Chapter 023\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was having trouble getting some sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried reading a book but it didn\u2019t help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind was painstakingly spinning. Distracted by some weird thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Packhouse had gone still long ago, but sleep never came easily to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room felt too quiet, the air too heavy. I poured a glass of water and let my eyes wander to the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across the courtyard, a single room still burned with light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could see her standing there in the dimly lit room with her shadow moving about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hair falling forward each time she leaned over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t said much to me since she arrived from my father\u2019s Packhouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just a polite nod then she left.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I told myself it was exhaustion, but a small part of me worried she was angry\u2013with me, with the pack, with all of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could think better of it, I stepped outside for air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The night was cold tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked out, the night carrying the scent of pine and distant rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I raised my head, I was surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia, there she was, standing by the railing of the lower balcony, her shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders, head tipped back to the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are out here,couldn\u2019t sleep?,\u201d I said quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned, startled, then relaxed when she saw me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should be resting too,\u201d she replied, throwing my own words back at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI could say the same.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I tried bit I couldn\u2019t get any sleep\u201d Kaia said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, neither of us spoke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For some reason I couldn\u2019t take my eyes off of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked smaller than she ever had in daylight, but there was a strength in her silence that pulled at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout earlier,\u201d I began, \u201cyou didn\u2019t deserve what they put you through.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m used to being tested,\u201d she casually said. \u201cIn my old pack, I had to earn every bit of trust, every scrap of respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something in her tone told me not to ask more, but I couldn\u2019t stop myself. \u201cAnd did you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She smiled faintly. \u201cEventually. Until I didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what to say to that. I only knew that I wanted to understand her, to ease whatever weight she carried.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe king wouldn\u2019t be breathing if not for you,\u201d I said. \u201cYou know that, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glanced up at me, the moonlight catching in her eyes. \u201cAnd you wouldn\u2019t be standing here if not for me either. Twice now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That made me laugh, low and unguarded. \u201cThen I suppose I owe you more than I can repay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 023\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t owe me anything,\u201d she said. \u201cI did what any healer would.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said softly. \u201cYou did what you would.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words hung between us, a little too close, a little too true.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked away first, fingers tightening around the edge of her shawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t angry with you,\u201d I said suddenly. \u201cIn case you were wondering.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinked. \u201cI wasn\u2019t-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But her small smile told me she didn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was\u2026 tired,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd maybe afraid that I\u2019d brought more trouble to your doorstep.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t,\u201d I said. \u201cYou gave this place a reason to remember what loyalty looks like.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gaze met mine again, steady and unflinching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019re one of the few who still sees it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We stood there, the air charged and quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A gust of wind blew her hair loose; I reached without thinking to tuck it behind her ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t flinch, but her breath hitched slightly, the smallest sign that she wasn\u2019t made of stone after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo,\u201d Kaia looks at me.\u201cCan I ask you something?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head snaps to her face. \u201cYou can ask me anything. Go ahead\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me if you don\u2019t feel comfortable answering. Okay?\u201d Kaia says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind goes wild.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Afraid, she would ask to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d I nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father,Alpha Kingley and you. You don\u2019t get along very much, do you?\u201d Kaia asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t look her in the eyes and lie to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to lie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To say everything is fine between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. My father and I are not in bad spirits but we don\u2019t get along very much\u201d I replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,I didn\u2019t know about this. I\u2019m sorry\u201c. She patted my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing to be sorry for,Kaia\u201d I smirked, shaking my head.\u201cHe made his choice. He had to live with it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d Kaia asked. When she met my eyes,she stopped. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,I asked. Nevermind that\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot you don\u2019t know about me,\u201d I said.\u201cBut\u2026 Listen, you deserve to know who you\u2019re living with right\u00a0<\/p>\n
now\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia\u2019s face shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw something unfamiliar in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut now is not the right time to. \u201cAfter the council\u2019s decision tomorrow, let\u2019s eat out and catch up on ourselves\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scanned her face.\u201dOnly if you want to\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nods.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. We should do that\u201d she agreed, nodding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then It\u2019s decided.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think the council will decide\u201d she suddenly asks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hand trembled slightly; I took one before she could pull away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
214\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 023\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have had to prove yourself again.\u201d I said, \u201cNot anymore. Not everything\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia\u2019s mouth curved; half a smile, half disbelief. \u201cYou think this will be the last time?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know the answer. And she knew it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence hung between us, heavy and hurtful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cId they come for you again,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cThey will answer to me first\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gaze flicked up. \u201cThats dangerous talk,Alpha\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo is saving a king\u2019s life\u201d I retort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia smiled faintly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As if trying to hold back her amusement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she smiled, she looked like a goddess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to hold her close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rose before I did something reckless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should get some sleep, Kaia.\u201d I urged. \u201cWe have a long day ahead tomorrow\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo should you, Alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop calling me Alpha when we are alone. Too formal, I dont like that\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay Alph\u2026.Theo\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned and started toward her door, then paused. \u201cFor what it\u2019s worth\u2026 I\u2019m glad you came outside.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she was gone, I stood there longer than I should have, the night colder but somehow less empty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
***\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Council Meeting was held in the morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood before them this time not as the king\u2019s son, but as Alpha of this territory\u2013and I was already tired of my\u00a0<\/p>\n
own restraint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Councilor Corwin drummed his fingers on the table. \u201cYou\u2019re certain the king is getting better\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said. \u201cKaia saved him. Without her, the King would be gone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across from him, Daren, grey\u2013haired, sharp\u2013eyed leaned back in his chair. \u201cConvenient. She arrives, the King falls ill, and then she miraculously cures him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I bit back my first answer. \u201cYou sent her there. Knowing the king was awfully ill and she managed to save him. It was your test, not mine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A murmur erupted through the chamber.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then Lady linda, one of the women among them, lifted her hand for decorum.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough. I was present when the King woke. His pulse steadied the moment after she administered the potion. Whatever else you believe, that is not fact.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s still an outsider,\u201d Daren snapped. \u201cA healer we know nothing about.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAn outsider who\u2019s proven more capable than half the pack\u2019s own physicians,\u201d linda countered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her calm voice carried more weight than his fury ever could.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe gain nothing by pushing away someone useful and gain everything by keeping her under our roof.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several heads nodded. The vote came down quickly after that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Four for keeping Kaia, two against.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daren\u2019s mouth twisted, but even he couldn\u2019t defy the count. \u201cVery well. Keep your stray, Alpha. But don\u2019t expect me to clean up the mess when she turns on you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe won\u2019t,\u201d I said simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 023\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lady linda\u2019s gaze met mine. \u201cThen we agreed. Kaia will remain within the pack as a healer. Maybe, she can join the pack as a member if she wishes to\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Join the pack?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait. Why didn\u2019t I think of this?\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Kaia doesn\u2019t join a pack. She will go rogue and worse feral.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded my head. \u201cUnderstood. \u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The meeting ended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daren swept out first, the others trailing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only linda lingered, watching me with something that almost resembled pity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s harmless, you know,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cBut not safe. Power never is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could answer, she was gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Useful, harmless, dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whatever they called her, she was mine to protect now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 23 Chapter 023\u00a0 \u2013Theo\u00a0 I was having trouble getting some sleep.\u00a0 I tried […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27268\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}