“Sorry, Kimberly, but you can’t go!” Hannah blocked my path as soon as I headed for the door, grabbing both of my hands.
Before I could process what she was doing, Louis also stepped in front of me. He smiled and backed her up. “We can’t let you leave.”
“Do you both realize that if I don’t get to my dad’s place on time, something awful might happen to him?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing bad will happen to Alpha Darwin. Trust him to handle it. I think he’s keeping you here for a reason, to protect you from something,” Louis said, his face serious.
“Yeah, Louis is right. Alpha Darwin knows what he’s doing. You just need to trust him!” Hannah added confidently.
Hearing them both, I started doubting myself. If my dad told them to keep me here, he must have had a good reason. Maybe I should just listen, like they said.
“Alright, I’ll stay,” I sighed, slowly pulling my wrist free from Hannah’s grip before sitting back down on the bed.
“Finally, you’re acting like a good daughter!” Hannah teased, giggling behind her hand.
“Oh, come on, Hannah! I’ve been a good daughter since the day I was born!” I growled, rolling my eyes and pouting.
“I believe you,” Louis chuckled, trying to keep a straight face.
We spent the next few minutes joking and chatting. Suddenly, Louis’s phone started buzzing beside me on the bed. He quickly grabbed it, unlocked it, and his face lit up.
“What the heck!” Louis shouted, jumping to his feet.
Hannah and I shot up in surprise. “What happened?” we both said at the same time.
“Hahaha!” Louis laughed and pulled me into a bear hug, spinning me around.
“What’s going on with you?” Hannah smacked him lightly on the neck, pulling him off me. “Tell us!”
“Alpha Derrick and Mona postponed their engagement!” Louis waved his phone in front of our faces, showing us the news.
“Oh my gosh, that’s amazing!” Hannah started jumping with joy.
I grabbed the phone from his hand to read it myself. What I saw made my heart race. The news was straight from Alpha Derrick himself, announced in an interview that morning.
“Why would he make this public?” I muttered, glaring at the phone. Both Hannah and Louis stopped celebrating and looked at me, confused.
“Aren’t you happy?” Hannah asked, shocked.
“What’s there to celebrate?” I clenched my teeth, trying to keep calm.
“You should be glad, Kim! This means Alpha Derrick won’t be able to make you his slave anytime soon!” Louis said cheerfully.
“Exactly! This is great news for you!” Hannah echoed.
“Does it stop him from making me his slave in two weeks? No. So why should I be happy?” I tossed the phone back to Louis and sat back on the bed.
Something felt wrong. The engagement was postponed, not canceled. It meant my father and Alpha Derrick must have had some sort of discussion at the council meeting.
Alpha Derrick isn’t the type to agree to something like this so easily. He must’ve had a long conversation with my dad before making such a big announcement.
‘Did Dad talk to Mona about this? I doubt it. She would never agree to a delay,’ I thought, trying to make sense of it all.
“Kimberly!” Hannah’s voice broke my train of thought. I hadn’t even noticed she was calling my name.
“Yeah? What is it?” I asked.
“What are you thinking about? You’re free for now. You should be happy.”
“I wish I could be happy, but I can’t,” I admitted.
“Why not? Don’t tell me you’re thinking about your step-sister again!” Hannah’s face twisted in annoyance at the mention of Mona.
“I’m not worried about Mona. I’m more worried about my dad. Something must’ve happened for Alpha Derrick to delay the engagement.”
“Your dad is fine, trust me. You don’t need to worry about him,” Louis said, trying to comfort me. His calm voice gave me a sense of relief.
Maybe I really didn’t need to worry. Dad has always managed to pull through tough situations.
“Now that you’ve got nothing to do for two weeks, let’s make the most of it!” Louis suggested with a grin.
Hannah quickly grabbed my hand, nodding. “Yes! Let’s have some fun together!”
“That sounds like a plan. Count me in,” I agreed, feeling a little better. Maybe this was my last chance to enjoy life before everything changed.
I had always been a good daughter, doing my best to live up to the pack’s expectations. I may not be the most beautiful, but I’ve always prided myself on my intelligence and ability to solve problems.
Most of the pack was surprised when I didn’t find a mate after my first shift. They expected me to end up with someone strong, but fate had other plans.
In the end, I had no one. Things would stay this way until I breathed my last breath.
Just as we finished talking, the pack doctor arrived to check my pulse and give me some medicine. A few minutes later, I was discharged from the hospital.
Hannah and Louis made sure to walk with me as we headed back to the pack house…
Luna Catherine instantly realized she’d said too much when she saw Mona’s expression. The tension in the room was thick, especially when Alpha Derrick gave her a cold, piercing look.
Luna Catherine hurried to Mona’s side, trying to smooth things over.
“Mona, sweetheart, don’t worry. Your father and I were just having a grown-up discussion.” She gently stroked Mona’s hair, trying to comfort her.
But Mona wasn’t easily swayed. She stared at both her parents, clearly suspicious. “But Mom, what I overheard sounded really serious…”
Alpha Darwin’s deep voice cut through. “How long have you been standing there?”
