A Luna for the Lycan King

Chapter7

I gripped the different pieces of yarn and held them up to my nose. I felt my eyes begin to well and, as stupid as this sounds, it felt like losing them all over again. My father, who vanished while leading my old pack, had taken them to investigate strangers who had crossed into our borders and never returned. After that, the pack disintegrated. They fled in fear, leaving mother and I alone. We had to move around often after that. She gave everything to make sure that I never went hungry. It was as if they were ripped from me all over again. I know they were just stuffed animals, but to me they were so much more. They were precious gifts my mother made for me. My parents’ scents sewn inside. They were all that I had left.

I felt the lump form in my throat as my nose and eyes burned from the threat of tears.

“Allissa, I am so sorry.” I felt Lyle’s presence as he kneeled down next to me. I didn’t know what to do now. I just stared at the shredded contents across the room. I knew exactly who had done this. I could smell Ivy’s scent all over the plushies. Why would she have done such a thing? What did I ever do to her? Why hate me so much to hurt me like this?

Lyle moved forward, and I watched him as he began to gather all the material into a pile. He carefully made sure not to step on anything, gathering every piece he could find. Separating them by their color and scent into two piles.

“When we get home, you can decide what you want to do. If you want to have them remade or if you’d like to bury them and make a memorial for your parents.”

I gazed at him through tear-filled eyes, grateful for how considerate he was being. His kindness touched my heart and brought forth a wave of emotion. The tears flowed freely down my cheeks, but I didn’t try to stop them. Instead, I let myself fully feel the weight of the emotions I had been suppressing.

He reached out a hand and gently wiped away a tear that had fallen onto my cheek. His touch was so tender, so full of care, that it felt like a balm to my wounded soul. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling voice as I looked up at him. “Thank you,” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips.

“What’s going on?” Darren’s deep voice and presence entered the room. I looked away from him, feeling ashamed of the tears falling down my face. It was quiet, except for the sound of his angry breathing. I’m sure Lyle was filling him in, and right now, I was still upset with him. I didn’t want his sympathy or pity. But at the same time, a small part of me longed for his understanding and comfort. The damn mate bond confused my emotions. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and eyes, suddenly feeling angry. That b***h Ivy crossed the line. Who the hell did she think she was messing with? I wasn’t weak, far from it.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. She must be far away by now. Far enough away that they thought it was safe to take some intimate time for themselves. They probably didn’t run away all on foot, either. They would be smart enough to block their scents and travel in a vehicle. Damnit, they could have flown, too. There was an airport only two hours away, which meant they could be anywhere.

What I wanted to do was chase after them. To find Ivy and watch the life fade from her eyes. If the king’s army was looking for them, they were far more capable than I would be at finding them.

I felt his hands land on my shoulders, forcing me to spin into him. And then I was covered in his warmth. His arms wrapped around me so tightly, his hand holding my head to his chest. His nose nuzzled in my hair, and I felt his lips lightly kiss my head.

“I wish I could fix this. I’m so sorry.” I felt his fingers tangle in my hair as I breathed in his scent. The cinnamon cookie scent soothed my insides. I felt calmer and less distressed. How was the mate bond so magical that a stranger was able to instantly comfort my soul? “I will make them pay for this. They are both going to pay severely.” I felt his fingers tremble slightly, showing how angry he was on my behalf. He pressed his lips against my head once more before I felt him straighten up.

I lifted my head away from his chest to see him looking over at Lyle. His face looked taut and his brows furrowed.

“We need to leave,” Lyle said quietly, looking at me. “Sorry to rush you, but—”

“That’s okay, I understand.” I stepped away and wiped my eyes free of all traces of tears. I patted my face and took in a deep breath. I looked down at the piles on the floor. “We can leave. I don’t need anything from this place.” I closed my eyes and then walked out of the room. I didn’t need anything, and the only things I wanted had been destroyed. It was best just to leave that, too.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, his arm swept around my waist, holding me close. I looked up at him and he shook the bag of cookies in his hand.

“We can’t forget these, right? It’s a long drive. Maybe you’ll share one with me?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. If I share my cookies with you, aren’t you afraid I might share them with everyone?” He stopped and stepped in front of me. His eyes softened as a small frown reached his lips.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I’m possessive and territorial. And, as my fated mate, you are now at the center of this because you are my obsession. I’m not afraid you will share your cookie with someone else. I know that isn’t the type of person you are. I just hope that you’ll see me as someone worthy enough to share your cookie with.”

I took the bag of cookies from his hand as Tim walked in through the front door.

“Can I have one of your cookies?” he asked innocently, receiving a low snarl from Darren.

“Her cookie belongs to me.”

“Gods, you are such a pig. Besides, they aren’t yours to keep.”

“I don’t think you two are talking about the same type of cookies,” Lyle said from behind us, his voice full of mirth.

“What other cookies—” Tim’s face turned red as his mouth parted. “I would never ask for—” he shook his head with wide eyes. “I’m talking about a peanut butter and chocolate cookie—” he stopped again, his face turning so dark, it was almost maroon. “I just want to talk about food and not any other meaning.” He rubbed his face in embarrassment and I started to giggle.

It was such a pure and genuine reaction. These men really had completely different personalities behind closed doors.

Lyle walked past us and to the doors next to Tim. “The cookies are really good. I snuck a bite when Darren was outside.” He grinned and winked back at Darren before he quickly fled the room with Tim by his side.

“Brothers,” Darren growled, glaring at the door.

“It seems nice,” I murmured absentmindedly, glancing up to see him looking at me. “Having a sibling seems nice.”

“Well, he’s your sibling too, now. You can see how nice it is for yourself.” He looked around the house and then back at me. “Ready?

“Yes, I’m ready.”