Chapter Forty-Two
We ran for a while, and we all heard when Erubus started running after us, but Nix snorted. We were far enough away that Nix had a plan. She ran for a little while longer and then she dove into a bush. “Your turn Megan.”
“What?” Megan jolted up, but Nix was already running back to us and then she pushed Megan forward. “Nix, what are you doing?”
“It’s your turn to run. Now go.” Nix chuffed out a laugh as she pushed Megan to the front, almost forcing the shift from her form to Megan's. Then I watched as Nix ran to the candle and added another.
“What are you doing?” I walked over to her and watched as the second candle flared to life.
“Changing our scent.” She looked at me like I was dumb, and in that moment, I felt it.
“Why?”
“Because we can’t have the same scent, and I want to see how this male treats my soul sister.” Once the candles were strong, she turned back to Megan, who had just finished shifting. “Now, run and be free, Megan.”
Megan was frozen on the spot for a moment, but then the wind rustled through the bush and she took off.
Wind ruffled her fur and, for only the second time in her life, she was free for longer than a second.
Her thoughts, which she usually kept to herself, were rushing through all our minds.
She was so carefree and open with us; it hurt my heart.
“I’ve neglected her again. Even knowing she is here, I’m still neglecting her.” I sat down with a heavy heart.
Nix came over next to me. “It’s really hard to balance all of us. And Megan and I both understand that. We just spent months ignoring you, so I think you get a pass this time.” She laid down next to me and we watched as Megan had her first run at the school.
“This is amazing.” She ran for a little while before Erubus finally caught up to us and skidded to a stop in front of us.
“Wait.” He finally looked up, and confusion sprang into his eyes. We all heard him take a few deep breaths. “Who are you?”
“My name is Megan…who are you?” Megan backed up a step. She was nervous.
“You shouldn’t have given him your name yet. He should earn it.” Nix called out, but Megan snorted, making Erubus tilt his head.
“He won’t want to earn my name, Nix.” Megan called back as she settled on her haunches. She waited for him to answer.
“I’m Erubus. I thought you were someone else.” He settled across from us and tilted his head the other way.
“Sorry to disappoint,” Megan offered.
But he reeled back instead. “You didn’t. I’m sorry, I’m just confused. It’s nice to meet you, Megan.”
“Nice to meet you as well.” She stared at him for a moment and then stood. “Well, if there isn’t anything you needed, I’ll get going.”
“Wait.” Erubus stood with Megan, and he stared into her eyes. “Why do I feel like I know you?”
Megan trembled ever so slightly. “I don’t know. We haven’t met before.” The lie rolled off her tongue. But she called back to us. “Not a lie, not exactly.”
Nix looked at me. “She is playing semantics, and apparently we have all grown closer since we woke. We can hear each other’s thoughts.” I just nodded, but turned back to Megan.
Erubus came closer to her. She froze as he buried her nose into her neck and Nix tilted her head, considering some new thought that she held back from us. “You smell wrong.” His words had Megan pulling back.
“I’m sorry.” She turned to leave, but the male jumped in front of her.
“Who is your human?” He came closer, but Megan backpedaled.
“I’m sorry, what?” Megan panicked. “What do I say to him?” She screamed back at us as she looked everywhere but at the male in front of her.
“Your human? What’s her name?”
“Don’t tell him.” Nix called back. “You deserve to be chased, Megan. If he wants to know, he will work for it.”
“I’m not you.” She whispered back to us, and Nix recoiled.
“Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing? Megan, you are amazing all on your own.” I pushed closer to the front. “You kept us alive.”
Nix came closer with me. “You are smarter than me. You are emotionally more developed. I might be the Alpha, but you are the glue that’s holding the three of us together, Megan. Without you, we would have gone to the Goddess. This time, and the last.”
“What?” I turned to Nix, but she looked away.
“I’ll explain later. But right now, you need to realize your worth. If he doesn’t want you, even as a friend, he isn’t worth our time,” Nix called back and then she turned to walk away.
