The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 024

~~Theo~–

The chamber doors slammed shut behind me. The echo followed like a taunt.

Zane fell into step beside me. “So? They finally decided?”

“They did,” I said, jaw tight. “Kaia stays. They think she’s harmless.”

“Harmless?” he snorted. “That woman drained poison out of your father’s veins. If that’s harmless, then I’m a priest.”

I didn’t answer. My mind was already elsewhere. Tracing lines on a map no one else could see.

Zane studied me. “You’re thinking about that again.”

I stopped in the corridor. “You don’t find it strange, Zane? The king gets poisoned”

Zane’s expression hardened. “You think Lucien did it?”

“No,” I said, too quickly. “If he had, he’d be playing a different game. But that poison…” I exhaled sharply. “It came from the pack. I’d bet my title on it.”

Zane’s brow furrowed. “Then the mastermind cleaning up loose ends. If she knows too much-”

“She’s already a target,” I cut in. “But if he’s behind this, I want proof. Quietly.”

He hesitated. “You want me to send scouts?”

“Not yet.” My gaze shifted toward the distance.

“If Lucien’s hiding something, he’ll make the first move soon enough.”

Zane crossed his arms. “And Kaia?”

I paused, then said slowly, “She’s staying under my protection. The council already accepts her and if even they doubt her all they want – but until I know what’s going on, she doesn’t leave my sight.”

Zane gave a slow nod. “Understood, Alpha.”

“Will Kaia be okay?,” my voice fell.

“Of course, she will be fine. She’s very brave. Too bad I didn’t see that before”

“Have you had a change of heart about her? Since when?” I was pleasantly surprised.

“Since she saved everyone risking her own life,” Zane begins,” She’s not the enemy. Just an unfortunate soul, betrayed by people she loved and now she has nowhere to go”

“I’m glad you see what I see now” I patted his shoulder.

“Maybe. You should really take Kaia to eat out somewhere for a change.” he looks towards Kaia’s chambers. She’s been cramped up in that dark chamber for weeks. She must be bored and probably lonely”

“Do you think she wants to go out with me?” I asked.

“Im sure,” Zane says. “She saved the king, Theo. You should start asking yourself why she’d risk everything to”

“Fuck, Zane” I grawled.” Stop talking trash. You’re too old for that”

“I should be telling you this, Theo. Stop hiding behind concerns for her”

“Dude, shut up. Just go to your mate, already” I urged.

“Speaking of mates, Theo,” Zane winked. “Give it a thought. I’m leaving, Justine must be waiting for me”

Mate.

Cruel joke.

Zane had left me with words I didn’t want to think about.

It wasn’t supposed to be dinner.

1/4

Successfully unlocked!

Chapter 024

Just a stupid idea I had after Zane wouldn’t stop talking about how Kaia “risked her life” for my father.

I told him to shut up–then somehow, half an hour later, I found myself waiting outside her door with two takeout bags.

Pathetic.

When she finally opened the door, her hair was messy from the shower, damp strands sticking to her face. She looked… normal.

Which was weird, because nothing about her felt normal to me.

She blinked. “You’re standing in my doorway like a lost delivery man.”

I almost smiled. “Maybe I am. Come on, I brought dinner.”

“Wait, I’ll just get dressed” she rushes back in.

We ended up outside on the balcony, city lights glimmering in the distance beyond the pack’s territory.

I cleared my throat. “Its…been a while since I did this. Sit down and eat like a civilized Alpha”

Kaia smiled slightly. “I can tell❞

Kaia poked her chopsticks into the noodles.

“I didn’t think Alphas ate regular food. I thought you guys just… hunted dinner or something.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You think I shift and chase down my lunch?”

She shrugged. “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

A laugh escaped before I could stop it.

It felt good, lighter than anything I’d allowed myself lately.

We fell silent for a moment before she looked up.

