Chapter 10: Chapter 10

KYA

Oh my Goddess. I can’t believe he was here this morning. I can’t stop smiling. Goddess, he’s hot. His kiss was so soft, so tender.

“What has you smiling like a fool?” Bianca asks as she sits down for lunch.

“Her mate was here this morning, making out with her,” Spencer chimes in. Owen has a look on his face as sour as a lemon.

“Aw…that’s so sweet. I can’t wait to find my mate,” Bianca gets a dreamy look on her beautiful face.

“Hopefully, if you reject yours, he takes the hint,” Owen says. He is really pissing me off.

“Why would I reject my mate? That’s crazy,” Bianca says. I shake my head and bite my lip. “Oh, Kya. I meant no offense.”

I give her a tight-lipped smile. “No worries. It is what it is. I did reject my mate. But I plan to fix that mistake as soon as possible.”

Owen growls. “You’re seriously going to go back to him after what he did to you?”

I raise my brow. “Do you know what it is he did? I don’t remember sharing details with you. Regardless, what my mate and I do is none of your business.”

Owen growls deep in his chest. “You dare speak to me in such a manner?”

I stand up. “Yeah, I dare. You’re not an alpha, yet. My mate, on the other hand, is. I don’t answer to you or anyone else for that matter.”

I shake my head. “Owen, what happened to you? You were so nice to me. We were friends. Now, you’re just an arrogant asshole that doesn’t know his place.” I grab my books. Alana and I storm away from the table.

Alana looks back at the still fuming Owen. “What is his problem?”

I shake my head; I don’t even want to look at him. “He’s upset because he wanted to be in a relationship with me. But Dec and I are still mates. He still has a mate out there somewhere, he doesn’t even care. I would’ve been fine staying friends, but he just couldn’t.”

We go to our lockers and get the books for the next classes. I get a text from Bianca.

Bianca

I'm sorry if I caused any trouble.

She’s a sweet person and I do consider her my friend.

Kya

It's not your fault. I'm not upset with you at all. Promise.

Alana and I begin walking toward our next class when we see a younger boy looking around the halls. “Hey. It’s Virgil, right?” Alana gets his attention.

He’s a cutie with warm brown eyes and puffy cheeks with freckles. “Oh, hey. You’re the beta, right?”

Alana and I both smile. “I’m the beta’s mate, Alana. This is the luna, Kya.” I give Alana a look that says ~oh really~. She just shrugs her shoulder.

“Hey, nice to meet you. I thought Alpha Redd got rejected.”

My heart sinks but I let it go, remembering we’re still mates. “He did, but that’s not going to last very long,” Alana explains.

I’m over this conversation for the second time in three minutes. “Are you looking for something? You look lost,” I say, changing the topic.

He smiles. “Oh, yeah. I was looking for my next class.” He holds up his schedule.

“It’s down the hall. Then, to the right is a corridor with three doors. It’s one of those.”

The boy waves thanks and walks away. “Who is that?” I ask Alana as we watch him find the corridor.

“I have no idea. He showed up last night. Dec is letting him stay at the pack house. He registered him this morning... I guess you were too distracted to notice him standing right next to us.”

I blush and bite my lip. Alana and I both start laughing.

“Were you serious about what you said about fixing your mistake?” Alana asks.

My heart sings in my chest and I nod. “Yes. Absolutely.”

Alana screams before pulling me into a giant hug. “Yay! Luna Kya.” I roll my eyes as we head to class.

***

After my fallout with Owen, I don’t feel like going to the diner anymore. I’d rather be with the pups anyway. Aunt Kendra does a lot, especially when Uncle Mark is working. I tell her to take a nap while the pups and I get our homework done.

I start getting supplies for dinner when there’s a knock on the door. Ian answers the summons and ushers Owen into the kitchen. I have a chef’s knife in my hand. I contemplate whether I should put it down or not.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Owen.

He leans against the counter. “Don’t be mad. I came to apologize.”

I continue focusing on what I’m cutting. “I’m listening.”

He comes around the corner to stand closer to me. “I really like you. I was upset that after everything we went through together, you’re thinking about going back to the bastard.”

I raise my eyebrow and glance at him. I have nothing to say to him. I already told him it’s none of his business. I turn back to the cutting board.

“Kya. You’re an amazing, beautiful person. I just want a fair chance with you.”

I shake my head with a scoff. “I have a mate. And so do you, you just haven’t met her yet. Also, we didn’t have anything together.” He steps closer and goes to tuck a stray hair over my ear. I flinch with the knife still in my hand.

