Chapter 30
POV: Kiera?
1 week later…
Sun seeped through the cracks of the half open curtains, coaxing me awake.
I rolled over to my side, hoping that I’d find Cain warming the spot next to me, but it was cold—cold as ice. Just like he’s been lately. Because of this bond.
For a human, you’d think I’d be more understanding, determining that this was clearly unexplainable to my human mind and none of this made sense at all.
I should’ve realized by now that I would never understand this.
Him—this place—maybe even our child.
But I didn’t.
I didn’t understand that it was hard for him to be around me. I didn’t understand why his ‘pack members’ loathed me. I didn’t understand the need to be accepted in a place I clearly didn’t belong in. I didn’t understand the child growing inside me. I didn’t understand any of it.
It should have made it easier—not understanding it, but honestly, it made it worse.
Because the truth was, I was alone here. I had no friends, except for Mia, and though she was kind, she was Cain’s relative so I couldn’t necessarily sit for hours and talk to her about how horrible it was here and how cold Cain was as of late.
But nevertheless, I forced myself out of bed, dressing myself in something else besides pajamas and headed towards the kitchen.
The kitchen was empty, like the whole house was. Cain was nowhere to be found.
I glanced at the countertop, at the small note that was left there.
“I went to the training grounds. Be back soon. Love you.”
Love you. The words replayed over in my head on a loop.
I knew he did. I knew he meant that.
And I felt the same…even though it was unexplainable, I knew that my body physically needed him and my heart literally beat for him. And it hurt—it pained me to be away from him, especially since he was purposefully ignoring me as of late.
As soon as I finished the thought, the coffee pot beeped, signaling that it had finished brewing.
With shaky hands I went to retrieve myself a cup, placing the cup to my lips and inhaling the steam and scent of freshly ground beans and hints of vanilla and cinnamon.
I drew out finishing my coffee on purpose, because I knew I couldn’t sit inside this house alone all day, again. I had to go out there and try to be a part of his world, no matter the rejection.
And as the door closed behind me, I heaved in a deep breath of encouragement.
You got this, Kiera. This can’t be worse than being fresh meat in the corporate world, that has got to be worse. They’ll come around, eventually.
But the moment my eyes landed upon their cold, unwelcoming gazes, I thought otherwise.
I was standing in the doorway of the common house, where the women met for their Tuesday book club meetings. Which happened to be today.
Who knew werewolves have book club meetings like humans do, but turns out, they do.
More than two thirds of the women looked pissed or insulted that I even came. The other one third of the room looked skeptical.
But out of the crowd, I found one friendly face. Mia.
Mia walked towards me, holding out her arms, inviting me into a hug. “I’m glad you came, Luna.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Far from it.”
“You are this pack’s Luna. Even they know it,” she said, looking around, referring to the women who scoffed or rolled their eyes when I walked by.
We took a seat in the corner of the room. Mia handed me their latest book club read, and when I glanced down at the cover, I realized that a group of women, who happened to be werewolves were reading a book about the same thing. Mating. But in this case instead of a human and an Alpha wolf mating, it was the bond between two actual werewolf mates.
I laughed, looking at the cover, shaking my head.
Mia cocked an eyebrow. “The author does a nice job.”
“Is it factual?”
“Spot on,” she smiled.
I stared down at the cover, fidgeting the book in my hands. “How does a human gain access to knowledge like this?”
She gave me a look.
“So, she’s not a human author? She’s a werewolf author?” I asked in surprise.
“Yep,” she nodded.
I shook my head in disbelief. “Well, to say I’m surprised would be an understatement.”
But before Mia could respond, a woman came forward. She stopped in front of me with folded arms and narrowed eyes.
“Well hello Viviann,” Mia said coldly.
Viviann offered a nasty smile, exposing her canines, which was mainly directed towards me.
I just stared at her. “Do you really think that scares people?”
She scoffed. “Humans are always scared. They have no place in our world.”
Mia inched forward in her seat protectively.
“It’s fine, Mia. I got this.” I rose to my feet, inches away from her face. “I know how to handle bullies like her.”
“Like me?” she laughed, smiling another terrifying smile and baring her teeth. “Oh sweetheart, you don’t know anything about bullies like me, otherwise you’d have lost your head.”
“Oh really?” I asked, rolling my eyes. “Well I know one thing forsure—you won’t dare touch me.”
“I won’t?” she chucked but there was no humor to it.
“No, because then you’d have to answer to your Alpha—my mate,” I warned, not backing down.
The word itself made her lose control, pushing me against the table, causing the book to fly from my hand.
All I could think was shit, I’m fucked, I can’t take on a werewolf.
She pushed me to the ground, hovering over me with her claws suspended centimeters away from my face as she growled, “He should have been mine!”
Then I heard it.
A low growl.
It caused my entire body to vibrate.
Cain.
And before I knew it, Cain pulled her off of me, throwing her so far that her body hit a table and wrapped his hand around her throat. “You will pay for this, Viviann. This is treason, laying a hand on your Luna.” Xavier stood at Cain’s side, waiting for the go ahead.
Cain only gave a small nod before Viviann was hauled away.
The entire room was silent. Every pack member had their neck bared towards Cain.
“That is enough!” he seethed, his eyes flashing gold as he walked around the room with his fists balled. “Enough of your pettiness! Enough of your jealousy! Enough of your lack of acceptance! Kiera is my mate. She is your Luna. She is carrying my heir. If you threaten her, you threaten this entire pack and its legacy. You will be met with punishment or banishment from this pack!”
Their heads dipped lower as they cowered from his words.
“Kiera,” he said, holding out his hand for me and shuttling me towards our house.
When we finally got inside, I nearly collapsed into his arms. “How did you know?”
He held me against his chest and stroked my hair. “I could feel you—through the bond. I knew you were in trouble.”
“I would have been fine,” I lied.
I knew I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“You’re strong, Kiera and I’m sorry you have to go through this…” he replied softly. “And I’m sorry for the distance but I….I’m terrified I won’t be able to control myself.” With that he let go of me and walked away.
And I was back to feeling cold and alone.