Hay Creek

Chapter 27.

When training ended, I felt utterly drained—not from physical exertion, but from the weight of new knowledge. Gabriel had shared so much with me, unveiling layers of this world that I had yet to understand. There was still so much to uncover, so much to learn about myself and my place in it. He explained that our sessions would begin with a journey of self-discovery, teaching me everything I needed to know about both myself and this world. We wrapped up our training with another round of looking into the mirror. He encouraged me to do this at home as well and suggested I ask my friends about their experiences as we walked up the stairs.

When we reached the top, Gabriel said goodbye, mentioning that he needed to rest. I thanked him for the day and wished him a good recovery.

On my way to Kai's office, I bumped into Alpha Dashawn. "Oh, hello, Female Avery," he greeted.

"Avery is just fine. How are you?" I replied, smiling.

"I'm doing well—better after everything," he said, his expression brightening.

"That's good to hear! How's Helena and little Robin?"

"They're good, too. Robin is constantly shifting but hasn't quite learned how to control it yet. It's adorable to watch," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

"I'm sure it is," I responded, sharing in his delight.

"Well, I've got some work to do. I'll see you later," he said, giving me a brief smile in return.

After our brief exchange, I continued on to Kai's office. I knocked three times on the door, but he answered only on the fourth. As I entered, he was just hanging up the phone.

"You didn't have to wait outside," he said, slightly surprised.

"Well, I thought I'd be polite," I replied with a chuckle.

He shook his head in amusement. "So, how was your training?"

"Actually, it was good. I learned quite a bit."

"Really? That's great!" he said, genuine surprise in his voice.

"Don't you have a meeting to get to?" I asked, glancing at the clock.

He nodded. "Yeah. You joining me?" I paused for a moment, contemplating, then decided, "Sure, why not?"

Kai grabbed his phone from his desk and picked up his jacket from the couch. "Alright, let's go."

As we made our way downstairs, we ran into Greyson, Quinn, and Archer in the hallway. I was slightly surprised to see Quinn; after all, she was Kai's first beta.

Once outside, I noticed two sleek black cars waiting. Both drivers emerged simultaneously, dressed sharply in black suits. One had dark blond hair, while the other had hair as black as Kai's.

"Alpha, and his companion. I'll be driving you today," said the driver with the blond hair. Kai nodded, taking my hand as we approached our car, while the others joined the driver with dark hair.

Settling into the car, Kai removed his jacket. A glass partition separated us from the driver, creating an intimate space for our conversation.

"So, what's this meeting about?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Recent events, mainly. We've also come up with a plan, among other things. Alpha Dashawn knows about it but couldn't attend. I believe it has to do with his land—or possibly a newfound territory. If it's something he can fight for, it's best for him to pursue that."

"It would certainly benefit us if he regains his land or finds a new one," I replied thoughtfully.

"It sure would," he agreed, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.