Konstantin: The Heartless Beta
39. Trade Off

Kai

We've collected Kon's SUV, and now we're on our way to meet the woman who has been behindeverything that has gone wrong with my pack and family. She influenced the witches who helpedthe Sable Hides take out the Silver Sun pack and hide Caterina from me. She's the reason Dimitri isnow a lost soul with no recollection of what he has done for the last twelve years.

And the main reason we have now lost our trust in him.

After having a long talk with Marle, I already knew what needed to be done; how we'll finally be ridof the blight on our pack. Kon won't like it, but fuck it, the entire pack's safety is at stake, and asAlpha, I need to make the tough decisions.

"We've arrived,” I say and stop the SUV. Marle nods at me, then turns to face Kon.

“Both you and Kai will do the exchange; listen to whatever your brother instructs you to do. It'simperative that you do not object, Konstantin, do you understand?” She says, looking at my brotherwith fierce eyes.

He frowns but nods anyway. “Okay, fuck, I'll listen, don't worry.” He assures her, but I have a feelinghe knew something was up. I would tell him if I didn't think he would interfere, and knowing Kon, hewill.

We get out of the SUV, and Marle hands the image of Kaia over to Kon. He's been instructed totreat the “child’ like garbage since it is supposed to be Stefan’s. I don't know if he will be able tosince he’s bonded with her.

I spot her from a distance, dressed in black with a crimson robe, her blonde hair falling down herback in long curls, and I can see the sickly yellow glow of her eyes from where I stand.

Morganna sees us approaching, and with a flick of her wrist, a familiar-looking beast appears at herside: one that looks exactly like the beast Caterina summoned on the night she took out Westcott'svamp lair.

/“That's not an image of her or your child, so we can rule that out.”/ Marle says over the link, settingmy mind at ease a bit. We were worried she might have planned the same thing, but I feel a bit ofconfidence returning with Marle’s confirmation.

“Alpha Kai, I'm glad you came to your senses,” she says with a grin, her eyes not leaving the bundlein Kon's arms but holding tightly onto the one in hers.

I grunt at her words. “Ill do whatever it takes to get my child back, and if that means trading thisfilthy spawn for my own, then so be it.” I spit out, then immediately apologise to Kon over the link.She laughs, then shakes her head and looks at Kon. “I've heard of your Beta being heartless, butgoing so far as to trade your own child? That's on another level of cruelty.”

She's baiting him, but luckily Kon is not clueless when it comes to mind fucking.

He grinds his teeth and scoffs. “This is no child of mine. Now let's get this over with so I can fuckingget back to my mate,” he says with rage seeping into his scent at the sight of her. This is the womanresponsible for the ruination of his mate; if it were me, I would have torn out her heart by now.

But that will have to wait.

Nodding, she points to the spot in front of the hell beast. “Place the child there; don’t worry, hewon't bite.” She says with a sickly grin and giggles.

I raise an eyebrow at her instruction. “How do we know you won't run off with both the children?” Iask with my eyes fixed on my daughter in her arms. She has not stirred, but I can hear her heartbeatfrom here and smell her scent after memorising remnants of it on Caterina’s arms. It seems as if theblonde bitch has decided to trust us, and this alone will be her downfall.

Morganna cackles. “You don't, but do you really want to risk it with your heir's life at stake?” shesays, extending a long, sharp fingernail at my daughter's neck.

“Do it,” I growl at my brother, who gives me a worried look but places the image in front of the hellbeast.

A look of greed crosses Morganna's face, and then she beckons me over with her eyes trained firmlyon the image. “I've confirmed that this is the true vessel of my master; you may take your child,Alpha Kai.” She says.

/“Don’t do anything,”/ I warn Kon over the link and advance towards Morganna. She hands me mychild without even looking into my eyes, and my entire body relaxes when I have her in my arms.

A three-second once over of her, and I confirm that nothing has been done to harm her, so I handher over to Marle, who is at my side as quick as a wink.

“Does this mean we have nothing more to do with one another?” I ask Morganna when she picks upthe image in front of the hell beast.

"Of course; stay out of my way, and I will stay out of yours.” She says, holding the wriggling imageclose to her chest with a satisfied smile on her face.

I nod and return her smile. “Good,” I add, and she moves to turn away, but as she does, I removethe Nephilim dagger from my holster and plunge it into her chest. Her eyes widen, and she looksdown, confused.

