Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 10

KAIA’S POV.

I stood in front of Gareth’s office, holding the bag in one hand and the papers in the other. My heart was

beating a little too fast, though I didn’t want to admit why. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was something

more

I just remembered, a little too late, that he was supposed to be in a meeting with my father. Talk about an

awkward moment.

I took a deep breath and slowly let it out, then raised my hand and knocked on the door.

No answer.

I waited a few seconds, then knocked again–this time a bit louder. Still nothing.

My eyebrows pulled together in a frown. I could’ve sworn I heard voices when I was walking down the hall. That was the reason I remembered my father was here with him in the first place. So how come no one’s

answering?

I leaned in a little, trying to listen for any sounds, but now all I could hear was silence.

I knocked again, this time calling out, “Gareth? Are you in there? Dad?”

Still no reply.

I sighed and turned to leave. Maybe he wasn’t here. Maybe they moved the meeting somewhere else. Must be my mind playing tricks on me when I thought I heard voices.

But just as I took my first step, I heard a loud crash come from inside the room.

I froze, and my body tensed as I turned toward the door with wide eyes.

“Dad?!” I called, but still, there was no answer

Another crash followed, and I flinched at the sound. “What the hell…

Something wasn’t right.

I didn’t stop to think. I dropped the bag and the papers to the floor and reached for the door handle.

This had better not be what I’m thinking. Gareth had better not have laid a single finger on my father, or I

swear to the Goddess…

“Dad!” I called as I turned the handle and slammed the door open with one strong push.

And then I froze, my eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

There they were, Gareth and Laura,

For a split second, my mind couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing. It was like my brain refused to catch up with my eyes.

Laura was lying on the desk half–naked, her blouse hanging open carelessly. Her legs were spread, framing Gareth, who stood between them–shirtless, with his jeans unzipped, hanging low on his hips.

His hands were on either side of her, gripping the table’s edge, and her fingers were tangled in his hair. The

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air around them was filled with heat and urgency–the kind of intimacy that didn’t need words)

I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

Every part of me shut down as the scene burned into my mind, so loud and so vivid, it drowned out everything else. My heart slammed against my ribs while a sick, cold wave of shock and betrayal crashed through me. I felt like my soul had been ripped out of my body.

Laura looked up at me, and her lips curled into a smirk before she gasped dramatically and tried to “cover” herself.

“Oh my! Kaia,” she said with fake surprise. “Don’t you know how to knock, sweetie?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My eyes shifted to Gareth, even though I didn’t really know what I was expecting to see. Guilt, perhaps. Maybe a bit of regret. But there was neither. There was nothing.

He didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. He just stared at me with a calm and cold expression, like he didn’t even care that I had just walked in on something private….. something that still felt like a betrayal for some reason.

“What do you want?” he asked finally. His voice was flat. There was no emotion whatsoever.

And that nothing hurt more than anything else. More than if he had taken a knife and driven it through my

heart.

I felt something crack deep inside me. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic. Just a quiet, painful break as I felt

my already broken heart shatter into complete nothingness. But I didn’t let it show. I wouldn’t give them that.

Not now, not ever.

I took a breath and squared my shoulders. Then I bent down to pick up the papers I had dropped. My hands

shook a little, but I kept my movements calm. I walked over to his desk and placed the papers down neatly

ignoring Laura’s half–naked body like nothing had happened.

“Dr. Grayson sends his regards,” I said, somehow managing to keep my voice steady.

Then I turned around and walked out of the room. I didn’t bother to close the door behind me as I picked up the bag and walked away. Let the whole world see for all I care. I could care less.

My feet moved fast down the hallway, but my chest felt heavy–like something inside me was sinking. I kept my face straight, not letting any emotion slip out, even though I could feel it all rising within me.

As I turned the corner, I almost ran smack into someone’s chest.

Hooked up and found Donovan staring down at me. “Good thing I ran into you, I was looking for you,” he said. “Listen, Kaia, about earlier, I was only trying to look out for you, believe it or not. Gareth would not be happy if

he happens to find out that you-”

I didn’t wait for him to finish.

“Do me a favor, Donovan, Get lost. And take Gareth with you,” I snapped. My voice came out harsher than

meant, but I didn’t take it back.

He had the audacity to judge me and accuse me of messing around with Everett when his sister was laying spread out on Gareth’s desk.

I don’t think so.

I didn’t wait to see his reaction or hear his response. I just pushed past him and stormed out of the pack

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house. I needed air, Space. Silence. Anything but what I had just seen.

I didn’t stop until I reached the infirmary. A nurse looked up as I entered.

“These are for Silver,” I said quickly, handing her the bag.

She nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but I was already turning to leave. I couldn’t stay in this building. Not now.

I needed air. I felt like I was choking.

I walked again, this time heading toward Elder Agatha’s home. Hopefully, I could get her to help clear up

some things.

Even as I walked, my mind was still back in that room. Back with Gareth. With his cold eyes. With Laura’s

smirk.

Why didn’t he say anything? Why didn’t he care?

I had so many questions, but no answers. Just that look on his face–like I didn’t matter. Like I had never

mattered.

Tears stung the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away.

Not here. Not n

now. Not ever.

I kept walking, step after step, pretending like my world wasn’t falling apart inside me.

I needed to hear from Elder Agatha, and fast.

I wasn’t sure what was happening with my life anymore.

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