A Luna for the Lycan King

Chapter 6

This is what happens when you allow yourself to be consumed by the mate bond too early. It immediately made him think that I was easy, when it had nothing to do with that. The tingles and the pull were everything I had ever craved. I allowed myself to be swept away because I thought it was alright, since he was my fated mate. Apparently this put the label on me that I was afraid of.

“Darren!” I heard Lyle snap. I noticed the way his eyes were looking at me with concern. Was he worrying for my safety? “He didn’t mean that,” he whispered. I glanced at him and noticed the pain in his eyes. That look was for me. I guess my poker face wasn’t on today.

“I’m sorry,” Darren said, and went to reach for me. I jerked back and glared at him.

“I wouldn’t want you to think I’m easy. After all, I must have a relationship with all the men in the pack, right? That’s why I’m protective of them. It has nothing to do with being their leader.” I clicked my tongue and turned away. I looked back at Bastian, who looked completely pale.

“Bastian, I told you not to worry about me. Your job is to look after the pack. You can’t do that if you’re dead.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. We can’t bear the thought of you being punished because of what our alpha did. We will protect you.” His words brought a smile to my face.

“You don’t need to worry about protecting me. I’m capable of taking care of myself. However,” my voice grew more stern as I raised my brows at him. “You’re going to be the one in trouble if you disobey my direct order again. Bastian, be the alpha this pack needs. Don’t just lead with your emotions. Lead with your mind and your heart.” I watched as his bottom lip trembled slightly.

“But Luna—”

“I’m not your luna anymore.” I gave him a reassuring smile.

“She’s not going to be punished.” I heard Darren’s voice behind me, but I refused to turn and look at him. How infuriating … to have the moment we just had and to have him spoil it already. “She is being brought back as my mate. She’s going to be the Lycan Queen.” Bastian’s mouth gaped open as he looked at me in shock.

“Nothing is set in stone,” I replied with a tight smile as I heard Lyle stifle a laugh. “I am leaving, though. So from this moment on, you are the alpha. Now, act like it and go and take care of your pack!” A genuine smile reached his lips and he nodded his head. “They are leaving some help here to get you started. And if you need anything, you can always reach out to me.” I reached out my hand and he took it. “This is your home now. Everything in it belongs to you.” My eyes suddenly widened. “Almost everything!” I turned, ran over to a cupboard in the living room, and pulled out my secret stash of chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookies. “These I’m keeping.”

“So that’s where you kept them. I searched the entire kitchen for those. You put them in a scent blocker!” He looked at the bag I pulled them out of. “Smart. I’ll remember that trick. I hope ... I hope we meet again.”

“I’m sure we will. Now scoot. They’ll be getting anxious.” I watched him leave, feeling a bit sad. Despite what happened with Alfred, this was my home. The pack members were my only family. I was about to leave with complete strangers who were being very quiet right now. I finally turned to face them both. “Now, don’t you both feel horrible for scaring him like that?”

Lyle sighed, and Darren had an unreadable expression on his face.

“Allissa, right? We haven’t been properly introduced. I am Lyle, the man brat’s brother.” He nodded toward Darren, who didn’t even acknowledge him. “The thing is, orders have to be obeyed. We can’t make emotional judgments. We have to follow through with what commands were given and what are being broken. It only takes a weak moment for others to think you’re soft and that you can’t lead. That man is only alive right now because of you. Regardless of how much you disapprove of it, that’s what should have happened.”

“Because he rushed in here to protect me?”

“Yes, especially because of it. You were taken in here as a prisoner in their minds. That type of rebellion can’t be tolerated. Darren spared his life for you.”

“After he insulted me.” I snorted and folded my arms over my chest. So I was supposed to forgive him and be grateful because he didn’t kill Bastian? I mean, yes, I did appreciate them not killing him, but that didn’t take back what he had said. “I can see that my actions earlier have given you the wrong impression of me.”

“I see I have also given you the wrong impression of me,” he growled lowly. “I am not tame. I am not kind or benevolent. I rule with an iron fist, because you have to with beasts.” He took a few steps toward the door and stopped. “I am sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean it. I was jealous.” He cleared his throat. “You don’t need to pack anything unless you want it. We’ll buy you anything you need. We’ll leave once you’re ready.” Without another word, he stepped out of the house, leaving me standing there with Lyle.

“Well, that was fun.” Lyle chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know he can be rough, but he’s a great leader who bears a heavy burden.” I could feel his gaze on me as I stared at the door. I guess I was thinking he would come back. How did I have this tugging pull at my heart already? I felt like a puppy who wanted to trot alongside their master. Gross.

I shook my head and turned away, heading up the stairs.

“What can I help you with?”

“I don’t want anything from here but a few things that were my mother’s. She had made me a plushie of my father when I was younger so I could hug him before I fell asleep. It had a bag of his scent inside of it. Before she died, she made another one of her lycan with her scent in it.” My bottom lip trembled as I remembered that day. “Those are worth more to me than anything in the world. Irreplaceable treasures.”

“That was incredibly thoughtful of your mother. She sounds like she was very kind.”

“She was ... I miss her so much.” I turned my head to give him a sad smile.

“Any other family?”

“No ... I don’t have anyone.”

“You have us now. I’m a pretty cool brother to have, if I do say so myself.”

I smiled, not sure what to say. I honestly wasn’t sure if things were going to work out with the Lycan King. I hadn’t even called him by his name. I felt like there was a barrier there ... even if it was in my own head.

I opened the door to the storage room and my stomach dropped. I felt my hands trembling as I looked over the destruction. I slowly walked forward and fell to my knees, gripping the pieces of my two shredded plushies.