Chapter 50 – What’s So Special About You?
“The colour or intensity of a smoke doesn’t determine the type of fire that forms the smoke.“–Agbor Jenet
Neron
Diana’s eyes swelled in child–like curiosity when Kwame, Raina, and I left Alpha Anthony’s office. Craning her neck from side to side, sharp yellow orbs captured the lavish interior of the pack house, hooting whenever anything captured her interest, even the wall lamps. My broad smile shined at the shifting bundle of feathers in my palms, my fingers caressing her softness. As my mind muddled with worry over Kiya, Diana’s presence provided some relief. Although she isn’t my pet, this owl is linked to my mate, so it is like I have a piece of her
with me.
My wolves and I will return to Zircon Moon in the morning, as it is late for us to travel back home. There isn’t much else for us to do right now. Our hopes rest with Phoebe’s witchcraft in wishes to narrow down Kiya’s whereabouts. Unfortunately, Anthony’s trackers failed to track my mate’s scent beyond the crash site. Miss Phoebe was correct; Osiris has gotten craftier to ensure we wouldn’t detect him or Kiya, shrouding them both
in mystery.
I don’t know why he wants Kiya for himself. Frustration bubbled through my blood at my weakness because I’m at a loss for what I should and could do. I wanted to rip Osiris to pieces, but I need to find the piece of shit first. Anthony accepting my help was the first step to combating this problem, but with nothing to work with, it left us in a state of disarray.
Kiya is strong. I know she is fighting for a way back home. That thought keeps my palpitating heart calm and my mind serene. I believe in her. The mental imagery of her kicking Osiris” ass brought a delighted grin to my face while we reached in the lounge where her family is.
The air is thick with sadness. Each member held distinct or blended emotions on their faces as the reality of our situation hit like brick on glass. Jacqueline hid her face in her palms with Abigail rubbing soothing circles on her back, consoling her. Sapphire rested in the protective arms of Isaiah, blue orbs void of their light. Galen, generally so talkative and expressive, is now silent, blinking back tears from his glazed eyes, no doubt in mental communication with Mikhail. Darien stood at the window, staring out into the dense redwood forest with his back turned to everybody.
Kiya’s disappearance had a bigger impact on them than I expected.
Lyra and Nikolai walked in toward us, eyes pink from their crying. “Any news?” Lyra asked in desperate hope.
“We’re going to be working with your son to find her.” I answered positively, clutching little Diana a little tighter. “Miss Phoebe will conjure a spell to center on her location, but there is no guarantee. The enemy doesn’t want anyone to find her.”
“I trust Phoebe. She hasn’t failed us and won’t be starting shortly.” Nikolai reassured. Suddenly, we heard a dry, bitter scoff, pulling everyone’s attention to the man at the window.
“Some help you’ll be.” Darien jeered with ridicule. “You’ve been nothing but trouble the moment you walked into our lives.”
“Darien, bro please.” Galen beseeched, rubbing his fatigued face.
“You all have the right to not have faith in us.” Kwame, the voice of reason, spoke. “But belleve me, we’re
Chapter 50–Whats Special About You?
going to do all we can to bring Kiya home. We need to put our personal feelings aside if we want this alliance
to work.”
“Sure. For the sake of an alliance that should’ve never happened. That damn agreement is the reason Kiya’s
gone.”
“You can’t be serious.” Raina added in disbelief, her voice thick with emotion. “None of us could’ve expected this was going to happen, Darien.”
“Maybe not, but the choices your Alpha made are tied into today’s events!” He blamed, striking dagger–like pain into my heart.
“So, your problem is with me.” I confirmed, swallowing down the tsunami of emotions that threaten to rise in me. Onyx, bedraggled and frustrated, perked up in defense, ready to fight. “I’m not the reason that psychopath kidnapped Kiya.”
