Alex
I woke up feeling particularly well-rested. I glanced at the reason for this as she snuggled up to my chest. I realised Chasity and I were still alone in my bed. I smirked. I wondered what my brothers were up to. They were probably seething.
Felix
I was seething. I was livid. I was fucking outraged! I had tossed and turned all night after Calix and I had decided to sleep in our own respective rooms rather than slip into the bed that Chasity was in. Alex’s bed. I took a cold shower and dressed quickly. We had stuff to do today anyway so Alex’s morning-after would have to be cut short. I burst into Alex’s room. I found him awake already, stretching and yawning, but still cuddled up with Chasity.
“Good morning,” said Alex brightly.
I stared at him blankly. He grinned.
“Good morning,” said Chasity sheepishly.
“Good morning, Princess,” I said, kissing her forehead.
I was not mad at her.
“Alex and I have to run some errands today so Calix will take you to school, okay?”
I glared at Alex. He sighed, kissed the top of Chasity’s head and slowly sat up, remaining on the edge of the bed.
“By all means, take your time,” I said sarcastically, with a flourish of my hand.
“I will,” he said, smiling.
I rolled my eyes.
“Errands?” Said Chasity, frowning.
“Yes, Baby,” I said. “We have a busy day ahead. Alex, here, seems to have forgotten. Thank goodness I woke up early and came to remind him!” I said pointedly, hitting him where it would hurt, right in the schedule.
“Oh, yes, what would we do if we didn’t have you keeping track of the schedule!” Snapped Alex.
I had touched a nerve. I said nothing.
“I did not forget,” added Alex, getting all snippy. “Where’s Calix?!”
Calix
Finding the address for Didi Torte had been a cinch. Alex had simply looked her up in the pack directory. Our pack kept meticulous records on its members and ever since Alex had come into office, those records had been expertly reorganised for “maximum efficiency and ease of retrieval.” He had also had the pack directory digitised so we could search the names of members from our phones. Thus, we had gotten her address back when we were still on the yacht.
As curious as I was, I would not be going with Felix and Alex today to interview Didi as someone had to stay behind to keep an eye on Chasity and drop her to school. I figured some alone time with Chasity would do us good. She had marked Alex last night and I really hoped I was next. I was happy for Alex though. I knew he felt like the odd man out sometimes when it came to Chasity. I entered the entrance room and looked up to see Felix at the top of the stairs.
“We’re off to the races, Baby Boy,” said Felix, sliding down the bannister towards me.
“Where’s Alex?” I asked.
“I thought he was right behind me,” grumbled Felix. “He’s in a daze this morning!”
I yawned. I had not slept well without my Chasity. I had given up on sleeping at the crack of dawn so I was dressed already.
“That mark on his neck has his head in the clouds! Lucky bastard,” muttered Felix, continuing his rant without any input from me.
“I’m happy for him,” I said simply.
Felix raised his eyebrows at me.
“Chasity has a very harmonious relationship with me,” I explained. “And a very…explosive one with you,” I reasoned.
“By explosive you mean passionate right?” Said Felix, grinning.
“No, I mean volatile,” I said.
Felix’s smile slipped off his face. He tried to shove me but I dodged him.
“Anyway,” I said, undaunted. “Alex’s biggest insecurity is feeling ignored by her. He wanted her attention more than anything but he was too…you know…Alex-like to admit it. Now, he has it,” I said with a smile.
“Okay, well, now I want it back,” said Felix simply.
I rolled my eyes.
“Well, she’ll be hanging out with me today so you have a wait on your hands,” I retorted.
Felix tried to shove me again.
“Felix, cut it out,” said Alex.
We looked up to see him coming down the stairs, a look of determination on his face. He was back to business.
“Coming back down from the clouds so soon, Lover-boy?” Asked Felix incredulously.
“Yeah, we have a job to do for Chasity, remember?” Said Alex sternly. “Let’s go! Calix, please make sure she gets to school safe and sound and on time. Also, make sure she eats something first.”
