Chapter 343: _You’re Never Really Alone
Odessa’s POV
*****
"C–Caroline!" My chest swelled with relief when Kaelos and I turned to the balcony door and saw it was she who had interrupted.
Kaelos and I had been in the middle of a moment... One that already had me shaking with arousal.
Gosh, he just has such a way with words that makes me momentarily forget all my problems and focus only on him.
’Ahem! Is that code for you’re a slut for our mate? Or...’ Sirena’s voice chimed in my mind just then, causing my face to heat up.
’Shut it.’
My smile widened as Caroline placed her arms in front of her, fiddling with her fingers while looking between Kaelos and me.
"Hey... Again." She whispered with a wry smile. "I’m... I’m sorry I ran out on you all that way. But I was so angry and needed space, especially with Re—"
"Oh, Caroline." I shook my head, walking toward her, attempting to hug her.
But when I walked right through her, a shiver running down my spine, I remembered one vital thing.
"She’s a ghost. Remember?" Kaelos blurted behind me as I turned slowly to face them. "And Caroline, you have nothing to apologise for."
My eyes squinted at Kaelos as he placed his right hand on his chest. "Take it from me... Odessa just wanted to see her friend one last time. She never got to say goodbye. She wept over your body twice, first at the scene of the crime and then at your funeral. Heck, she eradicated Marcellus in the most brutal way possible."
Caroline visibly stiffened at the mention of Marcellus. "T–The Beta is dead?"
I nodded. "I couldn’t let that bastard live. Not after everything he’s done."
She gave one last smile to Kaelos before facing me fully, staring with an unreadable glint in her eyes.
I smiled as well. "I... I can’t help but blame myself for your death. But I now realise that you’ve moved on already and I should do the same. So..."
I took a few steps backwards, the moonlight shining from behind me stretching out my shadow on the marble floor.
My eyes flicked to Kaelos briefly, searching for that constant reassurance I always saw.
When I found it, I cleared my throat.
"The summoning spell has to have a reversal of sorts. I’ll send you back. I’m just so grateful to have had you here on earth... Even if it was just a few more minutes."
She smiled a bit before chuckling, lowering her head.
No words were said for several seconds, making the anxiety eating me inside grow more prominent.
Until—
"Your birthday," she suddenly muttered, raising her head and staring into my eyes. "It’s in a few days from now. This is September, right?"
I furrowed my brows, nodding slowly.
"Yeah. September eighth. Why?"
She glanced at Kaelos, as if seeking some form of validation. Then she swerved her head back to me, her smile never fading.
"Then in that case... I’m staying. Till then at least."
My eyes widened, my lips parting with disbelief. The urge to hug her basically doubled.
"You’ll... You’re saying you—"
"I’m saying..." She took a couple of steps forward, her tone firm but gentle. "You still have your best friend for a few more days. And you’ll still have me when I go back. I never truly left you, Odessa."
She stretched her right hand forward, pointing at my heart. "All the memories we’ve shared are here. You’re never really alone."
I shook my head, trying to hold back the tears stinging the back of my eyes. "It’s not the same thing. You wouldn’t be here for holidays and ’memories’ wouldn’t tell me my hair looks amazing when I feel it looks like trash."
Caroline rolled her eyes, much to my surprise.
But then she gestured at Kaelos. "The Alpha king can tell you. I think it’s high time you two started sleeping in the same rooms. Also, I don’t know, okay? I’m not as good with words as he is."
I blinked, my lips parting before realisation dawned.
"You... Caroline, just how long were you standing outside while Kaelos and I were in here?" I pursed my lips, folding my arms in front of my chest.
She brushed her right hand through her hair, causing the ginger curls to bounce around her in a mesmerising way.
"Long enough, ma’am Odessa."
I couldn’t hold back the joy of hearing her call me that.
Ma’am Odessa.
"It’s ’Odessa’, Car." My voice cracked, my emotions coming through in waves.
We both chuckled but mine was in an attempt to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
Goddess, this sucked!
I glanced at Kaelos who gave me a subtle thumbs up.
’See? Told you she’d come around.’ he whispered in my mind, further brightening my smile.
Sadly, that happy moment didn’t last long.
A sudden knock on the door made all of us freeze, whipping our heads to it in unison.
"Who is it?" Kaelos asked with a loud tone, arching a brow.
I squinted as a frail but familiar female voice spoke up. "Pardon, sir. It’s Elder Yune. I’ve got news from the Alphas of North America. They’ll all be coming tomorrow for the conference."
My breath hitched slightly as I glanced at Kaelos solemnly.
"Is that all, Elder Yune?" Kaelos asked.
"Yes, my Lord."
When the sound of her footsteps leaving echoed, I tilted my head. "Tomorrow? I thought we were going to wait a few more days, at least?"
Kaelos shook his head. "I’ve already planned it out, don’t worry. The event hall will be ready for the Alphas tomorrow."
Caroline cut in. "Wait... All the Alphas of North America are coming here tomorrow? How long was I freaking dead?"
I sighed, turning to her. "Not all of them. The ones whose loyalties still lie with Kaelos. If any of them don’t attend tomorrow, without them giving a reason... It’ll most likely be because of one thing."
There was a short silence, my mind momentarily reeling with nervousness.
Because we all knew what that one thing was.
It was a not-so-subtle indicator of where their loyalties lie.
"Tomorrow will be my first attempt at... Peacefully rallying the support of all the Alphas and their packs." Kaelos walked toward us, placing a hand on my shoulder. "My mercy card will be quite exhausted after that."
We locked eyes for a few seconds, but that was long enough to pass a message I’d come to accept.
"Mine too," I whispered, turning my head to the moon shining brightly in the starry night sky outside. "It’ll be blood and death after, whether we like it or not."