Chapter 80

Ardal

Instantly livid, I storm towards Kadeem and the stranger. They’re standing, cool as cucumbers, on the edge of the gravel drive.

I throw a hand on my hip and a low growl escapes my throat. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I don’t know how Kadeem managed it, but it’s no coincidence he arrived to blindsight us right as we were leaving. I know it.

The stranger turns to Kadeem, a smug satisfaction plain on her face. "You were right! She is a feisty one."

I raise my eyebrow in a scathing, Vivian Leigh-worthy arch. Kadeem gives me his trademark smirk in return, and I nearly pulverize the popcorn bag I’m clutching.

"Oh please!”

Kadeem drops his gaze and chuckles softly. That only adds to my fury. I want nothing more than to slap that infuriating grin right off of his face!

I whirl around to the kids. “Get in the van now!"

Their eyes are wide with astonishment and Jack rushes them in, fumbling with the door handle in his haste.

Kadeem shifts his weight. “We're just here to talk, Chelsea.” His keeps his voice even, but he's cast off his mildness. He straightens his posture and something in him projects an authority and a power he's always held back from me.

Already, I feel my courage fray, but I try to muster it back. I glare at the woman standing next to him. “And what? You felt it necessary to bring backup?"

Jack hurries over and stands by my side, crossing his arms across his chest defiantly. His face is red and flustered. ”An-answer her question," he demands. "What do you - what do you want?" His stammering, rebellious valor melts me.

Kadeem gives a little shake of his head and clears his throat. "This is my Beta, Riley," he says. A lightness in him reappears.

"I asked her here as -“ He turns to her in a mock-consultation. “How did I phrase it exactly?" He scratches his chin as though he's searching his memories, teasing glint in his eye.

“An extra pair of hands,” Riley says, nodding solemnly.

"Right,” he deadpans, then looks at me with feigned seriousness. “What the lady said... There are seven of you, after all.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys are real cute.

Jack readjusts his glasses with a shaking finger. I can feel him quivering with rage next to me. "I - I should have known you would need a whole team to take me down!"

Oh, Jack.

I let out a gentle sigh and grab his trembling hand.

Kadeem purses his lips, but can’t hide the amused twinkle in his eyes. He nods to me. “I almost like him."

I narrow my eyes. "Whatever! And thanks for coming clean about your intentions! Obviously, it’s not just to ‘talk,’” I say, using my fingers to mime quotation marks.

Riley crosses her arms. "That part depends on you," she says. "Let's get to it. You weren't granted permission to cross pack lines - from us or Pack X - we checked."

“Hah!” Still shaking, Jack yanks out his wallet. "Grant us permission," he says, opening it with a furious glare at Kadeem and Riley. "How much will it take?"

Riley bristles immediately. "It doesn't work like that."

My heart sinks as the realization washes over me. They're going to stop us.

I cast a sidelong glance towards the van. The kids faces are pressed against the glass, glued to us with all the excitement of a new Minions' movie.

“Kadeem,” I say, trying to hide the raw grief that's beginning to consume me. “Treat me like you would any other pack member. That's all I'm asking.”

Kadeem and Riley glance at each other.

“Permission denied,” she says quickly.

I'm already teetering on the edge and her flippancy nearly tilts that balance. I clamp down my jaw and clench my fists in a desperate attempt to contain my wrath.

Jack huffs in disbelief. “This is absurd! I’m a physician and - “

Kadeem holds up his hand. “Please,” he says. “We’re all aware. I’m afraid it doesn’t make you special in this case."

My breathing grows heavier and my heart slams against my chest. "You have no right to interfere with our lives!"

Kadeem's expression is an impenetrable mask. "Chels," he says firmly, "You are not going."

I’ve had enough. I throw down the popcorn bag onto the gravel. "Oh yes, I am," I yell, flying at him with a blistering rage.

Before I can even lay a finger on him, his strong arms engulf me.

