“IF,” Kali interrupted with a scowl.
“WHEN …” Selene said with confidence. “When we get him back and this seal on you is also broken … come back with us. Please.”
Kali looked up at her in shock. “I-I …” She didn’t know how to respond to that. She wasn’t expecting her to offer that. An offer that allowed her to hope.
“You don’t have to live here anymore. Neither does Endymion. That time is over. I want you both to come back with me and live where we can watch over the world, like we were always meant to.” Selene smiled at Kali.
Kali looked down at the ground. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, afraid she was going to be let down. Afraid she would continue to be sealed away in the darkness forever, and so would Endymion. She looked back at Selene. “If … if we get Endymion back. If that time ever comes …” She held her gaze and slowly nodded her head. She wanted nothing more than to live in the light again with the ones she treasured the most.
“Don’t go soft on me, Selene. In order to achieve what we need, we must put the Chain family through hell. It’s through their hell and sacrifice that we have a chance of gettingEndymion back.” Kali stared at Selene as the flame flickered in her eyes.
Selene nodded with a frown. She hated to do it. She hated making them suffer because of the mess they’d created. But Endymion was suffering, too. Kali was suffering. And she was suffering. The Chain family was unfortunately a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. They were the champions she had chosen to fight the darkness. And even though it wasn’t fair to them, she had directed the chess pieces accordingly and placed them in the demon’s path.
“Darkness is on the move. He came up to the surface the other day,” Selene said in a hushed tone.
Kali scoffed. “How dare that bastard turn against me. Opportunistic snake.”
“Opportunistic demon.” A crooked smile raised over Selene’s lips as Kali shook her head back and forth.
“Let’s hope they have the power to defeat him.” Kali felt no remorse in the killing of Mephisto. He had betrayed her and turned his back on balance. In order to restore the world's balance, he would have to be destroyed, which was why a certain werewolf ended up having a deity for a mate. They would need his strength to defeat Mephisto. Selene was able to indirectly add a powerful soldier to the war this way.
“There is no turning back. For Endymion,” Selene said softly.
“For all of us,” Kali corrected her with a slight nod.
Selene looked toward the cave opening. She thought about the Chain family and the tribulations that were ahead of them. She had done her best to stack the odds in their favor without directly having her hands in it. The rest was now up to them.
Hunter and Freja walked with their arms linked down to the breakfast table. Surprisingly, they were up for breakfast. They arrived to find a full table. Susan and Adam were sitting side by side, and next to them was Winston. Across from them were Sam, Renee, Jin and Chasen. There were two seats open together for Hunter and Freja at the end. But when Freja went to sit on one of the seats, Hunter reached around her waist, pulling her down onto his lap.
“Nuh uh. You’re sitting right here with me,” Hunter said, with a childish air.
Freja giggled and turned to look at him.
“What? Did you guys not get enough of each other last night?” Chasen smirked as he plunged a stack of bacon in his mouth. Yes, a stack.
“It’ll never be enough.” Hunter leaned his head into her neck and took in gentle whiffs of his mate. He would never be able to satisfy his cravings for her, which was exactly how it was supposed to be.
“Finally, we can have a normal day today,” Sam said as he grinned at Hunter.
“I’m afraid not yet,” Freja said, and everyone looked at her. “Well, I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I’m pissed. We need to start getting a plan together and work on taking out that coven of witches. As far as I’m concerned, I won’t be happy until I watch the life drain from their coven leader’s eyes.”
Hunter chuckled and tugged her back into his side. “We’ll get to them. But let’s at least take today for ourselves. I just want to hold you today.”
“Only hold me?” Freja tilted her head to the side as she looked at him, a coy smile on her face.
Hunter smirked.Whether I’m holding you on my lap or holding your hips as I thrust into you … I just want to be holding you.He felt her breath catch in her chest and he leaned forward and pressed his lips against her cheek. “I just want to spend a normal day with you today.”
“What about your alpha duties?” Freja asked as she took a sip of her orange juice.
“Sam can be acting alpha today. Right Sam?” Hunter looked up at his beta, who had a knowing smile on his face.
“Sure can. I always said I would make a better alpha than you anyway.” Sam winked at Hunter, who rolled his eyes at him.
“Hunter.” Caden walked into the pack house with a small frown over his face.
“Oh no, you’re about to ruin my day, aren’t you?” Hunter frowned and squeezed Freja. He felt like a child, about to pout over getting bad news.
“I’m afraid so. We have two small bands of wolves that have come to meet the King of the Werewolves.” Caden gave Hunter a sympathetic smile.
