Chapter 17: Not Her

Adonis.

It’s been an eternity since Nicholas ventured into the ominous Forest with my bravest soldiers, and not a single whisper of news has reached my ears. It is not Nicholas himself that concerns me, but rather the fate of the men who accompanied him. These warriors are the cream of the crop, and if they were to vanish without a trace or suffer some terrible fate, I fear I would find myself in dire straits. My attention slowly shifted from the search for Charlotte to the desperate hunt for Nicholas. Each day, I found myself consumed by thoughts of what could have gone awry, concocting countless scenarios in my mind. Could it be that these female warriors were so formidable that they overpowered Nicholas himself? The notion seemed preposterous, for these men are the epitome of strength. Yet, why is there not a single whisper of their whereabouts? What calamity has befallen them? Where is Nicholas?

 "Don't fret, they will be alright," Kiana's voice broke through my ruminations. I watched as she descended the stairs, swiftly making her way towards me. She settled herself beside me, and though exhaustion weighed heavily upon me, I lacked the energy to dismiss her. I let out a deep sigh, maintaining my silence.

"Adonis, it's just a group of women. You worry too much," Kiana remarked, her words attempting to soothe my troubled mind. "I have faith in Nicholas. He is no mere child."

I yearned to place my trust in Kiana's words, yet a nagging feeling gnawed at me from within. It whispered that disaster loomed just around the corner, ready to strike at any moment. No matter how hard I tried, I could not ignore this foreboding thought. With Charlotte already gone, if circumstances continued to deteriorate, I could not fathom how I would find the strength to carry on. I sensed Kiana's fingers slithering around my arm, sending a chilling tremor down my spine. Just as I was about to reprimand her, a voice interrupted our tense moment. 

"Alpha," Mark, my loyal subordinate since Nicholas vanished, spoke up. He had taken on the responsibilities that belonged to Nicholas.

I looked up, hoping for some positive news. "What is it, Mark? Have you found Nicholas?" I had assigned Mark the task of locating Nicholas and the others a few days ago.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, but there is no news of them. I have scoured the entire Forest, but I couldn't find any trace of their whereabouts. The others are too afraid to venture deeper into the territory of the female pack, fearing they won't return like the others. Curiosity about this mysterious female pack consumed me. Who were they, and where did they come from? If only I could march into their territory and dismantle them. However, an instinct warned me of the dangers that lay ahead.

"And you have no shame in admitting that you fear a group of women?" Kiana's voice, filled with irritation, reverberated across the room.

Mark immediately lowered his head. "I apologize, Luna, but according to the rumors..."

"What about the rumors?" Kiana interjected, cutting him off. "So, because of what people are saying, you're scared? Why don't you go and see for yourself? We're talking about women here. Does the story even sound plausible to you?"

The notion of looking down on these women because of their gender flickered in my mind, but who says women can't possess strength? I observed Charlotte reject me, only to rise up days later and nonchalantly walk away as if nothing had happened.

"You better cast aside any fear you hold and venture into that forest, for I can assure you that the rumors are nothing but falsehoods. As a woman myself, I know it is impossible for a group of us to overpower a hundred men, regardless of their perceived strength. A woman can never truly compare to a man, unless she resorts to cunning tricks and sheer luck to rid herself of intruders. They spread exaggerated tales of their own might, all part of their plan to keep people at bay. Can't you see that you're foolishly falling into their trap?" she hissed.

Kiana's words resonated deeply within me. How had I not considered this before? There was no way the united female Pack could have defeated Nicholas. The only plausible explanation was that they had set a clever trap, anticipating their arrival and capturing the others.

"Honey, don't you think I'm clever?" Kiana boasted, and for the first time, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with her.

"Indeed, you are," I concurred, a smile spreading across her face. She embraced me, and I willingly surrendered to the warmth of her hug, although wanting to break away.

After Kiana had wrung the life out of me, she released her grip and locked her gaze onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I could almost anticipate her next move as her mouth inched closer to mine, and her eyes fluttered shut. No one needed to inform me that Kiana was about to kiss me, nor did I require any reminder that I had to resist. The mere thought of her lips pressed against mine made my skin crawl, an unbearable sensation I couldn't bear to endure.

I regret what I did next, but it had to be done. Just as Kiana's lips were on the verge of touching mine, I swiftly turned my face away, leaving her suspended in mid-air. Gradually, the realization dawned on her, and she snapped her eyes open. I could see the pain etched in her gaze. One thing that eluded my comprehension was why she held such strong affection for me. We were never destined to be together, and wasn't that the root of our predicament? I felt no connection or attraction towards her, yet to Kiana, it seemed as if I was her entire universe. ‘I apologize, Kiana, but you must understand that no matter how hard you try, you will never be her.’