The Wolves and the Vipers

Chapter 49 - How Little He Cares

Sorry this is a bit late! I've been busy with my final exams, but they're all done now, and I have a couple months' break before starting work so the updates should come a little faster now. Thank you all for your patience :)

Tyler had gone to a meeting, Kara had gone with him because they were inseparable, and Jace was there too. That left me and Kallie in the house, and she was making herself what looked like a very complicated sandwich for dinner. So naturally, I went straight to the back door, where I knew Zoe was standing guard, even though the light was beginning to fade.

I pressed a finger to my lips and motioned for her to come inside. Thankfully, she didn't question it, and I sneaked her through the kitchen while Kallie was busy with the chopping board. Once we had climbed the stairs, I took her hand and tugged her into my old bedroom, then closed the door firmly behind us.

"Is everything okay, Luna?" she asked me.

"Everything's fine," I assured her. "I was hoping to talk. Jace has been making it difficult these last few days."

A frown crossed Zoe's lips, and then her eyes snapped towards me. I didn't think she was breathing. "Does he know?"

No point hiding it from her, because she would find out sooner or later. "Yes."

The look on her face said it all — it wasn't terror, but it was close. She edged backwards or two and then sat herself down on the bed, somewhat gingerly. Her face had gone sheet white.

"And like I said," I added quickly, kneeling down in front of her, "you don't need to worry about that, because he doesn't care."

"Yes, you said that. But how can he not care? He's your mate."

Did I dare tell her? I still had yet to tell Kara, because it was a monumental secret with the power to upend my entire life here. One wrong word, one slip of the tongue, and I would be the Luna no longer. And yet ... how much did I care? None of this had been a free choice on my part — Jace had backed me into a corner. I was loathe to roam the countryside again, packless and friendless, but it would mean freedom. It would mean no more pretending.

And I did trust Zoe. She already knew I liked women, and that was a dangerous enough secret by itself.

"No, he's not," I told her.

For a little while, it seemed she was frozen. She was puzzling it over, trying to decide exactly what I meant by that. But then a frown stole across her face, and her eyes widened as if in disbelief. She didn't say anything at all.

"I did have a mate, but she died," I said, swallowing a lump in my throat. It felt strange to be talking about Angharad with Zoe. "I'm not very interested in men, to be honest. Jace and I have an agreement — that's all. And that agreement does involve some freedom to see other people, if we do it discretely."

"This is ... a lot to take in," Zoe murmured. She stood up abruptly, so I did the same. "What happened to his mate?"

A good question. Even the thought of it made me smile a little. "She didn't want to be a Luna. Or leave her pack. It was a thorough rejection, from the sounds of it. And yet ... he needs an heir, and the pack needs a Luna."

Her eyebrows flew upwards. "So he asked a lesbian?"

"Not intentionally."

"Goddess," she breathed. "Why are you telling me all this?"

I bit my lip gently. "Because I want to kiss you again, and I'd prefer it if you were less terrified this time."

Where was all this courage coming from? Angie had always been the forward one, not me. And a few weeks ago, I had scarcely been able to talk to Zoe without feeling all tongue-tied and nervous. Maybe it was the way she was looking at me. Maybe it was the unmasked admiration in her bright blue eyes.