“He’s got it, Dad, let’s go,” said Felix.
“Don’t worry, Alex, we’ll be fine,” I said reassuringly.
Alex nodded.
“Thanks, Calix,” he said, smiling slightly and clapping me on the back.
I went upstairs after they left only to find Chasity still snuggled up under the covers in Alex’s room.
“Time to get ready for school,” I murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She quickly pulled the covers over her face, hiding from me. I bundled her up in the blankets like a burrito and threw her over my shoulder. She squealed something but it was muffled.
“What was that?” I chuckled as I headed downstairs with her in tow.
I took her to her master bathroom and placed her in the bathtub, burrito blanket and all. She disentangled herself and peeked out from the blankets.
“Calix!” She complained.
“Good morning, Goddess!” I said fondly.
She pouted.
“Hmph,” was all she said.
“What do you want for breakfast?” I asked already knowing what she would ask for.
She gave me a sheepish little smile.
“Pancakes?” She said softly, looking like she thought I would say no.
“Pancakes it is,” I said, smiling.
She grinned. She extricated herself from the blanket bundle and handed it to me. She climbed out of the tub.
“I really don’t want you to be late today, Chasity,” I said hesitantly.
I would not be surprised if Alex had a warrior or two spying on the house to make sure we left on time.
“I won’t,” insisted Chasity. “I’m just going over to the shower!” She said.
She turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature of the water.
“Baths are for bedtime. I need a shower to wake me up in the morning,” she explained, yawning.
She looked at me. I looked at her. She gave me a sly little smile and slipped her night gown off over her shoulders. Alex must have dressed her in it at some point last night. I watched the fabric fall to the floor and pool delicately at her feet. She was glorious, an absolute vision. She stepped into the shower, letting the water drench her hair long dark blonde curls and run in rivulets down her smooth honey-coloured skin. All thoughts of making pancakes were forgotten. I had already showered this morning but you could never be too clean, right?
I stepped into the stream of water behind Chasity and closed the shower door. I reached for her shampoo and lathered her silky curls for her.
“You’re trespassing on Alex’s territory,” she joked.
“You marked Alex last night,” I said simply.
It was a statement not a question.
“I’m kidding about the trespassing,” she said quickly, spinning around to look at me.
She cupped my face.
“I love all three of you. You know that right?” She added.
“I know,” I said, caressing her cheek.
“I wanted to mark you all separately,” she explained.
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Chasity,” I said, rubbing my thumb against her lips. “I just hope I’m next,” I admitted.
She kissed my thumb.
“Only time will tell,” she said, teasing me.
She stood on tip-toe and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer and kissing me eagerly. I grasped her waist and kissed her back just as passionately. We broke apart when we became breathless. Before things got out of hand, I got back to shampooing and conditioning Chasity’s hair.
While she took her time to get dressed, I hopped back into my clothes and went downstairs to flip pancakes. Chasity seemed distracted while she was eating her pancakes.
“Not sweet enough for you,” I joked, knowing very well that those pancakes were more than sweet enough.
“They’re great,” she said, smiling. “It’s just…where are Alex and Felix? Where did they rush off to this morning?”
“You’re worried about them?” I asked, stalling.
I did not want to blurt out where they went.
“Yeah,” mumbled Chasity. “I worry about all three of you!” She confessed.
I stroked her cheek.
“Goddess, we worry about you too,” I said gently. “That’s just how the mate bond works. Trust me, Chasity, they’re okay. Can’t you feel it? Now that you’re fully bonded with Alex, you should be able to tell when he’s in danger and vice versa with a greater range than before. You would also be able to track each other with more accuracy. So focus on Alex and see if you can ease your mind a bit,” I instructed.
She closed her eyes.
“They’re at a house I don’t know. Is this something to do with my parents?” She said.
