Chapter 155: Chapter 155 Kaelen wanted her back
_Rowena’s POV_
By morning, the sound of Alaric’s men moving through the hallways and arranging the things needed for their departure filled the air.
I observed from the terrace of my hotel room. There were big vehicles and men moving around quietly below. They moved like people who were getting ready for something serious.
I listened to the way they communicated with each other, watched how Alaric addressed them. I found it completely attractive watching him from the top.
Although I was slightly pained by the fact that I was the only one not participating in their quest for Virella and Theodore. I still had to fully recover by lying in bed all day.
Celeste refused to stay back. She insisted on going for the rescue with Alaric and the rest of the crew.
Knowing that Celeste and Alaric would go together, I felt a little relief. Virella wouldn’t trick her way out.
I stayed on the terrace until the last vehicle disappeared through the hotel gates.
Alaric came up to kiss my forehead again, reassuring me to stay put and the mission would go smoothly.
I still had a lot to look into. The cause of my dad’s death still wasn’t unraveled. I needed to recover quickly for it.
He eventually left. Then the compound went quiet.
I went back inside.
Twenty minutes after they left, I got a knock on the door. I narrrowed my gaze at the door, everyone had left, who was there?
When I looked through the peephole, I saw no other person but Kaelen standing outside my door.
I opened the door for him and he entered.
He had a little pack with him as he walked in. One closer look and I could guess what it was already.
“I brought you food since I couldn’t go for the mission.” He said and pulled the chair close to the bed then sat down without being invited, which told me he planned to stay for a while. “How’s the pain this morning?” he asked.
“Manageable. Why didn’t you join them for the rescue? Don’t you resent Virella now? You can’t possibly still love her after everything?” I asked with a raised brow and a mocking smile.
He gave me a look that lasted for a few seconds before he cleared his throat.
“I don’t love Virella. Never had.” He sighed and placed the pack of food on the table beside my bed.
I already knew that. I had my suspicions which he just confirmed.
He told me the plan without me asking. The island coordinates, the approach strategy, the timeframe. Two entry points, Celeste handling one side, Alaric’s military unit handling the other. Reid was already on the ground with an advance team. Everything was coordinated down to the minute.
“So I’m not needed there. I’m sure Alaric hates her more. He’ll deal with her.” He paused. “This is the only chance I have to get close to you and talk things out.”
“Talk what out?”
“Try to get a proper forgiveness for being a dickhead all these while, Rowena. I realized too late that the woman who I loved and would ever love was you. Not Virella. I was deceiving myself.” He said pitifully, casting his gaze low.
If I hadn’t known better, maybe I’d have fallen for this. But Kaelen was stupid. He thought with his heart rather than his mind.
Never thinking things through before jumping into conclusion.
I didn’t say anything for a while, mostly because he might be right. He never really loved Virella. He merely had feelings for her because she was offering help to him. She was available.
Now, she bit his hand in return.
“I forgive you. But I believe you don’t need me anymore. Move on and let everything go, Kaelen. You’re Alpha, you’ll find someone else.” I said.
He stayed silent after my words. The silence lasted for a few minutes, then he sighed and nodded. “You like Alaric?” He asked.
I looked him dead in the eye and gave a response. Since he wouldn’t drop it, I’d make him drop it. “I love Alaric.”
Kaelen dragged in deep breaths and closed his eyes briefly.
“So, there cannot be a second chance for me?”
“Not at all.” I shook my head.
He went completely quiet. You could tell he was having an internal conversation with his wolf from the look on his face.
I would never return to the Moonreign Pack as their Luna.
And as for what I said. Did I really love Alaric?
After what felt like forever, Kaelen let out a small smile and said. “Then it’s okay. I’m not giving up though, but I’ll let you get better first.” He stood up. “There’s someone else waiting outside the door for you.”
I frowned. “Who?”
“Alpha Pierre.”
Oh. Pierre didn’t go too.
When Kaelen left, Pierre came in quietly.
He sat in the same chair Kaelen had used and didn’t say anything immediately, which was how I knew something was sitting on him. I could already guess what.
His step brother.
“How are you doing with all of it?” I asked, before he could redirect the conversation toward me the way everyone kept doing. “Theo.”
He was quiet for a moment. Pierre was always careful with his words. He wasn’t the type to speak until he knew exactly what he wanted to say.
“I keep thinking about the bar,” he said finally. “Sitting across from him. Talking about old times like nothing was different.” He paused. “He looked exactly like my brother. Just my brother. But even with that act, the whole time he knew where you were.”
“You didn’t know that then,” I shrugged. “It’s Virella controlling him.”
“No,” he shook his head. “He’s not a child. He can always make his decision but he didn’t. He chose to hide you.”
I understood what he meant.
It felt like betrayal even though the both of them hadn’t kept in touch for years. Pierre knew nothing about how Theo’s personality was. He didn’t know how Theo had grown up.
So, they were basically strangers, even though they shared a blood tie.
“You shouldn’t feel bad, Pierre. He made his choices,” I said. “That’s not on you.”
Pierre nodded slowly as if he accepted my words but wasn’t entirely done blaming himself. That was so Pierre.
I didn’t ask him why he let Ezekiel go with them.
Ezekiel was one smart man. He would be of great help to them.
Pierre sat still and zoned out. I didn’t try to bring him back. Most times you needed to sit and think things through on your own.
I reached for my phone and pulled up Celeste’s latest files, working through the documents slowly. I crossed-referenced a few details, looking for anything the team on the ground might need that hadn’t surfaced yet.
Just like that, an hour passed and I still found nothing.
I might’ve been sick, but I needed to be of great help to them as well.
Once Virella was found, I would personally see to it that she gets the punishment she deserved.
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