The Tasks of the Moon Goddess

Chapter 22

Author's note: The picture is of Alec and Kristen.

The trip back to the Shadow Moon pack went off without a hitch. Kristen did a very good job. When we arrived, I discovered that Viktor had cut off all of his hair into a buzz cut, all one length.

"I see you got a haircut," I said.

"I got all of them cut," he said with a smirk.

"Good job Dad," I said. "Why did you get all of your hair cut?" I asked.

"I always donate my hair to werewolves with cancer," he said. "Ever since I was thirteen and my Mom got breast cancer. The chemo took a lot out of her."

"I didn't know your mother had cancer," I said.

"It was a long time ago," he said. "We don't really talk about it anymore until it comes time for a new checkup."

"You are just the best person," I said, kissing him. Why can't more people be like you?"

"I'm afraid the world would be a very boring place if everybody was like me," he said

"Well not everybody and not just like you," I said. You know what I mean."

"I do," he said. "Come here give me a hug. I missed you so much. It felt like there was a hole inside me. I need you to fill it."

"Well here I am," I said. "Aren't you lucky?"

"I feel lucky with you in my arms," he said. "Why don't you put your stuff in my room?"

"That's a little presumptuous of you," I said.

"You spend most of your time there anyway,"
he said. "Who cares what people think?"

"Obviously I do," I said. "I guess you could always put Samantha into my old room next door. She will want to be close to me."

"That won't be a problem as long as you're sharing my bed ," he said. "I don't care where anybody else sleeps. Except the fifth floor. That's strictly for special guests. If we marry, our bedroom will be up there too."

"If?" I questioned.

"When," he said.

"You know I've never been up there," I said.

"Why would you want to go up there?" He asked.

"Curiosity," I said.

"After what happened to the cat, I thought you would be wiser," he said, chuckling to himself.

We brought my luggage up to his room. If I abdicated this could be my life, living here with Viktor. I couldn't imagine anything better, but I had my duty. There would be a fight for the throne. I didn't want to see that. Could Viktor be really leave all of this to be with me?

"Why do you keep asking yourself these questions?" He asked. "You know I can hear you, right?"

"I wasn't thinking about that," I said.

"Obviously. Would you really abdicate?" He asked.

"I've been thinking about it," I admitted.

"I could never ask you to do that for me," he said.

"Would you come with me?" I asked. "Be by my side?"

"I think about that everyday," he confessed. "I think about the things I would change. The things I would improve and the things I would keep the same. You have no idea how much room for improvement there is."

"This is what I need. This is what we all need, someone like you," I said.

"It's a lot of work, Joyana," he said.