A Luna for the Lycan King

Chapter 12

“What the hell is your problem?!” Rodney growled, taking a small step back from Lyle. He tilted his head to the side and then raised up his hands, submitting to him. “Johnathon said you would either bring back the alpha or luna for questioning, and when you arrived to take them to the holding cell.”

“There’s been a change of plans.” Lyle took in a slow breath and then glanced back at me. His eyes softened and he gave me a small smile. “I’m sorry. Did I startle you?”

“Whoa, I’ve never seen you this nice before. Is she your mate?” Rodney asked, and I listened as Lyle snorted angrily.

“I’ve always been the nice one!”

“To who?” Rodney leaned back on his heels and laughed. “You’re just under Mr. Broody himself.”

The girl with the black hair giggled. “You just don’t know how to speak to them.”

“Okay, Cleo.” A woman with blonde hair rolled her blue eyes in obvious annoyance.

“Don’t be jealous, Claudia. You just have a different type of relationship with them.” Cleo smirked at her, and with that look alone, I knew I wasn’t going to like this woman.

“So you brought the luna back, but someone else will be interrogating her? And where are her chains?” Rodney eyed me in confusion and I snorted. I didn’t mean to, but it just slipped out, and now all their eyes were on me. I guess I had to say what was on my mind.

“Are chains really necessary? Unless I am exponentially stronger than your king, and if that’s the case, I think that is a whole other problem that needs to be addressed.”

“Hmm.” Lyle hummed. “Maybe we should have you in chains. I’m pretty sure you can take the king to his knees and have him begging for mercy.” He smirked and then took a step toward me, but I took a step back.

“Your mood swings give me whiplash. I don’t want to be on the receiving end the next time you snap.”

“Ouch, Issy,” he frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. “I thought we had something special.”

“Issy?” I smiled at the nickname and watched a smile spread over his lips.

“It just popped out, but I think it’s the perfect nickname.” Lyle’s blue eyes seemed to be smiling too until he heard his mother clear her throat. Then his head snapped away from me to look at her.

“Enough games, Lyle. I demand an explanation!”

“Oh, here comes Darren now!” Cleo’s eyes lit up and I could see the affection in them. I turned my head slightly to look in Darren’s direction. He was walking toward us with Tim at his side. His eyes moved over everyone before they came to rest on me. I could see his eyes glancing between the distance I was keeping from everyone else. His brows tilted down as his eyes turned dark. His pace quickened as if he couldn’t get to me fast enough. “Darren, I was—”

Cleo stopped talking as he abruptly walked past her, heading straight to me.

“What happened?” he snarled, his eyes glowing. Yes, glowing! I’d never seen glowing eyes before. I’d seen eyes that flickered with their beast but never glow. I was fascinated by this beautiful, glowing green shade.

“She’s okay. What happened was—” Lyle began to explain, but Darren snarled, whipping his head in his direction.

“I TRUSTED YOU TO GUARD HER!” he roared, and I noticed everyone visibly flinched. Everyone was tilting their necks in submission. The mere sight was comical. All these arrogant attitudes immediately ceased with just a raised voice and aura.

“I DID, AND—” Lyle barked back, the only one not submitting to Darren’s rage.

“AND YOU MESSED UP!” Darren’s arm began to tremble and I could see he was on the brink of losing control. My goodness, it was like children without parents. Only their mother was standing right on the other side, and she looked afraid too. I walked up between the two men and looked at them. How ridiculous were these tempers?

“Are you two like this all the time?!” I shook my head and looked back at Darren’s eyes. I wanted to scold him, but I suddenly began to laugh. I lifted my hand to my lips to try to cover it, but I’d been caught.

Darren’s eyes immediately calmed down. A small smile played on his lips as he bent down to look into my eyes. “What is so funny?”

“You’re like toddlers with temper tantrums. Honestly, how are you going to have kids with your unregulated emotions?” I giggled, watching his eyes twinkle as they looked at me.

“Are you making fun of me? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?” he said in a low voice that could be taken threateningly. But I saw the mirth on his face and the slight twitch at the corner of his lips.

“Do I look afraid?” I tilted my chin up at him with a smile.

“No, and I’m glad. I don’t want you to ever fear me. I’m the one person you should never be afraid of.”

“Get him, Issy, big brother is picking on me,” Lyle mocked in a childlike voice, making me shake my head. What the hell was I getting myself into? I didn’t know anything about raising children, but I did know that tantrums needed guidance. These two were the result of unguided tantrums.

“Issy?” Darren asked as he stared at me.

“Don’t you think it fits?” Lyle beamed.

Darren reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me to his chest. “So everything is alright?” he whispered as his eyes searched mine.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Who is this woman?!” Their mother spoke forcefully, while Darren smirked. He turned to look at his mother, keeping me firmly at his side.

“Mom, I want you to meet my mate, Allissa. Allissa, this is my mother, Winifred, but she goes by Winnie.”

“Your mate?” she asked, and I heard another gasp next to her. I knew immediately it was from Cleo. But Darren seemed unphased as he looked into my eyes.

“Yes, she is my mate.”

“I’m confused.” Winifred clicked her tongue lightly. “This is the Luna of the Quartz pack. She already has a mate. You can’t steal someone’s mate.”

“Her mate abandoned her. I didn’t steal her, but if you want to know, I would have. I would have had no problems snapping his neck and stealing her to be by my side.” He turned his attention to his mother. “Does that answer your question?”

I could see it in her eyes. She didn’t want me to be his mate. I noticed the subtle glance toward Cleo. I felt like there was more going on with this woman. One thing was for certain: I knew those looks well enough to see the disdain for me.

“Darren, I would like to speak with you ... privately.” Winifred had a glint in her eyes that didn’t promise anything good.

Well, I’d had a mate at least for a day, but I’d watched enough movies to know how this worked. I was like the servant with poor bloodlines. Of course, they would want their son with someone more suited to be his match. I had a fairytale for a few hours at least.

“Another time.” Darren turned, with me in his arms, and began to walk away. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

“Darren!”

He stopped, turned, and glared at her. The icy look was unmistakable as he curled his lips up in a snarl. “Don’t forget who I am for one second.” I noticed her hands began to shake but he didn’t pay any attention to her. He turned back around and continued to escort me down the path.

The anger that flickered in his eyes was chilling, but when he looked back at me, it was gone. The way he looked at me was like the difference between night and day. I found it hard to believe that this man was as cruel as the rumors had said. But, little by little, I was seeing glimpses of the ironclad king. The man who they joked could slay a room with one of his icy looks.

Yet, looking up at his tender green eyes I didn’t see that hate. I saw warmth, admiration and ... love.