“Good, that was good for a first try,” I said. “And how does Alex feel?” I asked, avoiding her question.
“Optimistic,” she said decisively. “They must have found a lead!”
She grinned at me with a look of triumph on her face. My heart leapt at the sight of her beautiful smile. I leant in and nuzzled her slowly and gently.
“Excellent, Beautiful! “You’re a natural!” I exclaimed with a wink.
She blushed. She finished her pancakes with her mind at ease after which I drove her to school in a companionable silence.
“Have a good day my Goddess,” I murmured before pressing my lips to hers gently at first and then ravenously.
She pulled away breathless and kissed the tip of my nose causing tingles to spread from my nose throughout my face.
“You too!” She said happily.
She hesitated with her hand on the door handle.
“One more kiss for the road,” I said slyly.
She gave me a sweet chaste kiss this time and flounced off. I waited and watched her as she climbed the short flight of concrete steps up to the large double doors. I sighed. A small part of me had wanted to encourage her to skip school and hang out with me. I let out a wistful sigh. Okay, I was lying: a large part of me had wanted her to skip school to hang out with me but I also did not want to disappoint Alex. As I drove home, I wondered if I should try to meet up with them and join the interview late. I decided against it. I could probably swing by the school at lunch time and surprise Chasity. The teachers loved it when one of their past pupils stopped by, especially if that past pupil happened to be an Alpha.
I spent the whole morning daydreaming about Chasity. Why hadn’t I kept her home from school? I could’ve easily concocted a story to tell Alex. Here I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling bored stiff and honestly super horny. I could not help it. I was a lot more sensitive than my brothers but I was still a guy. I should not have started something in the shower that we hadn’t had time to finish. At some point, all the sleep I did not get last night caught up with me and I drifted off.
I woke up around noon. Shit! Lunchtime at Winter Moon High was already underway. I sped to the school, stopping in a drive-through on the way. I figured Chasity and her friends would appreciate a break from cafeteria food. I parked outside the school and called her phone. No answer. I let it ring half a dozen times. Still no answer. I walked into the school to look for her whilst carrying the huge bags of junk food.
I remembered the way to the cafeteria. It was packed with chattering students. I spotted Chasity sitting on the far side of the room. Her back was to me but her dark golden blonde curls were unmistakable. She was sitting with a bunch of football players, all wearing their team jackets, and a few cheerleaders in their cheer uniforms.
I snuck up behind her. The students spotted me and I put a finger to my lips so they wouldn’t sell me out. I tiptoed up to her and grabbed her from behind, lifting her up off the cafeteria bench. She squealed in surprise. Her friends burst into laughter.
Something was off about her squeal though. Her voice was not as sweet as I remembered it being. I sniffed her. I scrunched up my nose. Ugh. Stale bread! What was going on? Where was my fantastically aromatic Chasity with her sweet as honey voice? I put her on her feet and spun her around. I recoiled in horror at what I saw.
It was Rhonda! In a wig! I marvelled at the wig: the colour and curls were exactly right and it felt just as silky. There was even a faint lingering familiar floral scent to the curls but it was overpowered by Rhonda’s stale bread scent.
“Hey Calix!” She giggled, blowing me a kiss.
“What do you think you’re doing? Where’d you get that wig from?” I demanded.
“Calix-Walix, it’s me, your Luna Chasity!” She said, pouting.
“RHONDA, WHERE THE FUCK IS CHASITY?!” I yelled.
All the students were looking at us.
“Is that for me?” Said Rhonda, undeterred.
She was pointing at the bags of junk food. I threw the bags onto the cafeteria table and the cheerleaders and football players grabbed them and began wolfing down the burgers, chicken nuggets and fries like there was no tomorrow. They were eating like wild animals.
“I’ll give you one last chance to tell me where Chasity is!” I said through gritted teeth.
“But I am Chasity!” She insisted.
I roared in anger and snatched her wig off her head. I gasped when I looked at it closely. There was some blood at the roots of of the wig. I felt sick.
