Chapter 16
Kayla’s steps quickened as she made her way to Alpha Zayron’s chamber.
As soon as she stepped inside, a familiar scent welcomed her. Even though Zayron had been gone for days, his scent still lingered in the room, as though he had just been there.
Kayla closed her eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she made her way to the closet.
She quickly changed into a loose gown that would allow her to move freely. She had work to do.
Without wasting time, she left the chamber and headed to the kitchen.
The scent of baked bread, fresh herbs, and roasting meat filled the air as she entered. Three omegas were busy with their tasks. One kneading dough, another stirring a large pot of stew, and the last one arranging fresh vegetables in baskets.
Kayla gave them a small nod before heading straight for the shelves. She needed to make something special. Zayron’s favorite dish.
Roasted venison with honey-glazed carrots and a side of garlic mashed potatoes.
The sound of footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see Helena entering the kitchen, her presence warm as always.
Kayla quickly wiped her hands on a cloth and bowed slightly.
“Good morning, Supreme mother.”
Helena smiled.
“Good morning, my dear. Richard just told me you are here. You’re hard at work already.”
Kayla nodded, glancing at the food she was preparing.
“I want everything to be perfect. Zayron has been through so much. When he comes home, I want him to feel at ease.”
“That’s thoughtful of you. He will appreciate it.”
“He loves this dish. I remember the first time I made it for him. He said it tasted better than anything he had ever eaten.”
Helena chuckled.
“That sounds like Zayron.”
Kayla let out a small laugh, but before she could respond, the strange feeling came back.
The knife in her hand slipped from her grip, clattering onto the counter. Her breath hitched.
The strange feeling wasn’t fear. It wasn’t worry.
It was something else, something deeper.
A sadness that didn’t belong to her, yet it filled her heart as though it had always been there.
Her wolf stirred and was restless.
Kayla slowly lifted her head and stared out the window.
The bright sky, the green trees, the peaceful surroundings, none of it soothed her.
Something wasn’t right. But what? Why did she feel this way?
The sadness came in waves, creeping into her thoughts, making her heart ache.
Helena noticed the sudden shift in her mood. Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Kayla didn’t answer.
Helena placed a gentle hand on her arm.
“You were happy just now. But suddenly, it’s like you’re somewhere else.”
Still, Kayla said nothing.
She turned away from the counter and walked to the window. Her hands rested on the edge as she stared outside, searching for an answer she couldn’t find.
She needed to understand this feeling.
Because deep in her heart, she knew something was not right.
And she wasn’t ready to face whatever it was yet.
At this point of her life, Kayla felt what she needed was peace and staying close to her mate, the father of her unborn pup.
Helena walked toward Kayla and placed a firm yet comforting hand on her shoulder. She could sense the storm of emotions swirling within the young she-wolf.
“What’s wrong, child?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “Your mood just changed in an instant.”
Kayla hesitated before sighing.
“I don’t know, Supreme Mother. It keeps happening. This sudden sadness just comes to me out of nowhere. And every time it does, it feels like something happened to Zayron.”
Helena stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
Kayla’s frown deepened.
“Why are you laughing?”
Helena wiped a small tear of amusement from the corner of her eye.
“Oh, my dear, this is nothing but mood swings. They come with pregnancy, you know.”
Kayla’s eyes widened slightly.
“Mood swings?”
“Yes,” Helena said with a knowing smile.
“Pregnant she-wolves often feel like their emotions are all over the place. One moment, you’re happy, the next, you feel like crying. Sometimes, you’ll even feel irritated over something as small as someone breathing too loudly!”
Kayla blinked. That actually made a lot of sense.
“You might start craving strange foods,” Helena went on. “Or you might suddenly hate the scent of things you once loved. You may wake up feeling restless and anxious without knowing why. It’s all part of carrying new life inside you.”
Kayla let out a small breath.
“I really thought something bad had happened to Zayron.”
Helena squeezed her shoulder.
“You love Zayron, so of course, you’re going to worry about him. But trust me, if something were wrong, you would know. This? This is just your emotions playing tricks on you.”
Before Kayla could say anything else, a loud sound rumbled through the air.
Kayla’s head snapped up.
The deep, steady thumping of blades cutting through the sky sent a shiver down her spine.
Helena’s lips curled into a smile.
“The chopper,” she said softly.
Kayla’s heart pounded as the helicopter drew closer, its powerful blades stirring up the wind. It descended slowly, finally touching down in the courtyard with a smooth landing.
Kayla’s first thought wasn’t about Zayron, it was about the meal she hadn’t finished cooking.
Her gaze darted toward the unfinished dish and felt she had disappointed herself.
“I didn’t finish,” she murmured.
Helena shook her head, chuckling.
“Forget about that for now. The most important thing is welcoming your mate home.”
Kayla hesitated, but she knew Helena was right. There would be time for everything later. Right now, all that mattered was Zayron.
Kayla turned to Helena.
“What about the elders? Should I go gather them?”
Helena smiled knowingly.
“You don’t have to. I’m sure they’re already outside, waiting. Now, wash your hands and let’s go welcome our Alpha properly.”
Kayla quickly moved to the sink, rinsing her hands and drying them. She removed the apron she had tied around her head, smoothed out her dress, and took a deep breath.
She was ready.
Outside, the pack grounds were filled with life.
Wolves rushed toward the chopper, excitement buzzing in the air.
No one remained inside their homes. Not a single wolf wanted to miss this moment.
Kayla and Helena made their way through the excited crowd, carefully pushing past pack members until they reached the front, where the elders were already assembled.
Kayla’s heart raced in her chest.
She barely even noticed the noise of the crowd anymore.
Alpha Zayron was home, and she was ready to welcome him back.