Chapter 78 CHAPTER 78

Chapter 78 CHAPTER 78
ALINA

I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal gnawing at my heart as I walked away from the palace with my mother by my side. The sting of Kai's rejection, the way he hadn't backed me in front of Aunt Arya weighed heavy on my chest. I'd expected him to stand by me, to protect me like he always had, but instead, he chose fear over love.

After all, I did. I risked my mother's life and mine to save him from the skinwalkers. I was a newbie witch so I possibly could not do all of that. But my mother helped me siphon magic from some of the artifacts that contained magic. She told me that it could kill me, doing that, but I still went ahead to do it because I could not stand Kai getting hurt when there was something I could do about it.

How he had driven me out of his house simply because of something he saw, not knowing that my mother was trying to wield back strength after what I went through while killing the white walkers. As we made our way through the winding streets, the evening air cold against my skin, I remembered that there was a small hotel nearby, just outside the palace walls. L

It wasn't the grandest of places, but it would be safe and comfortable enough for now. My mother had been quiet since we left, but I could sense her watching me closely, as if she knew exactly what was going on in my mind.

Eventually, the silence was too much for her to bear. "Alina," she said gently, "you're upset. What's going on inside that head of yours?"

I exhaled sharply, not wanting to get into it, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I just can't believe Kai threw us out. After everything we've been through, he didn't even defend me. He let them treat me like a monster. I thought he was always going to have my back but apparently, I am wrong."

To my surprise, Amara chuckled softly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Did you really expect him to do nothing, Alina? To allow us―witches—into his home, just like that?"

I blinked at her, a little taken aback by her response. I thought hey she was going to be defending me. Kai had just thrown us out with nowhere to go, someone that I really thought loved and cared for me. "Yes. I thought he loved me enough to stand up for me. For us."

Amara's smile faded slightly as she shook her head. "Oh, my sweet girl. It's not that simple. You need to understand, that Kai is a Lycan. His entire life, he's been taught that witches are dangerous, and that magic is something to be feared. He's just scared, Alina. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you."

"But," I faltered, biting my lip. "How can he love me if he's afraid of who I am? I didn't choose this, Mom. I didn't ask to be a witch. I never even knew anything about it or practiced witchcraft before until now. I thought I would always have him to back me and protect me from the people who wanted to hurt me, but instead, he's the one doing the hurting."

Amara's expression softened as she reached out to gently squeeze my hand. "I know you didn't, darling. But neither did Kai choose to grow up in a world that's hostile to witches. He has every right to be scared, to be unsure. You can't expect him to change overnight."

I stared down at the cobblestone path beneath my feet, her words sinking in. "So, what am I supposed to do? Just wait? Give him time until he realizes that I am not dangerous to him?"

Amara let out a small sigh, her gaze distant as she looked ahead. "Let me tell you a story, Alina. Maybe it will help you understand."

She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts, and I could tell this wasn't an easy story for her to tell. "When I was young, I lived in a pack not too different from the Seven Isles. I learned to hide my magic, to conceal who I truly was, because I knew that if anyone found out, they would fear me. Hate me. But eventually, your father and I met, and we fell in love. I thought maybe just maybe -I could live a normal life. But when your father found out the truth, he couldn't handle it."

My chest tightened at her words. Was that why my father had turned so cold towards me and had hated me when he had married his

second wife? Had he known all along?

"He insulted me," Amara continued, her voice trembling slightly. " He called me a monster. He kicked me out, just like that. But I never blamed him, not really. He was only reacting the way he'd been taught. His entire life, he'd been told that witches were evil, that magic was unnatural. He couldn't help it. It was ingrained in him."

I swallowed hard, the pieces slowly clicking into place. "So that's why he hated me too. Because I'm like you."

Amara nodded, her eyes full of sympathy. "He probably knew, deep down. And even if he didn't, the fear of it was always there."

A wave of sadness washed over me as I realized the truth. My father's love for me had always been conditional. It was so easy for him to go from loving to hating me when he found out I was a witch. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. My father isn't supposed to hate me just because of that.

He was a piece of shit, and I didn't even want to get closure from him. He has done whatever he thought was right then, and now he has faced his own consequences. But I feared the same thing was happening with Kai.

"So what do I do?" I asked quietly. "How do I fix this?"

Amara smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You give him time. You let him come to terms with it. You fight for your marriage, Alina. But you also need to understand that some people will never fully accept what they don't understand. It's not your job to change them. It's your job to be true to yourself."

Her words resonated deeply within me, and for the first time since leaving the palace, I felt a sense of clarity. Kai was scared, yes, but that didn't mean he didn't love me. He just needed time to process everything. At least he wasn't being horrible like my father was.

"I'm going to get you a place where you can be safe," I said after a moment, my voice steady. "A place where you can practice magic

without anyone bothering you. I'm sorry I had to take you out of the palace."

Amara chuckled again, shaking her head. "Don't apologize, Alina. I want the privacy. I've been alone for a long time, and a little peace and quiet will do me some good."

We continued walking in silence for a while, eventually reaching the small hotel on the outskirts of the palace grounds. It wasn't luxurious, but it was comfortable and safe. I wasn't entirely sure no one was going to come and murder her in her sleep, but I had nowhere to go. Going back to the palace and asking Kai for a semblance of protection was not my style.

I checked my mother into a spacious room with a cozy bed and soft lighting, making sure she had everything she needed.

"Thank you, Alina," Amara said, kissing me on the forehead. "You've grown into such a strong, beautiful woman. I'm proud of you."

I smiled, though my heart still ached. "I'll bring you new clothes and anything else you need later today. Just rest for now, okay?"

She nodded, and I gave her one last hug before leaving the room, my mind swirling with thoughts. I put on a disguise to avoid anyone from seeing me. I ruffled my hair, taking it down from the sleek bun it was always on. I looked different but not entirely. But at least enough to not bring so much attention to myself as I went to get supplies for my mother.

As I stepped outside, the cold evening air hit me once more, but this time, it felt different-less suffocating. I had a plan now, a way to move forward. I wasn't going to give up on Kai, and I wasn't going to let our love be torn apart by fear. But I also wasn't going to abandon my mother.

I had to find a balance between the two worlds I now found myself caught between. Witch and Lycan, magic and tradition, fear and love.

And somehow, I had to believe that everything would work out because if it didn't, I knew so clearly the side I was going to choose. We have been apart for a while and have been reunited. I would be damned if I left anything come between spending the rest of my life with my mother.