I felt Megan decide. “A friend told me that if a male wants to know the name of my other half, then he has to work for it.” Then she took off, leaving him alone in the clearing.
I stopped by the apartment to get ready, then I hopped into my truck to get to the main hall. I wanted to grab some food before the mayhem of today started. I had barely taken a few steps into the main building when there was a call.
“Amy!” I stopped and turned to find myself facing Brandon and Vince.
“Hey.” I forced a smile on my face. “What can I help you with?”
Brandon came to stand next to me. “Good morning. I thought you were going to miss today…”
I turned my smile up to his face. “Why would I miss today?” Brandon looked lost, staring at my face. He even leaned in, but I turned to face Vince. “Alpha Vince? To what do I owe this pleasure?”
He coughed for a second before he regrouped. “What exactly are you doing with the front hall?”
“I created a way for girls to apply to become the king’s mate.”
“There already is a way.” Vince started, but I held up my hand.
“Sorry, I should have been more clear. I streamlined a way for the females here to apply to become the king’s mate.”
“Why would you do that?” Vince stepped closer. “I mean, the more women who apply, the less of a chance you have of being chosen.” He watched me closely, but I expected this line of questioning eventually.
“I’m not applying.”
Are you really not going to apply? Megan’s voice sounded concerned.
Yes. She will be. Nix stepped up next to my wolf. She was slowly regaining her strength.
Guys…
No, Amy. I accept that I am interested in Erubus. Nix started. And I will even go out as far as saying that he is probably winning Megan over. But you still have feelings for Rowan, and if you don’t put your name in, even if it is just for show, you will regret it.
What if he wants you to, but you don’t and he has to select another female? Megan laid down, placing her head on her paws. Do you really want to lose your chance at maybe finding out how he feels because of a technicality?
I wanted to growl. My wolves made sense. But I focused on the men in front of me. Brandon’s smile was big. “Really?”
I shook my head. “Well, to be fair, I haven’t planned on it.” I smirked as I saw Vince glance at Brandon. I looked around, hoping to find a way out of this. And I spotted it. “Um, Brandon…”
“Yeah?” He leaned in closer to me and I smiled, and watched his eyes lose focus for a minute.
“You have company…” I whispered.
Both Brandon and Vince reeled back from me. “What?” Brandon looked around and Vince’s eyes landed on the person who was currently headed our way.
“You are a fucking whore.” Her words were as nasally as ever. You would think after I punched her face it would get better, but nope, still annoying.
I huffed out a breath. “Shannon, what a wonderful surprise. I was hoping to make it through my entire program without seeing you, but I guess I’m not lucky.” I turned to Alpha Vince and gave a small nod. “I will say my goodbyes. I need to eat before I start the table.”
Brandon walked to intercept Shannon. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here? You told me you needed to focus on your studies, and I find you here, trying to fuck my sister?”
I rolled my eyes as I turned to leave, but Vince stepped closer to me. “Is there something else you need?”
He nodded, then glanced over to where Shannon was screaming still. “Come with me.” He offered his arm, so I threaded mine through his and he walked me to the building. Before we got too close, he dropped his words to a soft whisper. “The council is here, or one of the members.”
“Why?”
“Because of Nina. She complained to her uncle about your program and they were here to shut it down.” I snorted. “Take this seriously Amy, you might be strong but they are the council.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I will take this seriously. Thank you.”
Vince nodded and released my arm. “For what it’s worth, I think the program is a nice touch.”
“Really?”
“I don’t like that the council wants to dictate our next Luna. I think every Alpha deserves to wait for his mate or make his own choice in his mate. Forcing the king to select a mate sets an unprecedented expectation that they can decide who mates who.”
I nodded along like I believed him. “I mean, if that can do this to the king, what stops them from doing this to Brandon?” I watched Vince’s face fall, as if he had never actually considered the repercussions of his play. Then I turned on my heel and left him there.