by Belle Kayce
I make a noise. "Don't even think about that."
"I can't wait to get you so good." Bo gives me an evil smirk.
"Bo bear, don't you dare do anything." I waggle a finger at him.
"Or what?" Bo asks smugly.
"Or else."
"Your mate doesn't scare me." Bo snorts.
"I'll be the one to beat you up."
Bo starts laughing, probably at the idea of me even fighting. I give him a hard push, but he doesn't budge that much, which makes me even angrier.
"I need to be able to beat you up, and you need to stop laughing at me every time we train!"
"I can't help it. You look hilarious trying to punch me."
I sigh. "That's not how it's suppose to be. I literally cannot with you right now."
In his best valley-girl voice, he mimics me, "You literally cannot? Like literally?"
"Literally," I deadpan, shooting him a glare as we make our way back to where the rest of the normal wolves are training.
"Wow," Grace's high-pitched voice comes from behind. She’s probably stalking us. Even while she instructs training, it doesn’t look like she’s even breaking out a sweat. "Alpha Lance says you'll need to do extra training with me," she continues.
This is when I decide to look at her.
"I do this training boot camp for the slackers in the pack," she continues.
Training boot camp?
Slackers?
"I'm already doing extra training with Bo," I defend myself.
Bo hums his agreement.
"Well, I don't disobey my alpha's direct orders." Grace blinks at me, all innocent-like.
I see the malicious intent in her baby blue eyes. She wants to get to me.
"Well, how about your luna's direct orders?" I stare at her blankly.
Bo clamps a hand on my shoulder, probably to keep me from attacking her because I'm really close.
"You're not even in the pack yet." Grace gives me this annoying sweet smile, all fake and phony.
I give her a smile, putting on this act. "You're right. It's just that I don't have to listen to anyone, not even my own mate, who, by the way, is your alpha, not mine." What would happen if I didn't obey Lance? He better not expect me to just go along with whatever he says.
She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Good. She can finally shut up.
“We’ll see if I have to take this boot camp,” I grumble out.
“I’ve spoken to Lance extensively about it.” Grace smirks, trying to get a rise out of me. She goes on about something else. Bo tries to say something, but I’m already a few feet away from Lance.
He's talking to Carter but turns around when I’m seconds away from him. He easily smiles at me, but one look at my face and he understands. He nods at me and gives a two-fingered wave.
“Garden.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s go to the garden.”
I whirl around and head to the garden.
Feeling alone and secluded, I turn around to see Lance only two feet away from me. He is walking tentatively towards me. For sure, my emotions are a weird tidal wave.
“What is it?” Lance asks.
"What is Grace to you?" I ask bluntly.
"She's a great warrior in the pack," Lance answers simply, meeting my eyes.
"No, I mean to you. Personally."
Lance's lips twitch slightly. "I don't think I understand what you’re trying to say."
I let out a breath. "Do you guys have any romantic history together?"
"Never." Lance's eyes confirm he isn't lying. His voice gets lower. "Why would you ask this?"
“Do you love whatever dessert she makes or whatever she cooks?”
Lance looks completely confused. “I don’t really like sweet things. Grace certainly has never made me anything. Maybe in a potluck?”
His answer is so sincere, I believe him.
“Your cooking, however . . .”
I think about the one day I made some kind of burnt food, but he ate it up anyways.
“What? What about me?” I ask, suddenly needing to know. “What do you think of me?”
Making a stop right in front of me, he leans in to the crook of my neck. His hot breath fans on my skin. As he inhales, butterflies erupt inside my stomach. The unique scent of something fresh like the ocean with a blend of spicy woods makes me heady.
He leans back and looks down at me with heavy lidded eyes. He murmurs, "Your scent is so intoxicating. When I'm near you, I can't think." Lance trails two fingers down my arm, and my heart accelerates because of his electrifying touch. "Your skin is so soft. Your beauty is not of this world, and your smile is the most bewitching thing I will ever see."
