Chapter 97
Lily POV
That evening, I walked towards the Pack Hospital. Each step felt like walking on hot coal. I wasn’t sure what I would find there or what I even wanted to say, but I needed answers.
I was sure it was just the maids gossiping, as usual. I was sure it wasn’t Kai, but somehow, for the sake of all the doubts running around my head, I needed to clear them.
The pack hospital was quiet as I approached. Using the signs, I took the elevator to the VIP floor until I stopped at the door that read ’Alpha’. Steeling myself, I moved closer to the door, wondering if knocking would be a better option or something else.
Just as I contemplated, the door swivelled open, and a team of healers and nurses stepped out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Thankful for the quick fix, I moved closer and peeked in.
Kai was sitting beside the bed of the injured she-wolf. His shoulders were sagged as if the world’s weight was on him. He stared intently at her as if his gaze were her oxygen. The she-wolf was lying still with both eyes closed. Her pale skin and delicate features made her look almost ethereal, fragile—the kind men would call a ’lady in distress p>
I looked at my chipped toenail and the almost-fading finger polish I kept putting off for another week. I packed my hair in a messy bun, with tendrils spilling all over my crown and flying into my face.
I had thrown on a pair of faded joggers since it was evening, and no one would care about the quality of my clothes. Coupled with the oversized tee, which was sometimes my nightwear, and the brown slipper I had on, I looked like I had come to audition for the position of an Omega.
I was nothing compared to the woman lying on the bed, who looked like she could stand up from it and waltz straight to a Lunar Gala. Tears gathered in the corner of my eyes as I watched Kai. The scene felt intimate, as though I were intruding on a private moment.
He leaned forward to adjust her pillows with his lips curved into a wistful, rare, genuine smile.
I felt a pang of jealousy and confusion. This was a side of Kai I hadn’t seen in weeks. Why was he so open with this stranger while keeping me at arm’s length?
I stepped back, my heart racing wildly. The pain of his distance, his silence, and now this—his connection with another woman—was almost too much to bear.
I returned to the pack house with my emotions all over the place. I didn’t confront Kai when he came home late that night, nor did I try to speak to him the following morning.
Since he wanted space, I would give him everything he wanted. Even though his absence and the growing distance between us suffocated me for the first time, I wondered if our bond was as strong as I had believed.
Over the next few days, I tried to focus on myself. I left the pack house and returned to my dormitory, throwing myself into my schoolwork, hoping the distraction would help. But no matter how hard I tried, Kai was always at the back of my mind.
I hunched over my desk, studying and making notes for lectures tomorrow when my doorbell rang.
Wondering who it was, since I wasn’t expecting any visitors, I closed my book and went to check. The monitor showed it was Celeste.
“Celeste!” My eyes widened with surprise as I threw the door open, unable to hide my surprise. “What a pleasant surprise! How did you know which room to come to? You’ve never been here.” I said breathlessly, hugging her.
“I checked the mailbox downstairs,” she chuckled in return, thrusting the paper bags in her hand. “With my final exams coming, I’m not just bored but freaking out. I needed to clear my head, and I thought about sharing a drink with you.” Her gaze flitted to my study table. “But if this is a bad time p>
“No I said quickly, rushing to my tiny kitchenette to serve everything she brought. There was a box of pizza, too. “I could use a break, too, and splendid company p>
A while later, we were on our third can of beer, just drinking and barely talking. Both our minds were too heavy for even a conversation.
“How is Kai?” Celeste finally broke the silence, turning to give me an earnest look.
I took a big gulp from my beer can, hoping the alcohol would push down the tears that bubbled to the back of my throat.
“I don’t know!” I managed, giving her a stiff smile. “We agreed he needed space, and I’m doing that p>
“Oh no, Lily!” Celeste sighs. “You’re signing up for breakup. Taking a break? C’mon p>
“What would you have me do?” I cried, trying to fight the hysterics. “He hates me right now. He spends every moment of his life caring for that strange she-wolf, but he assures me that everything is fine and p>
Celeste placed a hand gently on mine, and the tears I’d been holding all these days burst out of me. I fell on her lap, sobbing. I cried until I felt better.
“Honestly, I’m tired. I left the pack house because we barely exchanged words. There’s friction between us, but neither seems willing to address it p>
“And you’re just going to give up like that?” She asked, taking a deep breath. “Kai is anything but what he’s doing now. It’s so unlike him to lock everyone out, but at least I’m hoping you could get through to him p>
I inhaled deeply, shaking my head. “He’s your family. If you can get through to him, what makes you think he’d open up to me p>
“Because he loves you, Lily. Kai… loves you so much, and I know this firsthand. Please she reached for my hand. “I’m begging you to help us out. Let us know what’s going through his mind, at least. Uhm p>
That night, long after Celeste left, I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking of the mysterious she-wolf, and the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing Kai to someone I didn’t know.
But I wasn’t ready to give up—not yet.
“I will confront him one last time,” I murmured, settling the covers over my body. I would demand the truth about what was going on, and if he refused to let me in, I would have to decide whether our bond was worth fighting for.
But for now, I will hold on to the hope that our love can weather this storm.