“Where is she?!” I cried, my voice hoarse. “What have you done?”
“I’m right here, can’t you see me?” Said Rhonda, running her hands nervously through her platinum blonde hair. Her hair was stained with blood from the wig. I grabbed Rhonda’s hand and yanked her outside into the crunchy snow. We walked a few yards away from the school.
“Ooooooh, alone time,” said Rhonda suggestively, shimmying.
I realised she was wearing a dress my brothers and I had bought for Chasity.
“Do you like my dress?” She added, swinging from side to side.
“That’s Chasity’s dress!” I hissed, my eyes black with rage. “If you don’t tell me where the real Chasity is right now, it’ll be the last dress you ever wear!” I threatened.
Rhonda laughed maniacally. She laughed and laughed. The sound was grating to my ears.
“Stop it!” I commanded in my Alpha Voice.
She stopped for a few seconds and then began again.
“STOP IT!” I commanded again.
She gave no pause this time.
“SHUT UP!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as her laughter grew louder.
In one split-second, I grabbed her head and twisted it to face backwards with a sickening crack. The laughter had stopped. She collapsed into a crumpled heap in the snow. My heart was racing and my breathing was laboured. I was shaking. I still didn’t know where my Chasity was.
“CHASITY!!!” I called.
“I’m right here,” said Rhonda serenely, getting back up although I had just killed her!
I recoiled, screaming.
“CHASITY!” I yelled.
“She’s at school, Honey, isn’t she?” Said Mom, looking at me with wide worried eyes.
I looked around my bedroom. I sighed, so relieved it was just a dream.
“Are you okay, Honey?” Said Mom, sitting at the edge of my bed and smoothing the hair that was sticking to my sweaty forehead back.
“It was just a nightmare, Mom,” I said.
“Chasity is stressing you out,” said Mom, nodding.
“No,” I said curtly. You are stressing me out, I thought silently.
“It was about Rhonda actually,” I said.
Mom frowned.
“Don’t hire her for the wedding, okay,” I said breathlessly. “She’s creepy!”
“Oh…um…okay, Honey,” said Mom.
“Um, Mom, what are you doing in my room?” I wondered.
“I came to check on you,” she said defensively. “Can’t I check on my Baby Boy?!”
It was my turn to frown.
“But you were already in here when I opened my eyes, weren’t you? Was I screaming in my sleep?” I asked.
“Yes, you were,” said Mom.
I heard the landline ring. I furrowed my brow.
“That’s weird. People used to just call your Dad’s cell. And now that you and your brothers are the Alphas, I know you young people don’t use regular phones,” said Mom.
Something unnerved me about the landline ringing. Mom zoomed into Dad’s old office to answer the phone. She picked it up and jumped when she found me right behind her.
“Thanks,” I said, taking the phone from her. “I’ll handle it!”
Mom huffed but she left the office.
“Hello, Winter Moon Pack House,” I said.
“Good morning, this is the school nurse from Winter Moon High,” said a high-pitched serene voice.
Chasity’s school! My heart plummeted into my stomach.
“Is my mate okay?” I asked immediately.
“Oh, Alpha! Um, may I be so bold as to ask which one of you it is? I need to document who was called in a case like this,” said the nurse.
“Calix. Is she okay?” I repeated, stressing each word.
“Yes, yes, sorry, of course, yes, she’s fine. She um was involved in an altercation…” said the nurse trailing off. “…but the injuries are minor!” She added quickly.
“A girl hit her?” I wondered, instantly angry, but not surprised.
I had expected that there would be cattiness. Chasity was currently engaged to three Alphas. There might be a lot of girls with crushes on Alex, Felix or me. Their blood was probably boiling with bitterness and envy. Whoever tried to fight the Luna needed to be dealt with very seriously though. I was thinking expulsion from Winter Moon High or Suspension at the very least.
“A young man attacked her,” said the nurse reluctantly, clearly worried about my reaction.