I’m furiously blushing at his proximity and all those lovely words he is speaking to me. “Why does it seem like sometimes you’re avoiding me?” I ask.
"I thought you wanted space," he answers. He takes a step back, and his warmth is instantly gone. "I'm giving it to you."
He's right. I do want space. "I do. I just thought . . .”
"How do you think that makes me feel?" Lance asks, turning the tables on me. "It's like you want nothing to do with me. If you want space, I'll give it to you. I'll do whatever you want if it pleases you."
Lance is so right, and I've been so inconsiderate. I have been thinking about myself only. He runs a hand through his hair, looking unsure of himself. "I didn't want to scare you away."
“You haven’t,” I say.
“Do you feel comfortable here?” Lance asks.
I feel the safest I’ve ever been.
“Yeah,” I say, my throat tightening a little. “It’s different around here, but I like it a lot. More than a lot.”
I meet Lance’s gaze. I think this is the first time I see Lance give me the smallest semblance of an actual smile. One corner of his mouth quirks up high, and, oh my gosh, he has a small dimple on his right cheek. Dang, I should really start trying to make him smile more.
“I’m glad. I hope you know this is your home.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Heidi told us to meet in one of her neighboring packs instead of her own because she can’t risk having anyone know she’s working with Noctis Luna. This is the day we’re going to leave.
"Where's Lance?" I ask Cole.
Cole opens his mouth but then looks past me and nods.
My three munchkins—Cindy, Gwen, and Wendy—are holding on to Lance for dear life as he enters the kitchen. Cindy and Wendy are both attached to Lance's legs as he tries to walk, and Gwen is attached to his stomach.
"Please, Alpha! Pretty please with a cherry on top!" Gwen says in her cute voice. I see Cole silently laughing at Lance's predicament as he walks over to the fridge.
"And all the sprinkles!" Cindy adds.
I'm grinning at them, and I think I’m laughing a little. They all turn in my direction.
"Queen Ava!" Gwen almost yells, letting go of Lance. All three girls decide to cling on me the same way they did on Lance.
Lance is now looking at me in pure amusement. Something between Lance and I have changed, but I don't know what. It's a totally good thing though. There is an electrifying air between us.
"Tell your king to play tea time with us!" Gwen says.
Lance looks at me curiously, mouthing “Queen?”.
I only grin at him, shrugging. "I am a Queen."
"Play with us!" Cindy chants.
"We can't right now because we're leaving soon," I tell them. Dang, they are heavy even though they are pretty short. Gwen isn't fat. She is a cute fluffy marshmallow, who is practically choking me.
"You can't leave us!" Wendy says. "We won't let go of you."
"I'm so sorry, Ava." Raquel, looking like she just came out of a fashion magazine, walks into the kitchen and looks at Gwen. Carter walks over to his mate and kisses her forehead.
"Oh, don't worry about it," I wave it off. "They're too cute."
"Until they have their way with you at
tea time," Raquel says. "Come on, Gwen, and bring your friends. You guys need to go to school."
"Awwww. No." Gwen pouts, looking up at me. "Do we have to?"
"We have to get our education," Wendy says to Gwen.
Of course, Gwen doesn't like this, but she has no choice with Raquel looking like she's going to fry her. Gwen gets off of me and runs to Lance, holding out her pinky.
"Pinky promise that you'll play tea time," Gwen says. My heart melts when Lance bends down to get to her level and hooks her small pinky to his huge one.
He nods. "Pinky promise."
***
I pack an entire suitcase because I have no idea what I need to wear. Lance and Cole, on the other hand, only plan to bring a small Adidas duffel bag for each of them. I know that after we help out Heidi, we will head over to Paxon’s pack to tell him who killed his dead mate.
That’s making me nervous, but I have to take one thing at a time.
“You never know,” I say to Meg as she gives me a judgmental look from the doorway of the pack house.
