Chapter 76
Tessa’s POV
The faint hum of conversation floated through the dining hall as Erin and I sat side by side at one of the long wooden tables at Alpha Kion’s pack house.
The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat, potatoes, and fresh bread, the warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth offering a fleeting sense of comfort. But despite the inviting spread before us and the kind smiles of Kion’s maids and staff throughout the day, my appetite was currently nonexistent.
I poked at my food with my fork, my thoughts remaining a whirlwind of worry and what–ifs, Erin wasn’t much better, staring down at her plate as though the answers to all of our problems might suddenly appear among the mashed potatoes.
“How long do you think it’ll take them?” she asked softly, breaking the discomforting silence.
I sighed, setting my fork down and resting my chin in my hand. “I don’t know. Kane didn’t tell me much about a timeframe before he left maybe they don’t even have one? But he didn’t say much on what was happening, probably to keep me from worrying, but… well, that clearly didn’t work did it?”
Erin gave me a weak smile. “Seth did the same. Practically sprinted out of the door before I could even question him on it. He’s probably halfway there – freezing his ass off by now.”
A laugh escaped me despite my deeper feelings of sorrow, though it was still tinged with nerves. “I hope that’s the worst of it. I just… I wish we knew something. Anything. Even if we had some way to contact them!” I huff, as Erin nods in agreement.
Erin reached over, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “They’ll come back, they’re strong. They’re also too stubborn not to. Especially Kane. He’d fight off an army of bears to get back to you!”
I smiled faintly, her words a small balm for the ache in my chest. “Seth would for you too you know?” I assure her, as she sighs.
But before we could continue attempting to comfort one another, the door to the dining hall creaked open. A hush fell over the room as a tall man stepped inside, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the doorframe. He was one of Kion’s pack guards, posted here to keep us all safe, as his thick Russian accent was unmistakable as he barked out a command in his native tongue…
Most of the pack ignored him, returning to their meals, but then his sharp gaze landed squarely on me as I almost screamed out loud in fright!
“You,” he said, his voice cutting through the room like a bellowing siren.
My heart sank right down to the very pit of my stomach, dread curling around my spine like an icy grip. Every eye in the room seemed to turn toward me as the man’s finger pointed directly at my chest.
Erin was immediately on alert, her hand tightening around my arm. “What the hell does he want with you?” she scrambled to know under her breath, her voice laced with suspicion and concern.
‘I–I don’t know,” I stammered, my pulse quickening.
The man crossed the room in a few long strides, his expression unreadable.
When he eventually reached us, he gestured back toward the door he had entered through. “There is call. In Alpha’s office. For you!” He states bluntly, as I just blink back at him as though he had grown two heads…
“F–For me?! A call? My voice came out shaky, the words feeling foreign on my tongue as though I too was speaking Russian.
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Chapter 76
“Yes. Come now.” He motions swiftly, as I force myself to stand upright from my chair on shaky legs.
Erin was already standing before me, her protective instincts kicking in. “She’s not going alone. I’m coming with her.”
The man raised a brow but didn’t argue, motioning for us to follow him with a bored look on his face.
I felt Erin’s hand slip into mine, her grip firm as we were led out of the dining hall and through the winding corridors of Kion’s estate together.
The air grew colder the farther we walked, the faint smell of aged wood and stone seeping into my senses. “It’s probably Kane?” Erin whispers to me, as I
nod frantically – hoping that she was right.
Who else would call here for me?!
But my nerves only worsened as we reached a closed door at the end of the hallway. The man pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit office with a large oak desk dominating the center of the room. Sitting atop it was an old–fashioned rotary phone, its shrill ring echoing in the silence.
The man gestured toward the phone. “It waits.”
I hesitated, my stomach churning. Erin gave my hand a squeeze. “You don’t have to do this,” she whispered. “Tell him to confirm who it is first!” She rushes,
as I shake my head.
If it did turn out to just be Kane, then I was being completely ridiculous right now!
