Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose. - Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Karma.
Kael.

For several minutes, I didn’t move; not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t. My chest hurt so badly, it felt like I’d been thrown into a crusher… and the sounds of my mother’s wails, tearing through the silent compound, broke something within me.

I walked into the house, not caring if anyone followed and when I got in, I sat down, not on a chair or anything, but on the floor.

I needed time to process all of these. I needed time to mourn the incredible loss I’d just been dealt with. It wasn’t enough that we’d lost some money… then Leilani. Now, father had to join in the equation too? He had to leave even before seeing us?

I gripped my chest so tightly but no tears would fall. And do you know what was more upsetting about this whole scenario?

It is the fact that now, we’ve hit rock bottom.

Figuratively. Literally. In fact, in every sense that was possible.

First, we had all signed the restraining order, meaning that we could no longer get in touch with Leilani… and now that father is dead, we would be forced into accepting our sham wedding with Chalice or risk losing it all.

My hands cupped my face and I cried into them, shaking as the crazy thoughts wouldn’t stop swarming around my head.

My brothers and mother came in shortly afterwards, and seeing me like this, they instantly rushed to come sit by my side, whilst draping their arms around me as they tried to console me.

Growing up, father was the only one who didn’t see us as triplets. He had trained me specially to ascend his throne after him, seeing as I was the eldest of the trio. From there, a close bond had begun to develop between us, and before we knew it, I was following him on trips, meetings and was even made ‘acting Alpha’ one time when he had to travel for a long-term business with some vampires.

My shoulders shook violently at the memories before I could help myself and tears poured out of my eyes so much, I feared I would lose my sight.

Just then, mother wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a crushing hug, and maybe that finally undid me because I soon began to sob uncontrollably, my loud wails echoing around the house as I struggled to reign these ugly emotions in.

We cried together for so long, and by the time we finally stopped, it felt as if all our strengths had been drained from our bodies.

“Just like you drained Leilani’s blood.” My wolf commented, but I quickly blocked him out, not wanting to add guilt to the already ginormous emotions weighing down on me.

Discarding these thoughts, I glanced up at my mother and whispered the one sentence I never hoped to say. I asked; “So when is his funeral?”

And at that she froze. It seemed to dawn on her that her mate was no more because then another loud cry slipped past her lips. She shook her head vehemently, shaking uncontrollably as she muttered over and over again; “I don’t know… I really don’t know.”

“Mom—”

“All I know is that he’s now in the morgue, and that he’s always wanted to be buried on his island.” She cried.

“That means we’ll all be travelling soon, right?” Zevran asked but before I could respond, mother chirped in;

“Yes, but not without your wife. I don’t care if you don’t love her or if she’s a fox, but you must take her along with you!”

Zevran rose to his feet, his face darkening as he growled; “Why?”

“For appearances!” Mother answered, “…because that is the only way to counter this ‘broken marriage’ news circulating around the family.”

I frowned. “No.”

“We were asked to get married to her and now, we’ve done that to save face. What else do you want from us?” Zevran added in anger.

“They heard about the chaos that happened at your wedding. They think it’s enough ground for a separation—”

“And it is. In fact, I have been contemplating it.” Caelum ground out, but that only made mother roll her eyes.

“Yes. While it is enough grounds for a separation— or divorce, this is the worst possible time to go through with it. Micah, your cousin, has been growing increasingly proud and reckless by the day; So please, do not give him a reason to pull the rug out from under your feet.”

Hearing that, I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes. And goddess, I hated this. I hated everything that was happening to us all at once with every fibre of my being.

It felt like we were experiencing karma, but that bitch had come too quickly. She came wicked. And she came at my brothers and I with a crazy amount of violence and rage.

“We won’t give him a reason…” I answered slowly, drawing my brothers’ attention to myself. They immediately turned to me and cocked their eyebrows but I said nothing;

And while I saw reasons with our mother and knew exactly what I had to do next, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words because they sounded filthy.

They sounded like shit.

They felt like ash in my mouth— ash that I was forced to swallow, as I finally turned to Zevran and drawled; “Order for Chalice’s release.”

Their faces fell.

“No.” Zevran snarled immediately, “never! What the hell is wrong with you, bro? Why would you think I would even do that?”

I turned away from him to Caelum who immediately looked away, his brows creasing as he spat; “I can’t do this, brother. I don’t want to do it.”

I sighed. I was conflicted.

On one hand, I had to protect my family, and on the other, the only thing I had to protect was my ego— and I say this because I already know that we’ve lost Leilani for good.

—And that there was no need to cry over the spilled milk that was our supposed relationship with her at this point.

So I picked up my phone, called Gavin, and ordered; “Ask the guards to release Chalice immediately. Henceforth, she’s a free woman.”

The line went silent for a moment before Gavin finally spoke. He said; “With all due respect, Alpha Kael, I cannot do that.”

I froze. “Gavin?”

“I cannot order Chalice’s release. I don’t want to do it, and you can punish me in any way you deem appropriate for disobeying direct orders… but I won’t. Not after everything she’s done.”

At that moment, tears burned at the corners of my eyes but I had no idea if they were out of hurt or anger.

Seeing Chalice… hearing her name… only reminded me of the way we all treated Leilani in the past… and Gavin most probably felt the same way too because then he added;

“I could step down from being your next beta, and that would be fine. As long as I do not have to be the one to release the woman who mistreated my sister until she was forced to leave the family.”

“Gavin, you’re not paying any attention to me.” I said slowly. Gosh, I was so frustrated. “You’re not listening!”

“I will not do it, Alpha. I’m really sorry.” He said, and with that, ended the call before I could even say another word.

I let the phone drop to the floor and pinched the bridge of my nose. Sighing, I closed my eyes and stayed still, as if that way, the weight on my chest would lessen.

But it didn’t.

If anything, it seemed to grow so heavy, it began to crush my lungs… and my heart.

And all the organs I left until I could no longer breathe.