II: Refusal

-Arkyn-

I step out of the bridal shop, and the smile immediately drops from my face. Walking along further, I turn into an alleyway and breathe out a sigh before punching the wall so hard that the concrete cracks.

Why the fuck did Kira have to drag me into this? I only have a few hours left in New York before I have to return home, and she brings me here without telling me about it first?

I would have been fine keeping my distance after the wedding, but now she’s rubbing the fact that she has a mate in my face. Surely she must see the way I look at her? Surely she must feel the longing in my scent whenever we’re together? Not only that, but she knows how much I fucking loathe Adryan Helseth.

I know I shouldn’t be thinking about her this way. She’s my best friend and already fated to be with someone else. But I can’t help it; I want Kira Volkova. However, if today has proven anything, it’s that my little Blue isn’t as fucking innocent as she pretends to be.

My cell phone rings again and I snap out of my rage-filled thoughts to answer it immediately. “Pappa,”

“Arkyn; apologies, were you busy, son?” My father’s voice comes from the other end. 

“No, I wasn’t. I just had to leave the bridal shop before answering. Is something wrong?” My father never calls me out of the blue like this and since he’s all the way in Las Vegas, I cannot Mind Link him from this distance.

“Bridal shop?”

I sigh. “Kira dragged me to her fitting to get my opinion on her dress.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and lean my head back against the wall. 

“Hmm,” he murmurs. The man can read me like a book and I’ve kept the fact that I’m in love with Kira from everyone except one person. “Nothing is wrong, per se. But I have some news regarding your ascension in the next two months.”

This causes me to perk up; I know there was a condition I had to meet before he hands the Alpha mantle over to me. Could this be it?

“I’m listening, Pappa,”

“Alpha Azura of the Nightshade Maidens has made a request; she is offering one of her daughters as a means to create a peaceful truce between our packs,” he says, and the underlying agenda isn’t lost on me at all. 

“I thought Alpha Azura only had one child since she’s barren? Or is she pushing someone of lesser blood onto us?” I am aware of how cocky that sounds, but if I am going to devote my life to someone, it better be worth it.

My father chuckles. “No, the girl has Beta blood in her. Someone left her on the pack’s doorstep years ago, and Azura took her in. She might not be related by blood, but she’s the Maiden’s most powerful warrior and an important pack member. Think it over, because they’re arriving here tomorrow.”

If I am going to take over from my father before he leaves to retire in Japan with my mother, then I will require a Luna. I don’t care if the woman is my mate or not, I just want to claim my title and focus on my pack from now on.

“No need to think it over; we can proceed with the deliberations. Thank you, Pappa,” I say with my mind made up. I can’t have Kira after this. I can’t allow her to sway me from my pack, so I’ll have to forget about her from today.

“Perfect. See you tonight,” my father says with pride in his voice, and I can’t help but smile. 

“Bye, Pappa,” and with that, my legacy starts. 

My father has a lot of expectations for me. He’s raised me with a firm hand, but I was always allowed to voice my own opinions. My mother taught me the advantages of being patient and ruling with kindness instead of cruelty. Although I do think her methods of being patient were lost on me because I can be an arrogant bastard at times.

Raking my fingers through my hair, I compose myself and walk back to the bridal shop. Kira has removed the cursed dress and is standing with her mother, deep in conversation, while holding my leather jacket in her arms. I admire her from my vantage point, and when she turns to look at me, the arrogance falls away and is replaced with awe.

Her blonde hair falls in curls down her back, her signature red lipstick stark against her porcelain skin, that body with curves in all the right fucking places, and those eyes I’ve been drowning in since I was six years old. 

Kira has been more than a fucking wet dream to me. She’s had my heart right from the get-go.

“Everything okay?” she asks with a frown crinkling on her brow. “You seem pissed off.”

You don’t know the half of it, princess.

“My father needs me back in Vegas, so, unfortunately, I have to go,” I say, walking towards her and taking my jacket. “Sorry, Blue.”

Her face falls when I say this and I almost regret my decision, but I need to stand by what I’ve just decided. This woman will not have any power over me from today.

“Aw, that’s too bad. I was looking forward to our lunch together,” she pouts and is about to pull me into an embrace when I step back.

“Maybe next time,” I say with a smile that feels more like a grimace. “Later, Blue. Luna Caterina.” 

With that, I wave and walk out of her life. I refuse to look at her as I brush her off because I know my self-restraint won’t last if I had to see the hurt on her face. When she found her mate, I should have done this. I should have cut her out of my life back then already.

But how do you cut a bond like ours? How do you tear off a piece of your soul and still feel whole afterward?

On the way to the airport, I get a call from someone else I consider a best friend; Elijah Priest, son of Gabriel Priest and the current Vampire Prince. He lets me know that he’ll be in Vegas this evening and we agree to meet at one of the clubs I own.

Perhaps this is a good omen; I lost my best friend, only to gain another one. Kira Volkova can never be mine; it’s time I get this through my fucking head.