SHADOW
My hands shook as I tried to clean off the blood. The crimson water dropped, draining into the sink- it was Zack’s blood. I almost lost a good man today.
Zack was my best friend. Despite how we got off the wrong foot, he helped me through tough shits. He was among a few who believed in me and that there was something good in me, even if I was a rogue.
I put another soap on my hands to get rid of the blood stain. It wouldn’t just go. I wanted to forget he was hurt even if the witches said he would make it, but it still hurt. If only the witches weren’t there, I would have lost him.
I felt Califf came into the room. A moment later, he appeared at the bathroom door but said nothing, gazing at what I was doing. I washed my face if even he already saw my tears. He could feel and get into my thoughts but chose to give me space.
“Where’s everyone?” I asked, diverting my thoughts. He lost men today. I knew how it felt, but he was stronger than most Alphas. Instead of killing those who surrendered, he wanted to give them a chance, including Everlee.
He offered the towel to me. “They’re cleaning. Your father and his men are in the living room. My parents are there with them.”
“I wanna help.” I grabbed the towel from him.
“No, you won’t. They can handle it. I want you to sit down and cry or do whatever you want. I know you care about everyone, but Zack is the closest to you that got hurt.”
I threw myself at him, and he caught me, wrapping his arms around me. I sobbed in his arms and felt his hands rubbing my back.
“I thought I was going to lose him, but I wouldn’t hesitate to heal him if Zarah was not there. Then I thought of the consequences. For the first time, I felt hopeless, Califf.”
“I know, baby. I felt that almost every day. I wanted to do something for our pack, but it seemed impossible to save everyone. I’m just grateful we didn’t lose a lot of men. Still, I feel my heart bleeds for them.”
I pulled away and cupped his head. I pressed my lips against his and looked him in the eye. “When I saw Keane was about to bite you, I forgot everything around me. I felt I was in that ring again as I watched you fight for your life.”
“Hey. We made it this far.” He rubbed my arms. “We’ll make it through another challenge as long as we stick together. Do you hear me?”
“Yes.” I nodded. I went to the window to look at the guys. They were cleaning the blood on the ground, lifting off those dead bodies of Keane’s pack, putting them together. Goosebumps erupted on my skin, making me shiver.
“What’s wrong?” Califf came behind, kissing the mark on my neck.
“This is exactly in my dreams. Remember when I told you about my dream when I first slept in that room?”
“Yes. I remember. It crept me out. At least it’s not ours.”
“I hope I won’t have another dream because it feels terrible.”
“Maybe that’s one of your abilities.”
“I don’t want it anymore, Califf. I don’t want to be crazy, knowing my dreams can happen in the future. I’d rather be just an ordinary Lycan.”
“It’s going to be okay. It’s over now. No one will try to harm our pack again. I’m sure those in the cell will spread the message after the witch’s binding. Every pack will know about our allies, and you made this possible, baby. It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t meet you. We have your father downstairs, and we have witches on our side. No one will challenge my position or underestimate the capability of our pack again.”
“We did this together, Alpha.”
“It’s my Luna’s effort. Really.”
I managed to chuckle even if my heart was still bleeding. “You supported my endeavor. That means a lot.”
“Come on. You did all the heavy lifting. Just take the credit, Luna.”
I took his hand and kissed it. “Thank you for believing in me.”
We went down when I calmed down a bit.
Lyon met us downstairs and noticed my eyes were still red and puffy. “I still have goosebumps that I shook hands with an Alpha King. The Lycan Alpha King. How awesome is that?”
“Really?” I hugged him, making him stiffen. When I pulled away, he was still staring at me in surprise.
“What was that for?”
“Now, a princess, just hug you, Lyon.”
“Oh, yeah.” He beamed. “You’re a princess.”
I turned to Califf, who looked amused at Lyon’s reaction.
“Please, don’t ever call me princess, or we may have a problem.”
“Of course.”
“But you did good today, Lyon. I’m proud to have worked with you. You’re a good man.”
“It’s pack effort, really, but thanks.”
“Is it true?” Kairo joined us.
“Probably, Kairo. What about it?”
“So you’re a princess?”
I rolled my eyes. “I hate it. I’m just a Luna of Night Stalker Pack. One title is enough for me, Kairo.”
“Wow. You’re just down-to-earth.”
“And you fought well, Kairo.”
He sighed, sagging his shoulders. “Thanks. Is Zack going to be okay? I went to the infirmary, but he was sleeping, and Dr. Sallie told me not to disturb her patient.”
“That’s good. Let him rest. We’ll see him in the morning,” said Califf.
“That’s the plan, Alpha.”
“Where’s Tor?” I asked.
Lyon shrugged. “Probably with a pretty witch, healing him.”
“You should rest, too. The threat is resolved. Maybe we can arrange a dinner or a barbeque once the cleaning is done.”
“That’s a great idea, Luna.”
