Echoes Of An Alpha

Chapter 21: Confrontation

We got into the cars ,headed straight for Kristen’s house, the tension thick in the air. My heart pounded as we moved through the streets, all of us sitting in silence, mentally preparing for what we were about to do. No one knew exactly how this would play out, but we all had our own reasons for confronting her.

When we arrived, her house was surprisingly calm, lights glowing softly from the windows. It didn’t seem like someone who had just orchestrated the release of a deadly creature would be inside, but we knew Kristen well enough by now. She was unpredictable.

"Are we sure about this?" Kai asked, casting a glance at me.

I took a deep breath. “We have to be.”

Zade knocked on the door, loud and firm. We waited, my pulse quickening as footsteps approached. When the door swung open, there she stood—Kristen, completely composed, as if she’d been expecting us.

“Zara,” she said smoothly, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

I pushed past the shock of her calmness, stepping forward. “We need to talk.”

Kristen didn’t even flinch, opening the door wider. “Come in then.”

We exchanged uneasy glances but followed her inside. Her home was neat, almost too perfect, the kind of place that felt like it had something to hide beneath the surface. She led us into the living room, gesturing to the couches as if we were merely here for a casual visit.

“What do you want?” Kristen asked, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, unbothered.

“We know what you did,” I said, standing my ground. “You tricked me. You set me up to release the Maledictixys.”

Her smile deepened, but there was something chilling behind it. “Tricked you? I didn’t trick anyone. You released the Maledictixys, Zara. You spoke the spell.”

I clenched my fists. “You led me to that spell, Kristen. You knew what would happen.”

She laughed, a sound that made my skin crawl. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

Everyone was on edge now, ready to jump in if things got out of hand. Zade and Kai stood closest to me, both tensed and ready. Roshni, Rahul, and the others watched her carefully, waiting for her next move.

“What are you talking about?” Selene asked, stepping forward.

Kristen’s eyes flicked over to Selene, her smile twisting. “You’re still in denial, aren’t you? Acting like you’re innocent in all of this.”

Selene frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kristen straightened, her gaze sharp. “You really think Zara freed the Maledictixys all by herself? Please. You were there, Selene. You said the spell too.”

The room went silent, everyone freezing in place. I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. “What?” I breathed.

Selene shook her head quickly, her eyes wide. “No, I didn’t—”

“Oh, but you did,” Kristen cut her off, her voice like ice. “Don’t you remember? You both spoke the words. You both freed it. That’s how it works. The Maledictixys can’t be released by one person alone. It takes both the savior and the destroyer.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Selene, shock rippling through the group. I could barely comprehend what Kristen was saying. Selene had been there, sure, but we had never spoken about her saying anything.

“Is this true?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Selene looked around at us, panic flashing in her eyes. “I—I don’t remember. I don’t think I did.”

Kristen laughed softly. “Of course you don’t remember. That’s the beauty of it, Selene. You’re as much a part of this as Zara is. The prophecy isn’t just about one of you being the savior and one being the destroyer. It’s about both of you being connected to the Maledictixys.”

I felt my stomach churn as the realization sank in. “So, we both… freed it?”

Kristen nodded, her expression triumphant. “Exactly. You’re both responsible. And now, you’ll both have to deal with the consequences.”

Selene took a step back, her face pale. “No, this can’t be right. I wouldn’t—”

“But you did,” Kristen interrupted. “And now the Maledictixys is free because of both of you.”

I stood there, reeling from the revelation. All this time, I had been blaming myself for what happened, thinking I was the one who unleashed the darkness. But now, it wasn’t just me. Selene had been part of it too, whether she remembered it or not.

“So, what now?” Zade asked, his voice tight with anger. “What do you want, Kristen?”

Kristen’s eyes glittered with amusement. “What I want is already happening. The Maledictixys is free, and you two—” she looked between Selene and me—“are going to play your parts. Whether you like it or not.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as her words sunk in.

“Why?” I asked, my voice strained. “Why are you doing this?”

Kristen’s smile faded, her expression turning cold. “Because it’s bigger than just you and Selene, Zara. This has been in motion for a long time. And now, it’s your turn to see where you really stand in this world.”

Before any of us could respond, Kristen turned on her heel and left the room, leaving us standing there in the heavy, oppressive silence of her words.

We stood in stunned silence after Kristen’s departure, her words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. I glanced at Selene, who looked as shaken as I felt.

"She’s lying, right?" Roshni’s voice broke through the silence, her eyes darting between me and Selene. "She has to be."

Selene shook her head, her face pale. "I don’t know... I don’t remember saying anything."

"But if it’s true..." Kai muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Then this is way bigger than we thought."

Zade’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with anger. "Whether Selene said the spell or not, Kristen has something planned. We can’t just stand here and do nothing."

Rahul, who had been quiet throughout the confrontation, finally spoke. "She played all of us. And now, she’s making us second-guess everything." His eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of something unreadable in them. "What matters now is figuring out how to stop the Maledictixys."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but I could see the uncertainty in their faces. We were in deep, and the rules had just changed. If Kristen was right, and it really took both Selene and me to free the creature, what did that mean for us going forward?

"We need answers," I said firmly, pushing down the panic that was clawing at my chest. "Kristen’s not going to give them to us, but someone has to know more about the prophecy. Maybe the other Alphas… maybe there’s something in their history we don’t know about."

"Agreed," Zade said, his voice low. "My dad’s already suspicious, and I’m sure the rest of the Alphas are, too."

Kai nodded. "My dad’s already involved in the meeting your dad called, Zara. Maybe they know something about the prophecy we don’t."

"We’ll talk to our dad, too," Rahul offered, his gaze steady on mine. "He might not be an Alpha, but he knows a lot of information about these things. We’ll figure something out."

Roshni stepped closer to me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We’ve got your back, Zara. No matter what happens."

I managed a small nod, grateful for their support. Even though things were spiraling out of control, I wasn’t alone in this. And that gave me the strength to keep moving forward, despite the overwhelming fear gnawing at me.