The morning was cool and crisp, and perfect for a walk. Last night left me conflicted. Kalen’s behavior was so hot and cold, but to see him so happy like he was… guilt welled inside me. Not only for Thomas’ ruined romantic gesture for Adelaide, but for the fact I couldn’t give Kalen a proper answer last night. I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Caden with him. As stupid as it sounded, part of me felt as long as Kalen didn’t know about Caden. Then it didn’t really happen. It wasn’t real. Just something like a nightmare.I heard the sounds of arguing as I walked, then saw Adelaide and Chelsie face to face, glaring at each other. “Listen here, I am going to be the luna of this group,” Chelsie demanded. “It’s all but announced. So you better watch yourself,” she demanded, then narrowed her eyes as soon as she saw me. Chelsie marched up to me. “And you don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing?”I held up my hands. This morning, I wasn’t in the mood to fight with her. “I’m just taking
“I am not a luna,” I told him and decided it was best he didn’t see me as prey, so I added, “Last time I believe you called me a toy.”James laughed as he grazed the bottom of his teeth with his tongue, looking at me as if I was some curious new insect he found. “That I did, but we both know you’re more than just some toy my nephew picked up to play with.”“Nephew?”His grin grew as he stopped in front of me. “Oh, Kieran didn’t mention me? I’m hurt. He does like to keep things to himself, doesn’t he?”“Apparently,” I said, offering him a tight smile as I remembered how Adelaide and Kalen reacted when James showed up last time. “Well, I should be going.”
I tried to open my eyes, but it hurt, so I closed them again. Actually, everything hurt. Once more, I tried to open my eyes. After a moment, I adjusted to the lighting. I was in a rectangular room with several empty beds. With a deep breath in; I sat up, fighting the waves of pain that rushed through me.“Easy, easy,” someone said as they helped me sit up. “You have a concussion on top of everything else.”I look over at the older man helping me. “Who are you?”“Doctor Addams, Adelaide brought you here,” he explained.“Right… she attacked me,” I said, remembering the feral way Katie tried to hurt me and I shuddered.“Yes, and luckily you have fairly minor injuries, excluding the concussion. I am more concerned with the poison and lack of healing. It’s not safe for the baby.”I froze as I stared at him. “I’m sorry, baby? And did you just say poison?”“Oh, I see…” the doctor said. “You’re pregnant. It’s still very early, maybe a couple of weeks at most.”“No, you have to be mistaken,” I
Kalen set up the interrogation within an hour of me waking up. He insisted I take some time to rest before anything. Which I was grateful for, as my head was still pounding. We went to the building they were being held in and instead of going down into the basement, Kalen led me to another room.It looked like an interrogation room from crime shows. Both Alex and Katie sat in front of a long rectangular table, their hands cuffed and chained to the table so they couldn’t get up. Their expressions changed as soon as they saw me walk into the room and it became even more twisted when Kalen followed in behind me.“Rogue bitch,” Katie swore at me as I stood in front of her.“People really need to get more creative with their insults,” I said, annoyed. “They call me pack bitch, you call me rogue bitch… it’s really not that creative at all.”She sneered at me with loathing. As if I was the worst person to ever have existed. What did Carl do to them? “I know you think I betrayed you, but I di
“Jack, can you make sure no one bothers us?” I ask, still holding Kalen’s face in my hands.Jack looked indecisive, torn between leaving and staying. “Are you sure, Alyssa?”After being accused of treachery and attacked for things out of my control, I appreciated his question more than he would ever know. “Yeah, Jack. Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. He just needs some time, quiet, and reassurance,” I told him. Again Jack hesitated for a moment, but left, closing the door.Once he was gone, I held Kalen’s gaze with my own. “Kalen,” I told him softly, ensuring his still icy blue eyes met mine. “You’re safe. I am safe. Everything is okay.”His lip curled in a silent growl and shaking as if he was trying to hold something in. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my chest, just over my heart. “Feel that. It’s my heart beating. Feel it, know that I am safe,” I told him, then placed his hand over his chest. “And there you are. Feel it and know that you are safe. There is no danger.”The silent sn
I walked through the communal building in a daze. I don’t remember how the conversation ended with the rogue king. All I could hear was him saying Kalen and Chelsie were going to be married. I walked outside and sat down amongst the trees. The daze disappeared, replaced by a heavy weight of soul consuming hopelessness. Adelaide was right. Chelsie would be Kalen’s. She was his future luna. His future everything and I… I didn’t know what I was. Adelaide was right, and I needed to distance myself.As if summoned by my thoughts, I saw Adelaide. She walked up to me, looking concerned. “Alyssa, are you okay?”My chin trembled with emotion and I shook my head. “You were right… they’re going to get married.”“Oh, Alyssa, I’m sorry. I tried to warn you,” she said, sitting next to me.“I know. I know,” I said, feeling a tear run down my cheek. “It’s just… I love him. He slept with me, Adelaide. It was like a few days ago! He came to me and slept with me! You know him so well. Why did he do tha