“Are you thinking we’ll experience all four seasons in a single day?” she asks me seriously.
“You never know,” I repeat. Really, packing is stressful.
A black Audi pulls up. Cole will be driving while Bo will stay to hold the fort.
“I will do you all proud.” Bo salutes.
“Try not to throw a huge party like the last time,” Cole says.
Bo cackles. “The parents are away. What do you expect me to do?”
***
Heidi’s neighboring pack is Lake Moon, headed by an alpha named Kent. He looks to be in his early thirties with long black hair that is tied in a bun. His mate, Luna Claire, has huge brown eyes and a pixie-like cut. She is a petite luna.
Lance easily enters the territory since he’s allies with Kent.
Heidi meets us in their conference room, where Kent and Claire are. This is my first time in official luna business. I’m not like an actual luna, but I can be.
Alpha Kent begins by saying, “Heidi, you should know that we do respect your elders, but having an Alpha be . . . ”
I know where he’s going with this.
“That’s what?” I ask him as I cross my arms. “Female? Won’t work?”
Kent looks uncomfortable.
“Please tell me because I’ve never been the best at history. Who started all the wars that killed our ancestors, Alpha Kent? Do you recall any event named Luna Wars? How about the big three Alpha Wars?”
Only a long silence from him.
Screw this. I stand up from the table. “Well?” I demand.
Already, he’s being so disrespectful to Heidi, and I won’t stand for it. Heidi doesn’t want to argue because it’ll put her in an even more disadvantageous position. I’ve never seen Heidi look this unsure of herself. With how they are making her feel small, I want to scream at them.
I continue, “Alpha Heidi has transitioned into her position peacefully. She inherited it from her father, who already told everyone that she was going to receive the position. She even won a challenge from the former beta and from others in her pack. What more do you want from her to give her your alliance? I think it’s so disappointing to hear that you have these small-minded views, Alpha Kent and Luna Claire.”
I have to add Luna Claire because she hasn’t said anything, and I hope she would back me up on this. I hope she can see the error in her mate’s ways.
“We—"
I shake my head, holding up my hand to shut Alpha Kent up. “I understand Lance has an alliance with your pack. However, I feel like we need to reconsider what an alliance with you guys really means. Would you protect me if Lance isn’t around because I’m going to be in charge of Noctis Luna? Would you abandon me simply because I’m female?”
I see Alpha Kent and Luna Claire exchange glances.
“You’re dismissing our decades of alliance over this?” Alpha Kent asks slowly. He’s not looking at me. He’s looking at Lance.
“Yes,” Lance says, coming to my aid. He is giving off that expressionless look towards Alpha Kent. I love when he uses it on others. His intimidation factor goes up a hundred. “If that’s what my luna wants. I believe it might be time to cut off my alliance with you. It might not be worth my energy anymore.”
Lance stands up. “Your disrespect to not only a legitimate alpha but also a good friend of mine is making me reconsider our arrangement. I’ll give you the night to think over it. Give me your answer then, and I’ll give you an answer about our alliance.”
Lance dismisses himself, gently taking my arm as we exit the room. Heidi and Cole follow suit.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Before coming to Alpha Kent’s pack, Lance booked us hotel rooms. He’s paying of course.
In our car ride, Heidi gushes out over my performance. “Ava! You’re such a natural bossy luna. My dad always told me to stand up for what I believe in, but in this patriarchal werewolf world of ours, it’s so hard when alphas think they know everything.” Heidi pauses. She looks over at Lance and Cole. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Lance agrees.
Cole adds, “Alphas are hard to deal with.”
Once we get to our hotel room, Lance stops me.
“Ava, I . . . ” he trails off, as if thinking of something, “want to say that I’m very much in awe of you.”
“Me?” I ask, pointing to myself. “What did I do?”
“You’ve spoken your mind and put Alpha Kent in his place.” He gives me a half-smile that makes my heart flutter. “And know one thing.”
