To say Kendra was crestfallen after Killian had left would honestly be an understatement. Tears stood in her eyes, and there was this— this strange feeling in her heart that felt like there was this rope connecting her to Killian that was being ripped apart as the distance between him and her increased, and you want to know the funny part?
She wasn’t even sure he had even fucking reached the southern border yet!
What in the hell was happening to her?
She, a whole warrior... a complete killing machine already familiar with the concept of loss—a little too much if you ask me—and she had now been reduced to nothing but a mushy mess simply because her mate had gone someplace without her.
She hated the feeling, honestly.
She hated that her happiness was now, more than ever tied to him so, hated the fact that just the thought of something bad happening to him made her feel like bashing her head in and joining him as well wherever his soul went, even if it was into the underworld... Hades Kingdom.
No, she wasn’t helping things by being in his chambers.
Where his scent was still very much strong, where memories of all their passion filled moments still lingered. She needed to go out and do something productive, anything really... just to take her mind off things.
And so with that thought in mind, the female beta stepped out of the Alpha’s chambers and headed for the library, but luckily for her, she bumped into Aiyisha on the way.
“The meeting ended not too long ago,” The Alpha’s daughter told her, “Sanjit and Leray and Yelena want to make some changes to the pack nursery. You know... Yelena came up with this brilliant idea to link the nursery to the base...”
Kendra’s eyes shot up at the way the she wolf just trailed off all of a sudden. “What?”
“Are you okay, Kendra?” Aiyisha’s head cocked to the side as she accessed the female warrior.
“Yeah... I’m alright. Why?” Came her lame reply.
“You look terrible. It is very much obvious that something is wrong with you,” Aiyisha’s blue eyes widened as the realisation suddenly dawned on her. “Is it because of Killian?”
Apparently, that was all Kendra’ eyes needed to release the waterworks they had been holding back for so long. The female beta tried to laugh it off, but the sound only came out as an almost strangled cry, one that was so painful to hear that it had Aiyisha wrapping her arms around her even though they hadn’t gotten to the point where they could easily take those liberties on each other. Whatever their relationship was, it was still very much fragile as Aiyisha had started it off on the wrong foot, what with trying to kiss Killian and all, but in that moment, it did not really matter. All the Alpha’s daughter had seen was someone in distress, and she had wanted to help ease that distress. She didn’t say a word, only offering her warmth and rubbing the female beta’s back in silent support as she bawled her heart out.
When Kendra was done, she pulled away and looked at the blonde haired wolf, and then she unexpectedly burst into laughter.
Aiyisha stared at her curiously, silently wondering if the woman was losing it, and then suddenly infected with the laughing virus herself, she joined in. For what seemed like ages, they laughed their hearts out, holding each other for support as they found that the force of being wracked by giggles like that had rather drained them.
“W—what is wrong with me?” Kendra managed to say between laughs.
“Like—like hell if I know, and why the fuck can’t I stop laughing?” Aiyisha murmured, laughing even harder than before.
“It’s just so crazy, isn’t it? Someway somehow, this mateship thing has my emotions all over the place, I’ve been what, reduced to nothing but a wee lass who bursts into tears when her mama and her papa are not around and all for what? Just because Killian left me behind? Gods, fuck this feeling.”
Now that the laughter was fading off, Aiyisha found that she could give the woman standing before her a serious look. “Come now, Kendra... I do truly think that it is so adorable to be so in love with someone that merely being away from them makes you miserable.” She said, a small smile gracing her features.
“You think so? Well I think it just makes you weak.” Kendra admitted softly.
“You can’t possibly mean that?”
“Oh, but I do.” She insisted, “I’m supposed to be what? Helping out with preparations towards the war, and I’m already so distracted, crying... crying! Just because Killian isn’t here.”
Aiyisha shot the she wolf a look, her eyes burning with a strange kind of pride “I think the real strength here, Ken... is deciding to take the fall anyway, even when you had your reservations about the whole thing in the first place.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“I guess I could sense your fear to jump into this relationship with Killian, Kendra. Because think about it, you saw us on that day, when I kissed him,” Kendra’s eyes narrowed at that, faintly becoming cerulean, “I mean no harm,” Aiyisha quickly explained to placate the woman, “I’m just saying that if you saw the whole thing, you would have seen that Killian roughly pushed me away, my friendship with him was ruined because of my mistake, and even up till now he keeps me at a very far distance... where am I going with this? You just used the kiss as an excuse to flee your relationship, Kendra, and I’m really glad that you changed your mind.” She smiled softly.
Kendra softly returned the smile with a repentant nod, knowing very well that Aiyisha was right. For the longest time, she had been torn between wondering if her feelings for Killian were true or if they were only there because of the moon goddess’ machinations. She realised now that it did not really matter... whatever was fuelling it, whatever was making her feel that way. She had Killian now, she was his just as much as he was hers, and that was truly all that mattered.
