Chapter 88\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned and got out of bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo wasn\u2019t by my side as he had gone on his trip to the Silvermoon pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to let him go but it was important. I missed him so much already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo had only been gone a few hours, and yet the house felt too big without him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The house suddenly feels a little too quiet and unfamiliar to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Theo were here, he would have taken me to cloud nine, I wouldn\u2019t have to worry about anything else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wore Theo\u2019s shirt and my shorts then walked out of my room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His scent stayed on me, I knew I smelled like him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone should know Theo is mine now, and they should back off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Haha, that\u2019s so stupid of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But seriously, I recently heard from Justine that the young assistant who works with Theo has a thing for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart leapt because it was as if history was repeating itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liora was Draven\u2019s employee as well and they managed to betray me under my nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not saying Theo would do the same to me but I don\u2019t trust that girl, Sam.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw the way she looked at me when I ran into her a few days back, I can\u2019t take chances. I need to put her in her place she grows horns and attacks me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to distract myself by wandering the halls, but somehow I ended up in the garden where Kingsley usually spent his mornings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to see him so I pretended not to see him but he noticed me before I could turn back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia,\u201d he said gently. \u201cWalk with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then nodded. It was the first time we were ever alone together, without Theo or Zane or Justine nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We walked in silence until Kingsley spoke again, softly, almost fragile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remind me of her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d I stopped. \u201cTheo\u2019s mother?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 88\u00a0<\/p>\n
He exhaled shakily and looked ahead, eyes distant\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was\u2026 sunlight. Everyone in the pack adored her. And then I lost her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice cracked, and something tugged painfully in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d I asked quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
6\u0f0d)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley swallowed, as if forcing himself to open an old wound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMariela was pregnant,\u201d he said, gripping the railing so tightly his knuckles whitened. \u201cThere was a complication with the pregnancy. So, we sought medical attention to stabilise the pregnancy as we both wanted to keep the child\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the healers and doctors in our pack couldn\u2019t cure her sickness, we sort of helped outside. That\u2019s when, we found a competent healer to help Mariela.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a big mistake on my part. I didn\u2019t want my Luna to receive medical attention in a faraway pack so I begged that the healer and Mariela return to our pack, and so they did. With the healer\u2019s help, Mariela\u2019s pregnancy stabilised and she stopped bleeding like she used to\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne night, the neighbouring pack hosted an event and invited me as a special guest; I had to be there as it was important. So, I left Mariela at home as she wasn\u2019t strong enough to travel for more than an hour\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter my speech at the event, I felt an uncomfortable pain searing through me as if someone was breaking the pack bond. Then, it got worse than the usual pack renouncing pain\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley stopped, catching his breath and hurting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t understand what was happening, I was covered in cold sweat and heat crawled up my face. I quickly left the event to return home\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTurns out, someone wasn\u2019t breaking the pack bond, my mate was being forcefully ripped away from me. She was injected with silver and stabbed in her heart and stomach. She couldn\u2019t heal because of the silver. By the time, I got back to the pack, Mariela was dead, covered in her own blood\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley raised his head, looking at the sky to avoid letting his years slip by.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI made a mistake. A fatal one. And I-\u201d His voice trembled. \u201cI was the one who begged her to try for another pup. I\u2026 I killed her, Kaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze, my heart sinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I whispered. \u201cYou loved her. That was never your fault.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley let out a broken laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTheo was only a child. He watched his mother die while I-fell apart. He was left alone. I failed him. I failed both my wife and son, but Theo\u2026\u201d His voice softened painfully. \u201cI broke him completely.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what to say. All I could do was touch his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 88\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a shaky breath. \u201cI\u2019m glad he has you now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My cheeks warmed. \u201cIll protect him with everything I have.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley\u2019s eyes glistened. \u201cAnd I believe you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho killed the Luna?\u201d I couldn\u2019t stop myself from asking. \u201cAnd what happened to the killer?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMariela was killed by the healer,\u201d Kingsley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I remarked. \u201cBut what motives does she have to kill the Luna? Not to mention, she was the one who healed her. It doesn\u2019t make any sense\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt the same way too. Kaia. The healer was a poor widow, why would she hurt Mariela? She had no motive. I thought there was a mastermind behind her but after killing the Luna, she ran off and before the patrol could catch up to her, she drank poison and killed herselfTM\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Why would she do that?\u201d I was gobsmacked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t get any evidence. Everyone assumed it was because she was a stranger and wanted to hurt our pack greatly Kingsley pointed out. That\u2019s why everyone hates strangers especially strays\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes Theo know about this?