~Alpha Kilhan~
~The Next Day~
While Celine and Kendrick slept soundly in the room, I stepped out and saw Drex lying on the couch.
“Drex,” I called softly, and he opened his eyes.
“Alpha Kilhan.” He called, sitting up. I settled next to him on the couch and lowered my head.
“Are you alright??” He asked, and I heaved a sigh and raised my head to look at him.
“I hate myself, Drex. I shouldn’t have sent her out of the house that day. I should have listened to her. What if something bad happened to her and our baby?” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Alpha Kilhan, you had no idea she was pregnant. It all happened so fast. It’s not your fault.”
“No, it is. I should have known. She was ill that day, Drex. I let my emotions get the best of me and sent her out when I knew her father was after her. I have to make it up to her and I don’t even know how to start.” I responded, and he sighed.
“Start by making her feel safe. She just ran away from her father’s house to be with you. It’s like starting a war. We need to be prepared for what is to come.” He answered, and I nodded.
“I need to hide her away for now. If I don’t end Darius, this will never end.” I answered, and he nodded.
“That’s true, but we can’t consider ending Darius now. We know it’s almost impossible. The best we can do is hide her well. At least, we know she’s safe here, for now.”
“He’ll know she came to me now that he knows that she isn’t there anymore. He’ll head to our house, and mother is yet to even wake up from her long a*s sleep.” I muttered in frustration, brushing my hair back with my hands.
“Alpha Kilhan, we are going to figure this out. I know we will. We just need to calm down and think about this very well. I know losing Celine and your son isn’t an option right now, and the pack knowing about it isn’t an option either. We just need to protect this secret for now.” Drex explained, and I nodded.
“Right. I think I’ll head back home. Act like nothing has changed in case Alpha Darius pays us a visit. It’s best to act dumb about the situation…”
“Kilhan?” I heard Celine call from behind me, and I hastily stood up and walked up to the room door, where she stood.
“Celine, you’re awake,” I uttered with a smile, planting a kiss on her lips.
“Yes. I found out you weren’t lying next to me. I thought you left already.” She answered.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Why would I leave? I’ve made that mistake once, I won’t do it again.” I reassured her as she wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest.
“I can’t begin to imagine what is going on in my father’s house as we speak. I’m scared.” She mumbled, and as I embraced her, I looked over her head at Drex.
“One thing we know is that he would suspect that you’re with me, and he wouldn’t like that.”
She hastily raised her head and locked her gaze with mine. “What are we going to do then? He can’t know where I am, he’ll lock me and Kendrick up and never let us out…”
“That is if he doesn’t even kill me first.” I butted in, and she let out a deep breath.
“What do we do? Please tell me you have a plan.” Her gaze moved from mine to Drex’s.
“It’s simple. You’re not with me and I haven’t seen you since I left your house. You never came to me, and you never will. Not until he’s dead.”
“Dead? You’re going to kill him? Kilhan, that is a death mission.”
“I know, Celine, and I am not killing him, okay? For now, I just want to protect you and our son. I’ll go back home, act like nothing has happened, and await the arrival of your father. Drex will be here to protect you.”
“Kilhan, you have to make him believe you don’t know where I am. Please. I don’t want him to hurt you because of me.” She muttered, cupping my face in her hands.
“I promise to convince him well,” I assured her, and she bobbed.
“Okay. I’ll take care of our son well while you’re gone.” She responded, burying her head in my chest again.
***
Getting home, I found Betty pacing in front of my office, with a worrisome look on her face.
“Betty?”
“Kilhan!” She called as she ran to me and jumped on me. “Where the hell did you go? I’ve been sick and worried about you since yesterday. I thought something bad happened.” She muttered, holding me very tight.
“I’m fine, Betty. You don’t have to worry about me.” I answered, carefully getting her hands off me.
“I missed you.” She answered with a smile as she moved her face closer to mine, but I stopped her.
“What are you trying to do?”
“I’m trying to kiss you. Why? What’s wrong?”
“That stops today,” I uttered coldly, walking away from her. I opened the door to the office and walked in.
“What’s going on?? Where were you last night?”
“Betty, it’s none of your business. The last thing I need right now is your distraction. I need to think, okay?”
