Chapter 7
“How is that possible?” Caspian’s voice was a mixture of disbelief and irritation. His gaze darted. between me and his phone as if the device itself had betrayed him. Beta Clayton, you‘ ve grown bold, conspiring with Claire to deceive me!”
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Caspian ended the call abruptly, the harsh click of his phone hanging in the air. The screen soon lit up with details about Kylo’s funeral arrangements and the cemetery address.
Caspian’s face drained of color as he absorbed the information. His eyes widened, fixated on me with an intensity that bordered on horror. “Such a big deal–why didn’t you tell me?
I couldn’t help but laugh, a harsh, bitter sound. “How could I tell you? The night before our trip to the ocean, you turned off your phone, ignored my mind links, and vanished from the Bloodvenom Pack s territory. I searched for you everywhere.
My voice trembled, betraying the rawness of my hurt. Caspian‘ s eyes flickered with something that might have been regret, a rare glimpse of shame behind his hardened exterior. “If you had told me beforehand…
I cut him off, my patience eroding. “Haven‘ t I told you enough? Every time it was Kylo’s birthday, every single occasion, every time he was discharged from the pack‘ s infirmary. How desperately he longed to see his father…
A knot tightened in my chest as I recalled Kylo s hopeful eyes. His attempts to reach Caspian had been relentless.
Initially, Caspian offered excuses, promising to visit Kylo soon. But as time wore on, he stopped returning Kylo’s calls altogether, his attention consumed by his duties with Ophelia, and attending meetings with other packs to solidify alliances. Kylo, confined to his bed, would excitedly talk about the meetings he’d heard of from the pack members and some warriors he got close to who often accompanied his Alpha of a father, asking, “Is Dad in those cool meetings again?”
The lie of reassurance I offered him was a constant source of pain. Kylo had only seen his father a handful of times, and those memories had faded. He could barely recall what Caspian looked like. Caspian’s gaze softened slightly, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “I thought Kylo was just like your mother, using his illness to manipulate me into coming home.”
I couldn’t contain the anger that surged through me. “You thought I was manipulating you? Every time Kylo s symptoms worsened, when the healers were baffled, I reached out to you. You came once, but after seeing the reports, you convinced yourself I was scheming. No matter how many times. I tried to contact you, you refused to believe me.
Caspians expression was a mask of disbelief. “He was fine when I saw him last.”
I let out a hollow laugh, the sound echoing in the room. “Last time? Alpha, don‘ t joke around. That was nearly two years ago. Do you even remember what he looked like?”
Caspian’s lips pressed into a thin line, unable to offer a retort. The weight of my words seemed to sink in, and for the first time, he appeared somewhat remorseful.
He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to wipe the tears that streamed down my face. “I’m so sorry about this,” he murmured, his voice tinged with regret.
I recoiled, swatting his hand away with a mixture of anger and despair. Sorry? Was that all he had to offer after Kylo‘ s tragic death? I’looked into his eyes, searching for a deeper understanding. But
none.
1
“Oh, please,” I said, my voice dripping with icy sarcasm. “Now our high and mighty Alpha Caspian is saying sorry.
s face shifted, his confidence faltering as he sensed the depth of my scorn.
Claire,” he
with
depway to
he said, his voice tinged with desperation. “There’s no way to bring him back to life, but I can make it up to you. If you want to get married and be my Luna, we can arrange it for tomorrow. I’ll announce your position in the pack.”
The absurdity of his offer struck me like a blow. He thought a marriage proposal and a title could somehow compensate for Kylo s death, for the years of neglect and heartbreak. My eyes narrowed, the contempt clear.
‘No need, Alpha,” I replied coldly. “We” re done.”
