15. Kaylani
Chapter 15
Kaylani
L ight footsteps sound from down the hall, getting closer until Candi appears, dressed in jeans and with her signature black lipstick on her smiling face.
"Good morning Kay," she chirps, heading straight for the coffee pot. She pours herself a steaming cup before grabbing the TV remote and turning up the volume.
Taking a sip of my now cold coffee, my eyes flick to the television and I immediately can't tear my eyes away from the screen. Adam stands there, his face a mess of bruises and blood. A twinge of satisfaction rolls through me at the damage Vaughn did to the alphahole . Over a week later and his eye is still swollen shut.
I cringe, not wanting to hear whatever twisted narrative Michelle is feeding to the public, " ...unfortunate incident, " Michelle's voice echoes from the television, her words dripping with insincerity. "But rest assured, the authorities are tracking him down now."
My stomach sinks. I clench my jaw at Adam's audacity, but force myself to listen, knowing I'll need to unravel their lies later.
Then, my heart skips a beat as Michelle's tone darkens, sending a chill down my spine. "Vaughn Calhan is a dangerous beta," she says, thinly veiling her faux-fear, and my blood boils.
Vaughn doesn't deserve to shoulder this blame.
Candi and I exchange a look, her smile replaced with rage. "They can't actually believe this garbage, can they? Adam is lower than dirt. He got what was coming to him."
I nod in agreement, gripping my cup tighter as I zero in on the broadcast. "Creed Sterling broke his bond with this volatile beta, Vaughn Calhan. And the broken bond caused him to attack my son, Adam Sterling."
A grainy video of Vaughn assaulting Adam flashes on the screen.
"Bullshit!" I yell, getting to my feet.
"This is why we implore all residents of Sterling City not to bond without an alpha," Michelle pleads. "Otherwise, tragedies like this will occur."
She is saying Creed broke their bond? Using this grainy footage as proof that Vaughn is dangerous. But what does she hope to gain?
" Creed Sterling is disowned from this family for his actions. He and his beta have a history of violence and are deemed extremely dangerous. This is not the first occurrence of their violence either."
The screen shows Hux in the back alley of The Den fighting Dane. My gaze zeroes in on Vaughn's crumpled form. The memories of him coming to the hospital after being stabbed, of all the blood, flash through my mind. "...we urge anyone with information on Vaughn Calhan's whereabouts to come forward immediately. Your safety could be at risk."
My breath catches at her words, disbelief and fury raging within me. They're distorting the truth, painting Vaughn as a deranged beta on a rampage. Worse, they're dragging Creed into this, using Adam's injuries as proof of the consequences of breaking a bond.
Anger simmers beneath my skin, threatening to erupt with its intensity. How dare they? How dare they manipulate the truth to serve their agenda, casting my pack as the villains in their twisted tale?
And then, a chilling revelation strikes me, as Michelle's voice continues, "Owen Huxley, the Owner of The Omega Den, was arrested for murder after defending Vaughn when he went crazy at his club four months ago." Her words send a shiver down my spine. "This is just another example of the dangerous effect of a broken bond. This is why we created an omega safe haven called the Breeder Facility."
As the screen transitions to images of the Breeder Facility, showcasing its sleek design and advanced security features, Michelle's narration maintains its persuasive tone. "The Bramwells and the Sterlings have come together to create this safe place for unmated omegas until they find their alpha and their pack," she explains. "We implore all unmated omegas to register for your own safety."
The first video of Adam and Vaughn replays as she adds. "Or you could be next."
As the broadcast draws to a close, my anger boils over, threatening to consume me. The injustice of it all weighs heavily on my shoulders, a suffocating reminder of the powerlessness I feel in the face of their corruption. But amidst the chaos, a flicker of determination ignites within me.
They may have the power to manipulate the narrative for now, but I refuse to let them dictate the truth. Vaughn and Hux are not the monsters they're being portrayed to be. And as long as I draw breath, I'll fight tooth and nail to expose these lies for what they are, and bring justice to my pack.
My gut turns with worry for Vaughn. He's at the Steel Serpent Compound, but wouldn't that be the first place the authorities would look? I would never let anything happen to Creed or Candi, but without Hux and Vaughn here I'm worried. The three of us sit around the small dining table in the apartment above the club. The space is cozy, but without everyone here, it just feels… depressing.
I push green beans around on my plate, but my appetite is nonexistent. My mind races with scenarios, each more dire than the last. What if they come for us next? What if they find a way to turn the rest of our pack against us? The weight of responsibility settles heavily on my shoulders, a reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond our doorstep. But amidst the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: I'll do whatever it takes to protect my pack, even if it means facing the wrath of the Sterling and Bramwell families head-on.
"It's like they are picking us off one at a time," Creed growls, breaking the silence.
I nod in agreement. "First Hux, and now they are looking for Vaughn…" I trail off.
Seems like Creed is next on the hit list.
My stomach sours. What little food I have managed to eat settles in my throat, threatening to come back up.
