Chapter 18
Kayla’s breath caught the moment her gaze landed on Zayron.
He had lost weight overnight, his frame thinner than she remembered. He looked like a man who hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Maybe he didn’t like the food, or maybe he had spent every moment thinking about her and their unborn pup.
But it wasn’t just his appearance that made her chest tighten. It was his eyes.
Deep sadness lingered in them, a kind of sorrow she had never seen before.
Her feet moved before she could think, closing the space between them.
“Babe, what” Before she could finish, Zayron turned away as though he didn't see her at all.
Without a word, he strode toward the waiting car at the gate.
Beta Axel, who had been sitting in the driver’s seat, immediately got out and opened the door for him.
Zayron stepped inside, and before anyone could react, Axel slammed the door shut and sped off.
A stunned silence fell over the crowd.
Confused murmurs rippled through the pack as everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
No one understood what had just happened.
Kayla couldn’t explain how she felt.
A cold, twisting sensation coiled in her stomach, a mix of confusion, worry, and something else, something heavier.
Her gaze flickered to Helena, hoping for answers, but the older woman looked just as stunned as she was.
She turned to Ana, but before she could say anything, Ana turned on her heel and started walking away.
Kayla’s eyes narrowed.
Ana knew something.
Without thinking, she ran after her, grabbing the neckline of her dress and yanking her back.
“Stop right there.”
Ana halted, her body tensing under Kayla’s grip.
Slowly, she turned to face her.
Kayla’s breath hitched.
Tears shimmered in Ana’s eyes, threatening to spill over.
Kayla’s grip on her dress tightened.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Ana hesitated.
She opened her mouth, then shut it, like the words refused to come out.
The seconds dragged on.
Kayla’s pulse hammered against her ribs.
“Ana, what is it?”
Finally, after what felt like forever, Ana muttered under her breath.
“Samira, I mean, Isla stole your blood and unleashed a Shadow Caster.”
Kayla stiffened.
Ana swallowed hard before continuing.
“The Shadow Caster cast its magic on Zayron’s mind. Right now”
She hesitated to soften the truth, but there was no way to soften the truth.
“Right now,” Ana continued. “Alpha Zayron believes you’re dead.”
The words struck Kayla like a physical blow.
She gasped, her hand flying to her chest, pressing against her racing heart.
The hammering in her ears grew louder, drowning out the sounds of the pack around her.
Kayla's lips parted, but no words came out.
She forced herself to breathe, to push past the shock.
Her mind spun, grasping for a solution.
“Ana, what did you use the last time this happened to me?”
Ana’s eyes brimmed with fresh tears.
“Zayron got the Silver Leaf from the Shadow Veil forest.”
Kayla latched onto that.
“Then we can get it again.”
But Ana only shook her head.
“No,” she whispered. “Zayron’s situation is different. There’s no cure, not anymore.”
Kayla’s stomach dropped.
Ana wiped at her cheeks and continued talking.
“It’s been more than twelve hours, Kayla. If the spell isn’t broken within that time, it becomes permanent.”
Kayla took a shaky step back.
“What? Zayron would believe I'm dead forever? I refuse to accept this!”
Kayla’s eyes burned with determination as she took a step forward.
“I refuse to accept this!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the courtyard.
Ana’s face was filled with pain as she shook her head.
“You have to accept it, Kayla! Even the Moon Lord, the one who knows everything about shifters, said it’s permanent.”
“I don’t care what the Moon Lord says,” Kayla snapped.
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I will set Alpha Zayron’s mind free!”
Helena, who had just arrived, frowned at the tension between them.
“What happened to Zayron’s mind?” she asked, looking from one to the other.
Neither Kayla nor Ana answered her.
They didn’t have time to explain.
Ana’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.
“Ever since I heard the news at the Obsidian Tower, I’ve been blaming you for this, Kayla,” she admitted, her voice tight with frustration.
“If you hadn’t organized the Continental Healing, no one would have had access to your blood. Samira wouldn’t have been able to do this.”
Kayla’s expression hardened.
“I did it because Zayron is so damn stubborn! That was the only way to stop the meeting and keep him from bonding with Samira, I mean Isla.”
Ana scoffed.
“And you’re any less stubborn? If you had just accepted him as your Alpha, would any of this have happened?”
Kayla’s eyes flashed with anger.
“My pack needs me! My aunt sacrificed her wolf for me, Ana. She abandoned everything for my sake. Ignoring that, it would be a betrayal.”
Ana crossed her arms.
“And what do you think you just did? You abandoned them, Kayla.”
Helena stepped between them, raising her hands.
“Enough. Stop this argument and tell me what’s going on.”
Kayla exhaled sharply, turning away from Ana.
“We don’t have time for this. Ana, go find a car. We’re going to the Silver Mountain Pack to get a Silver Leaf and make a mind-healing potion for Zayron.”
Helena didn’t hesitate.
“Use Richard’s car. It’s parked by the arena.”
She pointed toward it.
Kayla turned to Ana.
“Go meet Richard and get the key.”
Before Ana could move, Helena reached into her pocket and pulled out the key.
“No need,” she said, pressing it into Kayla’s palm. “I was about to go out and buy something when I heard the chopper dropping Zayron off.”
Kayla didn’t waste time.
She tossed the key to Ana.
“Let’s go.”
As they turned to leave, Kayla called back to Helena.
“Call Beta Axel. Find out where he’s taking Alpha Zayron.”
“I’ll handle it,” Helena assured her.
Without another word, Kayla and Ana rushed toward Richard’s car.