Chapter 75
Helen POV
Sleep left my eyes as soon as the call ended.
Quickly, I reached for my glasses on the nightstand table and put them on, going straight to my chat with Briella. I nearly threw my phone away with what I saw. Several pictures of Kai kissing a girl that didn’t look familiar to me. There was also a video and after watching the video, it didn’t seem like he was having a fling with the girl in question.
I took a deep breath, trying not to get angrier than I already had. I worked so hard to secure the alliance between our packs, put up with a lot, I won’t sit back and do nothing. I dialled Briella’s number, it rang but she didn’t answer when I tried calling the second time, it was switched off.
That spoiled brat – she sounded as if she was going to cry on the phone.
Sighing, I called Kai… but no response. I even tried to send a mindlink but he was too busy. I shuddered at the image of my son having sex with the woman, shaking my head to clear it off. I stared at my contacts, wondering who I could call to inquire about the girl in the picture.
Liam wouldn’t say a word but Celeste… maybe she might.
Moments later, I was standing in front of Celeste’s house, waiting for someone to open the door for me. When the door was flung open, Celeste’s eyes widened with shock when she saw me.
“Mom? What are you doing here p>
I scoffed pushing past her inside the house. “A good morning mom, how are you doing would suffice not this questioning. While I’m here, why haven’t you been taking or returning my calls p>
“Good morning Mom and I’ve been busy. I’m in my final semester in school, I don’t have all the time in the world. You look good by the way and Kai must have done something grave for you to come here yourself p>
Celeste could read anyone like a book. I sat on the couch, kicking my heels. “Your grandparents are not around?” I asked looking around the house.
“They went grocery shopping and before you complain they insisted. They help with the cooking and laundry… that’s their little way of repaying me for staying in my house p>
“I wasn’t going to ask,” I said quietly. “And fine, I came regarding Kai. How has he been p>
“He lives in the same house with you, Mom? Shouldn’t he be the best person to answer that question p>
“You know your brother; he never tells me anything and these days he comes home very late and leaves at the crack of dawn p>
She sighed. “He’s fine and he’s doing well p>
“D-do you know if he’s spending time with someone else, like his fiancée or any other person p>
My daughter studied me for a few seconds, her intelligent eyes reminding me of her father. “I’m not Kai’s keeper. We lead different lives in case you have not noticed. You should ask him all those questions and not me p>
Sighing, I opened my purse and brought out my phone, opening the message box. “Briella sent these photos to me earlier today. She caught Kai cheating p>
“Cheating?” Celeste chuckled. “Hardly. They’re not even engaged mom or married p>
“Whatever it is, she’s threatening to call off the pack alliances and standing agreements we’ve finalized. You know how they are, one word from Briella is enough for her father to make rash decisions. Since I’m yet to get a call from him, it’s a sign that she hasn’t told them yet p>
“O…okay?” Celeste shrugged “I don’t see how any of this concerns me. Or are you hoping I should marry Briella now p>
“Don’t be sarcastic, Celeste Ryker I hissed then composed myself. “The girl in the picture… the one he’s kissing with such passion, do you know her p>
“You know I won’t say anything, mom. I don’t gossip. It’s against my beliefs p>
“This is crucial, Celeste, Kai’s actions have put a lot of things on the verge of collapsing. Please… fine, you don’t have to go into details, I just need to know one thing… does she live here? In the pack p>
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Yes!” she nodded finally “But that’s all I’m giving you, get the rest of your answers from Kai p>
When Kai arrived home that evening, Briella had called earlier to say she was spending a night at a friend’s but I know it was just her way of showing her displeasure. I had to work faster so that she and Kai would reconcile ASAP.
I sat in the main living area, the photos spread on the coffee table before me. When he walked in, he barely spared me a glance and was going up to his room when I played the video, catching his attention.
He turned, his expression barely changing and walked towards me. “What’s the meaning of this mom?” he asked quietly.
“I should be asking you. Care to explain p>
He stared at me for a few seconds and then came over to settle on the sofa. “Can you turn that off first,” he indicated to the video playing. I did as he requested and watched as he picked up a picture from the coffee table, staring at it with little or no reaction on his face.
“Her name is Lily,” he said simply. “And she’s important to me p>
“Important enough to destroy a carefully planned engagement? Important enough to potentially create a rift between two prominent packs p>
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the pictures on the coffee table. I also didn’t want his excuses. I wanted him to recognize the magnitude of his actions and make amends.
“This isn’t just about you,” I continued. “This is about the pack, about maintaining relationships, about honouring commitments p>
“Commitments made without my consent,” he flared, a defiant edge in his voice. “Commitments that don’t take into account who I am and what I want p>
“And what about what the pack wants? What about our alliances? When you took the oath to serve as an Alpha, what were you expecting? All roses and sunshine? This is what it means to be Alpha, to put the needs of the people and the pack before yours p>
“And I’ve done that faithfully for years without complaints. I’ve done everything you asked me to do, formed alliances, relationships every goddamn thing. When do I get to do one thing that I like, something that makes me happy p>
“Just because she’s good in bed doesn’t mean she’ll make you happy. If you’re so thirsty for a woman, I’ll move the marriage date closer, you can have your wife whenever you want to but first, end whatever it is that’s going on between you and this girl called Lily. We’re lucky, Briella is acting mature for once and is yet to call anyone from her family p>
He rose to his feet, meeting my gaze. “I’m sorry, Mom but I’m going to disobey you this time around. I won’t end my relationship with Lily p>
I scoffed “And why is that p>
“Because she’s my mate p>