Chapter 13: Ferrin

 

Austin was already waiting outside when I arrived. I didn’t bother to greet him as I pushed through the door.

“I want Shawn removed from Willa’s protection detail,” I ordered.

“He told me you kicked him off his shift,” Austin said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why do you want him off? He’s one of the best men we have.

“I don’t care. I want him gone,” I spat.

“No.”

“What?” Why was it so easy for everyone to tell me no all of a sudden?

“We can’t take him off without replacing him with someone else. That’s another person involved in this mess. So, unless you can tell me how he has failed at his job, he stays.”

I glared at him. I realized that Shawn hadn’t actually done anything wrong. He hadn’t even touched Willa. I suppose he was only doing what he was instructed to do. I started to calm down a bit when I noticed the look on Austin’s face. He was doing nothing to hide the smug smirk. I was about to say something when Damen entered the office.

“What’s going on?” he asked, looking between the two of us.

“Oh, Ferrin is going crazy because one of the guards had the nerve to have a conversation with our special guest.”

Damen sighed. “What are you talking about?”

“What did he say to you?” I asked. Austin knew something he wasn’t telling me.

“Our little alpha decided to make the best of the shit situation she’s in,” Austin said, watching as I pushed my hands through my hair and paced the floor. “She introduced herself to her guards.”

My head shot up. “She did what?” I bellowed.

“Calm down. She didn’t say why she was here or who she was. Just exchanged names and simple conversation,” Austin told me. “She’s smart. She’s spoken to four of them already. A couple of them, including Shawn, came to me. They seem to like her. But they wanted to make sure it wasn’t a bad idea to encourage her.”

“So, what seems to be the problem?” Damen asked.

“She’s mine,” I snapped. “They have no business carrying on with her.”

“Carrying on?”

“Okay, Ferrin,” Damen broke in as he took a seat. “What would you like Austin to do? Replace the whole detail with mated males and females? Bring in a whole new crew to learn about you making regular visits to see her? You really think she’ll stay put and not do this same thing again? This is why you agreed to stay away from her, Ferrin.”

“I know,” I bellowed.

“Man,” Austin began, “if you can’t get yourself under control, we’re going to have to figure something else out. Why not just send her away? We can take her to the villa. It’s remote and private.”

“No,” I growled. The thought of Willa leaving the castle made my stomach turn. I looked at my two closest friends. They both had concerned expressions. I released a breath and fell into my office chair. “I can’t do that. The bond is too strong.”

“Then reject her, Ferrin,” Damen insisted.

My chest burned at his words, but I knew there was reason behind the suggestion. If I rejected her, our mate bond would break, and the pull I would feel to be near her would dissipate. I could find someplace safer away from the castle. Maybe even send her back home.

But that would mean I would lose my fated mate. The person the moon goddess had destined me to be with. To continue my lineage. To bear my pups and rule by my side.

If I rejected her, that future would be gone. For both of us.

“No,” I said. Damen started to say something. “I’m not dismissing the option, Damen. I understand it may be necessary at some point. But I’m not ready to give up my mate. Neither should you be so eager to abandon your future Luna.”

Damen stood up as anger flashed across his face. “I am not abandoning her, Ferrin. I am trying to protect her. Even if I have to protect her from your own stupidity.”

The possessiveness that had overtaken me earlier came flooding back. “That’s not your concern, Damen. She’s my mate. I will protect her.”

Austin laughed bitterly. “You just said it yourself, Ferrin. She may be your mate, but she’s our Luna.”

“Do you really think you’re the only one who sees how strong she is?” Damen urged. “She’s been outside a pack for thirteen years, and her aura still radiates alpha authority.”

“Fuck, I’ve only seen her when she was unconscious, and I could see that. She’s already started to tap into that potential,” Austin said. “Her guards aren’t stupid or blind, Ferrin. They wouldn’t be in their position if they were. That’s why Shawn came to me. He knows we suspect her to be the one from the prophecy. But he likes her. As a person,” Austin hurried as I began to react to the statement again. “If I’m being honest, I was planning to go up and have a conversation with her myself if you hadn’t dragged my ass in here.”

“You have to tell her guards,” Damen demanded. “They need to understand. And if what Austin is saying is true, it would only make her safer. Right now, they see her as a potential threat. Any affection they develop toward her will make them conflicted. That won’t bode well in the long run. If they know she is our future Luna, they will devote themselves to her safety. And if that’s not good enough for you, then mate her and mark her.”

“She’s not ready for that,” I said, knowing he was right.

“But you are?” Austin goaded. He was loving this.

“Then you better start making some changes,” Damen said. “We may be able to convince her that you weren’t behind what happened to her mother, but that doesn’t mean she’ll accept you after all of this. She needs to know about the prophecy. She deserves to know why you’re treating her like a dirty secret.”

It was my turn to stand up in anger. I was ready to jump over the desk when he put his hands in the air, his expression changing.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “That was uncalled for, Ferrin. I know that’s not what’s happening. But this mood you’ve been in has us all on edge.”

I took a moment to calm back down. “I’ll talk to her guard detail. And I’ll apologize to Shawn.”