\u201d I asked, \u201cWhat did you tell me? Because he thinks you went partying while one of your whores killed his mother that\u2019s why you abandoned him and married Cara soon after\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kingsley shook his head sadly. \u201cNo, I couldn\u2019t bring myself to face my son with the truth. I was buried in my own pain that I forgot I had to be a parent to my son and help him through the pain\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the time, I came out of my grief, Theo was completely estranged from me. He had been brainwashed to think I left Mariela to go partying with my whores. I couldn\u2019t change his mind as he never spoke to me again\u201d he looked at me with a thin smile. \u201cUntil you came into his life\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I moved closer to him, patting his shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had no idea how to comfort the man, he\u2019s going through pain I can\u2019t imagine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, you have to tell him the truth, he needs to know you never abandoned his mother for some whores\u201d 1 suggested looking at the broken man.\u201dHe has the right to know\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right, Kaia\u201d Kingsley stopped to look at me. \u201cBut, I\u2019m afraid now is not the right time. Theo is occupied with a lot of things\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded, agreeing with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo was meeting up with Draven, and the pack is just coming to terms with our relationship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His heart can\u2019t take any more shocks, I will talk to Theo when he comes back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you mind talking to Theo about this for me?\u201d If it came from you, it would have less shock impact. I\u2019m just worried about his health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 88\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure about this?\u201d I asked, \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be better if it came from you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Theo loves and trusts you more than anyone in this house. You should do it, please\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, Kingsley. I will speak to Theo\u201d I said, smiling at him and he returned my smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw relief wash over him as if he had been holding his breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are a lot of secrets in this mansion, and I need to find out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The former Luna, Mariela was killed and nobody was held responsible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
61\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
The poor healer, who was from another pack cannot have something against the Luna to the extent of pretending to cure her while harbouring ill intention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone is behind this, and I need to know who that was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We walked back slowly, both swallowed by our thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a while, I returned to my room. I needed to gather my thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s scent lingered on the pillows comforting and grounding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I curled up, telling myself I would only rest my eyes for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the moment stretched\u2026 then twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp, brutal pain tore through my abdomen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gasped, doubling over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t normal pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It felt like something was clawing inside me, searing hot, ripping through my veins, burning from the inside\u00a0<\/p>\n
out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to scream, but nothing came out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My vision blurred as my nails dug into the sheets, and another wave struck, violent and painful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A dark pulse spread under my skin like ink.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTheo\u2026\u201d I whispered, my voice breaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then everything went black.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door creaked open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia? Luna Ka- oh Goddess!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya dropped the tray she was holding. The clatter echoed through the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:44 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 88\u00a0<\/p>\n
She ran to the floor where I had dropped while the pain was searing me apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shook my limp shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia! Kaia! Wake up!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
6\u0f0d)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t move. I could hear her yet I couldn\u2019t move my body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My skin was cold, and my breathing was shallow and uneven.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And faint, shadowy veins trailed along my abdomen like remnants of something dark that had clawed its way through my body during the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya\u2019s voice trembled as she screamed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone please get the doctor now. Lady Kaia is not well\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the last thing I heard before I completely passed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I woke up, I had an IV drip stuck to my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The pain had reduced, almost to nonexistence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maliya was waiting by the corner while the doctor attended to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with me, Doctor?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is nothing wrong with you during the diagnosis,\u201d he said and I sighed. \u201cI gave you painkillers to help with the pain\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will ask the head healer to take a look at you, it might be something traditional. Only she and the high chief can help now\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, doctor\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, he picked up his briefcase and Maliya escorted him out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lay there staring at the ceiling, wondering what\u2019s wrong with me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send gift\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 88 Chapter 88\u00a0 \u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0 I groaned and got out of bed.\u00a0 Theo wasn\u2019t […]<\/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-27333","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\/27333","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=27333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27333\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}