57

POV – Kai-Lea
Both my father and Dad ordered that no less than nine guards were to accompany us on our shopping trip. Gussie and Chellea were allowed to come, but only if we added even more guards to the mix—something my mates were fine with, though Gussie, Chellea, and I found it frustrating. We accepted it for what it was, knowing nothing we said would change their orders without good reason. The alternative would likely be everything we wanted brought to us, turning us into little more than pampered royals. And that wasn’t exactly something that we ever wanted to be seen as.
So, we made our way to the mall, where Gussie and Chellea indulged in some retail therapy while I struggled to find a dress that met the high royal standards expected of me—one that would impress but still feel like me. The pressure of looking regal weighed heavily on my shoulders, especially knowing we had plans to visit a few medium and small packs under the care of Royal Green Mountain during our upcoming trip. I wanted to make a good impression, not just for myself but for all the packs we would encounter.
“Okay, Kai-Lea, let’s find something that showcases your elegance without losing your individuality,” Gussie encouraged, rifling through a rack of dresses. I appreciated her enthusiasm, but the task at hand felt monumental.
Chellea chimed in, “You need something that highlights your figure but also your status. How about this one?” She held up a flowing gown that shimmered in the fluorescent lights, its deep emerald color stunning against her skin.
“It’s beautiful, but I’m not sure it fits the vibe I want to go for,” I replied, my brow furrowed in concentration.
After several exhausting hours and much back-and-forth with Gussie and Chellea, we finally found a few suitable options. Each dress had its own charm, yet none felt entirely right. My mates were done shopping long before I ever was, their own selections made in a fraction of the time. I rolled my eyes at their ease, secretly grateful for their simplicity.
Finally, we headed to the food court to grab a bite before making our way home. As we settled down with our food, I noticed Gussie and Chellea looking a little down at the thought of heading back. I, on the other hand, was relieved, and my mates seemed indifferent.
Wade arrived with Emma, who brought Ronnie, while Felicity and Kaitlyn showed up together with Tobias in tow. Their expressions ranged from indifference to mild confusion about why they were there. Emma had just gotten back from her aunt’s house when Wade picked her up, and Ronnie was always close to Felicity. Kaitlyn had an uncanny ability to appear when least expected, often leaving me questioning her motives.
“So, what’s with the cabin?” Felicity asked, her curiosity palpable. “I heard there would be at least two different times when we’d be resting there in between all the other travel plans.”
The guys growled in unison; their irritation obvious. I could feel the tension in the air, and it only heightened my awareness of Kaitlyn’s presence nearby.
“Nothing,” I replied, trying to maintain a sense of calm.
“Not nothing. You finally mated each other, judging by those interesting mate marks,” Emma chimed in with a teasing lilt.
“Oh… yeah. You missed that. They did that in the hospital room for the entire pack house to hear,” Chellea added with a smirk.
“Shut up. Don’t remind us,” both Chellea and Gussie growled in response, their eyes flashing.
“I missed it,” Emma said, her eyes wide with intrigue.
“Oh… yeah. Those three are wild animals,” Kaitlyn remarked, a slight edge to her voice. The way she said it felt off, stirring a sense of unease in me. It was as if she were masking anger beneath a veneer of feigned happiness for us. The weight of her words hung in the air, heavy with an underlying tension that made Kallen and Stuart exchange wary glances.
“Wild animals, huh?” Kallen replied, raising an eyebrow. There was a challenge in his tone, a protective instinct flaring to life. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that you three seem to have quite the primal connection,” she said, a smirk creeping onto her lips. But her eyes narrowed, and a glimmer of something darker danced within them. “It’s impressive, really. Some might say it’s a little too... intense.”
Stuart’s gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening. “And you’d know all about intensity, wouldn’t you, Kaitlyn? You’ve been watching us closely enough.”
The atmosphere shifted, and I could sense the tension crackling like electricity in the air. Kaitlyn shifted her weight, feigning innocence, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m just curious, that’s all. It’s not every day you see such... passionate relationships in our world. Especially not in the Royal line.”
“Passion isn’t a crime,” I interjected, trying to diffuse the situation. Yet even as I spoke, I could feel my wolf bristle, sensing the hidden barbs in her words. Something about her tone stirred an instinctual warning within me, urging caution.
