“Do you need more materials? Or perhaps new instruments?” He questions eyeing the main door of the house. He strides forward holding onto Kal tightly with his left hand his right reaches towards the door frame. Pushing onto it, banging it making sure it is strong. He is checking if it meets his satisfaction of strength. He is checking if it can protect Kal and me.
He gives a curt nod of approval and takes a step back. His eyes move back up to meet mine and I quickly look away again. Clearing my throat I reply, “No. I require nothing.”
He takes a shaky breath in as he peers down at the sleeping Kal. As soon as his eyes meet that of my male the sadness of his soul disappears and is met by an immense joy. One that cannot be put into words. I am his light and Kal is his sun.
Turning around with one last longing glance at me he walks away. His shoulders have sunk and head downcast. He does not walk the way an Alpha does but an ordinary male. One bare of his titles. One with nothing but a mate and a son.
The wolves bow to him on the way and he replies with a kind smile. I watch his retreating hunched back and take a deep breath. Finally, I can breathe.
I glance at my Beta and am surprised to know she has been watching me. Her eyes, they regard me with an emotion I am unaware of. Why? Why is she looking at me this way? It is a mixture of sadness with a hint of disappointment.
She turns back around and continues hammering and smoothening the buloke. Clenching my jaw not wishing for an uneasy conversation to take place I head down the ladder wiping my dirty hands on a cotton cloth.
“It is almost done, Alpha.” A male comes to stand at my side as his eyes sweep through the house.
“How does it look? Does it look warm and cosy? One where Kal would feel loved? Speak your truth.”
The male quietens the wheels turning within his mind. “Would he not love the castle grounds? It is bigger and free. Kal can be one with his wolf on those grounds compared to here I suppose.” He says.
It feels as though I am struck with lightening. Yes. I know with the blood that runs through his veins he would prefer the castle grounds compared to this house. But I can see it. Kal being happy here. With me by his side.
I will make sure to bring him up in a way that he will grow to become without a guarded heart but with an open soul so he can rule with both his heart and mind. Not only with one of those.
“I suppose so.” Is all I say not wishing to dwell more into this with my wolves for I know they have been aching to ask me. Why I have left the castle? Why there is tension between Deimos and me?
“Alpha are we done for the day?” Elriam peeks down from above whilst she questions.
“Yes, we are.” I reply tying my hair up over my head allowing the wind to glide past my bare neck soothing my burning flesh.
I need to go take a shower and fetch my male. It is almost time to feed him. Jogging the way back to the castle I sigh in defeat. Even being near to this place makes me anxious. Anxious that I will come face to face with Deimos and he might start a conversation I don’t wish to be a part of.
My route to my room is halted when my ears perk up to loud laughter from the kitchen. A soft smile on my face to see what the females are laughing about I peek inside. My eyes scanning through the crowded room I find the female of sin with a cup of wine in her hand surrounded by others. She sits on the kitchen counter swinging her bare legs holding all the attention sitting there as if she owns this place.
My wolf for the first time in weeks wakes up from her slumber. Her cage rattles with the fury that grows from within her core. She is awake now. Wide awake.
I stand straighter and watch this scene unfold before me. There are some young present that surround her looking up to her as if she were a role model. It disgusts me, I gag visibly trying to control what wishes to be barfed out.
My eyes blazing my chest tightening. My armour is on. I walk to her. My steps are heavy and they pound upon the marble tiles. The wreck, the havoc that has happened in my mates bond caused by her. And yet she stands there with pride her head held high.
As I near them the chatter stops and the females crowd around his chosen. No, they are not my females they are of Deimos’s pack. They are all mostly old. Old enough to be elders of the pack. Their white hair visible with wrinkles and sagged skin that paint their flesh.
“Luna.” They bow in unison with respect. Respect? Your respect is fake to me. This is not how you respect the Luna, this is how you put her to shame with this tradition of yours.
“Move.” I utter. They look back up confused glancing at each other in confusion. “I said to move! Remove his chosen from your protection at once.” My voice booms across the walls the windows rattle with the wrath that I hold deep inside me.
I had kept my feelings at bay. Allowed this female to stay here despite having no role to play anymore for no matter what she was a member of this pack.
That was the biggest sacrifice as a Luna I could make yet here she is drinking wine sitting on the counter where I had once been kissed by Deimos upon. She dirties every memory imprinting her filthy scent upon it.
The females tremble yet they do not move to allow me to get to his chosen.
My body trembles claws emerge from flesh. Fangs elongating I heave trying to control my fury. This disobedience. This blatant show of disrespect of rebelliousness that they have never once done. All this to protect her? To protect this tradition?
“Who wishes to die first?” I am barely controlling my wolf. Her pent up energy she shielded wishes to emerge and burst. She wishes to paint the walls red.
The females’ quiver some already taking a few steps away clearing my path but some stand still their heads bowed.
“P-Please move.” A small whisper is let out from the back. The females’ eyes widen and they snap their heads back at her. “It is okay.” She eases their worries with a gentle smile. They immediately respond to her words and move away.
This female. Who do they regard her as that they follow her blindly yet with the true Luna they protest?
She strides forward. My fingers itches. It itches to cut her throat and watch her bleed to death. The moon will not take her for this tradition they follow blindly is a sin. Against mates. Against the moon herself.
“Where did Deimos hide you?” I question.
She stands straighter her eyes plunging through me. She thinks I am a pup. That I am immature. That I taunt her for I am nothing but jealous. Her fear of me, her innocence is quickly gone as it came. She shows me her true self.