Willa's POV
"What the hell?!" Jason dashed toward us but stopped fast as he stared at Alpha Kirsch with fear, "Are you fucking with me?!"
"Yes, I would like you to see it that way." Alpha Kirsch let out a short laugh as if heard a funny joke. Jason was furious.
Jason pointed his shaking fingers at Alpha Kirsch: "You deny her to me, you insult me! And you don't want to insult me!"
"I think I just did." Alpha Kirsch sneered with a shrug, his lips curving up, "My pack is the strongest among...well, all the packs that I know of. So what are you gonna do about it?"
The only thing stopping Jason from attacking Alpha Kirsch right now was the fear of a war with such a powerful pack.
"She's still in my pack bond." Jason suppressed his voice, realizing anger was NOT going to get him what he wanted, "According to The Code--"
"Break it." Alpha Kirsch nodded at me.
If I break it, I wouldn't be able to mind link granny! I hesitated but granny mindlinked me right away--
[Break it.]
And she broke it first. No point if I stayed so I broke it too.
Jason growled at the sensation of our breaking out of his mindlink web. Fury burst out of his eyes. His face was now in the color of the liver as he shouted at Alpha Kirsch desperately: "You agreed to the meeting, you agreed to give them to me!"
"I agreed to the meeting, but never to anything else." Alpha Kirsch answered slowly but clearly, "I came only to tell you face to face: You lose your wolves, you lose them. You come to my territory for a fuss, you will lose more."
Jason growled at the plain threat. He growled and shifted in front of Alpha Kirsch, baring his teeth in an attack position.
To all our surprise, Alpha Kirsch didn't even move, let alone shift--
He laughed.
"You can't beat me, Jason. Leave before my patience run out." Alpha Kirsch said with a cold smile.
Jason growled at the burn of humiliation.
He was an Alpha, and his shifting didn't even make Alpha Kirsch flinch.
Jason paced around in anger and growled loudly, but he didn't dare approach. In the end, he just turned and ran away, his wolves following him.
Granny bowed deeply to Alpha Kirsch, and I tried to mimic, too, but he still had my wrist in his hand, held in front of chest. My ears were hot at the fact that I kicked and cursed him when he helped me nonetheless, and apparently, he noticed that as well--
"Not so fierce now, huh?" He glanced at his wounded hand before he fixed his eyes on me with a taunting smirk, "Tell me your name, little kitten."
"Willa," I murmured with a blush, struggling to get my wrist out of his hand.
He hesitated, but let me go this time.
I dodged his gaze as I rubbed my wrist at the discomfort from his grip. His grip was hard and cold. There were several red marks on my wrists.
"Did I hurt you?" He frowned as he bent a little, trying to search for the answer in my eyes.
"I'm fine." I lowered my eyes, dodging his gaze, "Thanks for saving us..."
The red-haired she-wolf shifted back, snorting. Her naked body was an eye-catcher. I seriously didn't know what was wrong with her, especially how she was not showing respect in front of the Alpha.
Was she the Alpha's mate?!
Granny nudged me on my leg. Though we couldn't mind link anymore, I knew she wanted to make our plea again.
I wasn't sure how I felt about begging the cold Alpha again though. I got enough humiliation earlier. But he saved us. Could that change his rejection?
"I know you don't accept newcomers, but we really need a pack's protection," I took a deep breath, ignoring the red-haired woman's glare as I plead again.
"You can stay." The Alpha nodded as he said simply.
"So it would be great if--" I jerked up my head and shut my mouth halfway into my plea.
Alpha Kirsch laughed, amused by my shocked look.
"Kirsch!" The red-haired woman blurted out, "What are you doing?!"
She didn't address him by the title?! Only mates did that. Maybe she was his mate! That would explain a lot.
"I know what I'm doing." Alpha Kirsch said in a cold tone, didn't even look at the woman.
Now his attitude made it confusing again.
"I don't want to cause trouble between you two..." I glanced at granny, unsure, but I couldn't tell her thoughts anymore.
"You are not causing trouble." Alpha Kirsch reached out as if he wanted to pat me on my head, I flinched by instinct. His hand paused before dropping.
"You mean you changed your mind?" I blinked in confusion. He was so furious at me and was determined to not allow us in. What changed?!
"Yes..." He sighed heavily, folding his arms as he tilted his head at me, this time smiling a little. But there was bitterness at the corner of his lips as if he was regretting saying yes right this second.
"We don't take newcomers for a reason! Let alone a wolfless with an Alpha after her tail!" The red-haired woman stepped up and dragged Alpha Kirsch on the arm.
What reason? Curiosity spout out in me. Now that she mentioned it, it WAS weird. Most packs would want more members, it meant more power.