"Yes, but why?" Candi asks, absently twisting her eyebrow ring as she thinks, her plate of green beans and pasta forgotten.
Creed and I come to the same conclusion, his green eyes meeting mine.
"Candi," Creed sighs. "Michelle wants you to bond with Adam." He says it like it should be obvious. "Without any of us, you're defenseless to stop her from manipulating you into anything."
Candi's eyes flicker with determination. "Well I won't be doing that, and we can't just sit here and wait for Michelle to pick us off. We have to fight back. Call Vaughn, Creed. Find out what's taking him so long to come home."
She stands, picking up her still-full plate and heading into the kitchen. I follow her, unable to keep still any longer.
Creed's shoulders hunch, his hair covering his face from view as he gazes down at his plate. I feel for him. He’s been hurting since Vaughn broke their bond. Being separated from him must be taking a toll on him.
My eyes flick to his neck where the bite mark used to be. Once the bond diminished completely the bite faded away, and that’s probably a cruel reminder for him of just how much he's lost because of his family.
"Creed," I say softly, afraid to startle him. He doesn't look up from his plate, but his shoulders shake slightly.
Is he crying?
I sit beside him in Candi's vacant seat, his caramel scent settling over my skin and coating my tongue. His scent is so powerful I can practically feel how hurt he is. The weight of his grief is palpable, a heavy cloud that hangs over both of us.
"Creed," I murmur again, searching for words to comfort him. "He still loves you. You know that, right?"
Slowly, Creed looks up at me, his eyes glossy with tears. "I know that, and I just pushed him further away, Kay. Why did I do that?" he croaks, his voice full of regret.
Without hesitation, I pull him closer, my arms wrapping securely around him. I can feel his heartbeat against my chest, his scent enveloping me in a sweet embrace.
"It's okay," I whisper. "You’ll both work it out."
"I just... I miss him… Miss us , so much," Creed whispers, his words shattering my heart. "And now he's in danger because of me."
"No," I interject firmly, lifting his chin to meet my gaze, my own eyes cloudy with tears. "He's in danger because of Michelle, not because of you. Don't you dare blame yourself." I shake him slightly, trying to get him to understand.
But the tears continue to flow down his cheeks, his moss green eyes filled with anguish. I wipe them away with my thumb and pull him back into my arms again, smoothing his hair from his face. "I hate seeing you in pain like this," I whisper.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Creed cries, his voice laden with anguish.
Candi hovers in the doorway, her brows pinched as she watches her best friend's distress. "Look, Creed," she says bluntly, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Michelle is the reason for all of this," she waves her hand in frustration. "You didn't ask for any of this. You can't blame yourself for what she's done."
Creed looks up at Candi, despair covering his features."I just... I can't lose him," he chokes out, his voice breaking.
Candi's features soften slightly as she takes the seat on the opposite side of him. Beneath her tough exterior, Candi genuinely cares for him.
"You won't lose him," she says firmly. "But you need to pull yourself together. Call him and tell him what's going on. He's out there at the MC compound. He probably doesn't even know the authorities are looking for him yet. Plus, he's likely just giving you the space you asked for. "
Creed flinches. "But what if he doesn't want me anymore?"
Candi sighs impatiently. "You seriously think he doesn't? You're delusional then," she snaps harshly. "That beta would do anything for you, Creed. Anything. I mean, he went back home for you, and you know how hard that must have been for him."
My eyes ping-pong between the two of them. So many questions swirl in my mind, but I stay quiet as I watch Candi pull Creed out of his spiral. The dynamic between them reminds me of Bex, and my chest aches with her loss all over again.
"So, stop this self-pity act. Get your shit together. And tell him to come home," Candi demands firmly. "And hopefully bring some of the MC with him, because the club is going to need protection until Owen comes home."
Creed nods, wiping his tears with newfound determination. Her support and no-nonsense attitude is what he needed, and I can visibly see him gaining back his self worth."You're right," he says, his voice stronger. "I'll text him now."
With Candi's tough love pushing him forward, Creed takes a deep breath, pulling out his phone to contact Vaughn.
Just then, a bang sounds from downstairs and has us all jumping to our feet.
The noise startles us all, and we exchange worried glances, Candi's eyes widening with alarm.
"What was that?" Candi whispers, her voice tense with concern.
Creed's features harden, his grip on his phone tightening. "Stay here," he instructs us, his voice firm. "I'll go check it out."
I reach out, grabbing his arm. "You're not going by yourself," I say, my voice filled with worry.
Creed sighs heavily as another bang echoes from downstairs.
I turn to Candi, my heart racing with anxiety. "Who do you think it is?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Candi's expression hardens, her eyes narrowing. "I don't know, but we need to be ready for anything," she replies, reaching under the coffee table, pulling a small hand gun free and checking the chamber. Her movements are swift and practiced, betraying her familiarity with the weapon. I can't help but feel a surge of unease at the sight. Creed's jaw clenches as he takes a step toward the door, his phone still gripped tightly in his hand.
"Stay close," he says, his voice low and commanding.