The Wolf's Red

Chapter 12

After a few moments with Redilyn and Kaite talking, their attention was caught at the sound of footsteps. The 2 ladies turned to see a Gamma approaching, his expression serious but not unfriendly.

"You good, Redilyn?" he asked, his voice low but filled with concern.

Redilyn gave a brief nod. "Just keeping watch. Nothing to report yet."

The Gamma eyed her, obviously in his eyes scanning her for any signs of fatigue or distress. "You sure? Are you sure you're alright?"

Redilyn hesitated. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice steady.

The Gamma didn't look entirely convinced, but he gave her a respectful nod. "Alright. Just make sure you take care of yourself. If you need a break, let us know."

He gave a respectful look at Kaite, before he left. As he turned to leave, both ladies watched him disappear before their sight. After a brief silence, Kaite spoke quietly, her voice steady but tinged with an underlying seriousness.

"You're carrying too much on your own, Redilyn," she said, her gaze flicking to meet Redilyn's. "I've been thinking about it, and we need to talk about what to do next."

Redilyn turned her head to look at her, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Kaite's shoulders relaxed, as though she had made up her mind. "I know you're worried about the plan... about the other pack. The invasion. But you don't have to carry all that weight on your own."

Redilyn frowned slightly. "What do you mean by that? You are the one carrying all that weight."

Kaite sighed, stepping a little closer. "I think it's time we bring others into the conversation, especially the ones who can help. I will talk to Nigel first. He will understand."

Redilyn was a bit surprised at what she heard. "Wow, you must be close now. You call him by his first name?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Kaite's face went crimson. She froze, her blood rushing to her cheeks as she fumbled for a reply.

"I-I mean the Beta. Let me talk with the Beta first," she stammered, her face still as red as a tomato. She quickly turned, hurrying away with a mix of embarrassment.

Redilyn stood there for a moment, watching her friend leave. A slow smile spread across her face as she realized that despite the tension of the situation, Redilyn couldn't help but feel a bit of warmth. It was clear that there was a shift in her friend's feelings in some way—something had changed, and Redilyn couldn't help but be curious about what had happened. But that would have to wait.

For now, there were bigger things to worry about.

~*~

Kaite walked away from Redilyn with her heart pounding in her chest. Her thoughts swirled, colliding in a messy blur of anxiety. The distance between her and the gate felt like miles even though she had only taken a few steps. She's already in the packhouse and on her way to the Beta's office after asking the people or werewolf passing by. She was about to approach his office, but a sinking feeling weighed heavily on her.

What is she doing? The last time she and the Beta had spoken, things had been... strange. There had been a tension between them, a space between words they didn't know how to fill. This secret she kept from him was hanging over her like a storm cloud.

She winced as the memory of their last awkward meeting replayed in her mind. The look in his eyes when he realized she hadn't been entirely honest. The way he kept quiet in his place, withdrawing into himself, leaving her feeling like a stranger in her own skin. She had always thought that at the very least, the last interaction they had before her leaving the pack made them close, but now... now it felt like she was keeping him at arm's length, deliberately.