Mark
“Kyle was a Beta and that’s all that matters. And don’t you dare claim to know what he wanted for our children.”
Her voice was molten anger but the words cut like ice. Unshed tears threatened to escape her eyes, full of fire. It was in moments like these where I admired the passion she had. It was what made her a good Luna. But it was also moments like these where I couldn’t fathom how different she had been from Sienna.
I didn’t reply. As much as I hadn’t heard it spoken aloud in years, hearing it openly stated what we had all known for so long… it made me shudder. I looked away from both of them.
Jason took Deirdre’s hand and pulled h
Twelve years earlier, at the burial ceremony in the Sanctuary grounds of the Aperture Pack. Mark “Thank you, everyone, for coming. May the Goddess be with us on this evening of mourning.” Jason’s voice was both firm and calm. Only those close to him would notice the nervous tick of his knee, bouncing as he stood behind the podium. Jason began his eulogy, speaking about the bond that Kyle and he had shared. The life they had built together as Alpha and Beta, the legacy of their friendship that would endure. He spoke of Kyle’s loyalty, his steadfast commitment to the pack, and his commitment to his friends. It was a beautiful speech; authentic, funny, moving, but raw, too. There wasn’t a dry eye on the podium. I wondered vaguely if I would ever mean that much to an Alpha. If I would ever have a bond that would mean so much to a
Mark Present Day, Alpha Jason’s office I recover from my memories and look at Deidre and Jason. They had both aged, Deidre more gracefully so, since the day of Kyle’s burial. Ghosts of those days haunted me whenever I let my thoughts drift too far. Silence had fallen for several minutes as we all were lost in the shadows of our own thoughts and memories. “So… what are we going to do?” My words felt strangely hoarse in my throat. Deidre looked at me, voice flat. “We can’t change his eye color, Mark.” “I know that. But how do we protect Ethan?” “I’m not sure that we can.” Jason admitted. His face looked troubled at the thought.
Eighteen years ago, Infirmary Deidre “True mates.” They were the first words Kyle had ever spoken to me, and the only ones that would ever matter. Eyes still locked on one another, I spoke to Irene. “Leave.” I heard her sharp inhale of breath as she scrambled from the room, slamming the door behind her. Even as the sound of the door echoed across the room, I didn’t flinch. He took a step closer to me, face inches from my own. He was tall, muscular and lean. His silvery tangle of blond hair framed his face, a few loose waves touching my skin. The touch was mundane but the sensation was elec
Eighteen years ago, Pack House Deidre “You have a wife!” He put his head in his hands, then raised it again, “I know. And we married with the understanding that we would never find our true mates.” “A WIFE!” I practically hissed. Kyle’s shoulders slumped. We were in his office. And also in an impossible situation. “You should have said something yesterday.” Kyle looked at me from behind his desk, lean
Eighteen years ago, Pack House, Beta SuiteKyleShe stared at me from across the room, unblinking. At first I didn’t think she had heard me.“Mistra?” I tried to make my voice as calm as possible.She continued to stare, a haunting look. She wasn’t really seeing me, but her face grew pale. Her dark hair hung loose around her shoulders.“Mistra?” I said louder.“You… mated….?” It wasn’t really a question, but I nodded.A look of incredulity washed over her.
Eighteen years ago, Pack House, Beta SuiteKyle“Absolutely not.” Missy’s glare radiated with rage.“I’m not going to refuse her!”We rarely ever argued, but my voice was at a roar. “The Goddess gave her to me. What would you do?”“I’d refuse her! You made a VOW!” Her face was flushed with anger.“I KNOW I MADE A VOW!” I gripped my head in frustration, trying not to rip my hair out. “THAT’S WHY I CAME TO YOU!”“Oh, so you’re supposed to get brownie points for telling me
Eighteen years ago, Beta Apartment, Pack houseKyle“Pregnant?”“I know.” My body was trembling. With excitement, with love, with sadness…“Pregnant.” Mistra repeated.“Yes.”“And she’s keeping it?”“Yes.”“This is not what we planned on.” She rose from the couch, her anger rising with her body.“We didn’t see this coming, Missy. You have to know that.”“Don’t call me that anymore!”
Present Day, Alpha Jason’s OfficeMark“Then what do you mean?” I asked Deidre. She had been staring out into the window, but not really seeing. Her mind was elsewhere. Was she trying to think of an answer?To be honest, I wasn’t sure what Kyle would have wanted. I thought I had known him, but after he had died, I realized that I never really known him at all…**Eleven years ago, Pack House, Top floor, New Beta Suite“What a day.” I slumped onto the new couch. It was stiff, delivered this afternoon, complements of Alpha Jason.“You could say that again. Care for a drink?”