Chapter 96
Lily POV
The day passed in a blur.
I attended all my classes, barely able to concentrate as my thoughts kept drifting back to Kai. I replayed our last few interactions from a week ago, searching for clues or signs I might have missed.
But there was none.
So, what was the problem?
After my last class, I rushed to the pack house, determined to wait for Kai. I won’t let his distance or silence push me away. If he needed time, I would give it to him, but I needed to hear the words from his mouth—I deserve that honesty, at least.
I waited all afternoon for him, but he didn’t come home. Suspecting he was held up at the office, I decided to work on my school project.
By evening, there was still no sign of him. I busied myself with inconsequential tasks around the house, hoping he’d come home soon.
I opened several gift boxes sent to Kai… Some were already a year old. I reheated dinner—I didn’t eat yet; I wanted us to eat together and in my mind; I kept rehearsing everything I would say to him.
When the front door opened that night again, almost midnight, I turned to see Kai entering. His face was as weary as it had been the night before.
“Welcome,” I said tentatively.
He nodded, offering me a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks p>
Then he brushed past me, heading for the stairs again, just like yesterday. I hesitated, watching as he took the first step.
“Kai,” I called out gently. “Can we talk p>
He stopped, his hand resting on the bannister. For a moment, I thought he might dismiss me again, but then he sighed and turned to face me.
“Not tonight, Lily,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry. I just need some time p>
My throat tightened. I wanted to ask him why he needed time. If he still wanted me? I should stick around while he gets himself. I was dying to ask him if it was a break from us he needed, but I wasn’t brave enough. I didn’t think I could pull that off, so I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Okay. Take your time, I’ll be here p>
His gaze lingered on me for a moment, something unspoken flickering in his eyes. Then he turned and walked up the stairs, leaving me standing alone in the hallways.
That night, I lay awake on the empty bed of the master bedroom, trying not to overthink anything. He didn’t change with the mysterious appearance of the woman at the Pack hospital. He changed long before that.
I sighed, clenching my fist in resolve. I would find out whatever was troubling him. Whatever burden he was carrying, we would face it together. I refuse to let our bond fizzle, no matter how much distance he tries to put between us.
He might think he was protecting me by shutting me out, but I won’t let him shoulder everything alone. I will keep trying even if it means I am getting rejected every day. I will find a way to break through his walls—no matter what it takes.
The first day after that night was easy. I would lie awake every night listening to him come in and rouse every morning when his car roars to life as he drives out. But a day turned to two days, to three days to seven days.
I stood by the window of the master bedroom, my fingers tracing idle patterns on the frosted glass as I watched him drive away for the seventh day in a row.
Seven solid days have passed since I’d last truly seen him. Not the fleeting shadows of him slipping into the guest room every midnight, not the glimpses of his back when he rushed out before dawn. Those didn’t count as seeing him.
My attempts to reach out to him were met with a wall of silence so thick I thought I would suffocate. My text remained unread, my calls went straight to voicemail. Even a simple mind link wasn’t working, as he kept blocking me. I tried to corner him two mornings ago, but somehow, he slipped away before I could open my mouth.
I tried to stay busy, shuttling between my school, my dormitory and the pack house. I kept my mind occupied with assignments and projects, but no matter how much I threw myself into my studies, my thoughts always drifted back to him.
Where was he? What was keeping him away? And why wouldn’t he talk to me?
Unable to take it any longer, on the afternoon of the seventh day, I decided to pay him a visit to his office. Since we couldn’t meet each other at home, maybe speaking to him in the office might work.
When I arrived, I tried calling him again for the 10th time since that afternoon, but as usual, there was no answer.
Stilling myself, I walked straight to the receptionist.
“Good afternoon,” I greeted her with a polite smile.
“Good afternoon, Miss Lily.” She flashed me a cheerful smile. “How may I assist you p>
“I’m here to see Alpha Kai. I know I didn’t book an appointment, but I must see him p>
The receptionist hesitated, her smile waning. “I’m sorry, Miss, but Alpha Kai hasn’t been coming in for nearly a week now. Beta Liam has been the one running the affairs of the pack. Do you want to speak with him instead p>
My stomach dropped. “He—He has not been coming in?” I asked again, wanting to be sure that I heard correctly.
“Yes!” she nodded.
“But he must have left instructions or anything about where he’d be or something. Or maybe he travelled for a meeting, right p>
She shook her head. “He didn’t travel for a meeting and I’m afraid I know nothing about his whereabouts. He didn’t leave any instructions and we’ve been communicating to Beta Liam these past few days. Maybe you can check the pack house p>
“Thank you,” I murmured, turning to leave.
Back at the pack house, I paced the living room. My chest was aching so badly that I thought my heart would burst out of it. So, all these days when he would stay out late, he hasn’t been working? He hasn’t been going to the Pack office building p>
What else didn’t I know?
The sound of footsteps interrupted my thoughts. When I looked up, it was the maid—the one that usually came to clean Kai’s part of the pack house.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” she greeted me.
I managed a smile, nodding in response to her greeting, as I rose to my feet to give her space to clean. Just as I turned to leave, her voice stopped me.
“I thought you might want to know since you’re always worried about the Alpha’s whereabouts p>
I spun on my heel so fast that I felt so dizzy for a moment. “Yes!” I nodded eagerly. “Did he mention where he’d be p>
“No!” she shook her head. “But some of the other Omegas said he’s been spending a lot of time at the pack hospital,” the maid said cautiously.
My heart skipped a beat. “The pack hospital p>
“Yes, ma’am,” she nodded. “They say he’s always by the side of a young she-wolf that was found a few days ago at the pack land borders p>
The room spun for a second, but I managed a small smile, hoping the tears in my eyes weren’t visible.
“Thank you so much for letting me know p>
The maid nodded and disappeared down the hallway. I waited until I no longer heard her footsteps before I crumbled to the ground.
The person whom Kai had been spending the entire week with was no one else but the mysterious she-wolf.