Chapter 116: Chapter 115

Chapter 26 – The Birthday Boy

“The seeds of evil blooms in the fields of negligence.“– Mladen Dordevic

Kiyn

Neron and I hightailed it out of the mall.

There’s no reason for Osiris to show his true form unless he’s secure in his plans. That begs the question of who’s truly in control. Him or me? Circumambient mystery embraces that man like a second skin, and it’s difficult to decipher who he truly is. Slippery like a snake, Osiris picks the picture–perfect moments to strike, and I’m left with the burning self–guilt from my shortcomings.

The car ride back home is tense with an amalgamation of emotions perfusing from Neron and me. But two stood out from the rest: anger from the Alpha and confusion from me. While the trees and people whiz past in colorful miasmas, my mind works to understand what happened in the bathroom.

His appearance brought forth a salvo of recollections I’ve long forgotten about.

I’ve met Osiris in passing when I was with my friends shopping for bathing suits. The day before I was poisoned. Callously bumping into him, we went spilling to the ground. We made small talk and departed ways like normal strangers. However, Osiris used a pseudonym, Octavius. What was his reason? His face was forgettable, but the sensations I felt from his touch were not.

His touches were not out of love and lust like the mate bond augments, but out of submission. They wanted me to bend to surrender under his power. It terrified me. Those were the same feelings I felt when he trapped me in the run–down asylum; similar to how a tyrant refuses to take anything less than blind loyalty. Osiris is the tyrant and I’m the lowly peasant. Could those emotions I felt have been a precursor to the chaos today? Could I have prevented this somehow?

And I blame this f*cking mark on my neck. It’s doubling as a GPS. I feel no better than an imprisoned, leashed dog. It tails me wherever I go, like a shadow. And I don’t know how much more I can take of this.

Is it so f*cking hard to get some peace of mind? Why am I constantly fighting against the bullshit the universe loves to sling at me? For once, I want to breathe without the pain!

My mind spun. I leaned my head on the headrest to eliminate vertigo as the car rumbled softly.

“You aren’t to leave the territory without someone accompanying you.”

And just like that, I’m cured! My head shot up, and I glared at Neron. For obvious reasons, he didn’t look back.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Kiya.” He retorts. “You’re not to go anywhere alone until we get this situation handled.”

“Now I need a babysitter? Are you kidding me, Neron?”

He shrugs his shoulder. “It’s that, or I forbid you from leaving territory grounds. You’re under my protection and I’m committing to my side of the deal with your brother. It can be with your friends or anyone else you trust. We can’t afford any risks with your safety, Kiya.”

“I can protect myself.”

1/5

Chapter 26 – The Birthday Boy

“I know you can.” We rolled closer to the territory. “We have no clear–cut way of defeating Osiris. He’s playing the both of us like a damn fiddle–stressing us out and laying cryptic messages of our demise. Until we can figure out how to rid him for good, we need to take precautions to lessen the chance of Osiris catching us off guard, and that means you cannot go anywhere alone.”

I hate to admit it, but Neron’s right. There’s an obvious target on my back, and if I let my guard down, Osiris will take advantage of me. He needs me for his plans. He needs me intact. Walking in public alone is the same as handing myself to him on a silver platter.

It doesn’t mean I like this new rule.

“Fine.” I didn’t want to fight. I’m tired. My energy is completely zapped and I’m wanting my soft bed and softer pajamas.

Sooner than later, we rolled into the garage. We gathered our bags from the trunk and walked towards the pack house until a tiny voice stopped us in our tracks.

“Uncle, Auntie, what’s in the bags?”

We jerked our heads around to see little Adonis standing three feet from us with arms crossed. From the glint in his eyes, he knows that some of our bags have his presents. Neron and I clutched our bags closer to our chests he’s a purse snatcher.

“Adonis, shouldn’t you be with your Mom and Dad?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Daddy is busy, and Mommy is giving him cooties.”

Neron snorted, trying hard to hold in his laughter. Ah, I remember when cooties were the grossest things about boys. The childhood disease only passed through l*ps. Everyone grew up too fast.

