Chapter 2 A Heart Divided
Kai
After Nevea hung up on me, the room felt suffocating. She had never done this to me before, and I went speechless. I dropped the phone onto my desk and sighed as I leaned on the chair. Her words had cut deeper than I wanted to admit. After all these years together, how had it come to this?
But what else could I have done? Claire got hurt during training, and as an Alpha, I had to take care of her. The pack always came first. That was the responsibility I bore when I took the title. I thought Nevea, of all people, understood this because she was my mate and soon–to–be Luna.
I sighed and took my phone. The group chat had a bunch of messages, and I hadn’t even been able to check it. When I opened it, all the messages were from Claire. She had been updating the group on her injury.
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My jaw tightened at the pictures she sent because they focused on her and me. I almost hated the one where she was lying on a stretcher, and I stood there all concerned and worried.
I ran a hand through my hair. Everything seemed out of hand, but it wasn’t my fault. Claire needed me, and I couldn’t just abandon her because of the ceremony. Nevea should understand how important. safety is to the pack.
Still, the guilt gnawed at me. I canceled our mating ceremony for Claire, and now Nevea was furious. Maybe I could‘ ve
handled it better. I should have called her
first and asked permission to cancel. Or maybe had explained better and not just messaged her as if the mating ceremony meant nothing. But what was done was done, and I had to deal with the fallout.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I called out.
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Ivar stepped into the room with his usual calm expression. He closed the door, sat across from me, and watched me. If there was anyone, I could count on to help me make sense of this mess, it was him.
“Kai, I heard what happened,” he said
with a low voice.
I sighed.
“Yeah. Nevea‘ s pissed.”
Ivar raised an eyebrow while leaning back in his seat.
“Pissed at you for doing your job?”
His words made me run a hand down my face.
“I canceled the mating ceremony, Ivar. She has every right to be upset.”
He shook his head, unbelieving of Nevea’s reaction.
“She might be upset, but you did what you had to do. Claire was hurt. You‘ re the
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Alpha. Your first responsibility is to the pack, including ensuring every member is safe, especially when they re injured.”
“I know that. But Nevea… she doesn’t
see it that way. She thinks I’m choosing Claire over her.”
Ivar‘ s expression softened.
“Kai, you didn’t choose Claire over Nevea. You chose the pack over everything. That’s what being Alpha means. Neveal knows that deep down, even if she’s angry right now.”
I clenched my fists as frustration bubbled inside me.
“I know she does, but it feels like I’m losing her. I’ve been so focused on the pack lately, on Claire, that I didn’t even have the time for her.”
“You‘ re not neglecting her, Kai. You‘ ve got responsibilities that most people will never understand. Nevea‘ s upset, sure, but she’ll come around. You‘ ve always
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been there for her, and she knows that.”
I didn’t respond and just stared at the window. A part of me knew Ivar was right. Nevea had always stood by me, but lately, things felt different. I felt like we had grown distant from each other.
Ivar must have sensed my inner turmoil because he continued, “You‘ re doing the right thing, Kai. Claire‘ s part of the pack, and as Alpha, you have to take care of her. Nevea will understand once she has
calmed down.”
I looked at him, still doubting.
“You really think so?”
“I’m sure of that. Don’t stress over it, it’s nothing. Nevea‘ s hurt right now, but she’ll realize you were just doing your job,” Ivar said confidently.
I nodded. I had been so caught up in my guilt and frustration that doubt started blinding me of what was going to happen with my relationship. I was doing the right
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thing and couldn’t be in two places. What I did for Claire is what all Alpha would do.
“I just… I don’t want to lose Nevea,” I whispered.
“You won’t. Nevea loves you. That‘ s why this is hitting her so hard. But she‘ 11 come around. You‘ ve been together so long to be ruined by just a simple injury.”
I let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension in my chest loosen. Ivar was right.
“Thanks, Ivar. I needed to hear that.”
He smiled with eyes full of glint.
“Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”
I stood up from my chair, feeling a little lighter than before. The conversation with Ivar had helped, but I still had a lot of work to do to repair the damage between Nevea and me. But at least now, I didn’t feel like I was drowning in guilt.
“I’ll talk to her later. Maybe by that time, she had calmed down.”
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“That’s a good idea. Nevea has a soft spot for you, so use that to your advantage.”
We walked to the door together, and I felt more prepared to face whatever came next.
Ivar clapped me on the shoulder. “You‘ ve got this, Kai. Just don’t forget that you‘ re not alone in this.”
“Thanks, Ivar.”
When Ivar left, the weight on my shoulder had lifted. But now, I had to find a way to make things right with Nevea. I went to the apartment Nevea, and I shared. When I opened the door, I called her, and she didn’t respond. I looked for her
everywhere, and suddenly, instincts urged me to check the closet. Nevea’s clothes
were all gone. She had left me, and I sank to the floor.