"I'm still your Alpha." Alpha Kirsch was not pleased, but unlike any Alpha I knew, he just reminded her softly. Whatever their relationship, it was special.
I wanted to join the pack less now. It would be a lot of trouble if I made the luna my enemy on day one.
"What's your problem with her?" Alpha Kirsch turned to look at the angry woman.
"My problem is that her problem is not our problem!" The red-haired woman argued with her hands on her hips, "What's got into you?! It's not like she could be your mate!"
Not that I want to, but why couldn't I?!
I frowned at her words. No alpha would want a wolfless luna. I ran into people like her all the time. But it was still not a pleasure to know one more.
Alpha Kirsch glanced at me, his eyes glazed over. Soon, the woman shifted before she stormed off.
He mind linked her, not wanting us to know what they said.
My heart was pounding fast, afraid to hear his decision. I wouldn't have begged again if the new moon wasn't too close. We didn't have time to search for a new pack, not when Jason was hell-bent on torturing me to death.
"Sorry about that. She's...spoiled." Alpha Kirsch turned to me, bending a little to meet my eyes.
No shit. That was some spoiling even if she WAS his mate.
"So..." I bit my lips in hesitation.
"Like I said, you can stay." Alpha Kirsch rose his hand and paused again. This time he landed his hand on my head stiffly before he dropped it quickly, "Don't worry about Nat, she will come around."
Great, I was entering a pack where my luna hated me.
But my torture wasn't over. I still had my condition. The worst part, the part that would decide whether I could stay.
"I'm not wolfless, I will have my wolf--" I blurted, but granny suddenly nudged me. I shut up, staring at her with confusion.
She didn't want me to mention my condition? I realized we couldn't risk losing his protection now, not when Jason was lurking around.
"How old are you?" Alpha Kirsch asked.
"Two months from turning 18." He misunderstood me, but I didn't say anything else.
"We will do something about it if you shifted in the next two months." Alpha Kirsch smirked. He didn't believe late boomers could be this late, but I couldn't tell him that I had a wolf, not without explaining my condition.
"Why did you change your mind?" I blurted, couldn't get my head around that we just got in.
Alpha Kirsch laughed.
He curved his lips, gazing at me with his emerald eyes. He actually was pretty handsome when he smiled: "Are you trying to convince me out of this decision now?"
Maybe a little. I doubted my stay could be long or pleasant with the luna-to-be hating my ass.
"I told Jason you are under my protection. If you leave and he gets to you, it's damage to my name." Alpha Kirsch shrugged, eyes locked on me. The fury was gone, but still, he stared at me like I was prey.
"Stay in the town and don't wander around." He turned to granny, "Beta Ethan will find you a place to stay temporarily until I get back."
"Temporarily?" I murmured. Was he sending us away soon?
"To rest, Willa." Alpha Kirsch let out a short laugh. He said my name as if he was tasting it, "You will need it for joining the pack bond later."
Willa's POV The Gemini Crescent Pack was HUGE. Its territory was nestled in the hug of snow mountains, facing a large area of forest. But the best part was, the town's east end met a small woods, with the sea right outside! I got rid of the worry about Jason, the rogues, the new moon, AND I got the sea within my reach?! It was like the sun shone into my life all of a sudden. Ethan dropped us at a three-story house, modern style, nestling among huge woods, separating the house from the snow mountain. Inside of the house looked fresh new. It didn't look like anyone was living here. So it was just a guest house? It was better than most five-star hotels at popular resorts! I guess that was one of the differences between huge packs and small ones. Even the temporary guest house was fancy! "You can rest here and fresh up. Stay off the third floor. The Alpha will be back in a few hours." Ethan told us before he left. It was pr
Kirsch's POV Everyone has a deep, dark secret. Mine was Taran, a silver rogue I secretly kept in the pack. He was my Alpha and I was his only beta, until he turned rogue. He only shifted after he turned 15, but was instantly recognized by the pack bond as the new Alpha. He was a late boomer, and also the most powerful wolf I had ever known. But he was cursed. We had always known there was something off with his wolf. On the first new moon after he shifted, his wolf went rabid. I shifted for the first time on that night. I was only 12 back then. I fought him and we were both badly injured, but at least we kept the secret to ourselves. He went rabid on every new moon, and we had kept that secret successfully for a while, until I turned 18 and claimed him as my mate. I tried to fight it, but the mate's pull was driving me crazy. He had to let me mark him, but then him staying in the pack bond became torture to me because C