Kallen stepped closer, his body language protective. “Careful with your words, Kaitlyn. You’re crossing a line, and we won’t let you insult what we have.”
Kaitlyn’s expression flickered, a hint of surprise and irritation flashing across her face before she composed herself. “Oh, come on. I didn’t mean any offense. I just find it fascinating, that’s all.” But her eyes darted between us, and I could tell she was calculating her next move, weighing our reactions like a predator sizing up its prey.
The silence stretched uncomfortably as everyone processed the tension. My wolf growled softly in my mind, urging me to stay vigilant. I could feel the unease radiating from Kallen and Stuart; they were on high alert, aware that something deeper was at play.
“Fascinating can easily become fixation, Kaitlyn,” Stuart said, his voice low and steady. “We’d prefer to be left out of your ‘fascination.’”
“Relax, I’m just making an observation,” she said, but the lightness in her tone fell flat, the weight of her words hanging in the air. “Don’t take it so personally; after all, we’re all friends here, right?”
But as she spoke, I could see Kallen's shoulders tense further. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, an unspoken question about her intentions. It unsettled me even more—something about Kaitlyn was shifting, morphing from playful to predatory.
As I caught Kallen’s gaze, I could see the unspoken agreement between us: we needed to keep an eye on her. The sense of unease deepened, a gnawing feeling in my gut that Kaitlyn was more than just a passing curiosity. There was an agenda hidden beneath her smiles, and I was determined to uncover it before it was too late.
“Enough with this conversation. We need to discuss something else,” I said, redirecting the topic away from my personal life.
“Like what?” Gussie asked, leaning in with curiosity.
“Like the fact that in two months’ time, before the new school year, we’re going to be traveling. We wanted to know if you’d like to come with us,” I announced, a flicker of excitement dancing in my chest. “We won’t be camping or anything—just staying in hotels in between flights and using RVs. This includes you two,” I said, glancing at Gussie and Chellea. “But we know that Mom and Dad will have certain conditions you’ll need to follow. Plus, we’ll be resting at the cabin at least two different times to break up the travel.”
“We had discussed do this trip months ago, after graduation, but with everything that happened, and school being pushed until testing was done, we needed to wait. All we had to do was finish a few assignments, and with the Principal and Deans of the colleges we were set to attend agreeing to give us a gap year, this felt like the perfect time.” Stuart explained. Giving us the plausible cover that we needed. Granted we’d only been talking about the trip for just two weeks. And it was Mom’s suggestion of bringing Gussie and Chellea along. As I am known to spend quite a bit of time with them as with anyone other than Dad or my Mates and they according to Mom didn’t count in her suggestion.
“Yeah. I’m in,” Gussie said, a smile breaking across her face.
“Can’t. I promised my mom I’d help my aunt out until school starts back up for some extra cash for when we head off to college,” Emma said apologetically. Thankfully we knew that to be more true than anything else.
“Sorry. Anyone else?” I asked, hoping someone would take the offer.
“Well, you know I’m a given. I’m in charge of your protection detail,” Wade chimed in with a grin. We all shook our heads at him, knowing that was already a given. He was thrilled when his father handed him some of the Beta responsibilities until we headed off to college.
Everyone else voiced their enthusiasm for the trip, eager to brainstorm ideas and logistics, especially the stops at the various packs we would visit. I could already envision us journeying from one pack to another, gathering stories, sharing experiences, and forging bonds.
As we settled into discussing plans for our adventure, a sense of calm washed over me. It was refreshing to focus on something exciting after the chaos we had faced. I could see Gussie and Chellea’s spirits lifting, their earlier melancholy fading as they embraced the prospect of the trip.
But beneath the excitement, a nagging feeling remained in the back of my mind, whispering that something was still amiss. I couldn’t shake the sense that we had someone or something out there, watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike. The thought curled around my heart like a vine, squeezing just enough to make me wary.
As we wrapped up our meeting, I glanced over at Kaitlyn, her expression now unreadable. Whatever she was plotting, I was determined to find out before it could unravel what we had worked so hard to build.