“We’ll plan this out once everything is back in order.” Califf put his arm around me. “You guys can go. We still have guests to entertain.”
“Let’s go,” Lyon told Kairo.
The moment Lyon and Kairo left, Elder Eleanor appeared before us.
“Is everything okay, Mom?”
“Yes,” she said, but her eyes were pinned on me. “You didn’t tell us you’re a royal Lycan, honey.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t know either until I met Sebastien weeks ago. And it’s not a big deal. My dad, Samuel, left his extravagant life to be with Mom, and he never mentioned to me that he was a member of the royals. And honestly, I don’t care. I just wanna be a Luna of this pack.”
Elder Eleanor smiled. “You did so much for this pack in just a few months. I couldn’t be more proud. Waylon, too, and you just saved his life twice, honey. We owed you so much.”
“No, no, no. You don’t owe anything. In fact, I owe you everything. I wouldn’t have met this guy without you both.” I pointed at Califf beside me with a smile on his face.
I was surprised when Elder Eleanor threw herself at me and hugged me tight. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
She blinked her tears back as she smiled at me and her son. “This pack will be the strongest and biggest in the world. I believe you and my son can achieve more. Anyway, I have to entertain your father.”
“We’ll be there shortly.”
When his mother left, I held his hand. “I’m going to see Zack. You can join your parents. I’ll be there at dinner.”
“I’m going with you.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m going alone. You need to be with your parents. You’re the Alpha, Califf.”
I could feel his resistance, and he hadn’t let go of my hand. “You’re not planning on something stupid, aren’t you?”
“No. There’s no stupid to plan, Alpha. The war is over. We won. You have those prisoners locked up. Everything will not go back to normal, but we eliminated threats like stupid Keane. And we may not see those who have fallen, but we make sure we never forget them. I know Lorcan was one of the guys who saved me, so I still owe him that much.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I know this is not the life you want. You just want to have a normal human life, but since you came into the compound, you’ve suffered a lot.”
“Shut up. I wouldn’t change any of these. I wouldn’t make different choices. I met you, and we’re here today, still together, and that’s all that matters. I don’t care what struggles I faced before, and the things I experienced in the past make me who I am right now. I won’t ever regret any of it.”
He cupped my face and kissed me. I felt everything in that two-second kiss. “They can take everything from me except you.”
“I know. I would do the same, Alpha.” I stepped back. “See you at dinner.”
“Okay, baby.”
I sat before Zack, lying on the bed. He was recuperating from the blood loss and exhaustion. He was stable now, but looking back at how he dropped to the ground, his neck spurting blood, I thought I bled too. I couldn’t unsee that moment. I couldn’t forget it. I instantly saw the little girl watching his parents get slaughtered. That’s how I saw Zack grasping his neck, gasping for breath.
I held his big hand. It was warm but did not move. “I know you can’t hear me, but I’m here.”
I drew a deep breath when my emotions came my way. “You know, I didn’t mean to knee you that day. It was just my nature, my wolf. You caught me off guard. I’m still grateful for what you did to me. You are one of those few heads who saw me and gave me a chance to be a part of this pack. I can’t forget how you helped me clean the kitchen and helped me practice beating my opponent. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to beat Tor. That SOB really hit me hard.” I chuckled, wiping my tears when I remembered him telling me I didn’t beat Tor hard enough. “Thanks for the beer, though. I badly needed it at that time. You literally saved me.”
I suddenly became too emotional. I didn’t know why. I cared deeply for this guy, and I never thanked him enough.
“You should go, Luna. Dinner is about to start,” Dr. Sallie informed me.
I nodded before I got up. “Please, take care of Zack.”
“I will. I will tell him you came by when he wakes up.”
“Thanks.”
I didn’t go to the pack house just yet. I went down to where they held the prisoners.
“Luna,” the guard bowed a little and stepped back.
Everlee was held in a separate cell with the three women. I never imagined this day would come when a great Everlee fell from her throne.
She stood up and came to me, only iron bars separating us. “What do you want?”
“I just came here to see you and everyone to make sure you are treated fairly.”
“Fair? Is this fair?” She snarled. She still had the audacity to demand fairness when they came to our territory to slaughter us because their Alpha told them so.
“If I was in your position. I would be long dead. You won’t think twice about snapping my neck or ripping off my throat, Everlee. I know you hate me and won’t hesitate to kill me if you can, but here we are. I saved your life, but I’m not expecting a thank you. I don’t need it. You are still alive despite your father’s betrayal. And I understand his decision, but make no mistake, if you choose to join this pack or go with Grady, I won’t hesitate to end your life if you betray Califf or Grady. And I guarantee your father will lose in the challenge that leaves you what? Just Everlee?”
“You’re not just a rogue after all.”
“No. I’m not. And you should have kept my introduction in mind, but you chose not to believe me.”
“Thank you.” I thought she just thanked me for spearing her life, but I didn’t care.
“Consider this. Your life is mine now, Everlee.”