Chapter 14
“Ana,” Max whimpered.
“Max, how is Kayla?”
Max ignored her question.
“So, you’re no longer in the Obsidian Tower,” he noted. “Since this call actually went through.”
“Yeah, we have left there. Alpha Denzel and Queen Danica flew back to their pack a few hours ago, and they took me along. The healing is over too.”
“When are you coming back?” Max asked.
“I don't know yet. I'm like Denzel's prize now. A prize he won for overseeing the continental healing,” Ana replied.
Max chuckled.
“This is not funny, Max.”
“I know and I trust you. You must find your way out.”
“I hope so,” Ana whimpered.
“What about that she-wolf Kayla used as the messenger? Has she gone too?”
Ana let out a small laugh.
“You should’ve seen it. They honored her like she was divine. No one dared to breathe too loudly as she walked out of the Obsidian Tower premises. Then, she just strolled straight into the woods like some celestial being.”
Max chuckled.
“So, they gave someone else the respect they should’ve given Kayla?”
“Exactly,” Ana said.
Max’s laughter died down, and he frowned.
“Where in the name of the Moon Goddess did Kayla find an actress to play the messenger for her?”
Ana shrugged.
“No idea. But let’s be honest, Max, anyone can act if you pay them enough and tell them exactly what to do.”
Max sighed, but then his voice turned serious.
“Why, though? Why go through all that trouble? Why doesn’t Kayla want people to know who she really is?”
“Because if she did, she’d lose control over her own life.
The Great Southern Council would step in immediately.
They wouldn’t let her walk free, not with that blood running through her veins.
They’d strip her of freedom, lock her away somewhere, and keep her under constant watch to ensure her blood wasn’t abused. ”
“And if the rest of the werewolves found out? If they knew Kayla was the she-wolf born with the first blood, they wouldn’t just worship her, Max.
They’d fight over her. Packs would wage wars just to claim her.
She wouldn’t belong to herself anymore. She’d become a prize. One no one would ever let go of.”
After a long pause, Max said, “Alpha Zayron is coming back tomorrow evening.”
Ana said nothing and Max knew exactly why.
Minutes passed before Ana whimpered, “Does Kayla know?”
Max exhaled.
“No. And I can’t tell her. Not in her condition. The news would devastate her.”
Ana’s voice lowered.
“She deserves to know, Max.”
“I know, but not now. She’s happy for the first time in weeks. Telling her now would crush her again.”
“Where is she?”
Max glanced up from the garden chair where he sat. Through the soft glow of candlelight in her bedroom, he could see Kayla’s silhouette moving against the wall, carefully folding her clothes.
Lowering his head, he murmured, “She’s not sleeping. She can’t wait to see Zayron tomorrow. She’s already making plans to stay with him, to be his Luna.”
“His short absence made her see what life without him would truly be like. She realized that no matter how strong she is, no matter how much she tries to be independent, living without the father of the pup in her womb feels empty. Incomplete. She doesn’t just want him, she needs him badly.”
“She has no idea what’s waiting for her tomorrow,” Ana whimpered.
“No, she has no single idea. And that’s why, right now, she needs you more than she’s ever needed you before. Ana, I want you to come back home before tomorrow evening,” Max said.
“I'll see what I can do,” Ana murmured.
“I miss you a lot, Ana,” Max whimpered.
Ana’s voice softened.
“I miss you too, Max, more than you know.”
As the call ended, Max’s eyes lingered on Kayla’s window.
The breeze brushed against him, but his mind was lost on how she would take the truth tomorrow.
Kayla lay awake in her bedroom, staring at the ceiling.
The excitement of seeing Zayron again should have made her feel at peace, but something didn’t sit right with her.
A strange, heavy feeling settled in her chest, like a warning she couldn’t understand.
She tossed to one side, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
A moment later, she kicked it off, feeling too warm.
Turning onto her stomach, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Nothing helped.
The unease only grew stronger.