Now we call it mononucleosis.

“Oh! What about your grandparents?”

“They’re doing adult stuff.”

I didn’t need to know much more than that. “Your friends?”

“Busy.”

“Don’t you have homework to do?”

“…It’s summer!”

“Kiya, run,” Neron whispers to me. “I’ll cover you.”

How was he supposed to cover me from a soon–to–be six–year–old boy? Neron’s so–called brilliant mind thought of a plan to make Adonis play hide–and–seek with us, and if he found us, he’d get to see his presents early. But we’re filthy llars. The moment Adonis covered his eyes was when we sprinted to the front doors.

Little Donny is smarter than we think. “Hey! No fair!”

The pitter–patter of his feet mixed with our laughter as my nephew bolted after us with the determination of a

Chapter 26 – The Birthday Boy

wolf but with the spite of a toddler. Luckily for Neron and me, we’re taller and have longer leg strides, so we escaped the vengeful midget with ease.

“Sorry Adonis, but you must wait for your birthday!” Neron called out when he departed to the fourth floor. The boy’s brattish groaning can be heard as 1 closed the door to my room in my gaggle of laughter. I settled the bags on my bed and began sorting my new clothes and bath supplies in their respective places. A smile crept up on my face as I thought about Adonis‘ glee once he opens my present on the weekend.

A child’s smile is the most precious gift in the world.

However, my frown was not because I forgot the most important thing with gifts.

“F*cking wrapping paper,” I grumbled, setting the toy set next to my vanity. Where does this pack keep their craft supplies? Making it over the threshold of my room wouldn’t have been an issue if 1, once again, wasn’t craft supplies? Making it over koala–hugged by a little boy.

“Gotcha!” Adonis yelled victoriously. “I want to see my present!”

Smirking, I quickly close my bedroom door, laughing at my nephew’s scowl. “Nope! Good things come to little boys who wait!”

“But waiting is boring!”

“I know.” He giggled when I poked his nose. “Do you know where the wrapping paper is?”

“Yes! Go with green; I like green!”

“Green paper for the birthday boy!”

Third Person POV

“Happy Birthday, Adonis!” The flickering flames of the six colorful candles on the large birthday cake became wisps of smoke from the blow of the birthday boy. Behind him, the crowd fell into wild applause as the Beta child officially turned six years old. Adonis felt rejuvenated and loved by his friends and family surrounding him. His mother leaned down and planted a sweet k*ss on his ch*ek as his father ruffled his hair lovingly.

Behind them were Ashley and Steven, smiling lovingly at their grandchild. Silently, they hoped that Valerian’s parents were watching down on this joyful occasion ever since they passed away several years prior. Adonis‘ young friends surrounded him with impatience as the large chocolate cake decorated with his name and superhero designs beckoned them for a taste. Behind them, Kiya had a faint smile as she observed the scene from the distant wall..

She toyed with a party streamer to busy her hands. As much as she wanted to join the festivities, the awkwardness distanced her from the action. Kiya felt out of place. The trouble–free smiles, boisterous laughter, and loving touches reminded her of the minuscule memories of her birthday parties. Finite recollections of her happiest memories slowly disappeared under the weight of pain, fading into dust.

But this wasn’t a time for her to dwell on the past. It’s Adonis‘ day.

“Okay, honey. You know the rules! You get to open one present before we cut the cake.” Raina pinched her son’s check lovingly. Young emeralds searched the group before landing on Kiya, shining impossibly brighter.

Chapter 26 The Birthday Boy

“I want to open your present, Auntie!” He proclaimed, hopping in his seat. The young woman rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, blushing. Ignoring the obvious stares, she pulled the large green present from behind her legs and walked over to where her former family is.

“I had a feeling you wanted to open mine first.” She giggled, kneeling, and handing him the present with a big red bow, “Happy birthday, little guy.”

