Chapter 33 — Katina
I wake up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow around the room, bathing everything in streaks of gold and yellow.
There's a lingering sense of unease gnawing at the pit of my stomach, as I blink away the last remnants of sleep from my eyes, for today is the day when Marco and the council will decide the fate of the alliance. But that's not the only reason why my heart feels heavy.
I haven’t had the chance to tell Marco the truth about Ezra's identity. Every time I gather the strength to open up to him, an opportunity slips away. It's as if fate itself conspires to keep us apart, a cruel reminder of the secrets I hold within.
More often than not, Marco is busy with meetings, discussing the intricate details of the alliance that could shape the future of our pack. By the time he returns to our den, I'm already lost in the embrace of sleep. And when dawn arrives, before I wake, he's already out and about, shouldering the weight of our responsibilities with unmatched determination.
But as I sit up from our bed this morning, something is different. Marco is waiting for me, his handsome face etched with a mixture of anticipation and concern as our gaze clash.
“Good morning,” he greets, his eyes earnest and full of love as he brushes his lips against my forehead.
I close my eyes and fight against the torrent of emotions inside me as I return his greeting, wondering if this is the time that I have to tell him the truth.
To be honest, hiding Ezra’s name from him feels a little stupid to me right now. I’ve told Marco every single thing except for the name of my old pack and the people I was forced to leave.
Perhaps it’s because I thought saying their names out loud will still give them a hold over me, a hold I am trying to break day by day, or perhaps it’s something else.
Before I can utter a word, Marco asks me to join him at the meeting, his eyes still earnest as he explains the importance of my presence there.
I inwardly sigh, caught between loyalty to Marco and my lingering doubts about Ezra's true intentions. Despite my reservations, I know I should trust Marco's judgment. After all, he is the alpha, and he has a great sense of judgment.
With a silent nod, I steel myself against what I am about to do, because there is no more room for hiding the truth from him. He has to know the truth before he makes an important decision because the alliance between our packs will force us to work together and be in the same vicinity constantly. And I have no idea if either of us will be able to keep up with that.
But as the words rise in my throat, they become lodged, tangled in a mess of conflicted emotions. Fear keeps me silent, the fear of losing Marco's trust, the fear of what the truth might unleash.
Just as I'm about to voice my concerns, Adrik interrupts, speaking animatedly about the possibility of the alliance.
I retreat into silence, a master of disguising my turmoil. Adrik's presence has unknowingly offered me a reprieve, and I take a moment to gather my thoughts, a mask of composed determination settling over my face.
I dress quickly, my movements calculated and deliberate. Baby Rhys gurgles happily in his nest, blissfully unaware of the storm raging inside his mother's heart. I hand him over to a trusted caretaker, hoping to shield him from whatever the outcome of today might be, for as long as I can.
As I step outside our den, I find Marco and Adrik waiting for me, and I silently follow them to the council chambers.
My heart races, my mind filled with doubts. I wonder if the others can sense the war being waged within me, the struggle to protect my pack and keep my secrets safe. Yet, amidst the turmoil, I manage to hide my emotions from Marco through the bond we share, refusing to let him bear the weight of my uncertainty.
Inside the council chambers, the atmosphere crackles with anticipation. Different pack members are also present as they await the council's decision, their gazes filled with hope and apprehension. As we wait for the council to convene, I steal a glance at Marco's profile. His strong jawline and his piercing eyes filled with determination remind me of the reasons why I fell for him. I owe him the truth, but for now, I must tread carefully, for the future of our pack hangs in the balance.
As the council settles into their seats, the air in the room grows thick with tension. I take my place among them, trying to steady the rapid beats of my heart. Little do I know that no matter how much I’ve told myself that I’ve moved on, I will still stumble upon the remnants of my past, totally unprepared for the whirlwind of emotions it will unleash.
Ezra, Lucia, and three other members from my old pack walk into the room, their presence jolting me with a shockwave of betrayal.
The pain hits me like a tidal wave shattering the fragile armor around my heart, and this time, there is no escape. Marco feels every gut-wrenching emotion that courses through me via the bond we share.
I turn towards him, my eyes filled with anguish, unable to hide the pain that gnaws at my soul. Even as I try to protect him from the darkness within, he senses the depths of my despair, experiencing everything together with me. In that moment, comprehension paints his face as he makes the connection between the story of my past and the mate whose name I refused to mention to him.
Marco’s grip tightens around my hand, and his voice reaches me through our bond. “Katina,” he whispers, his voice laced with apprehension. “Is Ezra your ex-mate?”
Tears pool in my eyes as I nod, unable to speak, my voice stolen by an overwhelming mixture of grief and anger. The room, once filled with hushed anticipation, now feels suffocating, heavy with the weight of my past wounds.
Before Marco can intervene, Lucia’s voice cuts through the silence, dripping with venom. “We decline this alliance,” she proclaims, her words like arrows aimed directly at my wounded heart. “Katina is no ally, but a treacherous infidel who ran away from her pack, seeking refuge under the umbrella of the strongest pack in the world.”
Her accusation hangs in the air, a noxious poison that infects minds and stirs chaos within the council chambers.
Anguished gasps and murmurs fill the room, like a tempest brewing in the midst of a peaceful harbor. Instinctively, Marco rises from his seat, ready to defend me against these false accusations, but the meeting has been set ablaze by Lucia’s words, and it’s too late to extinguish the flames.
Panic clenches my heart as I watch the turmoil unfold. The council members exchange wary glances, doubt creeping into their expressions. I search their eyes for a glimmer of understanding, desperate for them to see the truth that lies buried beneath the layers of betrayal and pain.
But before I can gather my thoughts and speak my defense, the room erupts into chaos. Shouts and accusations mingle, creating an indiscernible symphony of dissent and confusion. Marco’s hand seeks mine, anchoring me amidst the tempest, his touch a lifeline in this sea of turmoil.
Through the chaos, I catch the unmistakable tilt of Ezra’s lips as they lift into a smirk, his eyes brimming with satisfaction, and amusement.
“Silence!” Marco booms, his voice cutting through the commotion.
The council chambers fall silent, all eyes turning towards me. The weight of their gaze feels oppressive, threatening to crush the last vestiges of my hope beneath its burden.