Chapter 6: I'm Elder Malrik, And I Disapprove Of This Message

Whoever was knocking definitely had some kind of personal vendetta against my sex life.

I froze under Kieran’s weight, bemoaning my horrible luck as his chest heaved against mine, his hand still wrapped snugly around my throat like we were in the middle of an Alpha-themed adult film.

“Alpha,” came an aged gravelly voice, so deep and self-important I wanted to gag. “Kindly open the door.

I must speak to you now.”

Kieran’s growl rumbled through me, I could get used to this. I used to think growling was cringe, and I still kind of do, but he gets a pass for being so hot.

“Leave,” he snapped, his eyes flaring as he glared at the door.

The intruder did not give a single fck about Kieran's warning and just continued to knock, each time louder than the last. “Alpha Silverfang, This is important.”

I groaned. For crying out loud, he's supposed to be a terrifying wolf king, how come he can't get whoever that is to go away? I didn't dare say that out loud, although that didn't stop me from thinking it.

He ignored me, fixing his gaze fixed on the door, a loud growling sound rumbling from deep in his chest as he looked at the door. The look in his eyes told me he wanted to tear the door off its hinges and throttle whoever had the audacity to interrupt.

“Don’t even think about it,” I hissed, grabbing his wrist before he could move. “Last thing I need is you eating some poor stranger on my behalf, okay? Let's just open the door and see who it is”

Another relentless knocking session started, with another bark accompanying it, “Alpha Kieran.”

Kieran finally ripped himself off me and stalked to the door, muttering a curse under his breath as I scrambled upright.

I tugged at my ruined dress and prayed I didn't look too much like I was only five seconds away from getting railed into the bed.

My hair was a mess, my lips swollen, shoes half-dangling off my feet. Sigh, I really shouldn't be left alone with Alphas.

The door swung open, and there he was: exactly as I remembered from the book. Elder Malrik, resident killjoy. The stick-in-the-mud character who spent half the book wagging his finger at Kieran and warning of doom and disgrace.

He was thin and wrinkly, his back hunched with age but his eyes were still sharp and black as obsidian. His embroidered robes hung heavy off his shoulders, so much so that I briefly wondered if he was strong enough to bear it, considering his age.

He bowed stiffly, though his gaze slid past Kieran straight to me. His lips pursed so tightly they practically disappeared and every line of his face showed utter disapproval.

“Alpha Silverfang,” he said, his gravelly voice dripping with judgment, “you dishonor the pack with your… timing.” His eyes flicked back to me. “And with her behavior.”

Excuse me? Was that slut-shaming I just heard?

Kieran bristled, stepping into Malrik’s space with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. “Watch yourself, Malkirk.”

But Malrik didn’t so much as flinch. The man had probably been a thorn in Alphas’ sides for decades and had grown used to half-threats.

He looked Kieran dead in the eyes and said, “The festival is in three nights. To consummate your bond now, before the eyes of the pack and the goddess, is reckless. It is unworthy of a Luna, especially one of such a prestigious pack as ours.”

I sputtered. “Unworthy? I’m right here, you know! You could at least insult me directly instead of acting like I'm invisible.”

He technically wasn't wrong, I definitely wasn't Luna material, but that didn't make his tone any less offensive.

Malkirk turned his full attention to me, and I instantly wished I hadn't said anything. His black, soulless eyes raked over me from head to toe in a steady side eye.

“You are not acting like our Luna," he said in a cutting tone, "You haven’t for days. You vanish from the pack grounds, you wander where you should not, you speak strangely like a foreigner, and now you endanger the fragile peace with Hale’s pack by throwing yourself into his arms at the border.”

I opened my mouth, shut it again, opened it once more like a fish out of water. “Uh. Okay, hold up. Flaunting? Do you honestly think I threw myself into a lake just to spice up pack politics? Why the hell would I do that? Do I look like a Bond villain to you?”

Malrik’s eyes narrowed further, his dramatically long eyebrows furrowing. "You mock our ways, you mock your duty, and you cheapen your station. Who are you really, girl?”

"Or maybe I have this thing called a sense of humor? Look it up sometime old man."

I talked big, but beneath my bravado, my blood ran cold.

He didn’t know, not exactly, but he suspected something was definitely up, and in this world suspicion in this world could be as good as death.

Kieran’s arm slid around me, tugging me behind him. His voice dropped low and dangerous. “Watch your tongue.”

Malrik gave a sharp laugh. “It is not my tongue that will doom you, Alpha. It is hers.”

His sharp eyes never left mine as he leaned heavier on his cane. “There is something wrong with her, and every wolf knows it but you. Perhaps you may be blinded to it, because she is your mate, however I am certain that you will see it soon enough."

He continued, "She is many things, but she is no longer the Luna we used to know."

My heart slammed into my ribs so hard I thought it might break through.

He knew. He probably couldn’t prove it, but he knew and he was sure of it. I was having a hard enough time as the beloved Luna, if I was found out, and labeled an imposter or some kind of criminal, what would these wolves do to me?

I swallowed as panic fluttered up my throat, and I scrambled for words, any words, to throw him off. “People change," I blurted, "Ever think of that? Maybe I woke up one morning and decided to try new things, like sarcasm, and I don't know, basic self preservation? I'm sorry if that doesn't meet your Stepford Luna expectations!"

"I know not what a Stepford is, but asides that, you are correct. You do not currently meet the standards expected of a woman of your station."

Kieran barked his name in warning, saying "Careful, Elder Malkirk, you will not speak to my betrothed in such a manner." His growling shook the very air and I felt goosebumps go up my arms.

Malrik bowed stiffly again in deference, but his eyes never left mine. “The mating ceremony is in less than a month, Alpha. If she embarrasses you before the pack, do not expect my silence."

He started to walk away when he changed his mind, turned back and gave one final ominous warning. "It is unfortunate that you risk everything, the peace of our pack and its neighbors, on a Luna who is clearly unfit for the role. I suggest you reject her and take someone else, no one is irreplaceable, not even her."

And with a final, "May the Moon Goddess illuminate your path and give you wisdom," he turned, his robes swishing as he stalked out with the door slamming behind him.

Deafening silence followed.

I sagged back against the bed, heart thundering, burying my face in my damp hands. “Well. That went well.”

Kieran paced about the room like a caged animal, his fury radiating in waves “I'll speak with him privately. In the meantime, just ignore him”

“Sure,” I said, lifting my head. “Ignore the guy who basically just called me possessed. No big deal. It's totally fine. I’ll just pretend I'm not one bad slip-up away from getting kicked out, or worse.”

He stopped, pivoting to face me with his intense, stormy eyes locked on mine. “You are mine. That is all that matters.”

I swallowed, throat tight. “Yeah, that's great and all, but I'm pretty sure Malkirk didn't get the memo.”

Kieran crossed the room in three strides, his hand catching my chin and tilting it up. “Regardless of what that sad old man likes to think, I alone am the Alpha of this pack, and that means all its members are under my control. No one will touch you, you have my word”

But as his promise settled over me like, all I could think was that Elder Malrik was right.

I wasn’t their Luna. I wasn't even supposed to be here. I was just a failure of a college student with a bad swearing habit, and sooner or later, they’d all find out.

And when they did, no amount of angry Alpha sex was going to save me.