Fifty One

"Little one?" Apha Killan called in shock when he walked into the dungeon. It was minutes later, when he was done bickering with General Kian and had sent him out of his room, that they noticed that Kamilina was not in their presence.

General Kian guessed that she must have gone to her to unpack, but he came back saying she wasn't there. There was no place Kamilina could go apart from her brother's room, Kian's room, the kitchen, and her own room, so when they found her in none of those places, they panicked. Alpha Kilan's mind jumped to the Lycan out there; they were yet to trap him, so he rushed out, calling her name, panicking, thinking the Lycan had abducted his sister. What would he tell her parents if that were to happen, given that they were still angry with him over what had happened?

Although they never showed it, he knew deep down that they wanted to stay mad at him for being the cause of his grandfather's death. It was because of his blindness to Alina's fake love that he had instructed the guards to do anything with his grandpa in case he tried to shield Camila, and like he had thought, his grandfather did shield Camila, leading to his death, and he shamelessly accused Camila of doing it. It was Genaral Kian who had asked the guard on duty, who told him that Kamilina had gone inside the dungeon because she was sad that her brother had asked her to.

"Brother!" Kamilina called back while spinning around. Alpha Killan rushed to her, flipped her hair, and started looking for any marks or bruises on her skin. He knew how dangerous those culprits were, and given that his sister was naive, it would be easy for any of them to fool her into getting closer and then attacking. He knew just how much those culprits were lining up to have any of his loved ones on their hands and threaten him with their lives.

"What are you doing in here? Do you know how worried we were? What could I have said to our parents if something bad had happened to you?" He asked in one breath while dragging her out of there.

"But I am okay, brother. Nothing can happen to me. Let me go back; that man was still telling me something." She tried to free herself from her brother's strong grip. "Brother Killan, let me go," she almost cried. When she realized that her efforts were bearing no fruit, she squated to the ground, making it difficult for Alpha Killan to drag her out of there.

"Get up, little one, before I get angry," he warned, possibly for the first time in his life, sending a warning glare followed by a displeased growl to his darling little sister.

"I don't want." Kamilina held onto her stubbornness, sitting on the wet ground. "I want to go back. I wasn't done talking to that man yet." She signaled toward the dirty man, who grinned at her and motioned for her to go back. Sighing, Alpha Killan made it look like he was getting rid of her wrist. Kamilina giggled, but when she stood ready to run back to that man's cell, she was carried out of there. She was left with no choice but to kick the air while hurling insults at her brother.

An hour later, Kamilina was still seated in his brother's office, munching on apples angrily. After getting her out of the dungeon, Alpha Killan didn't let her go back to her room but took her with him to his office, where he was holding a meeting with the elders of the pack. "It has been an hour, little one; at least smile for your brother." Alpha Killan extended his fingers, having the intention of pulling her cheeks, but she slapped his hands away. "Fine then, I guess the surprise I have been planning for you all this while should be cascading away," he hummed, folded his hands under his chest, and sat beside the pouting Kamilina.

After Alpha Killan's words registered inside Kamilina's mind and she understood what his brother was saying, she sprung from the sofa with her hands on her hips. "What surprise?" She asked while sparing him no glance.

"If you are still angry at me, there is no surprise for you." Alpha Killan mimicked her behavior by holding his hips, curling his lips into a pout, and staring at the wall. Kamilina, who was struggling to hold her laughter after she knew what her brother was doing, spanked him and sat back on the couch laughing.

"Quit that! You look gayish." She laughed, crossing her legs on the couch.

"Still angry?" Kilan asked her and then sat back on her side. "Promise me that you won't lie to the guards and get back in there again." He raised his pinky finger.

"What of the surprise? Tell me about it first, and then I'll make the promise." She huffed while crossing her hands under her breasts.

"You promise me first. You are the liar between the two of us, and I know that when I tell you about this surprise, you won't give me your promise, and if you make the promise, I will still tell you about this surprise. In fact, it's a surprise, so I won't tell you about it; I'll let you find out about this all by yourself." Her brother responded to her. After staying silent for a while, Kamilina raised her pinky finger and intertwined it with her brother's.

"I promise that I won't lie to the guards and go back to the dungeon ever again. Your turn." She snapped at him when he was lost in his thoughts, smiling at her childishness.

"Come with me," he said, pulling her out of there. "Ready?" he asked General Kian, who was standing at the main door that led to the palace's vast living room. General Kian raised his thumb, signaling readiness, with a wide smile on his face.

"Go in, little one. Go and find your surprise." Killan then turned to the eager Kamiliana, who had been nagging him to at least give her a hint, and instructed her. He chuckled as he watched her let go of his hand and rush toward the living room area. He heard her screaming, and they saw her red head as she had climbed into the couch and was jumping excitedly.

