Chapter 56
Lily POV
My heart raced as I approached the Pack’s Central Building where Kai’s office was. An unexplainable unease suddenly settled over me the moment I stepped inside. Nala, who was usually calm and collected, paced restlessly within me, her hackles rising as if sensing an impending threat.
I dismissed the unease as anxiety of meeting Kai for the first time in days and I didn’t know if he was still angry with me or if he would demand I give him a response too… I had a lot of thoughts in my mind.
Still, as a new member of the pack, I had no choice but to report to him. I continued to the elevator and it felt like the air was thick as if charged with something I couldn’t quite place. My wolf stirred within me again, this time more anxious and alert.
I had learnt to trust these feelings – the ones that guided me when I didn’t have a wolf and now, it seemed to have intensified since Nala came. But right now, it only heightened my nerves. Something was off, terribly off.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frayed nerves. I was here for a simple reason: to report to Kai and once I was done, I would leave. I pressed the elevator button waiting for it to open.
The elevator ride to Kai’s floor was hell… with each passing floor, my anxiety grew. Back when I didn’t know he was my mate, I didn’t even feel this way. What was happening? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Nala whined, urging me to turn back but I ignored her.
As the doors slid open and I stepped into the corridor leading to Kai’s office, my stomach knotted. My feet dragged, every step heavier than the last. Nala whimpered moving around restlessly. The closer I got to Kai’s door, the more it intensified – I even felt dizzy.
“Good morning!” I greeted his secretary managing a smile “Is Alpha Kai in? I have an appointment with him p>
The woman beamed with smiles “Of course dear, you’re Lily right?” she asked rising from her seat “The Alpha asked me to always let you in whenever you come p>
Suddenly, I heard voices from within Kai’s office and I turned back to the secretary. “Oh! It seems like he has a guest. I’ll just wait until he’s done,” I offered.
“If the Alpha knows you’re out here waiting for him then I might lose my job,” she smiled. “He instructed that we should always let you through even if he’s in an emergency meeting. So, please come this way,” she said with a pleasant smile.
I followed her and we walked to Kai’s office. His secretary knocked – paused for a second – before she turned the knob of the door leaving it open as she stepped in while I followed behind her, hanging back at the doorway.
Then I saw it.
The scene that played before me burned into my memory, etching an eternal mark. There, behind his desk Kai and Briella – his fiancée. The sight of them together wasn’t a surprise. I knew about Breilla, I knew that she was a part of a political arrangement forced on him, at least that was what his grandparents had said the other day at dinner.
But the way Briella was perched on him, her arms around his neck – kissing him. Not a chaste peck but a deep, passionate embrace that spoke of intimacy and desire. What was worse – Kai kissed her back.
The way his lips were locked with her – so intimate, so possessive – his hands wound around her neck as he pulled her closer. I felt as if the ground had opened up beneath my feet. The world tilted on its axis and for a moment, I feared I might faint.
The air in my lungs vanished as if I had been punched. A sharp searing pain spread through my chest and my legs wobbled beneath me. I barely managed to stop myself from collapsing. Nala howled in anguish, the sound echoing through my mind, sending pain to every part of my body.
My face turned pale as I tried to breathe through it. My first instinct was to run, to leave and never look back but I forced myself to remain still, holding on to whatever composure I could muster.
This would explain the unease I had felt earlier.
He hurried to his feet, trying to fix his button, wiping his hand on his mouth – Briella’s lipstick stain was there too. His eyes met mine and his face instantly paled as well as shock and guilt flashed in his eyes.
“Lily?” he breathed as if he couldn’t believe I was here.
He pushed past Briella immediately, moving past her as though the kiss was a handshake and approached me slowly, his expression was filled with concern, but I stepped backwards, keeping my distance. I couldn’t let him come closer. I didn’t trust myself – I wasn’t sure I could hold myself together if he did.
His secretary slipped out leaving just three of us. When Briella saw it was me, her eyes narrowed with annoyance as she crossed her arms looking at me with a smug smirk.
“You’re interrupting something, Lily. Can’t you see p>
“Leave!” Kai thundered, his voice leaving room for no argument. He didn’t even glance at Briella as he spoke, his entire focus was on me.
“Why should I leave?” Briella bristled “She clearly the newcomer. I’m not going anywhere p>
“I said leave!” Kai growled, the room vibrating as he used his Alpha command voice
Briella scoffed, rolling her eyes as she reluctantly turned and left the office but not before sending a pointed, threatening look at me. The tension in the room only thickened once she was gone.
“Lily, I –,” Kai began, but I cut him off.
“I’m here for my weekly report, Alpha,” My voice was steady, cold even, but inside, I was crumbling. I would not allow him to see me break, not after what I just witnessed.
Kai’s brow furrowed, clearly unsettled by my formal tone. He knew what he had done and guilt was written all over his face but I ignored it, refusing to acknowledge him. I needed to get through this without showing how pained I was.
I inhaled and exhaled sharply. “Over the past few days, I’ve completed the training sessions you assigned under Jack. I’ve also attended all the required classes. My wolf is adjusting well and I’m ready to begin advanced training next week. Also, I learnt about combat techniques, pack history and integration exercises p>
Kai said nothing, at first, his eyes searching my face, for any sign of the turmoil I was hiding. “Lily, this isn’t p>
“I’m not interested in your excuses, Alpha Kai,” I interrupted him, my voice cold and distant. “I know Briella is your fiancée. I’m just here to do my duty p>
I could feel the walls around my heart fortifying themselves, closing him off. I wouldn’t allow him to hurt me any more than he already had. The bond we share might be powerful but my resolve to protect myself was stronger.
He stepped closer, his eyes dark with motion, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t let him see my weakness or let him know how much pain I was in. But the closer he came, the harder it became to ignore the pull between us.
Without warning, he reached out and pulled me into his arms. His grip was firm but not rough. I stiffened at the contact, my mind screaming at me to pull away, to resist but my body betrayed me.
“Kai! Let go of me!” I said, not sounding convinced.
He didn’t listen. Instead, he tilted my chin up gently, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Lily, I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice soft, filled with remorse. “You have to understand Briella means nothing to me p>
Tears sprung to the corner of my eyes. “I don’t care about Briella. I care about what I see. You kissed her, Kai. How am I supposed to trust you p>
“I know what you saw but you have to believe me when I say it meant nothing. You are my mate. You are the only one I want p>
Before I could process his words, one hand cupped the back of my head while the other pressed against the small of my back, drawing me flush against him and then he kissed me.
It wasn’t gentle or hesitant… it was claiming, a declaration. Is lips moved against mine as if he were trying to erase the damage. For a moment, I was too shocked to respond. Nala howled in triumph, urging me to return the kiss, to claim our mate in return. I felt myself melting into his touch, my body responding to the bond between us.
His hands moved to my back pulling me closer, deepening the kiss. His lips were soft, yet demanding, his hands skimmed over my body… I wanted to be in the moment but I couldn’t get him kissing Briella just seconds ago too.
With a strength I didn’t know I possessed, I pushed against his chest, breaking this kiss. I stumbled backwards, my breath coming in sharp gaps, my lips still tingling from his touch.
“No!” I said my voice trembling. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to kiss me like that after what I just saw p>