by Belle Kayce
“Whatever you need me to do, I will.”
“Oh great!” Bo looked at Lance accusingly.
“Bo, you’re the Beta,” Lance reminded him. “I would have no one but you be my Beta.”
“You really mean that?” Bo asked as Meg stood by the door way, seeing what Bo was going on about.
Lance nodded, “Yes.”
“So is this guy’s chopped liver?” Bo pointed at Cole. “Because I am cool with that.”
“He can do whatever he wishes, just like you Bo.”
“But I have Beta duties,” Bo added, more towards Cole than anyone.
Meg asked, “Lance if I wanted to become Beta, isn’t there a rule where I could challenge him into a duel?”
“Lance!” Bo whined. “She’ll splatter me in a second!”
“Could I join in too?” Cole asked, and there was a humorous gleam in his eyes.
Bo stared at the both of them in complete shock. “I’m leaving.”
“See you at the duel tomorrow!” Meg called out cheerfully.
Both Cole and Meg exchanged glances. “That’s who your Beta is...” Cole said.
“That’s Bo alright.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Ava
“I’m cursed.”
When Lance says this, the first thing that pops into my mind is to ask him is, “like Sleeping-Beauty cursed?”
“More like Beauty-and-the-Beast cursed,” Lance says.
I’m impressed he knows Disney movies.
“I don’t . . . understand.”
“My mother was cursed by a powerful witch. My wolf isn’t like those normal werewolves because it’s enhanced with magic. It’s more perilous and untamed, and I used to not be able to control my wolf.”
“What’s the curse?” I ask because Lance seems normal enough, unless he like turns into some type of big-foot-wolf thing at night. I haven’t seen it yet, but oh my gosh.
“My wolf is nicknamed Demon because of his eyes. Everyone saw that in the alpha wars. It was the only time I’ve shifted when there were others around me. They’re red in color and have the power to turn any supernatural creature into stone.”
“I’m guessing some witch had a thing for Greek mythology,” I say. “Your wolf is like a Medusa?”
Lance nods. “In the alpha war, my father forced me to shift into my wolf, knowing that I couldn’t control my wolf. He forced a shift out of me, and my wolf went on a rampage. I turned six alphas into stone. I killed them.” I see Lance swallow. “The only reason why my wolf shifted back is because I was spent. I was tired.”
I don’t even want to know how many other wolves he killed that weren’t alphas. Lance looks like he is remembering something horrible, and I smooth my thumb on his hand, which seems to relax him.
“When I heard from my father what I did, I puked all across the table, and I hated myself.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to him. My problems that I thought were huge just moments ago becomes nothing but a silly complaint now. It’s nothing compared to what Lance has been through. He is cursed . . .
Lance shakes his head. “Do not be. It was a long time ago.”
But I am sorry for him. I feel for him so much because it also hurt me. How can Lance turn out to be such a good being when he has a father like that?
“Now, I have made peace with my wolf because a wise person told me I should, and she was right.”
“What happened to your mother?” I ask, trying to piece everything together. “Was she . . . there when—”
“No, she died during childbirth with Zeke,” he replies.
So, he never knew his mother too. I want to tell him I’m sorry again, but what good would that do?
So, I hug him instead.
Okay, more like jumped him from my hospital bed. My entire body aches as I hug him tight, but I don’t care. I want Lance to know I care for him and that I’m sorry. My arms are around his neck, and I could feel him inhale a little as he instantly wraps both of his strong arms around my waist. I’m practically straddling him. The heat on my cheeks starts to blossom. Lance buries his head on the crook of my neck. His hold is tight on me. Not that I’m complaining at all.
“Thank you,” Lance murmurs to my neck, and I give in the urge to just run my hand through his hair. As my fingers tangle through his soft hair, I feel Lance heave a deep breath. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m always okay,” I say.
“Okay. Enough to jump me at least.” Lance’s voice has a tone of teasing to it.
I try to maybe get off of him, but his arms tighten around me as I do so. I bite my lip because I guess Lance enjoys this as much as I do.
After a few moments of just hearing his breathing, I ask, “What will I do with being a witch?”
“It’s obvious your powers are trying to get out in ways that it only knows how. I know you’re having headaches. They are also a hindrance in using your powers, so we will help control your powers,” Lance answers.
“Sounds good,” I think out loud, and loving the fact he said ”we”. I move to go back to my bed. I feel his reluctance, but I am afraid that someone will barge into the room with us in a compromising position like that. I had to get off of him even though it felt nice. Then, “Will I ever get to see your wolf?”
“He wants to see you,” Lance answers hesitantly. I feel it in his words. He looks up at me. “You’re the only one I’d trust him with. My wolf and I never really agrees with each other. I used to have no control over him, but now I do. I have for years until you . . . When it comes to you, my wolf will shift no matter what, especially if you’re in harm’s way. He’s still feral.”
I grin a little. “So if I want him to shift now?”
Lance’s eyes flash red for a split second, and I’m taken aback. Oh shoot.
“Ava,” Lance warns me, his molten eyes on mine. “Luxe cannot be controlled when his mate wants something.”
