Chapter 179: Kaye is Adam’s Son
While the house was busy, Princess and Sasha were packing my things. The sounds of shifting boxes and the rustle of tape filled the hallway, creating a frantic rhythm that made the reality of my departure feel heavy. Every few minutes, I heard the thud of a suitcase being closed or Sasha laughing at something Princess said. I took a lingering look at the walls of the corridor before I went to meet my brother in his room.
The door was slightly ajar, throwing a sliver of light onto the floorboards. Inside, the air was quieter, smelling of old paper and the graphite from the pencil in my brother’s hand. He was helping Kaye with his assignment. They were hunched over the desk, their heads close together under the warm glow of a small lamp.
"Are you guys going to miss me?" I said, standing by the door. I leaned my shoulder against the frame, trying to look casual, though my heart felt a little tight. I waited for a sentimental look or a pause in their work.
They both looked up at me, then back at the book. Their movements were perfectly in sync, almost like they had practiced the dismissal.
"No."
They said it at the same time. The word hung in the air, blunt and final.
"What? I can’t believe you two. I’m moving out and you’re not even going to say anything about it." I grumbled, folding my arms. I puffed out my cheeks, letting out a huff of air to show my annoyance. I wanted them to admit it would be quiet without me, or that the breakfast table would feel empty.
"You’re still in the same city, and you’ve been staying with your girlfriend for so long and hardly sleeping here. There won’t be any difference," my brother muttered as he erased Kaye’s mistake in the book. He didn’t even look up this time, his focus entirely on the messy lead marks on the page. He blew the gray rubber dust away with a sharp puff of air.
"Also, I’m going to have the room all to myself. I can’t wait to redesign it to my own standard... no more messy roommate," Kaye added. He gave a small, mischievous grin, his eyes bright with the prospect of freedom. He tapped his pencil against the edge of the textbook, already imagining his new layout.
"Hahaha, I’m still going to visit, so you better not touch my side of the bed," I said, moving closer to them. I reached out and ruffled Kaye’s hair, which earned me a playful swat. I looked around the room, seeing the familiar posters and the stack of books, even if they were acting tough, the space felt different already.
"Wait, I have an aunt who’s intelligent. She will teach me," Kaye said, picking up the textbook from the table. He held it close to his chest, looking at the cover as if it held all the secrets of the world.
"You want me to help you with your assignment?" I asked, thinking he was about to hand me the book. I reached out a hand, ready to take it, feeling a sudden surge of protective big-sister energy.
"No. I’ve never seen you pick up a book, let alone do your own assignment... I’m going to meet my future in-law."
He stood up from Paye’s chair and walked past me. His shoulder brushed mine as he headed for the door, his pace quick and purposeful.
Did he just call me dumb or what? How dare he... I’m going to let that slide for now. I stared at the empty space where he had just been standing, my mouth slightly open in shock. The little brat really knew how to pick his moments to be snarky. I watched him leave the room, his footsteps fading down the hallway toward where Princess and Sasha were working, then I remembered something from the mansion.. something Yuki told me about Kaye.
"Make sure you don’t forget anything, from your blanket to your toothbrush, okay?" Paye said. He finally looked at me, his expression softening just a fraction. He set the extra pencil down on the desk and rubbed the back of his neck, a habit he had when he was trying to hide his emotions.
"Princess is helping me pack up. I’m going to leave my toothbrush here in case I sleep over... after all, I already have another toothbrush at Princess’s," I said, smiling. I leaned against the desk, watching him closely.
His face twitched. He was trying not to react, really trying hard. I could see the muscle in his jaw tighten as he fought back whatever lecture he wanted to give me about my living arrangements. If I had said one more word, he would’ve broken character. The silence stretched between us, filled only by the distant sounds of the house. So I changed the topic. I needed real answers before I left this house for good.
"So... did you know that I was the moon wolf?" I asked. He looked up. The light from the lamp caught his eyes, and for a second, he looked older than his years. The playful atmosphere from before evaporated, replaced by a heavy, serious tension.
"No need to avoid my questions anymore, brother. I’m not a pup anymore. I want total honesty from now on, no more beating around the bush or running away," I said firmly. I stood tall, meeting his gaze without blinking. I needed him to see that I could handle whatever truth he was hiding.
"Yes, I knew," he said honestly. His voice was low, devoid of its usual teasing edge. He folded his hands on the desk, looking down at his knuckles.
"Did Mom know?"
"Yes. She was the one who told me. She said no one should find out about it... that I should carry the truth to my grave, just like she did. She was scared of people finding out about you," he said. His words were slow and careful, as if he were handling something fragile.
I took a deep breath, letting it sink in, that both the mother whose face I’ve forgotten and my brother have been protecting me since two. A lump formed in my throat as I realized how many secrets they had kept just to keep me safe. I looked at the floor, feeling the weight of a legacy I never asked for, yet one that had defined my entire life without me knowing it.
"What about my hair? Why isn’t it white?" I asked. Both Yuki and Helen couldn’t figure out why my hair turned out brown. It was the one thing that didn’t fit the legends of the moon wolf. I ran a hand through my locks, wondering if they were just a disguise provided by nature.
"Mom drank a concoction before you were born, making our father’s genes stronger than hers," he said. He looked at me with a sad sort of pride. "She went through so much pain to find the right herbs, just to make sure you looked ordinary. She didn’t want you to be a target from the moment you opened your eyes."
"Look... she loved you even before you were born. She wanted you to live a good and peaceful life, away from bloodshed, enemies, Alphas... everything evil," he explained. He reached out and touched my arm, his grip steady and grounding.
"I know... I’ve thought about that. But I have an Alpha for a girlfriend and four Alpha pups on the way, so I can’t stay away from Alphas. But I won’t do bloodshed and all that," I assured him. I placed my hand over his, offering a small, reassuring smile. Life hadn’t turned out the way Mom planned, but it was a good life nonetheless.
There was no way I would hate an Alpha... unless they tried to harm my family. As long as enemies stay away from us, I won’t choose violence. My loyalty was to those I loved, and that circle had grown to include those Mom was so afraid of.
I looked at my brother, then at the door, before leaning closer and whispering so the walls wouldn’t hear. I checked the hallway, making sure Kaye wasn’t lurking nearby. The air in the room felt electric, charged with the final secret I needed to uncover.
"So... did you drink the same concoction Mom drank? Is that why Kaye’s hair is brown and not black?" I whispered. My heart was pounding against my ribs now.
My brother’s eyes twitched. He pulled his hand back, his face going pale in the dim light.
"What?" he muttered, stunned. He stared at me as if I had just spoken a language he didn’t understand, but the flicker of panic in his eyes told me I had hit the mark.
"I know. I won’t tell anyone unless you’re ready to talk," I said. I kept my voice soft, offering him a silent promise of protection.
Yuki had told me herself that Kaye was an Alphaborn. Her eyes glow whenever she looks into someone’s eyes, letting her know if they’re an Alpha... and she had looked at Kaye with that knowing shimmer. Now I understood why that boy never liked her..
And I remembered Eriko saying we are all connected by blood.
Eriko has Leo’s daughter. I’m carrying Princess’s pups.
That means... Kaye is Adam’s son.
