Chapter 156

***KARA***

I always knew this day would come, when. I would die at the mercy of Braden’s. I was full of hatred towards him. All I wanted was to be with my family but I was far away from them. Before I would reach them, the fire would have eaten me up.

I glanced at Jaxon, he had his arms wrapped around Riley and the baby’s face was buried in his chest. His eyes were closed as if awaiting this moment when the whole pain would be over. I knew why Jaxon didn't hurt Braden— our son was growing and he was too young to know the dangers of using a knife on someone. He didn't want Riley to grow up with murder etched in the small of his brain.

There were habits you had to give up when you started making children and yes anyone could exaggerate and say ‘Riley would never remember this time’ but I was only 3 when I watched my father kill my mother and the image stuck with me. Although I forgot, it still came back to my memory due to trauma.

Braden let me go and smiled at me. It was a reconciliation smile: it was over, and no one could fight anymore. He laughed hard and howled as he got on his knees.

The odor of smoke was becoming unbearable, and the scream of fear that pierced the air made me unsettled. Flames ate at the people I was meant to protect. That Jaxon was meant to protect, consuming them in its warm embrace. People cried. I was beginning to sweat profusely, everywhere was too hot to breathe. As the flames rolled forward, spreading far and wide, claiming the lives of innocent people, I closed my eyes and began praying to the moon goddess.

I felt the heat, I felt the flames consuming my wedding dress, and I felt it crawl up my legs. The smoke was suffocating; I was dying.

I just didn't like the way I was dying. Why did it have to be by fucking flames? Why couldn't he poison the air so when anyone inhaled it they would just die? I didn’t want my son to have to perish the hard way.

I was in pain. I wanted it to spread through my veins, to consume me and the little child within me then I would know it was over.

And then it stopped.

The noises, the flame, the pain, everything. As though it was frozen. The door parted open with the force of a gust of wind. Isabella came in with her baby in her arms and Antra followed closely behind.

"I'm sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" Isabella asked as she walked in gracefully. I was sure she was proud of her powers. If it wasn't for her I would be burning in flames by now.

Braden growled. "Isabella?"

"Hi brother, it's so not nice to see you again. But you're here already,” She said as she cuddled her daughter.

"Where did we stop?" Antra asked as she glared at Braden. "Remember me?"

Braden howled in anger and turned to face his sister. “Do you have to get in my way all the time?”

"I just started my family and now you're here? To end everything? I won't let you," Isabella said as she stood before her brother.

Braden scoffed, "You're not going to stop me, Isabella. What do you think you are? Some fairy godmother?" he said.

Isabella shook her head, “That’s an insult.” “I'm a god,” she corrected.

With a swift move of his hand, he took the baby from her arms and threatened to crush its skull under his boots.

Imefin rushed forward all panicky as he began to plead for his baby’s life. Just like Jaxon did.

Jaxon got on his feet and rushed to Braden. “You’re not killing anyone in my pack.”

Braden squeezed the child tight."If anyone comes near, I will kill her."

"Maybe then you will kill me like you tried to do my sister," Antra said and stabbed his leg.

Braden groaned out but still refused to let go. Antra pulled out the knife and licked it then stabbed him in the stomach.

“psychopath,” he muttered.

"Hand over the baby," Antra said, her voice cutting through the silence.

Braden was reluctant and it provoked Antra more. She pulled out the knife and began stabbing him repeatedly all over. Braden staggered as blood oozed out of his punctured skin.

"How does that feel huh? Does it feel good?" she asked and he growled in pain.

"That's for hurting Kara," she stabbed again, "That's for hurting my sister," she stabbed again but this time in his spine. "That's for your sister's baby.”

Braden's blood was all over her face and body. Braden staggered backwards and Jaxon took the baby from him. He handed it to Isabella who wrapped an arm around her daughter protectively.

"I promise I'll kill that sprout you made with that commoner," Braden threatened and fell on his back.

"That's if you live long enough," Isabella whispered, "Goodbye brother."

Before he could speak, she plunged the knife down his throat. "Now this is for closure.”

***

It felt surreal that Braden was dead and he was killed by his sister. Isabella had stopped the fire with her powers but she ensured every one of Braden's men was wiped out too.

Jaxon rushed to me and pulled me in his warm embrace, "Are you okay?"

"Never been better," I said and looked into his eyes. "I can't believe it's over."

"Me neither," a chirpy voice said from behind.

It was Antra.

Antra smiled and leaned to hug us. "Oh my God, baby two is on the way? Jaxon does know how to play his cards right," she said.

Jaxon smiled. "I never thought you were going to show up."

She shrugged, "I heard there was a ceremony and I wouldn't pass that cake for anything."

I chuckled and held her hands, "What of your sister? "

"She got stabbed by Braden and then he vanished," she explained sadly and got up angrily, went to Braden's lifeless body and stomped on his face with her boot.

I looked away, feeling bilious from everything.

"I'm sorry," Jaxon said to her, "Did she make it?"

Antra nodded. "Although her spine was injured, she's stuck in a wheelchair now. Her supermodel legs are gone. All those plans were for nothing."

I swallowed, "I'm sorry about your sister, Antra."

She smiled, "It's okay."

"How about Mateo?" I inquired.

Her expression went dark. "He left the night she was stabbed. He wasn't found."

We were silent as we processed everything we had been told. Antra got on her feet and dusted ashes from her butt. "Let's cut some cake already."

Jaxon crashed his lips on mine, almost suffocating me. "How do you feel?"

"Exhausted and hot. God, I reek of smoke," I burst out laughing.

"I was scared," he admitted.

I glanced at Isabella who was happy in a corner with her new family. "But she's always here. I thought you were going to end Braden. It turned out it was his own."

Jaxon shrugged. "Braden doesn't matter now Kara, you do. I shouldn't have put that pressure on you. You should get some rest."

"And our wedding?" I asked.

"You still want that?" he asked, offering a small smile. I kissed him deeply and withdrew.

"Let's go and have that chaotic wedding.”