A smile tugs on my lips. “Luxe?”
Luxe is the Latin word for light.
***
Bo and Meg walk into the hospital room, trying to get Lance to leave so that we can have some “gossiping time”, as Bo calls it. What gossip there is, I have no idea, but Bo and Meg are really keen on Lance leaving the room. I seriously think that Bo is the only one that can make a convincing argument to Lance to do anything.
“You know he has super hearing, right?” I ask them.
Bo shrugs.
“What did the alpha boss tell you?” Bo asks. Meg just sits in the seat where Lance was sitting just moments ago.
“Bo, you won’t fit!” I exclaim, trying to move, but Bo somehow makes it work with his tall frame.
“Are you trying to say something, Ava?” Bo asks me.
“Like how you might be gaining some fat?” Meg suggests.
I laugh but sober up when I prepare myself to tell them my big secret. “So, I find out that I have a brother. He’s Paxon’s Beta,” I explain to Meg and Bo, hoping it’s the gossip they wanted.
“You have a what?” Bo asks me, his mouth hanging open. Meg also looks interested.
“The mom I know now isn’t really my true mom. My biological mother was actually a witch,” I continue on.
“Hard core,” Bo says. “You’re a witch? I knew there was something weird about—”
I push Bo off the bed, which is actually an easy feat since he’s been barely hanging in there in the first place. He lands on the floor with a loud thump.
“This is considered bullying,” Bo informs me from the ground.
“Nah, I think it’s called doing us all a favor.” Meg winks at me. “What are you going to do about the brother situation?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “What can I do? What can I say?”
“Hey, I’m Ava, and I’m the luna of Noctis Luna and you’re my brother. Cool. Bye.” Bo airs out his genius idea.
For some reason, I have a feeling that if my brother, Sargon, also wants to see me, h
e would already have. He hasn’t. I don’t know what to make of it. What he makes of me. Having some long-lost brother is weird to me, so I can’t imagine what it’s like for him. Will he even acknowledge me? Because of Vanessa, I want to get to know him, especially if they were twins. I want to know them.
“Or you could call Alpha Paxon and order him to tell his beta to come here,” Meg suggests. “You’d sound really desperate, but does that matter?”
“Yes, it matters,” I say. “I don’t know how I feel about it.”
About me being a witch. My dad lying to me. Lance’s curse.
Bo finally gets off the ground. “Here’s what I think you should do.”
“This is gonna be great,” Meg mutters.
“I think you should get better already and practice your magic and learn how to control it,” Bo starts off.
Meg and I exchange glances because Bo’s actually right.
“Second, news on the street is that Alpha Paxon is sending his beta as proxy for him in alpha meeting, which is some random place they chose. It’s like an hour away from here. But what I’m getting at is that your brother is going to be here first, so he can stay a few days. During that time, you can do whatever you want when he’s here. Talk to him, ignore him, whatever, but he’ll be here soon.” Bo claps his hands. “Lastly, I want some chocolate.”
“I second that notion,” I say, “so go get some for me.”
Bo opens his mouth, then clamps it shut. “Be glad you’re a luna or else.”
“Even if I wasn’t, I’d still boss you around.”
Bo gets me my chocolate, giving me the smaller piece of a Twix. After that, he says he has to do beta duties, so he leaves me alone. Meg’s already gone because she has to teach young pups how to defend themselves, which I think is a class I should be attending.
I send Zeke some snapchats from my new iPhone to let him know I am seriously fine.
Raquel walks in with Julia to check up on me. “I think you should be good,” Raquel informs me.
“You mean this lazy butt can finally move around?” Julia asks.
Raquel nods. “Are you feeling well, Ava?”
Should I lie and say no so I can just get the good treatment from everyone?
“Yeah,” I say truthfully.
“Do you think you can stand up?” Raquel motions for me to move, and I drag my feet and feel fine. “This is good.”
I stretch my back and my legs. “I feel fine, thank you,” I tell her.
She smiles. “If there’s any other thing you’re feeling, make sure to tell me,” Raquel says as we walk out of the room finally.
“I think I just need some fresh air,” I tell Julia.
She looks at her phone and nods.
“Bo says he wants to take us to town right now if you’re down.”
***
As we finish eating in the local diner, with Bo paying of course, something catches my eye.
It’s like it’s meant to be, especially because I’m frustrated with how I can’t pay for my own dinner. I know Bo doesn’t care and is more than willing to pay for me, but can’t not have money any longer. Obviously, Lance’s money can be used, but I need to have my own income?
I rub the bottom of my nose with my pointer finger and squint at the sign. In front of the small bookstore, a sign says, “Hiring”.
Hmm.
“Are you thinking about it seriously?” Julia asks me as her gaze lands on the sign too.
“I need to money,” I tell her.
Bo opens his mouth to say, “Lance can gi—”
“Lance is not going to constantly keep giving me money. I need a job.” This job right here is perfect. I would love to work at a cute little bookstore.
“A job?” Bo looks at me like I have grown two heads. “Ava, you’re a werewolf, witch, whatever. More importantly, you’re the luna of our pack.”
