Chapter 14 Crossing Boundaries II
"Alpha, I'm—"
"Shh." The Alpha cut me off suddenly, pressing his index finger against my lips.
His gaze darted toward the surface we had crossed.
"Someone's here," he muttered.
My heart skipped. "What? Where?"
"In your room." He stepped past me, moving toward the wall we had walked through.
My pulse thundered as I stared at him. What if it was the Luna? Would he question why she had come to me privately—or worse, would she discover I was here, alone in his room?
Either way, I was doomed.
I watched as the Alpha sniffed the air, then opened his eyes. His stare snapped back to me, making my heart stutter.
"Odessa."
Who?
"Why is Odessa in your room?"
"Who is Odessa?" I asked quickly.
His brow arched, clearly surprised I didn't know the person.
"My Luna."
Oh hell no.
"Alpha, please, I have to go. Is there another way I can get out?" My voice trembled with panic.
His eyes hardened. "You're not dismissed. You leave only when I say so."
"But I can't be seen here! If I go through the door, maybe—"
I started toward the entrance, but his hand shot out, gripping me roughly and yanking me back.
"You seem to have forgotten I'm your Alpha. I have the authority to demand you stay."
"I know, but—"
"She's gone."
My eyes widened. "What?"
"She already left your room." He paused, his tone cold. "And she's coming here."
My jaw dropped. "What do you mean?"
A sharp knock rattled the door, making me jump.
Alpha Dawn moved to answer it, but I grabbed his wrist without thinking.
He glanced down at my hand, then at me. Horror hit me as I realized what I'd done. I had stopped the Alpha.
I let go immediately, bowing my head. "I-I'm sorry, Alpha."
He said nothing, just continued to the door.
My heart slammed against my ribs as he turned the knob and pulled it open. My breath hitched when I saw the Luna standing there, dressed in a black mid-thigh coat over a turtle-neck blouse, a patterned brown skirt, and knee-high boots.
Her face was thunderous.
"What do you want?" Alpha Dawn asked, his tone neither warm nor cold.
She scoffed. "What do I want? What is she doing here?"
"That's none of your business."
My chest tightened. This was spiraling fast.
"Dawn," she sneered, "is this some kind of joke? You bring a cheap slut into your bedroom and then tell me it's not my business?"
"Watch your tongue," he snapped.
"Or what?" she challenged, chin raised defiantly.
"Or I'll cut it out and feed it to the dogs. Don't test me, Odessa." His snarl reverberated through the air.
At that, her shoulders sagged, succumbing to his authority as an Alpha, though her mouth didn't.
"Get her out of here," she hissed, flicking a glare in my direction.
"Odessa," he countered coolly, "we were in the middle of something important. Leave."
"Fine. Then I'll get her out myself."
She shoved past him, striding toward me. My lungs seized when she reached me, and a gasp tore from me as her hand cracked against my cheek.
"You just became the breeder and already think you've earned audacity?" she spat, seizing my wrist and dragging me violently toward the door.
But before we could reach it, Alpha Dawn stepped in front of us.
"I don't want to get violent with you, Odessa. Let her go."
Her voice broke with fury. "Why are you defending her? Was the sex that good? Something you've never tasted before? Something I never gave you?"
Pain laced her tone.
"Tell me—what makes us different? What did she give you that I didn't? Tell me, and I'll do it!"
"Let her go, and we'll talk."
"Talk about what? How you love her body more than mine?"
"Odessa..." His warning growl rumbled.
Her voice wavered between rage and desperation. "I'm ashamed of you, Dawn. This isn't you. You cherished me, worshiped the ground I walked on. Now you let this little bitch take that away?"
Then it happened.
A small shove from him sent her flying across the room. My breath caught, but she rose almost instantly, unscathed. Of course—she was a Luna. To her, it must have felt like landing on a mattress.
"This isn't you, Dawn," she whispered one last time, before casting me a venomous glare. She growled low, then turned toward the threshold.
"Odessa," Alpha Dawn called as she was about to close the door.
She stopped, hope flickering in her eyes.
He approached her, kissed her forehead gently, and when he pulled back, his eyes glowed bright red.
Her gaze went hollow, soulless. He shut the door behind her.
Turning back to me, he found my trembling eyes.
"What was that?" I asked, voice still shaking.
"I erased her memory of tonight. You're safe."
"What?"
Does he know about the deal between me and the Luna?
"She wasn't leaving because she gave up," he explained darkly. "She was leaving to plot your death."
I swallowed hard. "See why I said this can't work?"
"You're right. But unfortunately, I decide if it works or not."
"My life could be in danger."
"Your life won't be in danger while I'm alive." He stepped closer, cupping my cheek.
I slapped his hand away instinctively. "I don't like you. I don't want you."
"Okay," he murmured with a chilling smile. "Excellent."
Before I could react, his hands gripped my head and twisted. A sickening crack echoed in my neck as my world went dark.