“But if you just had accepted Kiya as your mate in the first place, none of this shit would’ve happened!” Darien turned to face me, ocean blue eyes aglow with savage fury. “What is so goddamn special about you, Neron? I don’t get it.”
“I’m not sure I follow. There isn’t anything special about me.”
“There must be.” He smirked bitterly, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he eyed my form. Cocking his head to the side, Darien bit the inside of his lips, trying to hold himself back from attacking me. “It’s not just about Kiya, however, I’m just trying to figure out a couple of things, like how you single–handedly ruined my relationship.”
“I wouldn’t call that shit with Odessa a relationship.” Jacqueline quipped, unveiling her face from her palms. “Very, is this the right time to talk about that sociopathic bitch?!”
–
“No, Beta Jacqueline.” I raised my palm up, sighing. “Let Darien speak. I’m sure he needs to get this off his
chest.”
“Don’t act as if you know me, bastard.” He growled, marching up to me. Darien’s glower pierced my eyes, the heat of his hatred incinerating me alive. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and I can see the man holding onto pain. A lot of it. Odessa has hurt this man–mind, body, and soul. She betrayed him. I know I hold some responsibility for his pain Darien’s anger is powerful, but I cannot deny his accusations.
“I’m sorry-”
“I don’t need your goddamn apologies, Neron.” He snarled. “I don’t see what is so goddamn special about you for Odessa to resist the fated bond. What did you give her I couldn’t? Maybe it’s the fact that you are a man of power–a f*cking Alpha. Or, maybe, you’re a better man in bed. She perhaps couldn’t stop thinking about you while f*cking me. She was so in love that she was willing to kill and betray her pack for your affection. Hell, even f*cking owls love you!”
“Hoo?”
“It’s because of you I lost my mate. I lost her the moment I met her. I was nothing but a second choice to the mighty Alpha–a side piece, a paramour. And now you expect us to work with you to find our friend? The same person you pushed aside in the first place? You don’t deserve Kiya.”
Chapter 50 – What’s So Special About You!
“I know that, Darien; I tell myself that every day.” I retorted coolly, expelling a shaky sigh. “But Odessa made her own decisions, and she chose to hurt you.”
“For you, goddamnit!” He shouted in my face. “You got her hooked to you like a fish on a lure! This is all your fault! You ruined what is supposed to be my sacred relationship! You wreck everything in your path and working with you and your awful pack will lead us to ruin!”
“Darien, that is enough!” Nikolai bellowed, silencing the argument. “Go to your room and cool down. We’ll discuss this in the morning.”
The man blinked and growled, turning on his heels to leave the lounge, but not before whispering a ‘Go to hell‘ to me. No one knew what to say or do; it was extremely awkward. Even Diana, sensitive to the chaos, hid her face in my torso. I guess it is time to add Darien to the list of people who hate my guts, and I don’t blame
him.
“I’ll retire to my room.” I announced, sighing. “You all have a good night.”
“Do you need one of our Omegas to show you to your room?” Nikolai asked.
“No, thank you.” I declined, eager to leave the tense room. “I know the way.”
In the guest room, I sat on the bed, propping my elbows up on the windowsill with my chin resting on my palms. Red leaves cloaked in the night’s darkness rustled from the cool breeze, producing a pleasant melody with the singing cicadas in the bark. Darien’s cruel words left an everlasting impression, forming holes in my heart that I’ve neglected to pay attention to. Diana hobbled on the sill before sitting, her little legs sticking out from her feathered body.
Maybe I do ruin everything I touch. Odessa’s madness spurred because I let her go. It is my fault she turned out the way she did because I chose Kiya over her. All I wanted was for Odessa to experience the true love of the mate bond–something I’m sure I’ll never experience in my lifetime. Darien is a far better man than me and could’ve provided more to her than I usually could. He loved her for her flaws and all, could’ve given her a family, and make her feel she was the only woman for him. She was the only woman for him.