“How did you...” she murmurs, and her eyes go to a spot behind me, no doubtedly where Marle isstanding. The image disappears soon after this, and she goes slack.

“This will make sure you stay out of my way, wouldn't you say?” I say with a smirk on my face as herentire body desiccates and the hell beast next to her evaporates into a green fog.

I can hear Marle chanting behind me, conjuring fire as we planned, and I watch as the blonde bitchburns.

"What the fuck, Kai?” Kon runs up behind me with my child in his arms, staring at me with wide eyeswhen he sees the dagger in my hand. “No! No, you can't...! That thing...” He trails off, but I shake myhead.

“I've discussed this with Marle already, brother. Two people cannot suffer the same side effects atthe same time from using the dagger; once another person uses it, the previous one’s soul becomesuntainted, and the curse is passed to the other.” I say, looking at the dark weapon in my hand.

Kon shakes his head. “So that means that I..." he says, and I nod. “No! Kai, what the fuck! That meansyou've taken my place and will suffer through what I did! Why the fuck did you do this?! Your familyneeds you; the pack needs you!” He cries out, handing my child to Marle and advancing towards mewith silver eyes.

“You can't always do this, Kai! You can't always save me from shit!” He says, swinging his fist at myface, and I allow him to connect. I know he has a lot of built-up emotions inside of him because ofevery fucking thing that has happened over the past six months. A bloody and bruised face meansnothing to me, so I let him hit and take it out on me.

"Fight back!” He cries out, tears of frustration running down his face until he falls to his knees andsobs. “Stop sacrificing yourself for me, Kai!"

I get down on my haunches in front of him and place a hand on his shoulder. “Now, if you'refucking done with your tantrum, will you allow me to explain why everything is okay?” I say with agrin on my face.

He looks up at me and frowns. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I sight. “Xamnir, a God, forged this dagger, and I am his vessel. When I spoke to Marle about takingthe blonde bitch out with the dagger, she explained the after effect rule to me and assured me thatI would not suffer the same fate. So you have nothing to fucking worry about, brother, the threat toour family has been eliminated, and your Alpha is fine.”

I thought this would make him happy, but he rears back and lands a cheap shot on my jaw again.“That's for not telling me about the plan, asshole.” He says, then holds out his hand to me to get up.Rubbing my jaw, I shake my head and take his outstretched hand. “I couldn't tell you, she wouldhave picked up on your apprehension,” I say, turning back to the pile of ash behind us.

still, fuck you for making me worry like that,” he grumbles and walks towards the driver's seat."Yeah, well fuck all of you for making me worry the most,” I say and watch as a grin crosses his faceand he mouths the word “asshole.’

I shake my head and walk over to Marle, who holds my daughter. “I'll sit up front as you bond withyour daughter.” She says and hands the bundle over to me.

As soon as I looked down at her, I felt a pull at my chest, not unlike the Mate Bond pull, but morefamilial. A powerful need to protect this child takes hold of me, and I feel my chest puff up withpride. This is my firstborn and heir, the one who will be Alpha when I can no longer be—the onewho will lead this pack to even more greatness

And she is beautiful.

When the SUV nears, Caterina is standing on the mansion's steps, and she rushes out to meet me. Iget out of the back with our little bundle wrapped up in my arms. When she sees me approachingwith our child, her hands fly to her mouth, and I can see her shoulders shake with silent sobs.

“I always keep my promises, little wolf,” I say, drawing her closer with one hand and wrapping itaround her shoulders. “I got her back, just as I vowed I would.”

She sniffs and nods before looking up at me with those beautiful green eyes I fall in love with on adaily basis. “I love you so much,” she says, and I kiss her hair before placing our daughter in hermother's arms.

Caterina continues to cry at the sight of her daughter, and I place my arm around her shouldersagain before leading her inside. Kon nods when he sees us, a relieved smile on his face beforewalking inside. I know he feels the same way I do; exhausted and drained.

But everything we've done this far has not been for shits and giggles. Our pack will be safe, and wewill finally be able to focus on our family... and that includes helping Dimitris mind heal.

I don't know where we're headed now, but as I look at Caterina whispering sweet nothings while shegives Kira her first feed, I know that our pack has become stronger. We've got so much more to losenow, and God help anyone who crosses us.