The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 022

~~Kaia~~

The drive back to Shadowclaw was quiet.

I hadn’t said a word since we left the King’s North Packhouse.

My head throbbed from the strain of the healing; the world tilted a little each time I blinked

Neither Beta Zane and I spoke to each other.

But I could feel him stealing glances at me for a fleeting moment.

The Council king had regained consciousness and told everyone he felt much better.

We were allowed to leave after that.

They couldn’t hold anything against me so they didn’t stop Beta Zane and I from coming back home.

I could tell a few people were disappointed.

Of course they would be.

This trip was supposed to entrap me.

Or maybe ruin Theo along with me.

Thank goddess.

Disappointed I couldn’t find who’s behind the attack on the council king.

Theo didn’t want me to stay longer.

Afraid, they’d do something to sabotage me.

And he’s right.

Who knows what the attackers are capable of?

Fortunately, Beta Zane said I could trust the Moon Attendant with the king’s treatment.

I couldn’t openly reveal he was being poisoned but since the moon attendant is the king’s most trusted aid, I told him.

Of course, Theo suggested it.

I caught Zane looking at me again.

“What?” I growled.“Do you have anything to say?”

Zane paused, realising I caught him.

“Yes,” he said. “You shouldn’t have done that”

Zane’s tone wasn’t harsh, more like he was angry and worried at the same time.

“I should have let him die instead?” I asked quietly,not looking at him.

“You don’t understand. You were being tested. If things went wrong

Casually. I muttered. “Then, I’d be dead”

I smiled faintly, obviously not reaching my eyes.

It wasn’t funny. Just funnily said.

“Death? It’s nothing new,Beta Zane”

12

–

Zane sighed. “You’re either the bravest person I’ve met or the most reckless.”

“I’ve been called both,” I said.

Silence.

We stopped talking again, looking out the carsGULAT

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Chapter 022

We were getting closer to Shadowclaw.

I could feel Zane’s gaze flicker toward me every now and then, like he wanted to ask something else.

Finally,he did.

“How did you know about the poison”

“It wasn’t a quick guess,” I whispered. “My grandmother was a great healer,who was vastly knowledgeable

about poison. I learnt about Blackbane from her. I could recognize it’s pattern so I did”

“Not everyone can recognise this poison. That’s why it’s the best for killing kings. Unsuspectingly dangerous.”

I revealed.“I think it was secretly added to the king’s tonics. A very safe spot”

Zane’s jaw tightened.

“That’s not something a normal healer would catch”

I met his eyes for the first time.

“I never said I was normal,Beta Zane”

–

He gave a short laugh at that the first genuine one I’d heard from him.

Since my arrival, he’d been grumpy and suspicious of me.

Zane shook his head. “You and the Alpha are going to drive me insane sooner than later”

“Then, we’re even. You almost left me to die that day”

He went quiet,his smile fading.

“I know. And I was wrong”

That caught me off guard. He didn’t look at me when he said it, but there was weight in the words.

“You saved him once. Whatever anyone says that matters”

I wanted to believe him. But I’d seen the looks. The suspicion, the murmured accusations.

Healing or not, I was still the outsider. The stray girl who didn’t belong.

I sighed, tiredly. “They will still find another way to blame me. I’m not saying they are wrong but still”

“Then, let them. You did everything they wanted already”

I didn’t expect Zane to speak in my favour but it felt good to hear him defend me.

“Well, good to know someone thinks positively of me for a change” I joked.

“But seriously,” Zane begins, “I…I wanted to say you did great back there. If it wasn’t for you, the king wouldn’t have regained consciousness”

I looked out the window.

“I just did what I had to do“, I swallowed.” As a healer. And to save my skin”

“That’s true. But still,you saved the king” Zane nodded.

Yeah,I guess.

Not like I had a choice.

“Umm,” Zane cleared his throat.“Kaia, I know we started on a wrong path but I hope you don’t hate me for how things started.”

“Hate you?,” I scoffed.“I don’t blame you for anything. You did what every responsible Beta should do”

“That’s so sweet.” Zane smiled a little. ” Kaia, come to me if you need anything I can help you with”

“Okay. I’m holding you tight by your words,alright?” I said,jokingly.

“Of course. Hahah”

We burst out laughing.

The gates came into view tall, iron, and strikingly intimidating against.

2/4/0

***

Chapter 022

As we passed, I could feel their stares follow the car.

I sat a little straighter. I wouldn’t flinch. Not here.

When we reached the stop, Theo was already waiting.

He stood at the steps, dark coat unbuttoned, wind tugging at his hair. His expression was unreadable; not anger, not relief… something deeper.

Zane came down from the car first then I followed.

“She did it,” I hear Zane muttered,his voice steady.“The king is alive”

Theo’s eyes flickered to me.

“And the council?”

“They’re trying to twist it but they’ve got nothing. The king himself vouched for her,thanked her for the treatment”

That seemed to knock some of the tension from Theo’s shoulders. His gaze softened, only a little.

Theo came up to me.

“You should rest,” he said to me, voice softly low. “You look half–dead”

“Half–dead is better than fully dead,” I muttered, leaning against the car.

He noticed – of course he did. His jaw tightened again.

My legs nearly gave way,but I caught myself just in time before he could reach me.

He noticed Of course,he did. His jaws tightened.

“You drained yourself,Kaia,” he says.

“I had to do what I had to do to save his life”

“At what cost?” he questioned.

“Mine’s not that valuable,Alpha Theo”

That made him pause. His eyes darkened, not in anger this time, but something almost like guilt.

“You don’t get to decide that,” he grunted softly.

The air between us thickened. For a moment, neither of us moved.

His scent, cedar and smoke brushed against me, unsettling and familiar all at once.

Zane cleared his throat.

“I’ll escort her to her quarters. She must be tired”

Maybe I need that.

Some rest after the hectic day I just had yesterday.

Theo’s gaze lingered on me before he finally nodded.

“Make sure no one disturbs her”

He turned and walked up the steps, disappearing into the shadows of the mansion.

Later, as Zane walked me to my room, the halls seemed quieter than usual. Guards stared as we passed, some whispering, others pretending not to look at all.

“They still think I’m bad for the pack. Don’t they?” I asked.

“Some of them. But after you saved the king,and he spoke in your favour,they will see you a lot differently now. That should count for something”

I scoffed. “In a pack full of wolves and secrets? Not a chance. Or presumably not much”

He gave a soft chuckle.

“You’re learning faster than I thought”

3/4

Chapter 022

When we reached my door, I hesitated.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

He blinked.

“For what?” Zane looked taken aback.

“For believing in me,” I said.”Even when you didn’t have to”

He shrugged.

“Don’t thank me yet. You’re still under the council’s scrutiny. Tomorrow’s meeting will decide your fate. So, keep it aside for now”

I nodded.

“I know. You’re right” I breathed.“Keep it aside for now”

As he turned to leave, I glanced once more down the corridor toward the Alpha’s chambers, where light still glowed faintly.

–

Theo wasn’t sleeping either. I could feel it – that strange pull again, like our fates were quietly tangled together.

My heart throbbed with swinging emotions.

Theo.

Get out of my head, damn it!