Chapter 38
Kayla sighed, leaning back against the pillows as she finished the last bite of her meal. She turned to Zayron, who was watching her intently.
“Your turn,” Kayla said, nudging the plate toward him. “You haven't eaten.”
Zayron shook his head, leaning back against the headboard. “I'm fine.”
Kayla frowned. “You need to eat too, Zayron. You always make sure I'm okay, but what about you?”
“I'm not hungry,” he replied, his voice softer this time, his fingers trailing over the edge of her wrist as though that was enough to sustain him.
Kayla exhaled sharply but didn’t push further. Instead, she moved closer, her body naturally molding into his warmth.
Zayron pulled her into his arms, settling her between his legs as they rested against the headboard.
His arms circled her waist, his hands spread protectively over her stomach.
The room was quiet, Zayron's scent surrounded her like a cocoon. It was moments like these that made her wish things were fine between them.
“You still haven’t told me why you need to spend four days at the Silver Moon Resort,” Zayron murmured, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Kayla stiffened slightly but masked it quickly. She had already decided—she couldn’t tell him the truth about her plans tonight.
If she did, he would insist on coming, and she couldn’t risk that. Not when she needed the alchemist’s help alone.
She turned slightly in his arms, tilting her head to meet his gaze.
“I just need some time away, Zayron. To clear my head. With everything happening…”
She let her words trail off, hoping the weight of their recent struggles would be enough to convince him.
Zayron’s grip on her waist tightened slightly, his thumb rubbing slow circles against her skin.
“I don’t like it,” he admitted.
“Being away from you for four days—it doesn’t sit right with me. You are the reason I haven't done something bad to myself.”
Kayla swallowed, forcing a small smile.
“I need this. Please do not do anything without consulting me first.”
“Noted.”
Kayla forced a nod and leaned into Zayron, letting the conversation settle as the steady rhythm of his breathing lulled her into drowsiness.
When Kayla opened her eyes again, the room was dimly lit by the golden hue of the setting sun filtering through the curtains.
She reached out, instinctively searching for Zayron, but the space beside her was empty.
Her heart clenched slightly before she noticed the small folded note on the nightstand.
She reached for it and unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning Zayron's familiar handwriting.
I had to step out, but I’ll be back every evening to see you.
Kayla stared at the note for a long moment, her heart sinking.
“You won’t find me here, Zayron,” she muttered.
Kayla reached for her bag and pulled out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts before pressing the call button.
Ana answered on the second ring.
“Kayla?”
“Where are you?” Kayla asked.
“At the Silver Mountain Pack. With Leo,” Ana answered.
“I need you to return to the Azure Moon Pack.”
“Why?” Ana asked.
“I need you there, Ana. Zayron will be coming here every evening to see me, and I won't be here tomorrow night. I need you to find a way to distract him. If he comes here and finds out I'm not here, this entire resort will be in trouble.”
There was a long silence on the other end before Ana spoke again, her voice laced with unease.
“Kayla, you know how dangerous Zayron is right now. Honestly, I'm scared of him.”
“Just mind things you say around him. Any little thing can trigger his hunger for revenge,” Kayla said.
“Exactly,” Ana said sharply. “So why would I go out of my way to risk my life by distracting him?”
Kayla closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
“Because I’m not asking you to do it. I’m commanding you to.”
Another stretch of silence. Then, Ana sighed in reluctant surrender.
“Fine. But if he kills me, I’m haunting you.”
Kayla smirked despite the tension in her chest.
“Noted.”
Ana’s voice softened slightly.
“What time are you leaving for the cliff of Orpheus?”
“Seven-thirty.”
Ana didn’t respond immediately, but when she did, her voice carried an edge of worry.
“Be careful, Kayla. You’re pregnant.”
Kayla exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her stomach.
“I know. I will be.”
They ended the call, and Kayla set her phone down, staring at the window as the last streaks of sunlight faded.
She had set her plan in motion.
Tonight, she would leave for Lythos. And she had no idea what awaited her there.
As night began to stretch its dark veil across the sky, Kayla sat on the edge of the bed, glancing at the clock.
The time was moving fast, and so was her heart.
She reached into her bag and prepared the small vial she had brought for the alchemist.
This was the price she had prepared to bring—the first step toward getting the answers she sought.
She secured the vial safely in her bag.
Then, slinging the small bag over her shoulder, she walked toward the door.
Kayla paused for a moment, placing her hand on the handle.
She was stepping into uncertainty. With a deep breath, she turned the knob and slipped out, shutting the door behind her.
The corridor was quiet, the dim light casting long shadows.
She made her way to the elevator and pressed the button.
A soft chime echoed as the doors slid open, revealing the empty cabin.
Kayla stepped in, her reflection staring back at her in the polished metal walls.
The doors closed, and the descent began.
When the elevator doors parted at the ground floor, the reception area was nearly silent.
The usual murmur of conversations and clinking of glasses was absent.
Kayla approached the front desk and slid her key card across the polished counter.
“I need to step out for a while,” she said, keeping her voice casual. “I’ll be back soon.”
The woman behind the counter had a phone pressed to her ear, her brows drawn together in concentration.
This was not the same receptionist from earlier.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” the receptionist asked.
Kayla pointed at the key card on the counter.
“I need to step out for a while. I’ll be back soon.”
The receptionist’s gaze flickered to the key card, then up at Kayla.
A strange expression crossed her face before she returned her attention to her phone call.
“Wait a moment.”
She glanced down at the screen, then looked back up at Kayla.
“Room 305?”
“Yes.”
“That’s odd… I was just calling your room.”
“Why?” Kayla asked.
The woman hesitated, then slowly placed the phone down.
“The management wants to see you.”
“Why?”
“It’s about the Alpha you came with.” Her voice lowered as she leaned slightly closer.
“Ever since you arrived with him this morning, the news has spread, and no wolves have entered the resort since then. The evenings here are always lively, but as you can see…”
Kayla turned her head, scanning the vast lobby.
The place, which should have been bustling with chatter and movement, was eerily silent.
Even the dim golden lighting couldn’t mask the emptiness.
A few staff members stood in the shadows, watching but making no move to approach.
The receptionist continued, “This resort is known for its vibrant nightlife. But today? Not a single soul has dared to enter after word got out that the strongest Alpha is here. They fear him. They say he’s... different now. And management is—”
Kayla cut her off by turning sharply toward the exit.
“I don’t have time for this.”
“Miss, wait—” the receptionist started, but Kayla was already striding away.
As she stepped outside, the silence became even more pronounced.
The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the faint murmur of distant waves.
The cobblestone pathway leading east stretched before her, lit only by the pale glow of the crescent moon.
The resort behind her felt like a ghost town, emptied by the mere presence of one Alpha.
Kayla adjusted the strap of her bag and exhaled.
The journey to Lythos awaited her, and there was no turning back now.