Whoever was on the other end of that line had gone through a lot of trouble to reach me.
Drawing in a shaky breath, I stepped forward, the sound of my footsteps loud in the quiet room. The phone seemed to taunt me as I reached down for it, the
up to my ear. cold plastic of the receiver sending a shiver through my fingers as I placed
“Hello?” I said, my voice trembling slightly.
A low chuckle greeted me on the other end, deep and guttural, followed by a voice I didn’t quite recognise.
“Tessa? Is that you? I was beginning to think that those Russians had left me high and dry since they could barely understand what I was asking them for!” The man wastes no time, as I squint and throw a ‘I don’t know who the hell this is look at Erin who takes that as her sign to rush closer to me in order to
listen in…
“So you’re the special one that our Kane is turning himself all pissy for?” the man drawled next, as I began to connect that he at least knew who I was due to Kane taking an interest in me.
Was this one of his friends from back home? Or worse, an enemy? I couldn’t yet tell…
The words struck me like a slap nonetheless, still confused as to why he wanted to speak to me demanded to know, my voice sharper now despite the fear crawling up my body.
–
my grip tightening around the receiver. “Who is this?” I
The man’s laugh was dark, dripping with disdain. “Alpha Frederick, a member of the Alpha council, Surely Kane’s mentioned me before? His dear friend? But then again, he’s always been too busy playing the hero to care about proper introductions that one.” He drawls on, making little to no sense still.
My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I had no idea who this man was, but the authority in his voice made it clear he wasn’t someone to take lightly.
A member of the council? As in the higher up ones who created the Dawn Laws for the entire country to follow back home? I remembered learning about them at the training centre…
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Chapter 76
“What do you want me for, Kane isn’t here at the moment?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What I want, Frederick said, his tone venomous as he cut me off, “is for Kane to stop his reckless crusade. Do you have any idea the kind of chaos he’s
– all for you a weak little human girl.” stirring up back here, by running off to Russia like this? He’s dragging all of us into his mess
–
–
I swallowed hard, his words hitting a nerve in me. ‘He’s only doing what he thinks is right.” I defend, although I instantly regretted my tone, not wanting to
make things worse for Kane…
Frederick scoffed. “Right? He’s jeopardizing centuries of order for some human mate. Do you really think you’re worth all this trouble, little girl? If the Russians feel offended by him being out there, then they won’t hesitate on taking us all to war!” He hisses, clearly worried.
The words hit like a punch to the gut, but I refused to let him see how much they hurt. “K–Kane likes me, I don’t know why he does, but he does. That’s all that matters. He also has friends here in Russia!”
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low growl. ‘Friends?! Like who?!” he snaps, demanding to know more as I open and close my mouth in a
panic.
Do I mention Kion? They must already know they are working together if they knew to call here looking for him?
“Ugh never mind! Stupid girl! Friends won’t matter when he gets back home and has to explain all of this to the council! When you see him, tell him that Frederick called. He won’t need to know much else!” He snaps out his orders, as the line fell dead before I could respond, the silence in the room swallowing my pounding thoughts.
“Tessa?” Erin’s voice broke through the fog of my thoughts as she stepped closer. “Who the hell is he? That sounded pretty serious! Why are they so concerned about Kane coming here for us…”
I set the receiver down with trembling hands, my mind spinning. “He was a total ass! He’s clearly not happy that Kane came to Russia and wants me to play messenger for him…” I sigh, hating that I couldn’t contact Kane to warn him about this now.
Erin frowned, her jaw tightening. “Well, screw him. Kane’s doing the right thing by helping Kion, and he will no doubt deal with them when we get back
home.”
I sigh heavily at her words, hating that the drama was never ending at this point. I nodded, trying to absorb her confidence, but the weight of Frederick’s
words hung over me.
Kane’s fight wasn’t just with Dimitri. It was brewing for him back home too.
But right now, Erin and I stood helpless amongst it all – having no other choice but to wait this whole thing out…
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