“What?”
Lance leans in to speak closely in my ear. “I’ll always have your back.”
***
In the evening, we are back at the conference room.
Luna Claire speaks up. “We agree with your terms. Alpha Heidi, we will help you in case you need it. We will make sure that your elders do not overthrow you at any point.”
“Thank you,” Heidi says seriously.
“You’re right, Luna Ava,” Claire says after a moment. “Most of the times, we are the level-headed ones, and Alpha Heidi has every right to be in her position.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re right.”
“That being said,” Alpha Kent speaks unnecessarily, “we are having a rogue problem ourselves.”
“Rogues have always been an issue, but there is a greater influx for some reason,” Luna Claire adds.
“We can go over on how to deal with that properly,” Lance suggests.
“We’d love Alpha Heidi’s input,” Luna Claire says.
Honestly, this subject seems super boring, so I opt to go back to my hotel room. Cole comes with me, agreeing with me about the boring part.
A shower is the first thing I do when I got back to my hotel room.
I knock on Cole’s room to let him know I’m going to get some food because I’m hungry, but he doesn’t answer me.
My stomach growls.
I make my way downstairs and see a Starbucks nearby. I hope it’s open.
I text Cole about me going to Starbucks and then I head outside.
It’s about to be fall, and the chilly air is much welcomed. As I get further away from the hotel, I don’t know if it’s paranoia or if I’m really hearing something, but I feel as though I just heard something.
I walk faster but where is it? Gosh, it looked near five minutes ago.
My whole being freezes when I hear a growl. Making the mistake of looking back, I see five fully shifted brown werewolves that are looking straight at me.
All of them growl, then start running towards me.
Turning around to run myself, I fall straight on my butt. I’m seriously thinking that this is it. This is the moment I am truly done for. It had been kind of a nice life.
I hear a crushing noise, and I blink my surprise as a figure flashes in front of me, fighting off all the wolves away as though they mean nothing to him.
T
he figure seems familiar. Have I seen him before? I gasp, realizing who it is. This is the creature I saw from the balcony on my first night in Noctis Luna. The vampire. He is saving me.
The vampire turns to me, assessing me as he holds out a hand. I’m still on the ground, having completely frozen in fear.
“Are you alright?” Warm gray eyes land on me.
“W-who are you?” I manage to ask him despite my messy state.
“Sorry, I should’ve mentioned earlier.” The guy puts his hand on his chest. “I’m Zeke, Lance’s brother.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Brother? How . . .” Brothers with a vampire? What is going on?
I take his hand, so he can help me up.
"Same mother, different father," Zeke answers for me, smiling easily. "Our mother wasn’t a werewolf. Lance's dad is and my dad's a vampire. Werewolf alpha genes are dominant, and vampire genes are . . . complicated, but that's a story for a different day."
I only stare at him as a response. He stops smiling when my reaction is . . . well . . . I don't know what my reaction is. He rubs his neck. "Sorry, I don't know how to handle this either. I'm sorry if this is awkward. I’m making a horrible first impression on my brother's mate."
So, he did know who I am. I don’t want him to feel like he’s doing something wrong. “Just trying to process everything,” I tell him honestly.
I rack up my brain about vampires. I know they are our immortal enemies.
For werewolves, vampires are like the boogeyman. They steal werewolf pups and eat them. They do cruel things to them.
“Ah, yeah, I know. Werewolves don’t trust us, nor do we like werewolves.” Zeke nods, trying to show his understanding.
“What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here.” Lance walks up to us. He is alone and is looking directly at Zeke.
“Lancey!” Zeke gives Lance a huge hug.
I don’t think I’ve seen anyone hug Lance. He doesn’t look like a hugger at all, but Lance’s face softens considerably, his tender affection towards his brother very clear.
“Zeke saved me from rogues.” I feel the need to add. I realize Lance hasn’t told me about his brother, which is a big deal. “Thanks by the way.”
