The Alpha King's Witch Bride Chapter 262: You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

"I... I need..." I stuttered, getting on my feet but I didn’t even know what I needed right now after discovering all these things from Althea.

I felt caged. I felt like the gods had dealt a fate that I definitely didn’t deserve.

"Odessa..." Kaelos wrapped his hand around my wrist, causing to shiver a bit.

But then I brought my gaze to him and watched as he got on his feet as well, his cologne and the shampoo still lingering on his hair grounding for a mont.

"You don’t have to handle any of this alone. That’s why I’m your mate. Your husband." He whispered, bringing his hands to my face and cupping it gently.

I blinked at him, my cheeks burning up with a blush as my eyes got watery.

No... No... Hell no!

I’m not going to cry.

"What if the Lord of the North is watching our lives through my mind?" I asked with a shaky voice. "He already made his presence known in a dream. What if he... What if he pushes to use my magic and I lose control and—"

"That’s not going to happen," Althea spoke firmly, placing her palms on the table. "You’ll need to cut back on your use of magic now more than ever. In the anti... It’s ti I began teaching you how to control it. How to prevent it from surging in sync with your emotions."

I clenched my jaw, nodding at her but to my surprise, Kaelos brought his hands down and proceeded to hold my right hand.

"She can do all that so other ti." He blurted, pulling away from the table.

I blinked at him with confusion as he glanced back at my aunt. "You’re still staying within the pack, right? To watch her pregnancy and all."

My eyes widened at that, my free hand finding its way to my stomach.

I had almost forgotten about our child. What sort of expecting mother was I?

"I an... Yes." Althea nodded with dimd eyes. "Although, I feel her training has been a long way coming and now would be—"

"She’s my wife. I’ll steal her from you for a few hours at best." Kaelos remarked casually, his voice leaving no room for argunt as he dragged gently out of the garden.

"Your maid can co along." He added to .

I glanced back at Caroline who didn’t even wait long before running after us, a curious expression on her face.

What was Kaelos up to?

.

.

"You said you wanted to dress up back in the garden." He muttered when we finally got to his room door upstairs.

I fluttered my eyelids, sucking in a breath. "Yeah... Wait, that’s not exactly what I said—"

"Caroline..." Kaelos turned his gaze to Caroline who stood silently beside .

She raised her head, seeming surprised that she was called on but then she bowed slightly. "Yes, my Lord?"

"What did your Luna Queen ntion about my clothing in the garden a few minutes ago?"

I raised an eyebrow. Caroline hesitated for only a second before she cleared her throat.

"She said she’ll dress you up one of these days so you two can go to a mall. Perhaps, she wanted you two to live life as... Normal civilians within the pack."

I remained silent, not knowing what to say as Kaelos pushed the room door open, pulling along with him.

"Good. So, Odessa. We’re going to do as you said." He remarked, stepping in and glancing back at . "Right now."

I parted my lips, blinking as I turned my head to Caroline who still stood pretty outside the room.

Then I whipped my head back to Kaelos. "When you say we’re going to do as I said... Do you an dressing you up and—"

"Heading to the pack’s mall. Yes." He nodded affirmatively, snapping his fingers with a teasing voice. "Chop, chop. I think there’s going to be so mouth-watering discounts this morning."

"Discounts?" I echoed with a flat stare. "Kaelos, people don’t go to the mall for discounts when they just found out they might be the key to a well of chaotic magic with blood sigils that could doom the continent."

He raised an eyebrow. "And yet, here you are. Dying to see in skinny jeans."

"I did not say skinny jeans!"

"You didn’t say not skinny jeans either."

Caroline muffled a snort from outside the room, and I swore her nose twitched like she was holding back a laugh. I glared at her, but it was hard to hold it for long.

Her grin was too damn contagious.

Kaelos stepped in closer, his voice softening. "Odessa, listen. You’re allowed to breathe, okay? Not everything has to be fireballs and war planning. Let’s take a break. For you. For the baby. And... for us."

For a second, I just stared at him.

Then I sighed, muttering, "Fine. But you’re trying on everything I pick. No argunts."

"Deal," he smirked. "Even if it’s sothing scandalous and hot pink."

My lips twitched, a smirk settling on them. "Oh, don’t tempt , Alpha King."

.

.

Thirty minutes later...

The mall was already bustling with early pack mbers just going about their lives, chatting at cafés, dragging screaming toddlers past toy stores, and ogling the occasional luxury boutique window.

And right there in the middle of it... stood , future "chaos queen", and Kaelos, Alpha King of North Arica, pretending to be normal.

Spoiler alert: He sucked at it.

"Why are you glaring at the mannequin?" I asked as we stood outside a high-end clothing store.

He had been frowning at a headless mannequin in a crop top and leather pants for a full minute.

He squinted harder. "It’s... taunting ."

"Kaelos, it’s not alive."

"Neither is that suit of armour in the throne room hall, but I still don’t trust it." He shot back.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is why you need . You have no idea how to shop."

He turned his gaze to , a smirk curling his lips. "Then teach , oh great Luna Queen of sales racks and casual wear."

Caroline trailed behind us, carrying three shopping bags already. None of them were hers. She sighed like a long-suffering servant but I caught the amused glint in her eyes.

"Next stop," I said, pointing toward a store with a huge SALE banner and rows of jackets. "We’re getting you out of that ’mafia boss on his day off’ look."

He rolled his eyes but followed without complaint, letting lead him through racks of denim, jackets, graphic tees, and... Yes, even a hot pink hoodie.

Just to ss with him.

"You’re not serious," he said when I handed the hoodie to him.

I tilted my head innocently. "You did say anything."

Caroline cackled behind us.

Kaelos sighed like a man facing war. "Fine. But if anyone sees in this, I’m blaming you."

"You’re lucky you’re hot," I muttered under my breath.

"I heard that."

Another thirty minutes later...

Kaelos stepped out of the fitting room in the pink hoodie, with a pair of distressed jeans that hugged him a little too well.

I nearly dropped dead on the spot.

Caroline actually whistled. "My Luna Queen has taste."

"I look like a boy band reject," Kaelos deadpanned.

"You look hot," I corrected. "Boyband Alpha."

His lips curved into a slow smirk. "So this is your fantasy. Noted."

My cheeks flared. "Shut up and buy the hoodie."

He reached over and kissed my forehead.

But just as I laughed, sothing inside flickered.

A soft pulse.

A hum from deep beneath my skin, like sothing stirring.

My smile faltered for a split second, my eyes flickering to the glass window beside us.

Just my reflection... but for a mont, I could have sworn the sigils beneath my skin shimred faintly beneath the surface.

Kaelos caught the shift in my energy. "What’s wrong?"

I shook my head slowly, my fingers tightening around the shopping bag.

"Nothing," I whispered. "Let’s... Let’s keep going. I’m okay."

He didn’t press. He just held my hand tighter.

And maybe that was enough for now.

But deep down, I knew...

This peace wasn’t going to last forever.