“Technically, I’m not the official luna.” I snort. I don’t really want to talk about that yet.
Bo has other plans as he crosses his arms. “Well why don’t you make it official?”
Because I’m scared of being the biggest failure to Lance’s pack.
“Because,” is all I say. I stand up and exit the diner. I cross the street and enter the book store. I want to avoid the question, and I also need this job.
I hear a long sigh from behind me.
“I think it’s great you’re looking for a job.” Julia says. “You at least have initiative, you know? A lot of other lunas literally do nothing.”
Only one human is present in the book store. It’s a short woman, who is currently giving me the biggest smile. Her smile is contagious because I find myself smiling back at her.
“Welcome to Books For Peeps!” the woman exclaims excitedly. “What can I help you with?”
I give her a huge fake smile as I glance at Bo, who is shaking his head slightly. It might not be a big deal to him, but it is for me. I need some source of income. Besides, Lance would totally see what I’d be spending on his credit card. Relying solely on him isn’t going to cut it for me. It feels wrong in so many ways. I should be doing my part somehow.
“I want a job here.”
The human woman, who is named Beth, nods and asks me about my schedule. It’s literally any day, all day. She makes me sign a few things and tells me someone like her really needs the help. The only down side is that she only pays minimum wage.
“Ava, you don’t need to get a job,” Bo tells me as we walk out of the bookstore.
“Too bad. Didn’t you hear? I’m hired and I start working at 7:00 a.m.” I really don’t want to ask Beth to change the time because if the woman needs help, I will help her. I train early in the morning anyways, so getting there on time shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll just need someone to drop me off at that time as I don’t have my own car.
As I slowly realize all of this, I stop and frown deeply. “I have nothing.”
“You’re really starting to scare me. What’s wrong?” Bo asks.
“I don’t even have transportation to get to town. It’s a good twenty-minute drive.”
“I’m sure Lance will give you one of his,” Bo offers as we get in.
“That’s the point! Everything is Lance’s. I don’t have something to claim as my own,” I say, looking back at Julia who’s been unusually quiet about all of this.
“I do agree with Bo that you are the luna of this pack—”
“Not right now,” I cut her off.
“Not yet,” Bo inputs.
“You’re going to be luna whether you like it or not,” Julia tells me gruffly. “I do get that you want some independence. You don’t want to solely rely on Lance. I get it because I’d probably do the same thing. I’m just waiting to see what you’re going to do in the long run.”
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
“If you want,” Julia answers, “let’s see if you can keep it.”
***
Bo wants to come with me when I tell Lance that I now have a job.
“I want to bring in some popcorn,” Bo tells me.
I lightly punch Bo on the shoulder for doubting me like this, but what can Lance say?
We enter the office, and Bo goes to his crusty desk space that has stacks and stacks of paper laying on it. I don’t think I see anything else.
Lance is working on something in his laptop, raising his chin up a little in greeting.
“I want to get a new car,” I start off as I step forward.
Bo sticks his tongue out me.
“It’s paid,” Lance told me, not taking his eyes off his computer screen.
“I got a job.”
This time, Lance’s eyes meets mine, and he gives me a sort of curious expression. He is not saying anything though so I continue. “I’ll be working there.” Still nothing. “Okay, bye. See you at like 9:00 p.m.” I quickly turn around to get out of here before he could say something.
“Ava.”
I slowly turn around to
look at him. “It’s not necessary for you to have a job. We have the money—”
“Yes! I do!” I exclaim. “How the heck is it fair for you to be doing all the work while I’m literally just doing nothing? What kind of unproductive life is that? Even if I am luna and has these responsibilities, it’s not a twenty-four-seven job. And what is this ’we have the money’?”
“Everything that is mine is yours.”
I know this is a rare case when it comes to mates, but if we break it off or if something happens, having money is an assurance. I don’t want to be too dependent on him. Plus, I want to take some online classes, but that’s another discussion. I’m not going to be one those lunas that just do nothing all day as their mates do all the work. I want in with what Lance is doing and do my own thing at the same time.
“What do you even do to make you that rich? Are you some kind of drug dealer?” I blurt out. How come all alphas have to be painstakingly rich? It’s unfair to the world. And me.
Lance looks a little taken aback but shakes his head slightly. “I’m not a drug dealer.”
I almost laugh at how he parrots my words back to me.
“I own a few restaurants and hotels. Sell big property. Invest in some good stock.”
“What hotel?” This information interests me.
“Duke Hotels.”
My mouth opens widely. “The Duke Hotel?” It’s bigger than any Hilton, way fancier too.
“Yeah, we own the entire chain,” Bo inputs.
“You said a few hotels.”
“We own a few other hotel names too,” Bo adds.
At this point, I don’t want to know. “I don’t care if you own the planet. I’m working and you can’t stop me.” I look at Lance pointedly.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask, then clear my throat. “I mean, I wasn’t asking permission.”
“I know.” Lance stares straight at me. “ I’ll support whatever you want to do if it’s what you want.”
My heart melts a little. I give him a faint smile, and his eyes soften some more despite always being like that when he looks at me.
