Page 33

CHAPTER 33

Malakai

The cigarette burns between my fingers, smoke curling toward the ceiling. The flickering blue light of the TV casts shadows across the room.

I exhale, slow and easy, leaning back on the couch as I watch Alex Callahan Sr.’s empire crumble. The news anchor’s voice is crisp, professional, but there’s an undertone of something sharper—intrigue , scandal.

“Reverend Alexander Callahan Sr., the influential leader of the Grace and Glory Megachurch, is under scrutiny today as allegations of financial misconduct and inappropriate relationships surface. While no formal charges have been made, sources close to the investigation claim that several women have come forward with disturbing accounts.”

The screen flashes to an old clip of the bastard standing at his pulpit, all righteous fire and brimstone, his voice dripping with practiced charisma.

I take another drag from my cigarette, watching as his world burns . Couldn’t have happened to a better man.

The reporter continues, detailing the sudden loss of sponsors, the anonymous testimonies now surfacing, the former employees who are finally willing to speak up.

It’s not enough to put him behind bars—not yet.

But it’s enough to put him under —enough to strip away his influence, his reputation, his power .

And that? That’s better than prison. He built his empire on people fearing him. On blind loyalty. On the belief that he was untouchable.

But now? Now, they’re talking . Now, they’re questioning . Now, he’s bleeding .

I smirk, flicking ash into the tray beside me.

“Checkmate, motherfucker.”

The next segment switches to Alex Jr.

This should be equally satisfying, and it is, but it's also straight up funny to me. Alex Jr was always a fucking loser, but now he's looking more like an asshole kind of a loser more than just a regular loser.

“Breaking: Alexander Callahan Jr., once considered a rising star in collegiate hockey, has officially been expelled from Blackwood University’s prestigious program. Sources confirm his removal from both The Pantheon and the Titans, effectively ending his athletic career.”

I let out a sharp bark of laughter, running a hand through my hair.

The screen shifts to footage of Alex from last season, skating with that cocky expression he always wore, the one that said I was born for this .

But that’s all it is now. Old footage .

His future is absolutely d ead .

No hockey. No Pantheon. No more Daddy’s protection. I fucking love it.

The anchor keeps talking, words like scandal and disgrace floating through the room, but I’m not really listening anymore.

I already know how this ends for Alex, and honestly? I don’t give a shit. He made his bed. Now he gets to rot in it.

I put my cigarette out, stretching, the satisfaction settling deep in my bones. But then—I pause.

My eyes flick to the empty space next to me on the couch. To the spot that was occupied by Raven an hour ago before she went to meet her friends.

Raven.

My smirk fades slightly, my thoughts taking a turn that makes me emotional in a way I never felt before. Because the truth is?

This win? It’s not just mine . If it weren’t for her, Alex would still be walking around thinking he was untouchable. His father would still be playing god.

Raven... she's the one who set me free. What fucking hurts is the fact that I didn’t make it easy for her. I used her. At first, she was just a move on the board, just another way to get what I wanted.

But now... she’s everything .

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face.

I should do something for her. Something to make up for all the shit I put her through at the beginning.

I don’t know what yet.

But I’ll figure it out.

Because for the first time in a long time?—

I actually want to.

The road is dark and empty, just the way I like it. No distractions. No noise. Just me, Raven, and the sound of my truck cutting through the night.

She’s been quiet for the past few minutes, stealing glances at me from the passenger seat, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. I can feel her trying to figure it out—where we’re going, why we’re going.

She shifts in her seat. “Malakai.”

I smirk. “Yes, princess?”

She narrows her eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re taking me to a murder site?”

I chuckle. “If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”

She lets out an exaggerated gasp. “You’re so romantic.”

I glance at her, my smirk deepening. “You knew that before you agreed to be my fake girlfriend .”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t press further.

She’ll find out soon enough.

When I pull up to the abandoned building, Raven stiffens.

The place looks the same as the night it all started—dark, eerie, towering like a relic of something long forgotten. The shattered windows glint in the moonlight, the graffiti on the walls faded but still there, whispering ghosts of past sins.

Raven turns to me slowly. “Malakai.”

Her voice is suspicious. Wary .

I kill the engine and flash her an easy grin. “Relax.”

She doesn’t look convinced. “Are we… Is this another ritual?”

I snort. “What, you think I’m throwing you back into the lamb pen?”

She folds her arms. “You did say the Pantheon is all about tradition.”

I lean in slightly, my voice dropping just enough to make her squirm. “This isn’t a ritual, princess.”

She blinks. “Then what is it?”

I get out of the car, walking around to open her door. She hesitates for a second before stepping out, arms still crossed.

I lead her toward the entrance, the old wooden doors creaking as I push them open.

The second we step inside, the memories hit.

The flickering candlelight. The masks. The chase. The hunt .

The night that changed everything.

Raven stays still beside me, her breath slow but steady. She’s remembering, too.

I glance at her. “This is where it started.”

She lets out a dry laugh. “No shit.”

I smirk, but it fades as I shove my hands in my pockets, shifting my weight slightly. “I brought you here because… I needed to say something.”

Her expression softens. “Malakai.”

I shake my head. “Let me finish.”

She presses her lips together, nodding.

I take a breath. “I used you that night.” My voice is rougher than I expect. “I played the game, made you a pawn in my revenge, and I didn’t care about anything else. Not your fear, not your confusion—none of it.”

She watches me, her expression neutral.

I exhale sharply. “But I should have. You didn’t deserve to be caught up in my shit. And I know I can’t change what I did, but…” I glance around the room, then back at her. “I wanted to bring you here to tell you—to show you—that this place doesn’t own you anymore. I don’t own you.”

She stares at me for a long moment. Then, slowly, a small smile tugs at her lips.

“You really thought I needed closure?” she teases.

I huff a laugh, shaking my head. “Fuck you, Raven.”

She grins, but it softens as she steps closer. “I forgave you a long time ago, Kai.”

The nickname sends a shiver down my spine.

Her voice is quieter now. “We’ve both changed. You’re not the same guy who chased me through this building, and I’m not the same girl who let herself be hunted.”

She reaches for my hand, lacing her fingers with mine.

And just like that—like every other time she does something so damn simple —I melt.

I cup her face, tilting her chin up, my thumb brushing against her cheek. “You were never just a lamb, Raven.”

She tilts her head slightly, amused. “No?”

I smirk. “No.”

Then I kiss her.

And fuck, it’s not like the other times.

It’s not desperation. Not lust. Not just need.

It’s more .

It’s everything .

She presses against me, her hands slipping under my jacket, nails dragging lightly over my skin, and I groan into her mouth, deepening the kiss.

It’s slow. Heavy. A promise wrapped in heat and hunger.

When we finally pull apart, her lips are swollen, her breath unsteady.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, my smirk returning. “You’re a Goddess now.”

She quirks a brow. “Oh? And how did I earn that title?”

I lean in, my lips ghosting over hers. “Because I said so.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “I always was one, Kai.”

I grin. “Yeah. You were.”

And for the first time in a long time, standing in the place where it all began—where I claimed her—where I lost her—where I found her?—

I finally feel like we won.