I hurried away from Kalen as fast as I could, without it looking like I was running from him. Once I was calmer and had a better control over my emotions, I would talk to him. Right now, I needed space and something to do. I knew the perfect place to go to help me think and do something — the kitchen.The chef was an older, lithe man who lit up as soon as I offered to help. “Ah, wonderful! Alyssa, you are a lifesaver. Can you take that on?” he said, gesturing toward the mountain of dishes accumulated after breakfast.“Of course, Marcel,” I tell him, and walk over to the large sink.“Thank you,” he said, then glanced at me. “Few people volunteer for the grunt work of cooking.”“It helps me think,” I admit,
Kalen“Father, what are you doing here?” I asked as I walked into my office. Jack had told me he came, but I hoped my beta was wrong. The idea of my father being here made me nervous, especially after nearly losing it. If Alyssa hadn’t been there…I didn’t even want to think what might have happened.“Can’t a father check up on his son?” The king said, leaning back in my chair, sitting at my desk as if he owned the place.“We’re in the middle of a war, right after a failed attempt at peace. I’d assume you’d have other things to do besides pay me a visit,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.My father sighed and sat up. “Look, Kalen, I’ve been hearing some things and I’m not sure what to make of them.”A jolt of panic rushed through me, but I fought it down. Clenching my jaw, I took a moment to master myself. “You came all the way here for rumors?”“Are they rumors?” Father asked, leaning forward to look at me. “Why is the Crimson Fang Luna here? Why did you take her to the peac
I walked over to the shattered remains of my necklace on the ground. “Caden,” I whispered as I fell to my knees in front of the pieces.“Who is Caden?” Kalen growled, kneeling next to me. There wasn’t a hint of regret in his face as he glared at me, the jealousy obvious in his face.Tears stung my eyes. “Our son. He was our son,” I told him, my voice cracking.Kalen’s eyes shot wide and his complexion went a shade whiter. “What?”I picked up a piece of glass from the pendant, a tear slipping down my cheek. “Shortly after you and father left for the war, I found out I was pregnant. I told Carl and asked for his help to find you. That’s when he told me about who you were, but I didn’t believe him,” I said, then glared at Kalen with bitterness. “I was sure something like that you would’ve told me.”Kalen didn’t say anything, and I continued with a sniff, tears stinging my eyes. “When I refused to believe it, he said it didn’t really matter. You were dead. Carl even faked a scout report
Once I couldn’t hear Kalen and James shouting at each other, I relaxed. I owed the rogue king for letting me leave. For a moment, I worried that he’d want to keep me there too. I walked through the trees of the forest, knowing more or less what direction I’m going. My father taught me how to find my way through the forest.I knew more or less the direction Kalen and I went to meet with the lycan king. He might know something about my father. That was who I needed now, my father. He would make all of this right, somehow. I know it. Dad could always make things right.I’d been walking for hours when I stopped and to take a small break. Setting my bag down, I took out a sandwich and ate it quietly, trying not to think about anything too hard. As I prepared to get up and continue, I heard a twig snap. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw three men walking towards me. All three were dirty and looked like they’d been out here for a long time. These men were probably deserters
Kalen“Oh, don’t you dare judge me,” I growled at my uncle. I couldn’t believe what he was doing. “Especially when you have no fucking idea what’s going on,” I told him. Where did he get off saying any of the crap he did? He knew nothing about Alyssa and me, or Chelsie, for that matter. In fact, I didn’t know why either he or father stuck their noses in my relationships. Neither of them mattered. All that mattered was Alyssa.I turned to reason with Alyssa, to explain to myself when I realized she wasn’t there. Panic slammed into me as I looked around. “Where’s Alyssa,” I said, ignoring James and my father. I didn’t see her anywhere.“Kalen,” my father said as I started to walk away from them, his tone sharp and serious. “Stop. She’s gone. Leave her be for now.”“For now? You don’t get it, Father. She’s leaving,” I growled at him, then before I could say anything I added, “And it’s your fault! You let her slip away!” I glared at my father, feeling my rage build. My wolf wanted out. He
