The next day, I woke up early in the morning only to find myself alone. Reed had gone; his scent was faded and weak, but I could still feel him near me. My face fell, knowing he wasn’t there when I opened my eyes.
I quickly went to the bathroom and finished my business. Today, I felt different, not just physically but emotionally. My wolf was now very much contained and pleased as her moral task to claim her mate was accomplished.
Yesterday morning, he made me drink his blood, tying me with himself, and by today, he was marked by me. We were progressing with remarkable speed; I wondered if we could stay till tomorrow without mating. I shuddered at the thought.
I quickly freshened up and walked downstairs to greet everyone. I have already had enough of those witches. The blood moon had passed, and all I got from them were threats and cheap shots behind my back. I will not risk either my mate’s or my pack’s life. It was time to show everyone who I really was.
“Good morning, Emmy.” My mother hugged me as soon as she saw me. I returned the hug with the same enthusiasm. She looked at me as if I was totally different since she last saw me. Or maybe I was.
“You reek of him,” she commented dryly but didn’t say anything further. I shrugged.
“Did he mark you?” she asked, and horror was evident in her eyes. I pursed my lips and nodded. Technically he had marked me. I drank his blood.
“Oh god! This is the worst timing I could ever imagine,” she said and rubbed her head. She started pacing around the hall like a madwoman, and my eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“Mom, will you please, instead of circling around, say directly what happened now,” I said, trying to suppress my anger. I was already in a rage about last night’s accident, and by her face, I could already make my assumptions the news wouldn't be good.
“Your…. Your father… He has woken up from his coma,” she said and hugged me again. She had tears in her eyes.
“What? This is good news, Mom. Why were you so worried then?” I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders.
“Maybe you forgot the reason why he was in a coma in the first place,” she said, and there was a pang of anger in her voice. My mother had every right to get angry with Reed. He was the reason my father was in a coma for two years. If it were not because of the alpha blood and their rituals, he would have died already. Alphas couldn’t die. Wow.
“He will be discharged by tonight. Your brother has gone to see him,” she said after sensing my silence. I nodded.
“Did you say something to Reed about it?” I voiced my thoughts.
“No. Why would I? I have not seen him since he has gone with his beta,” she said in a dismissing tone. I knew she didn’t like Reed. Nobody does, but at least she was thoughtful and understanding.
“What happened to your face? Did he do something to you?” she asked, her eyes fixed at the spot near my left eye, her face turning red in anger. Only then did I remember she didn’t know anything about my accident last night.
“No. Stop demonizing him for one second. We had a little accident on the way back to our home last night,” I said, and I surprised both of us with my raised voice. She looked lost in thought for a second and went to the kitchen before asking me for breakfast. I nodded once again and walked towards my study. I sighed in relief. At least she changed the topic.
“Mom, I will be in my study. I have to take care of some business,” I said and closed the door behind me.
“Beta John, meet me at my study, and bring the map of the borders,” I said in the mind link.
“Yes, alpha,” I heard him say immediately.
“I am saying just to wait and let it cool off until other alphas arrive,” John said suggestively.
“I can’t wait anymore, John. I have already waited much more than I should have,” I growled. John took few steps back and bowed. I immediately calmed my wolf.
“All the other alphas are facing the same problems as us, John. Reed had Diana; she had cloaked his pack from the world. But others and us, we can’t hide,” I completed.
“Alpha, wait some more. Your father is coming after so long. Welcome him, and then we will see what to do with these witches.” With that, John bowed again, and I nodded. He left the room.
The door opened again, and Reed entered this time. His hair was wet, and he looked fresh and…hot. He smiled knowingly, and the scent of his cologne reached my nostrils. All of a sudden, I felt a strange pull towards him.
He walked toward me, and in a blink of an eye, planted a soft kiss on my lips before pulling me toward him. He deepened the kiss, and I responded equally. He smirked in between the kisses before finally letting me go, short of breath.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to look angry because he interrupted me, but his sexy smile was restricting my actions. “Where did you go so early in the morning?” I asked, trying to suppress the disappointment in my voice, but somehow I knew he already sensed it.
“I have sent Asher to check on my pack. It has been the longest I have ever left them.” I nodded silently; I didn’t know. For some reason, I felt he was not telling me the whole truth. But a part of me was happy he did it for me, and another part regretted that he had to stay away and neglect his duties.
“Hey.” He traced his fingers on my cheek and made me look into his ocean blue eyes. “Don’t overthink,” he said and kissed my nose. I blushed and slapped his hand away. Why did he have such an effect on me?
“Still, you know you don’t…” He shushed me by putting his finger on my lips.
“After all this is over, when everything is normal, we both will go to our pack.” Our pack. I blinked twice and let the words settle in my head.
Does he mean we will live together? I shook my head, trying not to dance in front of him. He took my hand, intertwined it with his, and planted a kiss.
“Will you come with me to our pack? As my Luna?” he asked, and his eyes looked at me hopingly. I became speechless. He had to be joking. He must be joking. This was some dream. The moon goddess was again playing with me.
“I…. I….” I opened and closed my mouth several times but couldn’t utter a single word. His face fell by my reaction, but he soon covered it with a smile.
“No need to answer it in a hurry. Take your time. I know you are also an alpha, and I am asking you to leave your pack.” He touched my cheek again and kissed my forehead.
I smiled apologetically. I wanted to go with him. I wanted to go wherever he would take me. But I couldn't tell him about the newest vision of Diana’s. I couldn’t make myself tell him yet.
Maybe if this was what my destiny was, then bring it on.
He started walking back to the door before I stopped him. “I will come with you.” The answering smile of his was delusional relief, elation, and a boyish grin, all in one enchanting look that could melt the coldest of hearts. Oh boy!
“You will?” He looked as if he had won a lottery.
“Yes.” I smiled and walked toward him so that we were touching nose to nose.
“But first, you have to ask my father.” He opened and closed his mouth several times before finally shutting it. He looked surprised, and I could sense some fear in his eyes.
The look on his face was priceless. I shrugged.
“He will be discharged today.”