“Stop. You don’t get to touch me. I have a mate and you know it. I’ve already told you that we can be friends, but you clearly can’t handle that. I’m not interested in you. You should have more respect for your mate.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t you understand what I’m saying? I would reject my mate for you. We can be together. I love you. I’ve loved you since we were young. You saved my life. I want to be with you.”

I step back, still clutching the knife. “Owen, I think you better go. You’re not thinking straight and I’m making dinner.”

His power becomes stronger. “I am thinking perfectly clear. You’re the one that needs to rethink our relationship. You don’t love him. I’m the one you want.” I raise the knife just a fraction. He gives me a smirk. “I’ll let you think it over, give you time to make the right decision.”

Owen leaves the house and I’m shaking. I’m glad the pups weren’t in the kitchen. I drop the knife and grab my phone. I go outside to the rocking chair. Dec answers my call right away. “Hey, beautiful.”

I cut him off. “Dec.” I get choked up.

“Ky, what is it? What happened?”

I let out a few breaths to calm down enough to speak.

“He’s crazy. He said he’s in love with me and that we belong together. That he’s loved me since we were pups. He thinks we’re somehow in a relationship. He wants me to pick him, and he’ll reject his mate so we can be together.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down, Ky. I’m here. It’s okay. It’s okay, I’m not letting you go. And if that little punk thinks he can do anything about it, I’ll have to rip out his throat. I promise you. You’re mine. There’s no changing that.”

Hearing Dec’s voice and soothing words calms me down enough to breathe again.

“Dec, he made me feel so uncomfortable. I don’t know what happened. I thought he was just being nice to me.…”

He lets out a sigh. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I want you to come home. Come back to me. If you want your family to join you, I’ll welcome them into the pack with open arms. Baby, I just want you here with me, safe.”

I run my fingers through the hair at the front of my head, then grip it in my fist. I let out a breath. “No, it’s all right. I can handle it. Thanks, Dec.” I hang up and smile.

I finish making dinner just as Uncle Mark walks in. “Where’s Kendra?”

I tilt my head toward the hall. “In the bedroom. She wanted to get a bubble bath in.” He thanks me, then stalks down the hall. I tell Ian and Gretchen to wash up as I set dinner on the table.

Uncle Mark carries Aiden out with Aunt Kendra behind them, and we sit down to dinner. I admire their perfect little family. I hope to have one someday. I wonder how Dec would feel about a family.

I bite my lip, then let the thought go. Too soon, Kya.

I decide to let the sweet family have some actual family time. They play board games while I follow Kendra’s lead to have a hot bath.

The water is almost too hot, but my body relaxes quickly. Today was way too much stress. Who am I kidding, this month has been too stressful. I read a little of the book while sitting in the tub.

~Bonded mates will sometimes share experiences, especially during exciting or strenuous situations. It is common for mates to share particularly intense feelings as well. This helps the connection strengthen, leading to a more successful relationship. ~

Gosh, this book reads like a car manual. I toss the book away. I no longer need it. I have a mate, and he’s sexy as sin.

Just the thought of him makes my heart flutter. His silver eyes hold a power that is almost frightening, but he is still so gentle.

His hands are strong and firm. The memory of the way he caressed my skin at the concert sends tingles all over me like an electric current.

His scent is so natural, so unadulterated. His body…and the way I felt so protected in his embrace. I bite my lip thinking of the way he responded to me so quickly.

His kisses… oh my Goddess, I could lose myself kissing him all day and night. I hum at how my skin is tingling at just the thought of him.

Mates can share experiences, huh? I wonder if he can feel what I plan to do; something I’ve never dared to do before. I let my hands glide over my body. I close my eyes and remember the feel of his hard body against mine.

I let out a breath as my hand slips lower into the water and between my legs. “~Dec, can you feel this?~” I wonder as my fingers touch the delicate skin of my folds.

“~Oh, Goddess, baby~,” a quiet whisper answers my thoughts. I’m really good at imagining him answering me.

I continue to pleasure myself thinking of him. His strong hands. His perfect body. His scent. Everything about him engulfs me. I don’t know what I’m doing, but somehow it feels amazing.

“~Yeah, baby. So sexy,~” I hear Dec’s voice in my mind. I’m panting hard as I lose control of all sensations. Oh, holy Goddess above! I have never felt anything like it.

DEC

I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around me. I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t hold back any longer.

Thoughts of Kya got me going, and there was no stopping them, not that I would ever want to. Her voice in my head sent me over the edge and I almost lost all control.

I wonder if she would be upset knowing I gave myself some relief while thinking about her. She’d probably be pissed. ~Man-whore~, she called me. Not anymore, baby. You’re it for me. You’re the only one I want.

