the nerves that twisted in my stomach. What if she didn't want to talk to me? What if she refused the chocolates, saw it as another ploy to win her over?
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Just talk to her, I told myself. Get to know her again. This is your chance. With the chocolates in hand and my thoughts racing, I made my way toward Alina's quarters. My heart pounded harder with every step, but I knew this was something I had to do. I needed to make things right, and I had to start somewhere.