Willa's POV The Alpha had a sad look as he stood where he was, not moving long after we left. "Maybe staying in this pack IS a bad idea," Granny mumbled to herself. I couldn't believe granny said that. She was the one who wanted a home here! "Granny, why are you so upset about a rogue? There are always be rogues around packs." I panted as I tried to keep up with granny. She was basically running. "Do you think the Alpha is capable to defeat him? You saw how powerful that beast is!" Granny was shivering again. "It's not like the Alpha has to fight the beast himself. He got the most powerful pack." I laughed. Granny's steps slowed down. "What if the beast attacks us on the new moon?" Granny frowned. "Funny how you mentioned the new moon, it's in less than two weeks. If we leave, we would have to deal with it packless!" I shook my head in disbelief. I had never seen granny so shaken up, and we had faced rogues throughout our lives
Willa's Pov "I'm Natasha, the Beta of The Gemini Crescent. The alpha won't see you, and you are leaving the pack, right now." The woman claimed with a condescending look. "The beta"? Ethan was also a beta. Why did Natasha make such a weird claim? The smirky-looking guy from earlier was by her side. He grabbed our flask from the table with a despised look: "What the hell are you doing in here?!" "I'm just boiling some water, beta." Granny watched his move with cold eyes, but she didn't let anger take control. "Freak." James murmured, putting down the flask, "Pack your things and leave." "Get your filthy hand off the things in here!" Natasha came and grabbed my collar before I could leave the couch. She threw me on the floor with fury in her eyes. Now I WANTED to join the pack, just so I could annoy Natasha. "The Alpha promised to take us in. Can you tell us why are you suddenly giving a different command, beta?" Granny a
Willa's POV "Clean it up in here." The Alpha said coldly before he grabbed my wrist and led me to a room on the first floor. Granny and Natasha followed us. James got on with it right away while Ethan attended to the table. "Natasha, go and clean the mess you made," The Alpha turned before we reached the door of the study. "I have to talk to you," Natasha said in a haste. "I know what you want to say, and no, it won't change my decision. Now, go!" Alpha Kirsch Alpha Kirsch's eyes glimmered. I flinched at the sudden dominating vibe, and Natasha stiffened. He used the Alpha Aura. It inflict pain and no member of the pack could resist it. Natasha turned around stiffly and left. He opened the door for me, hinting me to go in. I hesitated and glanced at granny. She nodded. I followed the Alpha into the room, having no idea what to do now. I didn't have my potion. "Did she choke you?" Alpha Kirsch kept his distance th
Willa's POV I stared into his eyes in fear, couldn't get my head around. How could he even know visiting the sea was my plan. Could he really read thoughts?! "Yes, Alpha," I muttered, and in my head, countless plans of visiting the sea were already forming. "Good." He nodded, "Any other questions?" "Can you read minds?" I blurted, only to realize that it was dangerous of me to ask him if he was. But I needed to make sure my enemy wasn't telepathic if my sole plan was to hide things from him? He stared at me for a moment before he laughed: "That would be cool." He was really handsome when he smiled. He stood up and got an empty glass from a tray on the cabinet before he handed it to me with an apologetic look, "This part might be a little uncomfortable." I took the glass, feeling a little stunned. This was the part I hated the most in pledging. The alpha gets your blood into his system and completes the p
Willa's POV When I woke up it was already late at night. I was in a cozy bedroom. Granny was sitting on the chair by the bed. "Granny!" I jerked up in bed, only to have darkness consuming the world again. Head rush... "I asked him if we could live in the forest, but he refused." Granny came and sat on the bed, taking me into her arms as my head spun fast. Turned out the Alpha gave us an old two-story house downtown. Close to everything, furthest to the border. Granny wasn't happy because we always lived by the edge of the pack. It was easier to escape when cases like with Liam happens. Meaning if I let my secret out, we'd have the least chance to make out of the huge pack before they kill us. "The alpha gave you the first week off, to settle down." Granny stroked my hair and took away the glass. "From training? I can train, it's fine." I shrugged. I didn't want to get special treatment, because it only meant attention.
Willa's POV "No! Your wolf WILL wake up! That's not what I meant, silly!" Granny took me into her arms and patted me on the back, "I promise!" I stared long into granny's eyes before I relaxed. It was my deepest fear. "You scared me! Why are you asking me all these weird questions all of a sudden!" I wiped my tears as I protested, "You told me to stay away from alphas!" "I'm sorry I scared you, Willa...Everything will be fine, I promise." Granny stroked my back, tightening her hug as she put my head in her neck. Her hug gave me security. I lost count of how many times I had escaped death by hiding in her arms. Granny NEVER talked about mate with me before Liam. And all of a sudden it was all she could think of?! Granny never discipline me on any horrible decisions I made, but there was ONE thing that she insist on. No boys, no sex. As if anyone would even like me if I WAS open to relationships-- I was th