Chapter 101 GETTING MAD
Chapter 101 GETTING MAD
Kali's POV
The first thing I noticed the moment I peeled my eyes open, was the morning rays slipping into my room. It streamed through the tall windows, and even though it paintedthe floor in golden strips that looked absolutely beautiful, I couldn't bring myself to admire it.
If anything, the sight seemed to put me off all the more. Deep down, I knew the problem wasn't with the sunlight. It had nothing to do with nature's creation and everything to the man who paraded himself as the Alpha around here.
Diego.
He'd been in my mind all through last night, and even the moment when I struggled to fall asleep, he was the first face I saw in Dreamland.
Even in an alternate universe, I just couldn't catch my breath. His hands had been all over me in that dream, and instead of the both of us fighting after dinner, we headed to his room to finidh up what we'd started.
I knew it was a dream, but I hated how vivid and real it felt. Call me crazy or whatever, but if I got the opportunity to go back to sleep, just so I could relive that moment, over and over again, believe me when I said I was going to take the chance.
I sat at the edge of my bed, still clutching the sheet like it could anchor me, my mind running circles around Diego. He hadn’t come by since last night, not that I expected him to, especially after the impromptu meeting with the council. I didn't even do much as get a glimpse of his shadow in the halls, and it left me in this restless state I hated.
Mad. That’s what I was. Mad that he would lie to me, mad that he would go through insane lengths just to “test” me. What kind of test was that anyway? Of all methods he could employ, why did he have to go with the one that was most likely to leave me traumatized?
I was mad that he would ask me to lie to him as if I had no right to honesty, like I was some kind of revenge thirsty and hungry person. It was as if he wanted to be right about me, but yet I'd proved him wrong and now, he was struggling to grapple with the fact that it was reality.
While all of my points were valid, yet underneath the anger, something gnawed at me. The question of why. Just because I didn't have an idea what motivated him to do so, didn't mean there wasn't a thought or something else behind all of this. If I could find out what it was, then perhaps I would be able to know what the problem was.
Why would he want me to lie? Why would he want me to bend truth into something false, unless he was trying to protect something or someone?
I shook my head sharply, annoyed at myself. He didn’t deserve my curiosity, and so in one swift moment, I pushed every thought and question that had to do with Diego. If he could pretend to be nonchalant, then I was going to do it as well.
I dressed and freshened up as quickly as I could, before making my way out of the room. I didn't have any activities planned or scheduled for today, and even though it increased my chances of running into Diego, I only prayed not to bump into the man.
If I had known what was going to happen seconds after the prayer slid past my lips, then best believe that I would have offered two requests to the goddess instead of one.
I slipped out into the corridor, hoping a walk would burn the edge off my thoughts. I wasn’t paying attention, since I was too lost in the bitter loop inside me, so when I rounded the corner and collided hard into another figure, I just didn't see it coming at all.
The sharp intake of breath I heard told me exactly who it was before I even looked up, and I felt my heart plummet to the ground.
“Well, look who decided to show her face again?.” Raelyn’s smile curved upwards into a sly grin. Her eyes glittered with mockery, and for a quick second, I had the intrusive thought to poke at her eyes. “If it isn’t our little stray.”
I wanted to speak. Heaven knows I already had the perfect comeback for Raelyn, but my wolf was quick to whisper than she wasn't worth it, and if I didn't listen to my instincts, something pricked at me that things were going to go horribly wrong.
“What's wrong?” She cut in again, pulling my attention back to her. “cat got your tongue, or have you finally realized that we were never on the same level?”
She was trying to bait me, but instead of falling for it, I clenched my jaw, already turning to move past her, when she stepped neatly into my path.
“You walk around here as if you belong,” she continued, circling me slightly, her perfume cloying and sharp. “But don’t get too comfortable. Just because your execution hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. In fact….”
“You know what?” She trailed off, just so she could lean in closer, lips nearly brushing my ear. “....I can’t wait to see you dragged out. To finally be put in your place.”
Her words were poison, and though I told myself I wouldn’t flinch, I felt my chest tighten. I opened my mouth, ready to spit something back, when the sound of firm footsteps filled the hall.
Leo.
His presence pressed against the air even before he spoke. Raelyn’s confidence cracked, her smugness faltering as she looked over her shoulder.
“I thought I had a good example what it meant to be commander of the Royal guards.” The words echoed around me, and I watched her flinch. “but apparently, I was wrong. Would you mind schooling me, and also point out the fool who told you bullying our guests was the right thing to do?”
“Beta leo,” Raelyn stammered, her smile now strained. “I was just…”
“Enough,” he cut her off, his tone sharp and dismissive. His gaze pinned her like she was nothing more than an annoyance and even I couldn't hold back the grin I was sporting. “Leave.”
For a heartbeat she lingered, as if debating whether to challenge him, but one look at his expression sent her scurrying down the hall, her heels clicking in quick retreat.
I let out the breath I’d been holding, tension leaking out of me, but Leo didn’t give me time to recover. The moment she disappeared, his eyes, steady and unreadable, turned to me.
“Have you done what I asked?” His voice was low, smooth, but carried an unmistakable weight. “Tell me Kali.”
“I’m… trying.” I blinked, caught off guard, though I knew exactly what he was referring to. “I just need more time. Diego isn’t forthcoming…”
“You don’t have time. We don't have time to waste till he's forthcoming,” he interrupted, his tone suddenly cold, and hard enough to freeze me in place. He stepped closer, his shadow falling over mine. “Do you think you’re the only option? The council has already begun pressing. If you can’t make Diego agree to take you as his breeder, they will appoint him a Luna themselves.”
My stomach dropped to my feet at his words Wait, what?
They echoed all around me, and no matter how hard I tried to push them away, they just refused to budge. They were like a hammer in my skull brutal and heavy and I could already feel a bad headache coming on.
They wanted to appoint a Luna? Why? Were they that desperate?
I would be lying if I said this newly found information didn't rub off on me the wrong way, but I just had to be bothered. Not because I was in love with Diego or anything, but because being his breeder was my only way to getting my revenge. If he were to get married to someone else, then it would be game over for me.
No.
“They wouldn’t….” I began, but his sharp look silenced me.
“They would. And they will.” His words cut, final and merciless. “Unless you step up.”
I swallowed, trying to mask the tremor that threatened my voice. “I said I’m trying.”
His gaze lingered on me for a long moment, and though he said nothing else, the weight of his warning was louder than anything Raelyn could have thrown at me.
“The fate of this pack lies in your hands, Kali.” He let out again, and I didn't miss the grave implications it carried. “that's all I'll say.”
When he finally turned and walked away, I stood rooted in place, my chest tight and my hands curling into fists at my sides.
Diego’s lies. Raelyn’s venom. Leo’s warning and the council's plans, they all pressed on me, suffocating every bit of air I was supposed to be inhaling.
What the fuck was I supposed to do now?