With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and dialed Zayron’s number.
It went straight to voicemail.
Kayla hesitated before closing her eyes and reaching out through their mind link.
“Zayron?” She whimpered.
Her heartbeat quickened.
“Zayron? Are you there?”
She asked, but the link was closed as though it had never existed.
Kayla took a deep breath and grabbed her phone again, scrolling to Helena’s contact.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Kayla, dear, are you still awake?” Helena asked.
“I can’t sleep, supreme mother,” Kayla admitted.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
“I want to organize a welcome-home party for Zayron,” Kayla said quickly. “Nothing big. Just something to make him feel at home.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Helena said. “How do you want to do it?”
“I’ll handle the cooking myself,” Kayla said. “I want him to feel like home the moment he steps in. But I need your help with a few things.”
“Of course.”
Kayla took a deep breath.
“First, I need some elders to stand with me when Zayron arrives in the courtyard. Just a small group.”
“I’ll select them,” Helena assured her.
“Good. And I want the courtyard cleaned thoroughly. The ground should be covered with fresh pine branches. You know how Zayron loves that scent.”
Helena chuckled.
“I’ll see to it.”
Kayla continued, “The warriors should be in formation when he arrives. Nothing too stiff, just a display of strength and respect.”
“Understood, my child.”
“And,” Kayla hesitated. “There should be a feast later. A proper pack gathering. Let everyone know that their Alpha is back.”
Helena was silent for a moment before saying, “You’re doing a lot for him.”
Kayla swallowed hard.
“He deserves it, supreme mother. He recovered five packs and sent a powerful message to Ashokan wolves. He should be celebrated.”
“Of course.”
After discussing a few more details, Kayla ended the call.
But even after making all those plans, the uneasy feeling didn’t leave her.
She stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, until the first rays of dawn slipped through her window.
The next morning, a soft knock on the door pulled Kayla out of her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called.
The door opened, and Max walked in, carrying a tray of food.
The smell of warm bread, eggs, and herbal tea filled the room.
“You didn’t sleep, did you?” Max asked as he set the tray down.
Kayla sighed.
“Not much.”
Max leaned on the edge of the table, watching her carefully.
“You should eat.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Kay.”
“I really don’t feel like eating, Max.”
Max crossed his arms.
“You barely ate yesterday. You can’t go all day on an empty stomach.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Max sighed in frustration.
“You know Zayron would scold you for this.”
Kayla gave him a tired smile.
“Then let him scold me when he gets back. I miss his scoldings, the way his words carried both anger and love in the same breath.”
Max stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.
“You’re impossible.”
Kayla stood up and walked to her bag, checking if everything was packed.
Max watched her in silence for a while before saying, “Are you sure about this?”
She glanced at him and her brows furrowed.
“About what?”
“Going to the Azure Moon Pack today.”
“Of course,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Max hesitated.
“I just, I don’t know.”
Kayla frowned.
“Max, what’s wrong?”
He quickly shook his head.
“Nothing. Just be careful. You know you banned Zayron from coming here, and he might not be happy to see you in his pack.”
“Max! Are you talking about my Zayron or another Zayron?” Kayla asked.
“Oh, I forgot he is your mate.”
“Max, did someone replace your coffee with vinegar this morning? Or is the thought of Ana with Alpha Denzel turning your brain to mush?”
Max chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly, as though everything was fine.
Kayla narrowed her eyes.
She could tell he wasn’t being honest, but before she could press him, she remembered something.
“Did you talk to Ana last night?”
Max nodded.
“Yeah.”
Kayla handed him her phone.
“Call her again. Tell her to meet me at the Azure Moon Pack today.”
Max raised an eyebrow.
“You want her there?”
“Yes.”
He exhaled and took the phone.
“Alright.”
As he dialed, Kayla sat on the edge of the bed, resting her hand on her stomach.
Zayron was coming home.
She should be happy.
But deep down, she knew something was very, very wrong.