“I understand that you feel I’m a distraction, but I just care, okay? I really care about you, Kilhan. You haven’t been yourself since you left Darius Gomez’s house.”
“I told you, you don’t have to care or worry about me. I’m fine.” I answered, avoiding her gaze.
“Kil…”
“Alpha Kilhan!!” The yell of my name from the front of my office door cut her short, and we both looked at the door in awe.
“Who the hell is that?” She asked angrily, storming towards the door. Upon opening the door, one of the guards stormed in, breathing very hard.
“What’s going on?” I asked, standing up from the chair I sat on.
“We… I just sighted Alpha Darius and some of his men on his way into our compound.” He uttered fearfully.
“Darius? What the hell is he doing here?” Betty asked in terror as she turned to look at me. I put on a confused look and stood up.
Without saying a word to them, I walked out of my office and headed to the living room, while they followed behind me.
Getting to the living room, I could see my pack members, standing at the door, covered in great fear.
Getting to the door, I walked past them to the front of the house, where I once again came in contact with Darius. With confidence, I began to walk down the stairs, approaching him.
He looked so furious, trying to contain his anger, but I didn’t let this scare me.
“I thought you said we should never meet again. You are the one who is breaking the rules now.” I uttered, keeping a reasonable distance between us.
“Where is she?” He asked in a low, yet daring tone.
I furrowed my brows like I didn’t understand and shook my head slightly. “Who is ‘she’?” I asked, and he scoffed impatiently, moving closer to me.
“Don’t act dumb! I know she came here after running away from home last night. Bring her out and we can pretend this never happened.” He uttered, and I raised my eyebrows.
“Alpha Darius Gomez, you made it clear to me that your daughter has moved on from me and doesn’t need me anymore. Why do you think she came to me?”
He closed the gap between us, placing his face next to my right cheek. “Because I know you didn’t fall for that shit. Now bring her out or things will get really ugly!” He yelled, looking at the house like he was expecting Celine to jump out and save the day.
“She is not here, Darius.” I insisted, folding my arms on my chest.
“Then, I’ll have to make sure of that myself. I don’t believe you.”
“I know you don’t. But before you search, we have to strike a deal.” I uttered, causing him to scoff.
“Strike a deal? And why on earth would I want to strike a deal with you?”
“Because this is trespassing and an invasion of privacy. You are here against your own laid-down rules. You can’t just do whatever you want here. This is New York, not New Orleans.” I answered boldly.
I saw him clench his jaws really hard as he stared at me coldly. “Fine. What do you want?” He asked.
“I want you to totally stay away from me and my family. And this includes your daughter. You have done enough damage to me, my family, and my pack. Give me your word. You won’t bother us anymore, and then you’re free to search the entire house for all I care.” I said the last sentence, shrugging my shoulders.
He slowly narrowed his gaze at me and looked back at his men, who were ready to do whatever he wanted.
“Deal.” He uttered, and almost immediately, his men rushed from behind him, heading into the house.
“Kilhan!” Betty called in surprise from the door, as she couldn’t hear a word we had spoken.
“Let them be. It’s for the best.” I answered, keeping my unwavering gaze fixed on Darius’ eyes.
After minutes of staring at each other like we were waiting for the referee to blow the whistle in the boxing ring, his men finally came out of the house.
“She’s not in there, sir. Not a trace of her.” They said to him, and I heaved a loud sigh.
“I told you,” I answered boastfully.
In frustration, Darius moved closer to me again. “Don’t you ever think that because I have given you my word, I wouldn’t keep my eyes on you. The very second I get a hint that she’s anywhere around you, I’ll come back for her. And this time, it would be bloody.” He threatened as he turned to leave.
“Don’t worry, Alpha Darius. I hate anything that has to do with you so much that if I ever lay my eyes on her, you’ll be the first person I’ll call.” I uttered in a loud voice as I watched them walk out of my compound.
As soon as they were all out, I heard footsteps approaching me from behind. I looked back and saw all the pack members staring at me in great confusion and curiosity.
“What was that about, Kilhan? Why are they looking for Celine here?” Betty questioned, and I shrugged.
“I have no idea either. I’m as surprised as you are.” I answered, walking past her.