Then her tone shifted, softer. “You and your father… you don’t talk much, huh? You’ve been avoiding him. Isn’t

it?”

That hit harder than I expected. I dropped the cutlery.

“Avoiding means I cared enough to start. He and I -we don’t do family dinners and laughs”

“Because of what happened to your mother?” Kaia’s voice is gentle, not prying.

Just aware.

=

I leaned back against the railing, jaw tightening. “You could say that.”

My jaw clenched. “He and my mother let a rogue into our home. Said everyone deserves mercy. That rogue slit her throat while she slept. So, no, Kaia. I don’t visit him because mercy killed my mother.”

She looked at me; not with pity, but understanding.

“The same mercy that made you take me in,” she said quietly. “You’re still your mother’s son, Theo.”

I froze. The words sank deep.

“You’re different, Kaia” I say. “Dont think I’m forgiving my father, forgiveness isn’t my strong suit”

Her face softened. “That’s not forgiveness. That’s grief pretending to be anger.”

“Still. He deserves what he’s going through. I don’t care if he dies”

Kaia’s expression softened. “I don’t think what happened makes him deserving of death, Theo. Whoever hurt her already did enough damage. Don’t let it finish both of you.”

“I know you still care a lot about him” Kaia says.

“Are you analyzing me now?”

“Someone should,” she said, half–smiling.

I exhaled. “He doesn’t deserve my help.”

Chapter 024

She looked at me, voice calm but firm. “Maybe not. But you’ll hate yourself if you lose him, too.”

I turned toward her. “Are you always this emotionally responsible?”

“Only when someone’s being an idiot,” she said. “And right now, that’s you.”

For a second, I didn’t know whether to yell or kiss her.

Kaia leaned forward, eyes steady. “Your father isn’t safe. Someone’s after him. If you keep pretending you don‘ t care, he’ll die before you ever get the chance to forgive him.”

Her words left a raw lump in my mouth.

“He deserves it,” I muttered.

She shook her head. “No one deserves to die like that, not with their son hating them.”

For the first time in years, I didn’t know what to say.

~~Kaia’s POV~~

Theo had that quiet look again; the kind that hides how tired someone really is.

For a man who commanded entire battalions, he looked like he carried the weight of everyone’s sins on his shoulders.

I decided to lighten the mood. “You know, for an Alpha, you suck at small talk.”

He smirked. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. You could’ve asked how my day went.”

He leaned forward. “Alright. How was your day, Kaia?”

“I got acquainted of being a spy. drained venom out of an old man, and then had dinner with his emotionally constipated son. So… not bad.”

Theo almost choked on his drink. “Emotionally constipated?”

“Don’t act surprised. You’ve been frowning since I met you.”

“That’s my face.”

“Maybe fix it,” I teased.

He shook his head, laughing under his breath. “You’re unbelievable.”

I grinned. “Take one to know one.”

For a while, we just sat there.

Two people living in bondage pretending things were normal.

He turned to me suddenly. “You sound like you’ve lost someone too.Family?”

I looked away.

“My grandmother. She raised me alone. The only family I ever had,” I say. “She died a few months ago. The only person who ever made me feel like I belonged.

“What about your parents?”

My jaw tightened uncomfortably.

I hesitated, fingers curling around my pants.

“Gome. Or maybe they just didn’t want me. Either way, it’s the same”

Theo wanted to say something, but I went on, almost to myself.

”

….They betrayed me”

Theo’s voice softened. “What happened,Kaia?”

“I learned people lie. The ones you trust the most can turn on you in a heartbeat.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

3/4

Chapter 024 Tired. Bitter.

He looked at me carefully. “Who hurt you?”

1 forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “The people I loved most.”

Theo hesitated. “You don’t have to tell me-”

“I want to,” I cut in. “Because you’re not the only one with ghosts, Theo.”

I looked straight at him, my pulse loud in my ears.

“The Silvermoon Pack,” I said, voice steady. “That’s where it all started.”