Masuk* Alpha Zayden *The feast finally ended when my grandfather stood up and hit his staff on the floor three times. That was the signal. Sora practically dragged Diane away to prepare her for the honeymoon. Well, after the kiss, I don't think there'll be any more tonight. If she were someone I haven't learned to care about maybe I wouldn't think twice. But I felt the pulse of my blood getting hotter. The full moon and my monster wolf, I don't think she can handle it the first time.The master's bedroom was warded before I even entered. I did it myself this morning, same wards I put on her parents' stone house, but stronger. No sound out, no scent out. No guest from Gray Stone or Crimson River would hear anything. Because wolves have sensitive ears, especially Alphas.She was already inside when I opened the door.She had changed out of the silver-threaded gown into something Sora must have left. Simple, white, too thin; I could see her gorgeous body underneath. My throat quickly went d
* Diane *The wolf priest lifted his staff. The old wood hit the stone floor once, and every conversation in the hall died. The guests had focused all their attention on us. My heart beat twice as fast as before; I was never used to this crowd and this attention."Diane of the Blue Moon pack, and Alpha Zayden of Dark Blood. Under the witness of the full moon and the wolf guests that are present tonight."I felt his hand tighten around mine trying to remind me to keep calm. He was not looking at the priest. He was looking at me, like he was making sure I didn't run.Elder Magnus stepped forward. His voice carried."Alpha Zayden. Your vow, please say it now."Alpha Zayden didn't look away. His voice was low, but in the silent hall, everyone heard it. It went straight to Alpha, confident and sure."I, Zayden of Dark Blood, take Diane as my Luna. I vow to keep her safe, even from my own wolf. I vow that her family will be mine to protect; her family could live freely, and her name will be
* Diane *Those four days that I stayed in my parents' house didn't feel like four days at all. It felt like someone folded time, and then I had to go back to the Alpha house.Sora did come to live with us, just like Alpha Zayden insisted. She came with three warriors carrying garment bags and boxes up the little stone path, cursing under her breath because the wheels of her little rack kept catching on the herbs."Alpha Zayden is insane," she told me while pinning the first gown on me in my parents' tiny bedroom, the one with the attached clinic wall. "No Luna in the history of Dark Blood has had her final fitting in a place like this. It's too small to move around, and yet he agrees to do this."I just smiled while listening to her.Because my mother was happy. She kept touching the hem of my gown, "It's too much, Diane. But you are going to look gorgeous in it." My father kept working but always made sure to check on me now and then.And for four nights that passed, I slept in my
* Alpha Zayden *Six days before the wedding. The house I chose for Mister Thomas and his wife was ready. It was enough for a small family: a stone house with an attached clinic and a front garden for herbs. Better than their house in Blue Moon pack. It was also in a safe place. I put extra wards on it myself.I was showing it to Diane. She was happy and excited; we walked through it; she was touching the herb shelves, smiling a little.Then she turned to me at the doorway."I truly didn't expect that you would do this for my parents. But can I ask if they can live with us in the Alpha house instead?"I stared at her, wondering if the question was wrong but she stared back at me waiting for my answer. Her beautiful eyes were expecting that I would say yes. But I shook my head."Diane, this place would be better for them.""But the Alpha house is too big for us; it has empty rooms. More than twelve guest rooms. Sora told me about it. My mom gets cold at night, and my Dad needs to be ne
* Diane * The next morning, the Dark Blood pack seemed to have gotten better. I opened my eyes and thought I was still dreaming. With a ray of sun in my face, the moonflowers on my table fresh again, and a hand stroking my hair. It wasn't Sora's rough hand. It felt soft and warm. Familiar. "Mom?!" I saw my mother sitting beside my bed, in her cream-colored dress, her eyes red from crying but her lips were smiling. "I am here sweetheart," she whispered. I shot up so fast that the blanket covering me fell. I am still in my nightdress, my hair messy; I didn't care. I threw my arms around her. "Oh, Mom! You came! He really brought you!" I couldn't believe it was possible but here they were, standing in front of me. She held me tight, smelling like home, like herbs from Blue Moon pack. "I told you not to follow Chloe in this place," she said into my hair, half laughing and half scolding. "I told you, 'Diane, stay home, that Dark Blood Alpha is not to be played with.' Did yo
* Alpha Zayden *I decided to leave Diane in the dining room before she even finished eating. I know that she is missing her parents before she could even open her mouth and ask me about them. This was entirely a different strategy for me, helping her and being understanding of her needs. I told her, "Eat some more; there is somewhere that I need to be. I will be back with your parents before sunrise tomorrow."She looked up at me with her eyes wide, the spoon in her hand halfway to her mouth. "You're going yourself?""Yes. Thomas is a doctor, not a warrior. The road between Blue Moon and Dark Blood is not safe since the rogues moved. I don't trust anyone else to bring them."I saw the sparkle in her eyes before I walked away, just enough to know that I made the right choice in bringing her parents here. And I made an arrangement in a house where they could live and her father could continue to treat patients.Staying in the pack house is more exhausting with the preparations ongoing







