Lunar Eclipse

27 - Alpha Born

I gaze at the hurt female through the open door of the healer's cabin. One of Arabella's assistants is changing her bedding. By some miracle, she has pulled through, even though she hasn't woken up. The swelling in her face is gone and the injuries around her mouth have closed. She's actually really pretty. Too bad she won't have a tongue.

"You've been checking on her quite a bit."

I turn around to face my mother. "We took her in. It's my responsibility as Alpha to ensure she isn't lacking for anything."

"And that's all there is to it?"

"What else would there be?" The truth is that some irresistible force is baiting me to her doorstep. An urge to see her, which is probably just driven by pity. Arabella found signs of old injuries, hinting that it wasn't the first time her old pack abused her.

"She smells of strength. I believe she's an Alpha born."

I shrug. "So what if she is?"

"Just saying."

The snapping of twigs draws my attention to the tree line. With one jump, a brown wolf cuts through the underbrush. Fur ripples along my spine but smooths when I recognize him. It's just mother's new weretoy. He stretches into his skins. I still can't believe how young he is; even my nineteen-year-old sister Everest has a few moons on him. His olive skin glistens with sweat and he sweeps a few dark curls out of his eyes. His features are similar to those of my father, forcing the guilt to rise to the surface. Self-blame always pops up when I watch mother with another male.

She reaches for him and their fingers intertwine. "Did you have a nice run, Seth?"

"I did, My Queen." He gives her a sweet smile.

I suppress a snort. Queen is one of the silly names she forces them to call her in order to be allowed into her bed. Surprising that she still finds volunteers after her unions get shorter with each candidate. She stumbled over this one on a new territory we seized over the summer. A son of the Beta, stripped of his powers. He must see the mating with the Luna of his conquerors as a form of redemption. My bet, he won't survive the next heat.

Mother releases him from her grip. "Get dressed and wait for me at the packhouse. I have to talk to my son."

Her gaze stays on him as he trudges away. He's such a wimp. Never once has he rebelled against her impossible demands. Only after he's out of earshot does her attention return to me.

"You don't like him, do you?"

"He's your play toy, Mother. I don't need to like him."

"You know, I wouldn't need those types of distractions if I had grandpups to care for."

Or if father were still around. "I don't think I can help with that. Still no female I'd like to mate with." My gaze flicks to Raelyn in the cabin. Alpha born. Leave it to my mother to match me with a wolf in a coma.

"Your sister will be here in a few days with her pup."

Ah, that's what she's getting at.

"It would be nice if Cassum and you could make your peace, Kendrick. It would mean a lot to me. She might stay if you allow her back into the pack. You could even consider making her your Luna. You and she would make excellent leaders as we expand further south. I'm getting too old for all this responsibility."

"Cassum has her own agenda. Being Luna was never enough for her."

"Time has a way to change the young. Cassum might not be the hothead she once was."

"And the father of her pup? What should I do with him? I doubt he'll stand idly by while Cassum and I invade his territory."

My mother's smile is thin. "I'm sure you'll figure something out. You owe me that much."