“Come,” Aiyisha said suddenly, the word snapping her from her thoughts. “Let’s go spar for a little bit,” She threw the challenge in the air, “I’m pretty sure you have some pent up rage in you towards me,” She smirked cheekily, “Now would be your last chance to put it to good use, for after tonight, we might very well be friends,”
Kendra chuckled heartily, that familiar glint at the hint of a challenge lighting up in her eyes. “You’re on, bitch.” She said. Those very words would have made the normal ton blush a fiery red, but they only made Aiyisha snicker in laughter as they both headed towards the sparring grounds.
They were intercepted on their way there by a maid who had apparently been looking for Aiyisha.
“What is it, Rhonda?”
“A letter for you ma’am,” Came the reply as the maid curtsied slightly, handing the parchment over to her, “It’s from Beta Devin.”
Kendra shot the Alpha’s daughter a curious look at the way she froze when the name was mentioned, wondering who the hell this Beta Devin was to have sparked such a reaction.
“Thank you.” Aiyisha said stiffly as she absentmindedly dismissed the maid with a flick of her hand, her mind over flooded with thoughts as to why Devin would write her a letter instead of her father.
She surely hoped that he wasn’t coming back anytime soon!
As she tore open the seal, she silently prayed that her hopes would be answered by whoever cared to listen, and then her eyes began to scan the words written.
My dearest princess, Lady Aiyisha,
She rolled her eyes at the introduction, knowing very well that he would have been laughing had he been here, noting with delight how his words had created the exact reaction he had wanted to see.
Irritation.
I have heard about how Dnakle has been surrounded, and believe me, I would have been on the first carriage back home if I could, but I cannot. Thankfully, you have Alpha Killian to take over for now, the fates could not have sent him at a much better time, he will see to every thing now that he is there. You won’t even have to worry your pretty head about a thing.
Aiyisha scoffed at that, the chauvinistic bastard! The only thing she wanted now more than anything in the world was to wring his neck and probably choke him to death. Yes, indeed, the world would need to build her a huge monument the day she did it that huge favour, making the world a better place by getting rid of that Devin Lockwood.
Okay now, Kendra’s interest and her curiosity was very much peaked as she watched the myriad of emotions flickering across her friend’s face.
Who was this Beta Devin, and why was whatever he had written riling her... friend like so?
“Is Beta Devin the beta of your pack?” She asked, her question causing Aiyisha’s eyes to tear away from the parchment which she didn’t realise she was clutching super tight.
“He is,” She resumed her walking. “How the fates selected him for that position, I have no idea.”
Kendra was confused. “He does not perform his duties well?”
Oh.
Aiyisha stopped in her tracks at that as she pondered over the question. “It’s not so much as he doesn’t perform his duties well, no far from it. Truth be told, he is very good at his role, practically taking over some of my papa’s duties as well, but I do find him truly irritating. No, scratch that, I hate the bastard with all of my heart.”
Kendra narrowed her eyes. This was getting more and more interesting by the minute. “Whatever has he done to warrant such a strong emotion as hate?”
“You mean aside the fact that he’s a condescending, annoying chauvinist?”
Wow.
“Devin tortured me for most of my childhood, he and I have a total hate relationship and the feeling is very much mutual, trust me.”
Kendra was frozen in place by the venom that was in the Alpha’s daughter’s eyes. Had anyone reported this incident to her, you’d best believe that she would not believe a single word... for to her, Aiyisha von Sterling was a nice person. She was one of those people who went out of their way to make others warm and fuzzy and loved. To see her so passionately declare her hate for someone like that sure put things into a new perspective.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Kendra heard her say, the words rousing her from her thoughts. “Like what?”
“Like I’m some entirely different person.” Came her answer.
Kendra admitted, shrugging non-committally. “I don’t know, I guess your reaction did take me aback a bit... but then even I can understand that kind of hate. The one that makes you so twisted and evil looking in the sight of many, and to be honest, it makes me worry for you, Aiyisha.” She explained.
Aiyisha blushed sheepishly, “It’s not always like this though, Kendra. It’s... it’s just that I have heard his name so many times today, with each person reminding me that no matter how hard I try... that no matter what I do, I will never be enough, simply because I am a woman... and a woman cannot take over her father’s pack even if she’s very much capable.” She smiled wryly. “I guess under all that hate, there also is jealousy, for his father has resigned as Beta and he had just as quickly filled his shoes with no stress. No one had even wanted him to take a trial to see if he was suitable, they had all welcomed him with open arms simply because he was a man.” She blinked hard, “I don’t mean to complain this much, but look at Leray... he obviously has no interest on being Gamma, but look at how easily he had managed to get the position, even though my father totally hates his guts.”
Kendra sighed deeply. There was really nothing to say. Aiyisha knew that, she knew that too. The blonde she wolf just wanted to vent, because it wasn’t as if anything Kendra said was going to change the status quo. And so with a sigh, Aiyisha shook her head to clear her thoughts, pulling her... friend by the arm. “Come on, we have a lot to do.”