Chapter 77 CHAPTER 77

Chapter 77 CHAPTER 77
ΚΑΙ

A day had passed, but the events of yesterday still weighed heavily on my mind. Alina's mother-brought back from the dead. The skin walkers. The power Alina wielded was undeniable but dangerous.

Even with everything going on around me, I could not help but feel like it was all a dream, yet the growing unease I felt was very real. I knew I had to talk to someone about it, and Lily was the only one who could help me make sense of this chaos.

When I found her in the meeting room, I didn't waste any time. " Lily," I began, running a hand through my hair, "something happened yesterday... something big."

She looked up from her notes, sensing the tension in my voice." What happened? Is everything okay?"

I shook my head, taking a seat across from her. "Alina brought her mother back from the dead using magic. Can you even believe it?"

Lily's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How? I mean, I know she's a witch, but... bringing someone back from the dead? That's ancient, forbidden magic. If not even impossible. That is dangerous, Kai."

"I know," I said, leaning forward. "And it wasn't just that. When I went to the woods, I saw them both-Alina and her mother-using magic to kill the skin walkers. The loop power they displayed was unlike anything I've ever seen. They used just a single force and brought them down when they had surrounded us and nearly killed my guards and me."

Lily frowned, her expression darkening. "And you're sure it's her mother? Not some imposter or trick?"

"I'm sure," I replied, though doubt still lingered in my chest. "But something about it just doesn't sit right with me. I don't trust her mother. There's something off, something I can't explain. You can't just come back from the dead for several years and have all of that power stored somewhere in your body. There is something sketchy here and I want to know all about it."

Lily leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping against the armrest. "It's understandable that you feel wary. I mean, I feel fucking wary too. Bringing someone back from the dead is not something to take lightly. There are always consequences, Kai. Always. And we do not want the consequences falling back on us in our own land."

Her words echoed my own fears. I couldn't ignore the warning bells in my mind any longer. "I need to confront Alina about this," I said finally. "I can't just sit by while witchcraft takes over our home."

"But you need to be careful about how you are going to speak to her. That's her mother whom she had clearly missed for a long time. If you upset her then you know she could flip out."

I nodded, taking every word she said into account. After that, I went to my room and started to contemplate how to speak to her. Alina was sensitive and she was going to be more sensitive now when she realized that I was about to ask her to undo something she was so proud of doing. She was just a beginner witch, while bringing someone back from the dead was ancient and hard magic.

How is she able to access all of that power and yield it? Everything here just shouted that it was all fucking sketchy. Later that day, I made my way to Alina's quarters, my heart heavy with fear of what was going to happen. When I entered the room, I found her and her mother setting up strange artifacts-candles, crystals, and symbols I didn't recognize.

The air felt charged with magic, and I couldn't help the unease that crept into my bones. I felt uncomfortable. This wasn't just normal witchcraft. I didn't want to have this in my own home.

"Alina," I called, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can we talk in private?"

She looked up from the array of witchy items she was arranging and gave me a soft nod. "Of course." She gestured for her mother to stay behind as she followed me out of the room.

I led her to a quieter spot in the hallway, away from the sight of the artifacts and her mother. Once we were alone, I turned to her, my expression serious. "Alina, I don't feel comfortable with you practicing witchcraft here. In the palace."

Her brow furrowed, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Why not? I'm a witch, Kai. This is who I am. I should be able to practice wherever I want."

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "It's not just that. Not everyone in the pack has accepted you fully yet. Witchcraft is still controversial. It's dangerous, and I don't want to put you or anyone else at risk."

Her eyes darkened with hurt, and I could see the anger bubbling

beneath the surface. Fuck. "So, what are you saying? That you don't accept me either? That you think I'm dangerous, just like everyone else does?"

"No," I replied quickly, reaching for her hand. "Of course not. I love you, Alina. But you have to understand. Magic like this is not

something people can easily accept. You've seen how the pack reacts. They're afraid."

She pulled her hand away, her lips trembling. "So you're afraid too. You're just like them."

Before I could respond, a sudden bang echoed from the room we'd left. Our heads snapped toward the sound, and we rushed back in to see what had happened.

Alina's mother stood in the center of the room, her eyes rolling back into her head as she chanted something under her breath. Magic

swirled around her, thick and heavy, filling the space with an eerie energy. My stomach turned, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"No," I muttered, stepping forward. "I'm not accepting this."

I turned to Alina, my voice low but firm. "You need to take her out of here. I can't have this happening in the palace."

Alina stared at me, disbelief washing over her features. "She saved your life, Kai. You wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for her."

"I don't care," I shot back, my frustration and fear taking over my basic human decency. There was no way in the world that I could let this happen under my roof. "I'm grateful for that, but I'm not going to allow her to practice witchcraft in my home. This is dangerous."

Alina's face twisted with anger, her hurt deepening. "She's my mother! She's the reason I'm still alive, and you want me to throw her out? After everything we've been through?" Her voice broke at the end. I knew her mother has been through a lot, but the urge to be selfish overtook me.

I took a step closer, my voice dropping. "Alina, this isn't just about you or me. This is about the pack. The palace. The people that leave her, for damn's sake. They won't stand for this, and you know that. You're putting everyone at risk."

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, we were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"What the hell is going on here?"

We both turned to see Aunt Arya standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene. The magic crackled in the air like a storm, the strange artifacts, and Alina's mother in the middle of it all. Her face twisted in horror.

"Kai," Aunt Arya said, her voice shaking. "You need to get her out of here. Now. She's a witch! Do you realize what this means? The palace is defiled. We'll have to destroy it if she stays."

My heart sank at the sight of Aunt Arya's fear. Alina looked at me, desperation in her eyes, silently begging me to defend her. But I couldn't. I couldn't put everyone in danger.

"I'm sorry, Alina," I whispered, my voice cracking. "But she has to go."

Tears filled Alina's eyes as she stepped back, betrayal and anger radiating from her. "So, you're just like them. You don't really accept me."

"Alina..." I started, but the words died in my throat. I couldn't find the right thing to say. She knew I accepted her. I went through all of this together with her and I resisted my pack and morals to be with her.

Without another word, she turned on her heel, her movements stiff with fury. She grabbed her mother's arm and started to stuff all of the artifacts in the bag. After that, stormed out of the palace without even giving me a second glance, leaving me standing there, watching her leave.

As they disappeared into the night, a cold dread settled over me. Had I just lost her? Had I made the right choice? Should I just have left her and her mother to practice that kind of magic under my roof when I knew how dangerous it was?

I didn't know.

All I knew was that the palace felt emptier without her, and for the first time, I wondered if I had made the biggest mistake of my life.