Return to Dark Moon

Adam

   Deven’s voice, contentedly chattering away with our sister in the back seat, grated on my nerves. My knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel, wishing it was his neck my hands were wrapped around instead. I hadn’t wanted to bring him. It was his idiotic scheming that had directly caused our mother’s death. The girls had been adamant that he not be left alone to deal with the consequences of his actions. My mind floated back to the confrontation in our mother’s living room.

           “I don’t care what he’s done.” Annabelle hissed, stomping her foot. “Mom wouldn’t want us to leave him here.”

           “But if he hadn’t tried to pull his cons, she would still be alive. He invited these hunters, fucking mobsters to boot, into our lives.” I bellowed.

           “Your whole plan relies on me actually being this Alpha’s daughter.” Lizzy whispered, interrupting the argument. “I won’t go anywhere without Deven.”

           I looked at her, dumbfounded. Deven sat on the couch beside her, hands in his lap, looking sufficiently guilty. If Lizzy refused to return to Dark Moon, she couldn’t take her rightful place as heir to the Alpha. None of us would be safe from the mess our brother had brought upon us.

           “Fine.” I snarled, my need to protect my sisters overriding my desire to let my brother meet his own fate. “He can come, but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.”

           I had done my best to avoid my brother in the days leading up to our departure. Every cell in my body was urging me to tear him limb from limb. He deserved nothing less for the part he played in our mother’s death, but I needed him in one piece to get Lizzy to Dark Moon territory. The confined space of the car was making it more challenging to rein in my anger.

           “Adam.” Annabelle’s voice called from behind me, startling me. “We should stop somewhere for the night. Lizzy is already asleep, and you need rest too since you won’t let anyone else drive.”

           At Annabelle’s behest, I pulled into the next motel along our route. It was a rundown place, with outward-facing doors. The interior wasn’t much better, but the beds would be sufficient for the night. While the girls settled in for the night, I made my way into the ratty bathroom. The sink was rimmed with brown lines; though the water was clear, it was apparent some sediment made its way through the faucet. Quickly, I relieved myself before washing my hands and face. Stepping from the bathroom, I collided with Deven, who had been waiting outside the door.

           “Please, Adam.” He begged quietly. “I just wanted to talk. If I had known who the guy was, I never would have messed with him.”

           My jaw clenched, and my hands formed fists at my sides. I didn’t care what kind of excuses Deven made. Our mother had been too easy on him, picking up after each mess he made while he ran off to participate in some new scheme.

           “I was getting out of the game.” He sobbed. “It was supposed to be my last con, just big enough to pay mom back and set her and Lizzy up somewhere nice.”

           “Don’t you dare try to play the victim.” I snarled, my hand shooting out to wrap around his throat. “You should be the dead one, not mom. I should just finish the job for those hunters myself. You’re nothing more than a waste of oxygen.”

           “Enough!” Lizzy’s voice boomed through the room. “You will let him go and not lay another finger on him, Adam.”

           I felt my body bend to the will of her Alpha command. I had no choice but to obey my baby sister as she ordered me to leave our brother alone. Even through my rage at Deven, my heart swelled with pride for Lizzy. There was no doubt that she was meant to be an Alpha someday. The Alpha of the largest pack in Mercius, to be exact.

           “Yes, Alpha.” I replied, bowing slightly to my sister to hide the smirk playing along my lips.

           She snorted as she turned back toward the bed she and Annabelle were sharing. I climbed into the empty bed and begrudgingly tossed the spare blanket to Deven when I saw the girls were going to give him theirs. No matter how much anger I had toward my brother, I wouldn’t allow my sisters to suffer for it.

So, it went for the next few days. I would drive until Annabelle told me we needed to stop. We would check into the next motel along the route, the girls sharing a bed, Deven on the floor, me in the other bed. Deven had long given up pleading his case to me by the time we made it to Dark Moon territory.

“State your business, rogue.” Ordered the wolf at the pack’s border.

“We wish to speak with the Alpha about admittance into the pack.” I replied. “I would like to find a hotel in town first if that’s alright.”

The man gave me directions to one of the hotels in town, my vague recollection of our time as members told me the place was close to the packhouse. We had barely settled in before another warrior was at the door, instructing me to follow him to see the Alpha. Motioning for Lizzy to come with us, we followed him to a black SUV and piled into the back seat.

“Welcome, I’m Alpha Montgomery.” Lucas said, extending his hand from behind his desk once we were ushered into his office. “My warriors tell me you’re seeking admittance into the pack.”

“That’s correct.” I replied flatly as Lizzy and I took our seats across from him.

Lizzy shifted uncomfortably in her seat as Lucas stared at us, trying to figure out who we were. His demeanor told me that he recognized us and couldn’t place us.

“So, you grew up as rogues, is that correct?” He asked. “What made you decide to join a pack now, mister and miss?”

“Lizzy, my name is Lizzy. We came because our mother died.” My sister spoke before I could ask how he knew we had grown up as rogues.

“You know, Alpha Lucas, I would have thought you would recognize us. Your mate is the reason our mother is dead.” I snarled.

“What accusation are you trying to make, exactly?”

“Of course, the high and mighty Alpha would forget about us. Don’t you remember the she-wolf and her children that you took in? The unborn daughter you abandoned?” I pressed.

“Adam?” Lucas gasped.

“In the flesh, Alpha, and this is your daughter. Lizzy Devereaux, rightful Alpha of the Dark Moon pack.” I smirked, satisfied with the shock written across his face.

“I – We -You were dead.” He stammered. “We looked for you until the trail ran cold. The only thing that made sense was that you had been killed. I grieved for you.”

“I’m sure that’s what your assassin bitch told you. If you hadn’t chosen her over my mother, she would still be alive.”

“What happened to Maggie?” Lucas demanded.

“She was murdered by the hunter mob. A direct result of Deven’s poor choices, but if we hadn’t needed to run to be safe from your mate, he never would have been in the position to make those choices.”

“Oh, goddess no.” Lucas gasped. “Adam, I’m so sorry. You know I loved your mother. Selene wasn’t going to harm her. She grieved as hard as I did when we thought you had all died. You know you have a place here; we will get it right this time and keep all of you safe.”

“It’s not like you have much say in the matter, Lucas.” I snarled. “I’ve come to challenge you for the position of Alpha in Lizzy’s place. She’s not quite prepared to take you on, but I am, and I intend to act as her champion.”