Page 24 of King Alejandro

I will be back soon.I didn’t want her to get scared, but I needed Kataleya home.

“Mama?” She asked sleepily, her eyes fluttering open.

“Darling, I’m here, but I’m going to go find Kat, okay?” I whispered, bending down and kissing her forehead. She looked at me, frowning as she took in what I had just said, and the sleep vanished from her eyes before she nodded determinedly.

“Okay, Mama,” she replied.

“Be a good girl for Mama Red, okay?” That’s what they called Mom. Skyla had started it off, and even Dante, who used to call her grandma, called her Mama Red.

“I will, Mama. I love you.” She sat up, hugging me tightly as I wrapped my arms around her.

“I love you, too, baby; you, Kat, Dante, Daddy.” I kissed her cheek before she lay back down.

“I know, Mama… will you come home tomorrow?”

“I’ll come home when I find Kat, okay?”

“Okay! Mama is strong.” I hoped so. I just needed to find my baby.

“Sleep. I will stay here until you fall asleep, okay? Want me to sing to you?”

“Yes, Mama, a Disney song, please! Savages! From Pocahontas!”

I laughed lightly. Only Skyla would choose such a song. I began singing the song, and she joined in with the chorus.

“Savages! Savages!”

I didn’t think it was the best choice to make someone go to sleep, but if that was what she wanted, then so be it. She soon settled down as I sang softly despite her choice.

“Mama… those wolves were savages…” she murmured drowsily. I frowned. Yeah… they were inhumane…I will do what I can, and I will bring her back.

“I know, my love. Now, sleep…”

“Night, Mama…”

She fell asleep. I stood up, ready to pack myself a bag and get out of there. I grabbed two outfits, a wireless charging pad, and my phone. I slid my wedding and engagement rings off, placing them on the chest of drawers. Gazing down at them, I felt a pang of pain.Forgive me, Alejandro…

I mind-linked Serena, asking her to come to my bedroom.

“Everything okay, Kiara?” She asked when she walked in after a light knock.

“I need you to stay with Skyla.” She raised her eyebrows questioningly before her eyes widened in shock as realisation sunk in.

“Kiara, you aren’t-”

“Just do as I say, please. Good night, Serena,” I cut her off. I didn’t want Al to take his anger out on her when he found out.

I gave her a small smile, hoping she understood, before I left the room and headed to Alejandro’s office. I needed to grab my staff, some poisons, and antidotes. I walked down the quiet halls, memories of Alejandro chasing the girls down this very hall when they wanted him to play the wolf, and they were the little red riding hood twins, made me smile. I remembered he had actually shifted just to make them happy when they had begged him to. Their shrieks of fear and excitement as he chased them ever so slowly, although they had run as fast as their little feet could take them, their little red capes flying behind them. It had made them super happy. Soon I hoped we had that back in this home… all five of us together again, safe and happy.

I keyed in Alejandro’s office code; the beep sounded extremely loud in the silent hall. I glanced down the hall, knowing that the guards were posted everywhere; sure enough, one of them appeared instantly. Seeing me, he relaxed, and I gave a smooth smile. I knew I was going to have to knock one or two out on my way because there was no way Alejandro didn’t tell them to keep an eye on me. I was not going to be a prisoner in my own home.

I shut the door behind me, glancing around the office. It was decorated in browns and blacks with a largedesk and a chair. Sofas stood to the side, and shelves lined one wall. His scent lingered, and my heart clenched, knowing I was going to hurt him by doing this. I just hoped he understood when he calmed down that I had to do this.

I walked to the far wall where the huge shelves lined the wall and moved aside a few items, then pressed a certain area of the wall. It popped open, revealing a keypad. Keying in the code, I stepped back as the wall on the left moved slightly. I walked over to it, pushing it wider and stepping inside. The automatic lights came on, and I deactivated the alarm system and then scanned my fingerprint before the red sensors vanished.

I stepped forward, sparing the door to the vault that was on one side a glance, but then I walked down the left side to the room that contained poisons, weapons, and antidotes. Although most of this stuff was kept under security at the pack headquarters, we had some at home. I took my metal staff that would become triple its size with a sharp tip on each side if I pressed the button in the middle and grabbed some antidotes and poisons, along with a few anti-scent sprays and several magic talismans that Delsanra and Raihana had made for us.Okay, I think I’m sorted.

I filled my bag and returned to his office. Placing the bag down, I sank into his leather chair, picked up a pen, and rummaged around for some paper, ready to pen him a note and promise to stay in touch via phone. I wasn’t sure he’d even see the note, considering he said he wouldn’t be back, but still, just in case…