Chapter 0005

FEYRE

We hear a knock and Asher goes to stand, groaning, he says. “I’d just found the best spot.”

I chuckle a little and wait till he sits up before speaking.

“It is open,” 

He whips his head to me, a look of utter betrayal in his eyes. I laugh louder, my chest shaking a little.

“You’re evil,” he growls playfully as he pulls the pillow from under me.

We start fighting for it, I kick and flail my hands in all directions.

“Erm, Alpha. Beta.” a hesitant voice calls, causing us to release each other.

We turn at the same time.

“Hi, Vienna.”

“Hey.” 

We speak at the same time.

I use that opportunity to snatch the pillow, immediately placing it under me and lying on it. Asher gives me a side glance,

She looks from me to Asher, her cheeks tinge.

“Vienna, is everything okay?” he asks her, she clears her throat and points at the door. Dancing from one foot to the other.

“Erm, there is a man here to see you.” She is speaking so fast the words almost come out incoherent. 

“Do you know who he is or what he might want?” I ask and she shakes her head immediately.

“W-we, we couldn’t ask. He wants to see you.” I place a hand on my chest in the universal ‘me’ sign and she nods.

“Alright, I’ll be out in a minute. Take him to the meeting room.” She bows again and quickly rushes out of the room.

“Maybe it is your alpha.” 

I turn and glare at Asher, he only laughs as he stands up, holding his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. No one can see you and easily let go, I’m sure he is here to beg and apologise for being a pain in the you know where,”

I try to ignore the way my heart blooms at the possibility of Alpha Zade doing that. I already know it is impossible so I kill that hope. I’m not even sure why I care. It is not like I like him.

“I’ll welcome him while you change.” He easily slips out of the room while I get up. 

One look at my crumbled shirt makes me head to my closet.

I changed into a t-shirt and jeans. I do nothing to my hair, having zero motivation to mess with it. 

When I walk into Asher’s office, the person I see is the last man on earth I would have expected.

It isn't Alpha Zade, but an older almost identical version of him. Except this man’s grey eyes are warm. 

What is he doing here? 

I sneak a glance at Asher who is standing a few feet away from our guest. 

I ask with my eyes what the man is doing here and he just shakes his head, barely, meaning he didn’t ask him. 

Snapping out of my shock, I muster a smile at the older man.

“You must be the beta,” the man speaks, breaking the terse silence. 

I nod, my chest filling with pride from the impressed look on his face.

“Yes, sir.” I cleared my throat. 

He studies me, his look is assessing. I feel immediately dressed down, especially seeing how crisp his expensive suit looked.

“I heard you were looking for me, is there anything I can help you with?” I ask him, moving forward to stand beside Asher. 

He immediately reaches out for my hand. I smile at him in gratitude.

“First, I should introduce myself.” He suggests and I nod, smiling dumbly because that hadn’t come to my mind.

“I’m Alpha Lucien Montgomery, the former alpha of Darkmoon pack.” His voice is smooth, confident. 

He has that air of authority alpha’s have, although he is not one anymore.

“Alpha Asher, we’ve met before.” Asher moves forward and stretches his hand out for a shake. 

It may seem like nothing but this is pretty much them waving the white flag. He is not here to cause trouble and Asher respects him for that.

“Beta Feyre,” 

He stretches his hand out for me to take and I admit I’m a little taken aback. Not a lot of things surprise me but this does. I know I’ve been the beta for a few years now, but I don’t get the respect other male betas do.

The werewolf community is more of a traditional one and they still look at women as the lesser species. 

Neighbouring packs have tried to get Asher to find a new beta, but he refused. This is my rightful position and although their disrespect sometimes gets to me, I know there is nothing they can do about it and unless I change my mind about being beta.

“If you don’t mind, I need to talk to you about something important,” Alpha Lucien says. His tone is soft but direct.

At least he isn’t as arrogant as his son. The thought comes out of nowhere and I have to shake my head to get rid of it.

I really need to stop thinking of that asshole. We are done and I’m glad and that should be the end of it. Even if the thought of it hurts.

