Alison’s POV
I lay awake in bed, my mind racing. The ceiling above me seemed to stretch infinitely, an empty canvas upon which all my doubts were painted. How did I get here? A rejected mate, a broken life in Silver Moon… and now, standing on the verge of rejection yet again. Was I really so cursed, so unlucky in love? My heart felt like it was being shredded by invisible claws, and I didn’t know how to stop the ache. Every time I closed my eyes, Kendrick’s cruel smirk haunted me, followed by Xander’s pained, indecisive expression.
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts, breaking the stillness of the night. I hesitated for a second before climbing out of bed. Wrapping a blanket around me, I shuffled to the door and opened it to see Luke, Xander’s trusted advisor and the only one in the Night Fang who treated me with any kindness.
“Luke?” I said, a bit surprised to see him so late.
He gave me a warm, polite smile. “Good evening, Ms. Alison. Alpha Xander requested that I escort you somewhere.”
I blinked, confusion setting in. “At this hour? Where if I may ask?”
His only answer was a small, mysterious grin. “I’m afraid he hasn’t permitted me to say. If you could just change into something more comfortable, I’ll be waiting right here.”
I bit back the dozens of questions swirling in my mind and nodded instead. After slipping into something casual, I followed him down the hall and up a winding staircase I hadn’t even noticed before. The air grew crisper as we climbed, and as we neared the top, I saw a soft glow filtering down the stairs. Candlelight. My heart picked up speed as I realized where we were headed: the rooftop. At the top of the stairs, Luke stopped, gesturing toward the open doorway.
“He’s waiting for you there,” he said with a reassuring nod before stepping back into the shadows.
I took a breath and stepped forward, feeling the cool night air embrace me. Candles lined the pathway across the rooftop, their flames flickering gently in the breeze. At the end of the path stood Xander, his silhouette framed by the starlit sky. I could feel the weight of his gaze, watching me, waiting.
As I drew closer, Xander turned fully to face me, a small smile on his lips. He held out a bouquet of wildflowers, their petals soft and delicate in the candlelight.
“Would you care to join me for a midnight snack?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.
I nodded, my heart pounding at the gentleness in his eyes. We settled on the bare floor, and he pulled out a small bag of snacks, candied nuts, a few pieces of dried fruit. The rooftop felt like our own private world, high above the burdens of duty and expectation that came with my new reality. Xander’s expression was serious, yet softened by a rare vulnerability as he handed me a handful of treats.
“I’m sorry, Ally,” he began quietly, his eyes reflecting regret. “For everything you’ve had to hear since you arrived … for the things I haven’t done to protect you.”
I met his gaze, seeing the weight he carried. “I forgive you, Xander,” I replied, more softly than I intended. “But… I need to know if you truly want me by your side.”
He gave a thoughtful nod. “By the Moon Goddess I do. I have from the moment I met you.”
For the first time, I let myself truly believe those words. “I hope you know what you’re getting into,” I replied, managing a small smile. “I’m not exactly… well-educated. The castle slaves in Silver Moon taught me what they knew, but reading, writing… it’s not so easy for me.”
A flicker of something crossed his face, surprise mingling with anger, though I knew it wasn’t directed at me. “They never taught you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his tone laced with frustration.
I shook my head. “No. Well, Alpha Dennis, Kendrick’s father didn’t see the point in educating someone like me.”
Xander’s jaw tightened. He took my hand gently in his. “You deserve better, Ally. I’ll make sure you have everything you need to learn, to become the best Luna Nightfang ever had. I’ll get you a tutor, whatever it takes.”
His words warmed something deep within me, a flicker of hope taking root. “Thank you, Xander. I never thought…” I hesitated, the vulnerability of admitting my inadequacies almost too much to bear. “I never thought I’d mean enough to someone of your status to be worth of all this.”
“You mean everything to me, Ally,” he murmured, his fingers tracing small circles on my hand. “You know… I’ve been asking myself, what kind of leader would I be, if I can’t even protect the woman I love?”
A blush rose to my cheeks, and I glanced away. “The pack… your mother… Caitlyn…” My voice trailed off, the reality of our obstacles crashing down around us. “What if… what if the pressure becomes too much for you? For us?”
Xander’s hand slipped from mine, and for a moment, I feared he might agree. Instead, he lifted his index finger to my lips, silencing me.
“Don’t ask ‘what if,'” he whispered, his gaze intense. “The only thing you need to know is this: you’re the one I want, Alison. I don’t care what anyone says. They’ll learn to accept it with time, or they’ll face the consequences.”
I held my breath as his finger slowly moved away, replaced by his lips brushing against mine. The kiss was deep, fierce, and filled with a passion I’d only dreamed of. Maya, my wolf, urged me to let go, to give myself over to him completely. And for a moment, I was ready to do just that.
But then, he pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. “I swear to you, Alison,” he murmured, his voice like a vow carried on the wind, “according to the moon goddess, you’re all I need. That will never change, no matter what pressure they put on me.”
The weight of his promise sank into me, giving me the strength I needed. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling his arm wrap around me, grounding me. Together, we watched the stars twinkle in the night sky, the world fading away around us. In that moment, I allowed myself to believe in a future where we could be together, in a future where love could conquer all.
Minutes passed in silence, filled with the gentle sounds of the night and the comfort of his presence. As I closed my eyes, feeling his warmth against me, a thought gnawed at the back of my mind… a warning that peace like this was fragile, that it couldn’t last.
Eventually, he spoke again, breaking the stillness. “Alison… I need you to be prepared,” he said softly. “There will definitely be battles ahead, ones I may not be able to fight alone.”
I looked up at him, meeting his intense gaze. “I’ll do my best to prepare, Xander,” I promised, my voice steady. “Whatever comes, I stand with you.”
We sat like that until the first hints of dawn appeared on the horizon. But as the light began to chase away the stars, a chill crept into my heart, an unsettling sense that this newfound hope would soon be tested.
And as I held onto Xander, my heart whispered a silent plea to the moon goddess. I prayed she would protect us, that she wouldn’t let this be yet another cruel twist of fate.
But as we made our way back down the stairs, hand in hand, I couldn’t shake the feeling that darkness was looming closer than ever, waiting to snatch away everything we’d just found.
For now, I would hold onto his promise. But as I returned to my room, alone once again, I couldn’t help but wonder… how many promises had been broken before me?
And how many would be broken still?