I check the time, then lie in bed. I hope she calls. I pull out my tablet and begin making notes of the various rogue attacks.

My phone rings and I smile before answering. “Hey, beautiful.” I set the tablet aside and give her my full attention.

“Hi.”

I knit my brows. “Is everything okay? You usually have something on your mind.” I can hear the sound of her biting her lip.

“I have something on my mind.”

Oh, she’s teasing me now. I smirk. “What is it?”

She gives a soft giggle. “You.”

I chuckle at her innocence. “Me too, baby. You’re always on my mind. Non-stop.”

I swear I can feel her face heating up. It’s my turn to tease her. “Did I make you blush. I bet you’re blushing.”

She giggles even more. “Maybe.”

Oh, I’m really going to make her blush. “What are you thinking about me? Is it dirty?” I certainly am having dirty thoughts of her. She’s so hot. I just want her naked skin against mine.

“Dec. Stop it. You know that makes me uncomfortable.” Ah, man. Her bashful voice makes me think that’s exactly what she’s thinking. A guy can hope.

“~Alpha, we have two more rogue pups subdued.~”

I grunt. Perfect timing… assholes. I roll my eyes. “~I'll be right there~.”

“Listen, baby. I gotta run. You can have dirty thoughts of me and keep them to yourself all you want.”

“Declan Redd!”

I laugh, knowing dang well she’s blushing. “Good night, baby.”

She hums. “Goodnight, Dec.

Chase and I meet up with Bruno and Jase. They seem to make a good team. The two wolves they subdued are still unconscious on the ground. “What did you do to them?”

Bruno shrugs his shoulder. “Just a choke hold.” He points behind him. “That one’s a different story.”

I see a larger wolf lying dead at the base of a tree. I nod to Chase. He grabs the closest pup to him in a fireman carry. I look at the bigger wolf one more time. “Bruno, take care of that mess.” I pick up the other pup and I’m surprised it’s a she-wolf.

The wolves wake up just as they’re laid on the beds in the infirmary. I toss a blanket over each of them. “SHIFT.”

They’re both around fourteen or fifteen. “Let me guess. You were promised a place in a pack if you helped some jackass take me out.”

The two pups look at each other but don’t reply. I notice only subtle differences in their features. Identical twins are rare for wolves. “You’re lucky my guards didn’t kill you.”

The girl I carried looks down. “Yes, alpha. You’re right about all of it.”

“Glory, hush,” the other pup warns her sister.

I cross my arms over my chest and growl a warning as I stare down the offensive brat. “I can kill you now, if you would prefer.”

“No, please don’t, alpha.” The first girl answers in her place. I raise my brow to her. I like that she’s brave.

“Haley is just protective of me. We’re all each other has. Our dad went rogue after our mom died and the pack didn’t want responsibility of us. We’re kind of a handful.”

I look to Chase. He shrugs his shoulders in an ~I don’t know~ kind of way. “What pack are you from?” Please don’t say Roberts, please don’t say Roberts.

“Weston.” I knit my brows as I look at the second girl. I know she’s lying to me. Weston is a good pack; they would never abandon two orphaned pups.

I stare down the first one with some alpha vibes to push her just a little more. “Don’t make me ask again.”

I can see the weight of my vibes getting to her. She’s clearly uncomfortable and about to crack. I see her swallow. “Roberts.”

Ah, fuck. “How old were you?”

The first girl…G something, continues to answer. “We were ten. We’re fourteen now.” Fourteen, I was right.

Chase and Kya's mother walks into the room with her sweet smile. The same smile as my Kya. I can’t help but return it. She’s gentle as she tells the girls what to expect.

“You two will stay here tonight. There’s a shower through that door. I’ll bring you both some food and clothes. Doctor’s orders.”

She turns to me, knowing I’m not going to go against her words. “Alpha Redd will decide what to do with you tomorrow.”

I give her a slight nod. I look back to the pups. “Get some rest.” I look at the second twin. “You will not lie to me again. Your sister’s life depends on it.” I see her pupils dilate just a fraction.

“You know you’re not going to kill them.” Chase says as we get in his truck.

“I might if number two lies to me again.”

He rolls his eyes, but he’s right. I’m not going to kill them. “She has a name, you know.”

I nod my head. “Yep. Number two. The other one is number one.”

He snorts a laugh. “They’re Glory and Haley. Seriously, bro. You really need to work on that.” I shrug my shoulder. I really couldn’t care less.

Chase drops me off and I go straight to bed with thoughts of Kya on my mind.