Alpha Kael

~Jada

My fingers burned just touching it.

Looking around, I try again to see through the trees to see who had made the shot, deciding to have me see the letter rather than anyone else. Maybe it’s because I’m the only one standing here, or if they had mishot, but regardless, whoever they may be, they have disappeared into the forest, not coming back.

Was it really Kael’s mother? The thought makes me shiver. If so, she found Kael’s private institute, and is using me as a messenger to get her note to Kael. I’m just not sure why they chose me.

Looking down to at the note, I consider what to do next. There is no way I can keep this from Kael, as curious as I am to look at it.

I can’t do that.

The last thing I want to do right now is see Kael. Not with this injuries littering my face with no explanation that won’t get me in trouble. However, this might be the first contact he has had from his mother, who the entirety of the Discipline Pack believes died in an accident along with his father when Kael was seventeen, in years.

When I get back to the suite, Kael isn’t in there. I peek my head around his door too, but his room is empty. It’s mid afternoon, which means he must be dealing with business elsewhere on the property. So I sit down on an ottoman in the middle of the room and wait.

For hours, he didn’t show up. Whatever he is doing, it must be important, as evening creeps in, casting shadows through the window.

So I just sit there within the darkness.

Finally, I hear Kael bustle in, turning the light on as he enters. He startles at the sight of me, which I don’t blame him for. I still look like a mess. Even if I had makeup here, nothing would do any justice in covering this.

“What happened?” Kael questioned, a flutter of paleness covering his face as he regards me from where he stands across the room.

I don’t say anything, letting him approach me cautiously. I’m trying to decide whether he looks disgusted or concerned that I’ve ended up with these injuries. As he stands in front of me, I watch a muscle in his jaw tick, and I can see him considering how this came to be, and who might have inflicted this.

“Who did this to you?” Kael asks softly, tones of hushed anger linger under his breath. As I stand, I shun down my surprise at his empathetic reaction.

Maybe he also knows we are mates.

“Don’t worry about that. There was just a small fight where I came off worse, clearly,” I say dismissively, pushing past him, still clutching the letter in my hand from his mother. I’m waiting for him to get this out of his system before I push the letter on him and shock him. Who knows what might be inside it.

“A fight? With the other Silent’s?” he questions, eyebrows slightly furrowed, anger brewing within his dark irises. “Which Silent’s exactly? They know you’re new, they shouldn’t be provoking a fight.”

I’m not sure what the consequences will be if I shove Zara’s name in Kael’s face. All I know is I doubt it will go very well. I’ll be targeted again by her, and the promise they made to stop bothering me won’t matter anymore. So I keep my mouth shut not, refusing to say a word.

As much as I do want to tell him.

“You don’t have to worry about it anymore. It won’t happen again,” I tell him firmly, trying to divert the conversation away from the fight.

Kael still doesn’t look convinced. “You injuries look extensive. We have top medical professionals here that can take care of you. I’ll take you to them right now so we can ensure it won’t get any worse than this.”

He reaches for me. I’m unsure of his motive, but I pull away, avoiding the touch of his persistent fingers. He pulls away, assuming he was crossing a line.

I’m not ready for him to know yet.

Shaking my head at him, knowing he isn’t going to let up until he hears more important news, I hold up the letter. “I think you might like to see this.”

Finally, Kael’s speech is cut off as his eyes draw to what I am holding in my hand. He must have seen the cursive writing scrawled clearly across the front. He knows I would never play a prank on him either, especially about this. So as all the colour drains from his face, it is evident he knows exactly what this means.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Where did you get this?” Kael asks softly as I hand him the letter. At first he doesn’t take it, as if he is scared what he is going to uncover if he reads what might be inside. I don’t blame him. It isn’t to do with me and I’m nervous too.

I notice him investigating the hole that has been pierced through at the top. “I was out on the field and it hit a tree nearby. I saw what was written on the front…”

Kael blinks a few times.

He doesn’t say anymore, unfolding the letter to read it intently. I don’t pry, I don’t try to look over his shoulder and read it or anything. Instead, I patiently wait for him to finish, watching his eyes drift over the page, watching his expression shift with each word that passes. It’s all raw emotion being presented before me.

He puts it down, thinking for a moment before handing it back to me. “If you’re interested, why don’t you have a read too.”

“It’s none of my business-”

“I insist,” Kael tells me seriously, forcing it into my hands. I take it, assuming he wants to share this someone, and I’m right here to do it. If he knew I were his mate, he would share it with me, so I’m surprised he is doing so without being aware.

To my son,

I assume I am the last person you want to hear from at this time, however, I’ve decided it is time to contact my son and attempt to explain my absence.

After everything happened with your father, I had to leave.

It was not in my interest to leave the responsibilities to you, although you have done great with them.

I have gone, and I have hidden.

Yes, this may not answer much, but I want you to know I’m safe, and I want you to know you do not need to pursue me anymore. I am happy where I am, and wish you well in life.

Again, please don’t try find me any longer.

Your loving mother.

I scan over the concise letter one more time, trying to see if there was anything else to take from it other than the overall message. When I glance at Kael, he looks as distraught as anyone who would receive this kind of message.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Kael tells me, raking his hands through his hair. There’s a urge within me to reach out and comfort him, but I reign it in.

I swallow uncomfortably. “It seems like she wants distance.”

“No, this isn’t from my mother. I can’t be,” Kael tells me. “I mean, you might not know this, but I’ve been trying to find her ever since she left. She must be hiding, but this isn’t here. This is scripted. It must be.”

Already, I know this, but I don’t tell him that. All I know is that I don’t think this letter is a script. In fact, I think she doesn’t want to be found for her own reasons, despite how convinced Kael might think otherwise. He is surely in denial. It can’t be easy to hear that from your own mother.

“I’m sorry Kael. I don’t know what to say,” I tell him softly. I don’t think comforting him right now will make any difference. Even as his mate.

When am I going to tell him?

He takes my mind off that for a moment as he sits down on the couch next to us. I join him tentatively, still holding the letter. I’m not sure what to say to make it better for him. I want to reach out to touch him. To even rest of my head against him and let him know we would figure this out.

But to him, I am just a Silent who works for him. He let me stay in this suite out of pity for seeing me being bullied. He’s confiding in me only because I exposed this in the first place. He isn’t even attracted to me…

All of a sudden he turns his entire body to face me, making me startled.

He looks at me seriously. “I need to find my mother. And if you truly want to be a Silent, and I can trust you, you should come with me.”