But choosing her over Kiya was the catalyst that started this reaction. Sighing, I replayed that night of my ceremony in my mind, over and over like a broken record player. As the chaos thrived, Odessa also thrived. She constantly told me I made her feel like a powerful, unstoppable woman, and I did. With all she’s done in those five years, I encouraged her, no matter how cruel she became.
Because I believed for her to be my true woman until the guilt started settling in. No matter how much I ran from it, it caught up and devoured me whole. I practically lost Onyx for good because of my fatal decision. The honeymoon phase between Odessa and I, gradually, faded into nothing. My Moon Goddess warned to never trifle with the mate bond as explained through my lessons with my father.
Not only did I ruin mine, I ruined another. Darien was right; it is my fault I ruined his relationship. If I thought my decisions through and approached letting Odessa go cautiously, perhaps this could’ve had a different conclusion. The mind of a woman is a deliberately complex puzzle, and Odessa’s mind was strong enough to defy the ferocity of her mate bond.
Just like how Kiya could withstand ours. Not once did she falter. Yes, we kissed here and there, but she stood strong. I couldn’t. And I should’ve known that Odessa’s measly insults to Kiya held more weight. I was in love
Chapter 50: Whats de Special About Yout
with Odessa in the past, that I cannot deny, though choosing Kiya over her set her off, as opposed to choosing her over my mate. I treated Odessa like I treated Kiya that cataclysmic day.
I don’t regret choosing Kiya at all. But I regret contributing to Odessa’s fall.
“Hoo?” Diana peered at me with gold eyes swimming with concern. How come this little bird appears to be more human than animal, like there is a person housed in that body? I smiled, petting her on top of her small
head.
“I’m
okay, Diana. Just thinking.” Sighed, I gazed at the night sky, identifying a couple of constellations. “I can’t believe how many people I hurt. I never intended to cause Darien pain, but I did, indirectly. All because I’ve been so foolish. Karma is already kicking me in the ass, huh?”
“Hoo…” The bird hobbled on her feet, taking her new seat next to my arm.
“I am pathetic, you see? I was back then, and I still am now. Turning back time and rectifying my wrongs is something I wish I can do, Diana. I f*cked up so many times and spat on my Moon Goddess‘ plans for me, and for what? Half of the things I did, I don’t know why I’ve done them. Maybe I am the true monster here.”
“Neron.” Onyx spoke, enrapturing my focus. “While I agree you were the biggest idiot I had the terrible pleasure of knowing back then-”
“You’re so kind, Onyx.” I rolled my eyes.
“Quit blaming yourself for Odessa’s choices. That woman made her decisions, just as you have, and acted accordingly. Her reasons are insane, yes, but you don’t have any fault in that. You didn’t convince her to betray her mate; she did that. You didn’t tell her to hurt Kiya, she did that. Whatever Odessa has done, she needs to take responsibility for that. What you need to do now is get your priorities straight.”
“My priorities?”
“Yes. I’m worried as f*ck over Kiya, but we have business to take care of once we get back home. Odessa, your dad, and more. Maybe we can find some answers about Osiris at home and search for a way to find Kiya at the same time. The library could be a good place to start?”
Onyx has a point. There is a plethora of books that haven’t been touched in decades; I could find something relevant to finding my mate. And I need to talk to Odessa and deal with the mess my father created not too
long ago.
Being an Alpha is never easy, but at least I’ll be taking care of business while finding my mate. The answers are lying somewhere.
After a minute, I stripped out of my shirt and hopped into bed. I’ve opened the window so that Diana can fly into the trees. But she didn’t. The little bird stayed. She hooted once before sailing toward the top of a clothes drawer, making herself comfortable on top of it.
I arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to sleep there?”
“Hoo!”
…Suit yourself, I guess?” I said, puzzled. Hmm, she really is special.
Chapter 50: What’s fui fjor, sal Abood You!
Diana’s presence warmed the room, lulling me to sleep.