“Oh, alright.” I look around the room awkwardly. 

“Please take a seat,” Asher thankfully breaks the pregnant silence. 

He walks coolly, his steps calculated and easy. He takes the first seat closest to him, in the middle of the row. 

“I’ll get someone to bring you coffee, or do you want tea?” Asher is a better host than me. 

This is part of the reason I know I won’t make a good luna. I’m better on the field and doing all the muscle work, the technical work. 

All these other things, I don’t fully understand and I'm not very good at it. 

I don’t even know how to make friends, which is why I barely have any. 

“Coffee is fine, black please.” The cool voice pulls me from my trance. Asher is staring at me expectantly so I shake my head.

“I’m good, thank you.” He nods and walks out of his office. 

His coffee excuse is just that, an excuse, because he could call for it from here. I know he just wants to give us room to talk in private.

I take a seat too, two down from where Alpha Lucien is. He doesn’t say anything about that, he doesn’t say anything at first and my blood pressure keeps rising with every second that ticks by in silence.

“I know you’re probably wondering why I’m here,” I hum under my breath. “Seeing how things ended with my son,”

That makes me take in a sharp breath as shivers decorate my body. The reaction I have to just hearing his name is one of the effects of the mate bond.

If there was a way to switch it off, I would.

“I know how my son is, so I keep an eye on him. Someone told me you came back, you weren’t very happy when you left.” He explains.

“If you’re here to apologize on his behalf, I assure you it is not needed.” I tell him honestly.

I want to pretend everything didn’t happen, I never met my mate, never got rejected and I can move on happily with my life.

“That is not why I’m here, at least not the only reason.” Alpha Lucien sighs, leaning back on his chair. “I don’t want to ask this of you, Feyre. Can I call you that?” he glances at me and I nod. “But as a father, I will do anything for my kids.”

The look in his eyes makes me hold my breath, he seems to be fighting an inner battle and my heart calls out to him. 

Seeing him do this for his son, it is how I imagined my father would be protective of me if he was still alive. I don’t have any memories of him but everyone in the pack has something nice to say about him and my mother. 

“Whatever you need me to do Alpha Lucien, as long as it is within my capabilities, I’ll do it.” 

I know I didn’t hear what he wants but I just want to get that defeated look off his face.

“Let me just cut to the chase,” he says in a low voice and I think I wasn’t meant to hear. “I know my son is your mate like I have said, I keep a close eye on him. He did nothing about it, he plans on doing nothing about it.” 

He gives his head a shake, like he is trying to find words.

“Zade is something else now, but he wasn’t like this before. He is a good alpha, a great leader and I’m not just saying this because he is my blood. He has his issues I know and he isn't easy to deal with.”

Oh no, to whatever he wants to ask. Oh, fucking, no. 

I don’t interrupt his speech but I am already thinking of the best way I’m going to tell him I would rather be speared with a silver dagger than have to see his son again.

“Every great pack since the first werewolf family wasn't just led by their alpha,”

I should have seen this coming. I have heard enough and I want to stand up and leave but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to do that, or even stop him at the very least.

“Zade is good as an alpha, but our pack needs a feminine touch. He needs a luna—”

“I—I can’t,” I cut him off before he could finish. 

Thank you mouth, for finally speaking even though it is kind of late. 

“I’m not luna material,” I add sharply. “Really, I’m sorry to decline your offer, whatever the offer is but I can’t, I have a job here.”

If the alpha I was going to deal with was anyone else, literally anyone else in the world then I would have considered. The two times I met this man, he made sure I wouldn’t want to see him ever again. 

As sweet and respectful as his father is, I can’t.

“I’m really sorry, Alpha Lucien but I can’t help you.” I tell him, getting to my feet.

“I hate to do this but there is a price,”

“I don’t want money or anything. I would help you if I could but—”

“Your parents.” That successfully shuts me up. I scowl in his direction. “I know you’ve been wanting to find out how they died. Just stay with him for one year as the luna and I’ll get that information for you.”