I grabbed the duffle bag that was still in the corner. My tears stung my eyes and a few tears slipped down my cheeks as I set it on the bed. I wiped them off, angry they fell in the first place. I didn’t want to cry. Not for Kalen. Not again. I slung the strap on my shoulder and started to leave, then remembered the ring. I took it off and set it on the nightstand. If he was telling the truth about its history, then it didn’t belong to me, but Chelsie. The thought made my stomach churn.Taking paths that led me around the community instead of through it, I did my best to avoid everyone. I didn’t want to talk or explain myself. All I wanted was to leave and get as far away from here as I could. I was nearing the edge of town when I heard the voice of the very last person I wanted to talk to.“Alyssa, wait,” Kalen called after me. I
The next few days, I didn’t see much of Kalen. He seemed to always be in a meeting with someone. I usually kept myself busy in the kitchen and taking walks with Adelaide or Thomas and Sara. Today, however, I was walking alone until I ran into James. He seemed surprised to see me. “Hello, Little Luna. What are you still doing here?”Confused, I asked, “Why wouldn’t I be here?”“I didn’t think you’d want to stick around to see Kalen marry someone else.”“He’s not,” I told him as a matter of fact. This was Kalen’s uncle, so I don’t see the reason to hide that fact: the wedding wouldn’t be happening. “Kalen is going to break it off, tell everyone it was a misunderstanding.”“And when exactly did he say he was going to do this?” James asked, giving me a curious look.“A few days ago. Well, he said it would take time, but still doesn’t change the fact the wedding isn’t happening. Why?”His brow furrowed as he frowned. It was the first time I’d seen him with anything other than that smug smi
“Well, good news is that your heart seems to have only suffered minor damage from the poisonings and currently, your baby seems fine,” the doctor said as we finished up. “But I want you to take some precautions. I know you said you believe you were poisoned when you were in the lycan king’s peace talks, but until we can be sure, I don’t want you taking food from anyone outside the kitchen staff and I also want to do weekly blood draws.”Talking about this sent a chill through me and I nodded. “Of course, whatever you think is best.”“Good. Now I will see you here next week for a blood draw and two weeks after that, we’ll have our first prenatal visit.”Just hearing the word prenatal made my heart jump. I still couldn’t quite believe it. Pregnant. I was pregnant again. “Yeah, okay. See you then,” I said and left the doctor’s office. I took a roundabout way to the communal building to avoid Chelsie.Kalen had said it’d take time to untangle this wedding business, and I don’t think I cou
I stare at the sunlight streaming through the window, surprised and confused. Had I slept through the night? No nightmares? I sat up and rubbed my sleep numb face. For once, I felt rested and ready for the day. I heard Kalen yawn, wrapping his arm around me. He pulled me against him. “Good morning,” he said as he rested his chin on my shoulder.I leaned into his touch and close my eyes, just wanting to live in this moment. “Morning, Kalen.”As if he could read my thoughts, Kalen whispered, “I want every day to be like this, Alyssa. Just you and me.”“It can be. We can be like this every day,” I told him. “But only after you talk to your dad, Cheslie, and whoever about this wedding.” I can’t help the bitterness in my voice as I mention his wedding with the blonde idiot.“Yeah, I know,” he said. His expression seemed to mirror my thoughts on the idea of him marrying her. It settled some of the uneasiness inside me. “However, her dad is a big supporter of my fathers. It’s going to take m
Kalen“Father, what are you doing here?” I asked as I walked into my office. Jack had told me he came, but I hoped my beta was wrong. The idea of my father being here made me nervous, especially after nearly losing it. If Alyssa hadn’t been there…I didn’t even want to think what might have happened.“Can’t a father check up on his son?” The king said, leaning back in my chair, sitting at my desk as if he owned the place.“We’re in the middle of a war, right after a failed attempt at peace. I’d assume you’d have other things to do besides pay me a visit,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.My father sighed and sat up. “Look, Kalen, I’ve been hearing some things and I’m not sure what to make of them.”A jolt of panic rushed through me, but I fought it down. Clenching my jaw, I took a moment to master myself. “You came all the way here for rumors?”“Are they rumors?” Father asked, leaning forward to look at me. “Why is the Crimson Fang Luna here? Why did you take her to the peac
I hurried away from Kalen as fast as I could, without it looking like I was running from him. Once I was calmer and had a better control over my emotions, I would talk to him. Right now, I needed space and something to do. I knew the perfect place to go to help me think and do something — the kitchen.The chef was an older, lithe man who lit up as soon as I offered to help. “Ah, wonderful! Alyssa, you are a lifesaver. Can you take that on?” he said, gesturing toward the mountain of dishes accumulated after breakfast.“Of course, Marcel,” I tell him, and walk over to the large sink.“Thank you,” he said, then glanced at me. “Few people volunteer for the grunt work of cooking.”“It helps me think,” I admit,