“What?!” I hissed.
“He’s known for being a bit of a bully and…” began the nurse.
“What’s his name?” I said, cutting her off.
“Four football players rescued her and they’re watching over here right now in the nurse’s room…” she explained.
“What. Is. His. Name?” I enunciated blankly, getting annoyed with her.
She was not listening to my questions and it was pissing me off.
“Parker Ford,” mumbled the nurse, lowering her voice.
“I’ll be there shortly,” I said, hanging up before she could ramble some more.
I grabbed my coat and gloves and headed downstairs. Mom tried to stop me on my way out.
“Honey! What’s wrong?! You look so upset?! Has Chasity caused some trouble at school?!” Asked Mom, hurrying down the stairs after me.
“Were you eavesdropping, Mom?” I demanded.
I had zero patience left today. Mom folded her arms, annoyed by my tone. I ignored her, slammed the door and got in my car. I made that fifteen-minute drive in less than five minutes. I remembered the way to the nurse’s room. I was seething. My hands were balled into fists at my sides. Who the fuck did this fool think he was? What kind of guy bullies a girl? Werewolf males were so much bigger than she-wolves. What kind of low-life picked on a
“Calix!” Squealed Chasity, snapping me out of my inner monologue as I entered the room.
She launched herself at me and I caught her, holding onto her tightly. Her smell helped calm me down. I brushed her curls out of her face and stiffened when I saw it. There was a huge swollen bruise on her face like she had been punched. I saw red. The football players the nurse had mentioned were standing around looking at me.
“Where is he?” I said, half-surprised I could still speak.
My wolf was fighting me for dominance and that almost never happened. I had a much more harmonious relationship with my wolf than most.
“He usually skips class around now to go smoke weed by the bleachers,” said one of the football players.
I made my way to the bleachers with Chasity and the guys following behind me. I didn’t want Chasity to see this. A Luna should not have to see such things.
“I’d rather you stayed inside, Chasity!” I said bluntly.
“No, Calix, it’s ok you don’t have to talk to him. It was a misunderstanding!” She squeaked.
I wasn’t surprised she was trying to talk me out of punishing the guy but she was new to this. She had never been permitted to go to pack meetings before, not even the ones involving the whole pack. She had never seen how those who blatantly disrespected the pack leaders were handled. Sure, I wanted to kill him but that wasn’t the point. Even if I had wanted to be lenient, I couldn’t. An Alpha who could not protect his own Luna surely could not protect the pack. An Alpha’s Luna was sacred. Attacking the Luna was worse than attacking the Alpha. At least, a wolf fighting me, Alex or Felix had honour. This guy had none.
I crunched through the snow. I spotted a group of guys hanging out on the bleachers. I walked up to the bleachers. I vaguely recognised all of them as pack members but I did not know which one was Parker exactly.
“Parker, come here,” I commanded, not using my Alpha voice.
If he had any scrap of decency or remorse, he would readily identify himself and fall to his knees and start apologising.
“Aww, come on, man, give me a break, she wasn’t spoken for a few weeks ago. I didn’t know,” said the biggest guy on the bleachers whilst he remained sitting.
My wolf growled. This Parker guy was almost as big as me. The thought of him putting his hands on Chasity made me indescribably angry. His friends had the decency to look scared and embarrassed. I wondered if any of them had been involved in bullying Chasity.
“Did any of them have anything to do with it?” I asked, looking at football player who had told me where to look.
The footballer shook his head. His teammates shook their heads too. Fine then. Just Parker to deal with. If Alex was here, he would take the names of all of Parkers’ associates. He believed in keeping a note of who was close to the troublemakers in the pack as they tended to be the next to step out of line. If Felix was here, he would snap everyone’s neck and dump them in a mass grave. He was nuts. Chasity made him sane though, but she made me crazy! And right now, I was potentially seconds away from committing murder by reason of temporary insanity!