CHAPTER 303: _HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Kaelos’ POV

*****

I know what you think I would say during all this...

"It all happened so fast."

Well, no. It didn’t.

She was okay. Odessa was fine. My—Our baby was fine.

For the next three days after she fainted, I watched her. I cared for her. I served her her aunt’s tea in bed. I held her in my arms, cradling her at night.

And each time, I never and I mean NEVER felt anything wrong with her psyche. She seemed like she was finally getting peace for the first time in months.

The blood moon festival was supposed to be a lively event. A break from the chaos.

But alas, just like we had feared for months, chaos struck tonight. I noticed Odessa holding her stomach and head occasionally like she was in some kind of pain.

She kept telling me she was fine and I kept watching to make sure, my mind distant from the festivities of the Blood moon.

Yet... We were here. At this point.

"It’s raining blood!" Someone’s scream tore through the hall after Odessa fell to her knees and screamed.

I stood helplessly, watching my mate sob while trying to piece myself together. The blood on her hands was like a "fuck you" from the universe itself.

Oh, I wanted to watch my family grow into something happy and fulfilling. Fuck me. How could I be so delusional?

My fingers trembled as the screams of terror from the people in the hall drowned out. My eyes were damp... But that couldn’t be what I thought it was.

Right?

I blinked, a tear drop falling down my face and landing on the ground.

Now wasn’t the time to be weak. Now was when Odessa needed me the most. When I needed to step up and bring calm to the people who seemed like they were about to flee, as the blood rain kept trickling down the empty space at the centre of the event hall.

I curled my hands into fists at the same moment that Alpha King Thorian barked at me.

"Alpha King Kaelos, control your wife! The people are afraid."

I ignored him, stepping forward and crouching to Odessa’s level on the ground. I wrapped my arms around her, stroking my right hand through her lush hair as she sniffled.

"He’s... He’s dead. I can’t feel his heart beat anymore." Odessa croaked into my arms, clasping her hands on me. "Oh, Kaelos. He’s dead. R–Ryker won."

My heart shattered when I heard and felt the pain in her voice.

I shook my head, gritting my teeth. "No. Ryker hasn’t won. Not—"

Before I could finish that sentence, a loud explosion sounded outside the event hall, rocking the pack and causing the building to shake.

My eyes widened as the people’s screams got louder, the ceiling shaking and dust and debris falling on us.

"The pack is under attack!" Alpha King Maddox snarled. "And yet the Alpha King is—"

"Oh, hush, Maddox!" Luna Queen Janelle snapped, her voice brimming with irritation. "They just lost their child. Let them grieve."

Alpha King Thorian scoffed. "The safety of the people comes before sentimentalities. Any Alpha King should know that."

My jaw tightened the more they spoke like I wasn’t there. But I tried ignoring them, brushing my hands through Odessa’s hair and trying to calm her while scanning my gaze through the event hall.

And then...

BOOM!

Yet another explosion rocked the pack, this time causing the magic protection wards on the ceilings and walls to flare up, revealing themselves with bright blue lights.

"Layla!" I yelled out, blinking with confusion and anger when I didn’t see her.

Wasn’t she acting as MC of the event a minute ago?

"Sir." A female voice spoke up behind me just then, forcing me to swerve my head backwards.

It was Caroline. She had a saddened expression but her eyes were firm as she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Please, sir. Go. I’ll watch ma’am Odessa." She whispered as the other Alpha Kings finally jumped down from the platform, barking orders at the panicking wolves.

Then she added, "This has Lord Ryker written all over it. And something tells me he’s trying to get to Odessa."

My body tensed up.

I shared her suspicions as well.

I let out a heavy breath, about to reluctantly let go of Odessa when I noticed something that made my heart skip a beat.

Her arms... They were glowing with the dark sigils!

"Gods..." I muttered, forcing Odessa to look me in the eyes. "Odessa? My love, please. Don’t let yourself fall under its control. Under its—"

"My child is gone... Kaelos." She said weakly, sounding like she had given up all hope in life. The thunder in the clouds crackled with more power and I could tell it was coming from her.

The downpour of blood rain increased in intensity, and the screams of the people echoed even more.

A heavy wind blew into the event hall, causing the blood rain to finally reach us. I used my left arm to shield my face, the metallic scent nauseating as Odessa continued speaking.

"I have nothing left to lose."

Before I could say anything else, a constricting force held me in place, causing my muscles to freeze. My eyes widened as Odessa slowly rose to her feet.

My gaze landed on her stomach, which was still protruding, and then the blood trickling down her fingers.

And her eyes... They were black. Empty. Swirling with a chaotic darkness that threatened to consume everything like a black hole.

"Odessa!" I yelled out in a panic, struggling to raise my right hand and reach her. But the invisible pressure was too much, causing me to fall face first to the floor.

’I’m sorry, Kaelos.’ Her voice echoed in my mind through the mind link at the same moment that the Luna Queens and Alpha Kings locked their gazes on her.

’I can’t afford to lose you, too,’ she added with a finality that filled me with dread.

"No!" I roared as she turned away from me, levitating into the air.

"Look at her!" Someone shouted in the audience.

"She’s behind this! She’ll kill us all like she did those people at the Charity Ball!"

My jaw clenched with rage, my fingers threatening to turn into claws.

"Odessa Pierce!" Thorian’s voice boomed just then, carrying an aura that made all the people quiet down instantly. "I command you to stop whatever this is. Now!"

Luna Queen Janelle stepped forward just then. "Luna Queen, please! We understand your loss and your pain but you have to take back control. Don’t—"

"Understand?" Odessa’s voice echoed but this time it wasn’t the sweet, sassy voice I was used to.

It was filled with something dark. Something evil.

I raised my head, watching as she turned her head to Janelle who stepped back.

"None of you could survive a day in my skin." Odessa finally added before disappearing out of sight.

"No!" I roared, finally gaining back control of my body and slamming my fists into the ground.

Before anyone could say anything, I bolted, navigating through the crowd and heading outside.

’This is a trap. Ryker wants her to lose control and come out.’ Damon muttered in my mind and I couldn’t agree more.

But not if I have anything to do with it...

’I’ll rip him to shreds before he gets the chance to lay a finger on her!’