Alpha Killan motioned for General Kian to go inside with him, and they were both engulfed by the happy Kamilina, who jumped off the couch the moment she saw them coming in.

Look, brother, we are going on a trip." She held the tickets in the air.

'Yeah, do you like it?" Her brother asked her.

"Of course I do, but sad to say, mummy and dad are not coming with us. But why?" She turned to face her parents with a pout on her face.

"Come on, little one, stop making those puppy eyes because they aren't going to make us change our minds about this. You, your brother, and your mate should go. I and your mother will take over the pack and take care of it until you come back." Her father chuckled while nodding toward his wife, who nodded in agreement.

"Yes, beside this, this is a chance for your brother to take a break from all of this. And I want you to go and meet new people and make new friends, okay?" Her mother smiled sweetly at her.

"Yes, mom. So, when will we be leaving?" She asked, still jumping in excitement.

"When you all wish because everything is ready for all of you—the plane, the place for you to stay, etcetera—her father smiled. Kamilina was about to open her mouth and thank her mother, but a familiar scent she had been yearning for a long time wafted from the door to her nostrils.

Twirling around, she gasped, still not believing that she was seeing that person. She rubbed her eyes and pinched herself, but when the pain resonated all over her body, she was absolutely sure that she wasn't dreaming. Dashing past her brother and Kian, who both had no idea of the person behind them, she grabbed that person and screamed, "Grandpa."

Her excited shrill caught the attention of her brother and Kian, who looked at the door. They looked at the figure at the door in shock and silently walked towards him. Killan wanted to hug him and ask him how his journey was, but after all that had transpired reoccurred in his mind, he retreated back, scratching the back of his head.

"Granpa, I thought you were..." he started but was cut short.

"Dead? You wanted me dead, but I survived, thanks to my daughter Camila," the old man scoffed as he walked past him to the yet-to-come-back-to-his-senses Kian.

"Geneal Kian, I heard you are my granddaughter's mate." He asked, and his sharp gaze peered toward him.

"Uh, yes, grandpa. She is my mate." He nodded while breaking his gaze. That old man has the sharpest gaze in the world, one that could freeze anyone's innards.

"I also heard that you took her to your village, and you both arrived this morning. I hope you did no wrong to my granddaughter." He asked him while knitting his brows together. Although Putin was a modern grandfather, he still held strong opposition to unmarried men and women staying together, and if they were, they should stay under supervision.

"Not at all, grandpa. Alpha Kian warned me against it." He assured him.

"Alpha Kian, ha!" He spat, and when he turned to look at him, he sneered, "as if he were noble himself." Putin, with Kamilina still on his side, who had burried her head in the snack he had carried for her and was unaware of all that was discussed, woke to the largest couch present there and sat. "Wow, what a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to find the two of you here." He said this to his son and his daughter-in-law.

"Grandpa, didn't you come with mother and father?" Kamilina asked in shock.

"I didn't, my angel. We all came separately." He smiled down at her. It was only at his granddaughter that he smiled and spoke softly.

"We are going on a trip, grandpa; will you come with us?" Kamilina fished out the air tickets she had hidden under the cushions.

Oh, really, then I am glad to hear that, but unfortunately I won't be joining you. I have to take care of the pack now." He responded.

"Take care of the pack? But, dad, that was the same reason why I and my wife are here. You don't need to do that. You can go back and take care of your hospital." His son responded.

"I will stay here, and no one will tell them otherwise. There are changes that need to be made, starting with the group's search for that Lycan. That group should be sent back immediately!" He barked, his authoritarian mode taking over.

"But grandpa, Lycan is dangerous not only to us but to everyone," Kilan interfered, even though his grandpa had no interest in talking to him.

Dangerous, my foot! As I said, this pack shall go as I say now; unless you have the resources to run it, I'll let you both take care of it." He pointed at Alpha Killan and his father. "Why are you both moms, huh? You both want to run the pack, don't you? Tell me, how are you going to do it? Let's start with you," he said, turning to face Killan and then smirking, 'how can I forget? You spent all the pack's resources on your bitch."

"I didn't give the pack's resources to her grandpa. She stole!" Kilan corrected him.

"Stole my foot! I won't be surprised if you were involved in this because you had sworn to do anything in your power to banish my daughter Camila. I swear, if I were here..." he stammered, glaring at Kilan harshly, who bowed his head in shame.

"What about you? Do you have any money to run the pack with you, or were you planning to take over the already bankrupt pack?" He then turned to his son, ignoring Killan. There was no way he would engage in that conversation with him because he was certain that he would end up hurting him. The only reason he was still holding back his anger was because of his sweet granddaughter, Kamilina.