"Listen to me," he says, locking eyes with me. "You can't go."

"Why? What business is it of yours?"

His voice is gentle, but his gaze is intense and imploring. "Do you trust me?"

A rush of emotion swells inside of me. There’s such a fervent look of recognition in his brown eyes, it’s as though I’ve been transported back in time. For just a moment, everything else falls away and we belong to each other.

"Get off of her!" The sound of Jack's voice jettisons me back into reality. He's taken a step forward, but halts when he locks eyes with Riley.

“Watch it,” she warns.

Kadeem smiles warmly at me and raises his eyebrows inquisitively. “If you think you can control your temper?”

"Fine!” But I can’t relent completely. As he loosens his grip, I retaliate by aggressively wrenching my arms from his grasp.

Kadeem sighs and shakes head. “Okay,” he says. “I’ll boil it down for you, Sis. You’re not going to Pack X, and if you try, there will be repercussions.”

His voice is low, but shockingly measured, giving me an intimidating demonstration of his Alpha composure.

I think I'd rather see the anger he displayed a few days ago. His calm control feels like an unstoppable force of dominance, threatening to subdue me and remove any hope I have to save Erbao.

My pulse races as I think of my son again. I will not give up.

“Oh- oh yeah,” I stutter. “Like what?”

Riley scowls. “Like me, hauling you off to jail.”

“That’s absurd,” Jack says. “You can’t do that!”

Her eyes flash in warning. "Watch me."

Jack glances at me and frowns. "We'll abide by it for now," he announces. Then he juts out his chin. "But trust me, I'll be going to the council."

Kadeem puts his hands in his pockets. His expression is stoic. "The council," he says, "Would never grant permission if it went against my authority - and it does." He tilts his head at Jack, a gentle dare to challenge him further.

Panic floods me and seems to clench at my throat with a stranglehold.

“Fine,” I whisper, forcing out the concession. I bite my lip. “You got me. I won’t go.”

Kadeem studies me. “Just like that?”

"Just like that," I repeat, incredulous. "What do you mean, 'Just like that?' You've obviously forced the issue, Kadeem! You and your little 'helper' over there." I wave my hand derisively at Riley as she eyes me coldly.

Kadeem hesitates. "Look, I want to skip the part where you try anyway, and my team has to intercept you. Just tell me the truth."

"Oh for the love of God," Jack snaps, his exasperation palpable. "What does she have to do? Bow down and kiss your ring?"

Kadeem clenches his jaw, and then finds my eyes again. "I know you," he says ardently.

I peer at him, holding back an ocean within me.

It is uncanny, the depth I see reflected back at me, and the longing in his voice. There's such a bright, aching intimacy that I feel naked.

I'm a bug caught under his magnifying glass - only the light reflecting from it is burning me as I scramble to escape and hide in the dark.

The sun overhead is beginning to beat down on us. I can feel Jack's flustered energy next to me as he glares at Kadeem. Riley’s stance is stiff, but patient, as she briefly wipes away the sweat from her brow.

"Don't you dare lie to me," Kadeem says. And although he keeps his tone even, there’s an edge to it.

His small display of emotion sparks a tiny fire of victory inside me. In puncturing through his poised, self-assured veneer, I realize there's a crack in his unyielding edifice of control.

I can feel all their eyes on me.

Two competing desires enter my brain.

One, knee-jerk, impulse is to lash out. The thoughts surrounding it are acidic, like bitter pieces of fruit that eat at my throat. If Kadeem knows me so well - if he's such a lie detector, why did he buy Susan's bullshit? I want to expose his self-righteousness, but I smother my anger and bury this short-sighted wish of my ego.

Because the only thing that actually matters is my family - and Erbao’s future hangs in the balance. Somehow, I need to pull off an Oscar-winning performance.

I draw a deep breath.

Lie, like you've never lied before. Stare into his eyes and make him believe.

Time to put on the show of a lifetime.

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