Chapter 262: _You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

Words : 1397 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 262: _You Don’t Have To Do This Alone "I... I need..." I stuttered, getting on my feet but I didn’t even know what I needed right now after discovering all these things from Althea. I felt caged. I felt like the gods had dealt me a fate that I definitely didn’t deserve. "Odessa..." Kaelos wrapped his hand around my wrist, causing me to shiver a bit. But then I brought my gaze to him and watched as he got on his feet as well, his cologne and the shampoo still lingering on his hair grounding me for a moment. "You don’t have to handle any of this alone. That’s why I’m your mate. Your husband." He whispered, bringing his hands to my face and cupping it gently. I blinked at him, my cheeks burning up with a blush as my eyes got watery. No... No... Hell no! I’m not going to cry. "What if the Lord of the North is watching our lives through my mind?" I asked with a shaky voice. "He already made his presence known in a dream. What if he... What if he pushes me to use my magic and I lose control and—" "That’s not going to happen," Althea spoke firmly, placing her palms on the table. "You’ll need to cut back on your use of magic now more than ever. In the meantime... It’s time I began teaching you how to control it. How to prevent it from surging in sync with your emotions." I clenched my jaw, nodding at her but to my surprise, Kaelos brought his hands down and proceeded to hold my right hand. "She can do all that some other time." He blurted, pulling me away from the table. I blinked at him with confusion as he glanced back at my aunt. "You’re still staying within the pack, right? To watch her pregnancy and all." My eyes widened at that, my free hand finding its way to my stomach. I had almost forgotten about our child. What sort of expecting mother was I? "I mean... Yes." Althea nodded with dimmed eyes. "Although, I feel her training has been a long way coming and now would be—" "She’s my wife. I’ll steal her from you for a few hours at best." Kaelos remarked casually, his voice leaving no room for argument as he dragged me gently out of the garden. "Your maid can come along." He added to me. I glanced back at Caroline who didn’t even wait long before running after us, a curious expression on her face. What was Kaelos up to? . . "You said you wanted to dress me up back in the garden." He muttered when we finally got to his room door upstairs. I fluttered my eyelids, sucking in a breath. "Yeah... Wait, that’s not exactly what I said—" "Caroline..." Kaelos turned his gaze to Caroline who stood silently beside me. She raised her head, seeming surprised that she was called on but then she bowed slightly. "Yes, my Lord?" "What did your Luna Queen mention about my clothing in the garden a few minutes ago?" I raised an eyebrow. Caroline hesitated for only a second before she cleared her throat. "She said she’ll dress you up one of these days so you two can go to a mall. Perhaps, she wanted you two to live life as... Normal civilians within the pack." I remained silent, not knowing what to say as Kaelos pushed the room door open, pulling me along with him. "Good. So, Odessa. We’re going to do as you said." He remarked, stepping in and glancing back at me. "Right now." I parted my lips, blinking as I turned my head to Caroline who still stood pretty outside the room. Then I whipped my head back to Kaelos. "When you say we’re going to do as I said... Do you mean dressing you up and—" "Heading to the pack’s mall. Yes." He nodded affirmatively, snapping his fingers with a teasing voice. "Chop, chop. I think there’s going to be some mouth-watering discounts this morning." "Discounts?" I echoed with a flat stare. "Kaelos, people don’t go to the mall for discounts when they just found out they might be the key to a well of chaotic magic with blood sigils that could doom the continent." He raised an eyebrow. "And yet, here you are. Dying to see me in skinny jeans." "I did not say skinny jeans!" "You didn’t say not skinny jeans either." Caroline muffled a snort from outside the room, and I swore her nose twitched like she was holding back a laugh. I glared at her, but it was hard to hold it for long. Her grin was too damn contagious. Kaelos stepped in closer, his voice softening. "Odessa, listen. You’re allowed to breathe, okay? Not everything has to be fireballs and war planning. Let’s take a break. For you. For the baby. And... for us." For a second, I just stared at him. Then I sighed, muttering, "Fine. But you’re trying on everything I pick. No arguments." "Deal," he smirked. "Even if it’s something scandalous and hot pink." My lips twitched, a smirk settling on them. "Oh, don’t tempt me, Alpha King." . . Thirty minutes later... The mall was already bustling with early pack members just going about their lives, chatting at cafés, dragging screaming toddlers past toy stores, and ogling the occasional luxury boutique window. And right there in the middle of it... stood me, future "chaos queen", and Kaelos, Alpha King of North America, pretending to be normal. Spoiler alert: He sucked at it. "Why are you glaring at the mannequin?" I asked as we stood outside a high-end clothing store. He had been frowning at a headless mannequin in a crop top and leather pants for a full minute. He squinted harder. "It’s... taunting me." "Kaelos, it’s not alive." "Neither is that suit of armour in the throne room hall, but I still don’t trust it." He shot back. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is why you need me. You have no idea how to shop." He turned his gaze to me, a smirk curling his lips. "Then teach me, oh great Luna Queen of sales racks and casual wear." Caroline trailed behind us, carrying three shopping bags already. None of them were hers. She sighed like a long-suffering servant but I caught the amused glint in her eyes. "Next stop," I said, pointing toward a store with a huge SALE banner and rows of jackets. "We’re getting you out of that ’mafia boss on his day off’ look." He rolled his eyes but followed me without complaint, letting me lead him through racks of denim, jackets, graphic tees, and... Yes, even a hot pink hoodie. Just to mess with him. "You’re not serious," he said when I handed the hoodie to him. I tilted my head innocently. "You did say anything." Caroline cackled behind us. Kaelos sighed like a man facing war. "Fine. But if anyone sees me in this, I’m blaming you." "You’re lucky you’re hot," I muttered under my breath. "I heard that." Another thirty minutes later... Kaelos stepped out of the fitting room in the pink hoodie, with a pair of distressed jeans that hugged him a little too well. I nearly dropped dead on the spot. Caroline actually whistled. "My Luna Queen has taste." "I look like a boy band reject," Kaelos deadpanned. "You look hot," I corrected. "Boyband Alpha." His lips curved into a slow smirk. "So this is your fantasy. Noted." My cheeks flared. "Shut up and buy the hoodie." He reached over and kissed my forehead. But just as I laughed, something inside me flickered. A soft pulse. A hum from deep beneath my skin, like something stirring. My smile faltered for a split second, my eyes flickering to the glass window beside us. Just my reflection... but for a moment, I could have sworn the sigils beneath my skin shimmered faintly beneath the surface. Kaelos caught the shift in my energy. "What’s wrong?" I shook my head slowly, my fingers tightening around the shopping bag. "Nothing," I whispered. "Let’s... Let’s keep going. I’m okay." He didn’t press. He just held my hand tighter. And maybe that was enough for now. But deep down, I knew... This peace wasn’t going to last forever.

Chapter 262: _You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

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