Chapter 349: _It’s A Rigged Game
Kaelos’ POV
*****
The next morning after Odessa’s birthday, we sat on a bench in the mansion’s garden, staring at the flower beds and soaking in the warmth of the sun rays.
I had my right arm wrapped around her shoulders, taking in the sweet smell of her hair as she talked about so many things.
She seemed cheerier than she’s ever been... Especially after everything that happened on the night of the Blood Moon festival.
"So, I was thinking of dropping honey down your butt." She said all of a sudden, snapping me out of my reverie.
Wait... What?
I shook my head and gave her a side eye, watching as she giggled.
"See? I knew you weren’t listening." She scolded, swatting me on my shoulder. "Where’s your mind at? You said we can use today to stay together without worrying about... The looming war and stuff."
I shifted my sitting position, chuckling. "I... Might’ve spaced out there for a second. But really? Dropping honey down my butt?"
Her face reddened but she didn’t back down, twirling her fingers on my chest. "Kinky, right? Besides, it grabbed your attention so that says a lot."
Heck no, it didn’t!
I pinched her chin teasingly as she giggled louder, heaving heavily before she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Anyway, I’ll just catch you up." She coughed, slowly placing her right hand on my lap. "The last thing I was talking about was... Children."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
’Talk about PTSD fuel.’ Damon chimed in my mind while Odessa quickly sat up, facing me squarely.
Strands of her blonde hair blew slightly into the wind, her blue eyes glinting with a hope I’d love to catch a glimpse of every waking day.
I kept eye contact, grabbing her hand on my lap as she continued.
"I... I know my mind has been in a dark place since we lost Apollo." She whispered, a wry smile curling her lips. "And with everything else happening, I fear for our future more and more..."
She leaned closer until our faces were inches away from each other. Her scent grounded me, but it also made my insides rumble with need.
"But one thing I’m certain of is that I still want children with you." Her voice cracked a bit but her smile was firm. "I—"
"I want you, Odessa." I shushed her, pressing my forehead against hers. "And if in our future children become a possibility again, I’ll want us to have them in a world where they’ll be safe."
My mind flashed back to an image that had basically haunted my nights.
Odessa, screaming on the floor in pain as blood pooled under her from her own body. Our child... The baby we planned for months...
Gone.
Just like that.
For most of my adult life, I’ve always feared being a father. Why wouldn’t I after the horrid childhood I had to endure with mine after my mother’s murder?
Odessa brought me hope. She brought me light. And I was willing to hold tight to that hope and light for as long as I breathe.
"A world where they’re safe," Odessa repeated my words, nodding slowly. "Meaning not just peace in North America. But the whole world as a whole."
I shrugged with a slow smirk. "Shouldn’t be hard to accomplish for the Vein Born and a Silverborn Alpha King, no?"
She gave a slow smirk of her own. "It’s definitely not impossible. This war has gone on long enough..."
She trailed her eyes to the skies just then, her gaze following the sparrows that flew past chirping about their day.
I couldn’t stop myself from staring at her despite the peaceful scenery around us.
"... We could be ambassadors. For peace." She brought her gaze back to me, tilting her head ever so slightly. "Once we put an end to Ryker’s madness. Travelling to each continent and mediating between both sides."
That... Didn’t sound like a bad idea. But—
"That doesn’t sound like too much work?" I groaned dramatically.
She rolled her eyes. "How then were you hoping to accomplish world peace?"
I shrugged. "Not sure. What I do know is that right now we all have one common enemy..."
I pressed a kiss on her forehead, pulling her close to my body again. "If all packs, covens and human governments can realise that everywhere... Peace wouldn’t be far off."
We remained silent after that, staring at the flower beds. She didn’t need to say anything else and neither did I.
Alas, the peace we sought here was cut short rather abruptly.
"Alpha king Kaelos!" A voice boomed through the garden, coming from behind us.
Odessa jolted, whipping her head backwards while I remained still. I let out a light sigh instead.
I already knew who that was.
One of the five elders of the pack who has made himself more vocal since Elder Davina’s death.
"Elder Harkan." I blurted with a tone that clearly carried my disinterest in talking to him. "It’s been a minute. I do hope your reason for disturbing my private moment is justified."
After a few more seconds of approaching footsteps, he finally showed up in front of us, standing tall.
His wrinkled face was even rougher due to the deep frown he had, his eyes sharp with urgency that instantly caught my attention.
"I’m not even going to remind you of the fact that you’re yet to pick a new Beta or military advisor." The older man began, swatting his grey robe aside. "I have a more pressing report..."
He paused, his features grim. "The silver fang pack in Canada has fallen. Your brother killed the Alpha and his entire council."
A cold shiver ran down my spine the second those words left his mouth.
Silver fang pack.
That was one of the most powerful packs in Canada, if not the most powerful.
"He’s begun making moves." Odessa tensed up, her voice raw with dread. "Are... Are we prepared enough, Kaelos?"
I rubbed her palm reassuringly, keeping my eyes on Elder Harkan. "Is there anything else?"
The old man nodded. "Yes. The only reason I was able to obtain this information is that packs close to Silver Fang sent alerts to us about sightings of their military preparing for something big. Ryker is using their military as his starting point."
My jaw tightened, my chest rising and falling as I tried to calm myself.
That absolute bastard!
I glanced at Odessa one last time before withdrawing my hand, getting on my feet. "Silver Fang’s Alpha had my back from the beginning. If there’s a pattern, Ryker will be coming for my strongest supporters."
Odessa got up as well. "If he really has people hiding in different packs like he said, he’s controlling the chessboard already. It’s a rigged game."
She was right.
"If he’s rigging the game, then we’ll just have to snatch the whole board from underneath his claws," I muttered thoughtfully, my fists clenching. "And what better way to do that than introducing new players to the loop?"
My eyes went from Harkan to Odessa, the former seeming confused.
But Odessa’s eyes flashed with realization soon enough.
"Do you mean—" she hesitated while I nodded.
"Yes. It’s time to call in favors from our allies. Starting with the witches."