Impatience was a genetic trait because Adonis began ripping away the green paper faster than a hungry cheetah. His gift was revealed, and shrieks of joy echoed through the dining hall. A brand new toy set equipped with his favorite superheroes; more to add to his collection.

n chuckled as he admired the toy set. “Looks like I must build more shelves in his room.”

Valerian

“Thank you, Auntie!”

Physical touch must be Adonis‘ love language because he drew his aunt into a tight hug for the millionth time this week. Feeling the overflowing love this small boy held for her, Kiya smiled warmly through the embrace. She squeezed, and he responded with giggles. Her nephew is too pure for the world.

Wasting no time, the cutting of the cake begun. A bite of soft chocolate heaven put smiles on everyone’s faces while giving others an unneeded sugar rush. The party went on with games and conversation in an exciting atmosphere. Both Neron and Kwame took time out of their duties to join the party for a short time, but mostly to indulge in the cake since their Omegas helped make it in honor and to play with the heir to the Beta title. Soon after, the Garnet Moon members joined in on the fun and celebration of the sweet boy.

While fun continued, behind the party’s doors laid evil. Odessa, refusing to join in on the c

contagious excitement, glared hard at the woman playing with the birthday boy with uncontained hatred through the windows. She knew if she were to join, the unbearable tension in the air would not only bother the kids, but Raina as well. Despite being best friends since childhood, the two have grown apart. Motherhood became the Beta Female’s lifeline, and nothing could dissuade her from her family.

Therefore, she’s one of the few members who she can’t turn against Kiya.

As Osiris” presence pulsates through her veins, the brunette felt content. The power is an addictive drug that she couldn’t get enough of. All of her pain and her commitment to her deal will all be worth it, she believed. Ariel’s abandonment still hurt, but no use in crying over spilled milk. Slowly, but surely, her plan to get rid of the avatar will be sweeter than the purest honey.

Kiya has a reputation. She’s powerful, cunning, stubborn, and determined. The pup trainees love her along with their parents and other high–ranked members of the pack. She’s coddled by her friends and beloved by the Alpha. But soon, it’ll all be obliterated by her hand.

All she had to do is turn her from a loved figure to an unstable maniac.

“No matter how much we try to forget our sins, they always come back to haunt us,” Odessa whispered, turning her head to face Tristan–the guard who she knew will be Kiya’s downfall. “However, you have the tools to make her suffer. She’ll never know what hit her.”

Turning Tristan to her side of darkness was fairly simple. After all, with the demon Osiris seeing through her eyes, Neron’s plans to keep her under watchful eyes proved useless. Odessa was proud–she’s useful after all,

“You know what to do.”

Chapter 26 – The Birthday Boy

Back at the party, Kiya had the unfortunate situation of spillage on her favorite white blouse by a small pup. It’s impossible to hide the blotch of red from her cleavage to the hems. The child apologized profusely, but she reassured them it wasn’t a big deal and that she’ll change.

Slipping out of the noisy party, Kiya entered the silent foyer. The stairs creaked with her footsteps, and the chill in the air made goosebumps rise on her exposed flesh. Something didn’t feel right as she entered the third floor.

“Kiya, remain alert,” Artemis warned.

On cue, another pair accompanied her footsteps. Heavy. Cautious. Meticulous. Kiya sniffed the air. A particular scent tickled her nose, pulling the darkest, unspoken memories from their burial. At that moment, her entire world collapsed. The strength in her body disappears and fear overrides her defenses.

“No! Oh no!” The woman took off with fire licking at her heels with the perpetrator running hot behind her. Tears blurred her vision and her heart thudded in her ears from her unhinged anxiety. She had to escape! This couldn’t be possible!

She thought he was dead!

But it proved her wrong when a violent hand snatched her wrist and dinged her against the wall. Thick arms caged her between the wall and a hard body she tried hard to forget. Coriander assaulted her nose, incinerating her nose hairs and her sanity. Kiya looked up at the monster and wished she hadn’t.

Small couldn’t describe how she’s feeling as her protective walls crumbled to dust.

She’s face–to–face with the monster who stole her innocence.

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