Chapter 53
Adeline West
I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my the ever since Killian called. His tone had been curt, almost commanding, leaving little room for argument. Whatever he wanted to talk about seemed serious, but that didn’t ease my nerves. If anything, it only made them worse.
What must it be?
Why now?
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill creeping into my bones. He had said he’d meet me at my home, but how did he know where I lived? That thought sent a shiver down my spine. Had he been keeping tabs on me? Or had someone else told him? The idea of Killian knowing more about my life than I was comfortable with unsettled me.
Then there was the issue of him entering the pack grounds at this time. Would he even be allowed in? I knew Sebastian would certainly be aware of Killian’s arrival. The two of them didn’t like each other, a fact that was no secret to anyone. Their mutual hatred has been a thorn in everyone’s side, and I knew better than to let them cross paths unnecessarily.
This was a bad idea. Letting Killian walk into the pack, into Sebastian’s territory, was asking for trouble. I could already imagine the confrontation that would follow, and it wasn’t something I wanted to deal with. The tension between them was like a ticking time bomb, and I had no desire to be caught in the blast.
No, we couldn’t meet here. I needed to call him to tell him that we should meet somewhere else, somewhere safe. My office, maybe. But as I stood there, debating whether to dial his number, something told me that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I bit my lip, indecision gnawing at me. The last thing I wanted was to deal with Killian tonight, especially after the day I’d had. But I knew him too well. He wouldn’t back down, not when he’d made up his mind.
Finally, I sighed and pulled out my phone, dialing his number. It rang a few times before he answered, his voice sharp and impatient. “What is it, Adeline?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come to the pack,” I said, trying to keep my tone even. “Sebastian won’t be happy about it, and you know how things are between the two of you.”
“I’m not asking for permission,” Killian replied, his voice cold. “I’m telling you, I’ll be there.”
I clenched my teeth, trying to keep my irritation in check. “This isn’t about permission, Alpha Killian. It’s about avoiding unnecessary conflict. If you want to meet, then let’s do it somewhere neutral. How about my office tomorrow morning?”
“No,” he said firmly, not giving an inch. “This can’t wait until tomorrow. Meet me outside the pack, now.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off before I could get a word in. “It’s about the kids, Adeline. This isn’t up for discussion.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
The kids?
What could possibly be so urgent that he needed to see me right now? The anger I’d been feeling moments ago was quickly replaced by a wave of anxiety. My mind raced, conjuring up all sorts of worst–case scenarios.
Without really thinking, I found myself agreeing. “Fine. Where do you want to meet?”
“I’ll send you the location,” he said, and before I could say anything else, he hung up.
I stared at my phone in disbelief, a string of curses escaping my lips. What the hell was I doing? Why had I agreed to this?
14:03 Thu, Dec
Chapter 33
But there was no time to dwell on it. I quickly threw on a casual top and jeans, grabbed my car keys, and headed out.
As I drove through the pack grounds, I couldn’t shake the sense of dread that was growing in the pit of my stomach. What if this was a mistake? What if meeting Killian tonight only made things worse? But it was too late to turn back now.
He sent a text with the location–a parking lot of a café, somewhere in the middle between our packs. Neutral territory. I supposed that was something, at least. But it did little to case my nerves.
When I arrived, I saw him standing there, leaning against his car looking every bit as imposing and arrogant as I remembered. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and his expression was unreadable as his eyes met mine. I felt a pang of something–anger, resentment, maybe even a hint of something I refused to acknowledge–but I pushed it down.
I parked my car and got out, walking towards him with purpose. If he wanted a confrontation, I wasn’t going to back down. “Why did you call me here at this time?” I demanded, not bothering with pleasantries. My heart was pounding, but I kept my voice steady. “If this is about the kids, just say it.”
Killian didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at me, his expression hard to read. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes–hesitation, maybe? But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that cold, steely gaze I’d grown so accustomed to
Finally, he looked away, his jaw clenching. “It’s not that simple,” he said, his voice tight.
My frustration only grew. “Then make it simple, Killian. What do you want?”
He didn’t respond, and the silence stretched between us, heavy and tense. I could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to eat with a knife. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of–being dragged into his world of secrets and lies with no way out.
“Killian,” I pressed, my voice sharper now. “If you have something to say, say it. I don’t have time for this.”
But instead of answering, he took a step closer, his eyes locking on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. I could see the conflict in his gaze—the turmoil he was trying so hard to hide. And for a brief moment, I saw the man I used to know, my mate, and all the feelings I had for him buried beneath all the anger and resentment.
But then he blinked, and the moment was gone. He turned away from me, his shoulders tense, and I could see the battle raging inside him.
“Killian,” I said more softly this time, the edge in my voice gone.
“What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer right away, and I felt my frustration mounting again. But before I could push him further,
“Who is the father?” he asked, his voice low and cold.
I blinked, completely thrown off by the question. “What?” I asked, my mind scrambling to catch up.
“Who is the father?” he repeated, his tone more insistent this time, his eyes boring into mine.