Mona blinked, caught off guard. “I just got here, Dad.”
“Good.” Alpha Darwin’s tone softened slightly. “Forget what your mother said. The only thing bothering her is the delay in your engagement to Alpha Derrick.”
“Wait, what? My engagement is postponed? Why? Since when?” Mona’s voice was filled with confusion and disappointment. Her face scrunched up, clearly upset.
“It’s just for two weeks. There’s no need to worry,” Alpha Darwin said calmly, trying to ease her.
Her mother quickly added, “Your father’s right, Mona. The engagement will still happen. Just focus on your upcoming eighteenth birthday and your first shift, okay?”
Mona nodded, though her heart wasn’t in it. “Okay, Mom. I need to go.”
She kept her voice calm, but she was holding back the hurt she felt. Why hadn’t Alpha Derrick told her himself?
“Alright, honey. I’ll see you later.” Luna Catherine gave Mona a tight hug, holding her a little longer than usual before letting her go.
Once Mona left, Luna Catherine turned toward the bedroom, but Alpha Darwin’s voice stopped her.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Luna Catherine froze but didn’t turn around. “I’m going back to the room.”
“You can’t just walk away like that. We’re not done talking!” Alpha Darwin growled, his anger rising again.
“I thought we were done.” Luna Catherine’s voice was calm, but her back remained turned.
“Who said we were done? You?” He scoffed, his voice dripping with frustration. “How could you be so careless? What if Mona had heard more? Or worse-what if Kimberly had overheard? How would you explain yourself then?”
Luna spun around, eyes blazing. “There it is! You’re always thinking about Kimberly! But you need to understand, she’s going to find out the truth eventually!” With that, she stormed out, leaving Alpha Darwin speechless.
He watched her leave but didn’t call after her. Sighing heavily, he slumped back on the sofa, muttering to himself, “One day, you’ll all understand.”
*****
Around 4:00 p. m., Mona stormed into Alpha Derrick’s company building. She had skipped going to his mansion, knowing he wouldn’t be there this time of day. She was on a mission to confront him.
Since it was the weekend, most of the staff weren’t in. The few that were working bowed their heads respectfully as she walked past, acknowledging her future Luna status.
Mona gave a brief nod in return, her focus solely on Derrick.
As she approached his office, the two guards stationed at the door greeted her. “Good evening, ma’am,” one of them said politely.
But Mona wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. “I need to speak to Alpha Derrick. Now.”
The second guard stepped forward, his voice apologetic. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but Alpha Derrick gave strict orders not to let anyone in at the moment.”
“I’m not ‘anyone.’ I’m his future Luna! Now, get out of my way!” Mona’s voice was sharp with anger.
“We’re sorry, but we can’t let you in right now.” Both guards held their ground.
Mona glared at them, feeling humiliated. But she wasn’t giving up that easily. She paused for a moment, then pointed over their shoulders.
“What’s that?”
Both guards instinctively turned to look. In that split second, Mona dashed into the office, slamming the door behind her.
“Ma’am! Ma’am!” The guards called after her, but before they could follow, Alpha Derrick’s calm voice rang out.
“Let her be.” He waved them away, remaining seated on the sofa.
Mona stormed over to him, her fury boiling over. “Why did you tell your guards to keep me out?”
“It wasn’t just you,” Derrick replied coolly. “I asked them to keep everyone out.”
“That’s not the point!” Mona fumed. “Why didn’t you tell me about the postponement before making it public? How could you do that to me?”
Derrick remained calm, his gaze steady. “Because I was told to.”
Mona blinked in shock. “Told? Who could possibly tell you what to do?”
“Your father, Alpha Darwin.”
“My dad?” Mona couldn’t believe it. “But why? Why would he ask you to do something like that?”
“That’s something you’ll have to ask him.” Derrick stood firm. “He pleaded with me, and I agreed.”
Mona’s mind raced. Could it be about Kimberly? Was her father trying to protect her? The thought made her blood boil.
“It has to be about Kimberly,” she muttered. “My dad wouldn’t ask for a favor unless it was about her.”
Derrick chuckled, but said nothing.
Mona took a deep breath. “I’ll talk to him later. But for now, why are you still at the office? What’s so important?”
“I have paperwork that needs to be signed before Monday,” Derrick answered, flipping through the files on his desk.
“Well,” Mona purred, moving closer to him, “I need a favor from you.” She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear.
Derrick stiffened, trying to resist her charm but ultimately giving in. “What kind of favor?”
She whispered her request softly, her lips barely touching his skin. Derrick raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that won’t get you in trouble?”
“I’ll be fine. I just need your help.”
“Alright,” Derrick agreed after a moment. “I’ll assign some of my men to help you tonight.”
Mona’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Thank you, baby!” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
“But,” Derrick said with a smirk, “there’s a price.”
Mona’s cheeks flushed red. “I know, and I’m ready to pay it.”
“Good.” Derrick grinned, smacking her lightly on the backside as he stood. “Let’s go.”
They left the office together, Derrick grabbing his briefcase as they rushed out…