Kai faced Asher Conan, his face a mask of expressionless. Asher looked shocked to say the least, his eyes travelling between Kai and Nicolas.
The day after the truth about Karen’s treason was revealed, Kai and Nicolas headed to the Crest pack to seek an audience with Asher himself.
“Verena did that?” He gasped, his eyes wide with shock. “I understand that you must have been angry at her but that girl was merely a slave. The daughter of the man who caused you so much pain. Isn’t it a good thing that she’s gone? Being reminded of that pain every day.”
Kai wanted to roll his eyes. “Do I tell you how to run your pack?”
“No,”
“Do I tell you what to do with your slaves?”
“No ”
“Then don’t tell me what to do with mine.” Kai said simply. “That man’s daughter or not she was my property. If I chose to have her executed it was to be my own decision wholly and not being manipulated by another.”
“Young alpha, you should think about his with a calm head.”
“I am.” Kai said. He turned to Nicolas. “Did I not spare her life with a calm head?”
Nicolas nodded. “Yes my alpha. You so graciously did.”
Kai turned back to Asher “My head is calm. Always has been.”
“But, you just can’t cast her away. You two were going to be married.”
Kai sighed and did roll his eyes. He was starting to feel impatient. “She’s not my mate.” Kai said. “And her actions are unforgivable. I cannot marry her.”
Asher rose to his feet in anger. “How dare you?!” He thundered. “After all I did for you this is how you repay me?!”
“I am grateful, Alpha Asher. You saved me and you saved Nicolas. And you have done a lot for us.” Kai said calmly. “But I cannot marry Verena, and that is final.”
Asher looked like he wanted to say something then he scoffed. “Very well. I’ve heard all you’ve said.”
Kai smiled darkly. “Good. And I expect action to be taken immediately.” He rose to his feet and pushed his chair back. “Oh and before I forget, your daughter has a mate. And she’s very lucky he’s someone kind and understanding.”
Nicolas coughed. Kai glared at him briefly then turned to Asher.
“It’s a win, isn’t it?” He asked with a smirk.
He could tell Asher was vibrating with anger. But in that moment Kai didn’t care.
“Goodbye, Kai.” Asher said.
Kai waved. “Stay well.”
He turned and walked out of the room, Nicolas following him. Once they got out of earshot Nicolas cane up to his side.
“Why didn’t you tell him everything?” He asked.
“I decided it would be best for you to tell him yourself.” Kai replied. He wanted to ask about how Verena was faring but decided against it.
It was over between them now. And he had to accept that. Once upon a time he would have married Verena. But that time was gone and was never coming back.
As they walked through the halls of Crest pack house, Kai felt memories attack him. He had spent five years of his life in this place, training and recovering from his pain. Nicolas had been with him, both of them finding comfort in each other through their shared pain .
And Verena. She was an angel. She would sometimes help them train and tell off her brothers when they were being mean. She was always there, watching with wide curious eyes.
Kai shook the memories out of his head. Thinking back he realized that he hadn’t noticed the look Nicolas always had whenever Verena came around.
“We should visit the company soon.” Kai spoke up.
“Which one of them?”
“The food group we recently acquired.”
Nicolas hummed. “When do we leave?”
They turned down a corner. Up ahead Kai spotted two of Verena’s brothers – Lucas who was the eldest and soon to be alpha and Sebastian, the second eldest.
“Oh dear,” Nicolas said to himself. “Here we go again.”
“We leave in a week.” Kai said, his eyes trained on the brothers. “Get ready.”
“Yes, my alpha.” Nicolas said.
“If it isn’t the young alpha,” Lucas said mockingly, a smile on his face.
Kai brushed past him without paying him any heed.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!” He shouted.
Kai ignored him.
“You think you’re so great now huh?!” Sebastian called after him. “You just wait! You won’t know what hit you!”
They never liked him. Not a single day. But it didn’t bother Kai. He had so much to worry about rather than who liked him and who didn’t.
****
A few days passed.
Kai had concluded that finding Karen was done. He pushed thoughts of her out of his mind as much as he could.
He threw himself into the packs matters and started focusing on expansion into the human world more and more. He had recently acquired a new line of companies and was to visit them soon.
Kai wondered what he was going to do with Nicolas.
He couldn’t imagine taking another beta, how could he come to trust them? But he wasn’t sure how long he could continue to keep Nicolas around.
He thought about it for days and came to the conclusion that he was going to let him go.
A day before their visit to the human world, he and Nicolas went over their plans for the last time.
“You should go.” Kai said to Nicolas deciding to being up the topic
“Go where?” Nicolas asked without raising his head from his work.
“Anywhere. Just not here.”
“Why would I do that? We have things to get done and…” He trailed off and glanced at Kai. His Eyes scanned Kai’s face, a frown appearing on his brow. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yes” Kai replied. “I’m letting you go.”
Nicolas chuckled. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening anytime soon.”
“Nicolas, I’m serious.”
“Well so am I.” He replied calmly. “I’m not going anywhere. You and I are a team okay? You need me here.”
“No I don’t. I can things on my own.”
“I said no. I’m not leaving you. Not for any reason.”
“You are not listening to me!”
Nicolas glared at him. “I am. And you can’t fire me, it doesn’t work like that. I am your beta, your right hand. And this isn’t even about me feeling important right now this is about everything else.”
Kai sighed and rubbed his temples.
“So, I’m not going. Not even for a day.”
“You’re making this difficult.”
“I know.”
Kai looked at him sharply. Then he sighed. “Why did I think I could push you away?”
Nicolas shrugged. “Beats me.”
A period of silence ticked by.
“How is Verena?” Kai asked quietly.
“She went back home.” Nicolas replied. “I told her father that we were mated. He didn’t seem too pleased. Well neither did her brothers.”
Kai nodded. “I see.” He said.
Nicolas looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it.
“I think we should acquire a hotel too.” Kai said. “A resting place for our kind in the human realm. Whether our members or not.”
Nicolas tapped his chin. “that’s a good idea. How soon do you want it?”
“Tomorrow?”
Nicolas deadpanned. “Now you’re pulling my legs.”
Kai smiled. “We can start work on it. It should be done before the year runs out and….”
A loud knock sounded on the door making Kai frown.
“Who is it?!” He said. He had given express instructions to the guards to not let anyone in.
“My alpha!” He heard the voice of the healer. “It’s is I! Please pardon my interruption, it is a matter of utmost urgency!”
Kai wondered what was so urgent that the healer wanted to tell him. He glanced at Nicolas. Nicolas shook his head as if reading his mind.
“Come in.” He said.
The door opened and the healer rushed in. She went on her knees and pressed her face to the ground.
“My alpha!”
Kai rose to his feet and stood in front of her. “Speak.”
She raised her head looked at him. “Please forgive me for what I am about to say, I couldn’t keep it inside me much longer! I … I just had to say it!”
“You are wasting my time.” Kai said sternly.
“Your slave, alpha a few weeks before she vanished she suddenly developed broken bones. Inez pleaded with me to help her out and I complied.”
Karen was sick and he didn’t know?! Broken bones?!
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “You should have come to me soonest! Why delay until now?!”
“I’m so sorry!” She pleaded her hands clasped together. “But that isn’t why I’m here! Something else happened that she begged me to not reveal until she did herself. But now she’s gone and can’t reveal it I had to come forth.”
Kai’s heart skipped. Did Karen somehow know about the plans against her life and wanted to tell him?! Did she hesitate because she wasn’t sure he would believe her?
“What was it?” Kai asked.
The healer sighed heavily. “She was pregnant.”