CHAPTER 166
Kyle's POV
I was so pissed off that I couldn't take it anymore. The rage was consuming me from the inside out, making my wolf pace restlessly beneath my skin as we made the journey back to Green Pack territory. But what made it even worse was the crushing disappointment I felt toward my mother—the woman who had always wanted me to settle down and find happiness was the same person who had orchestrated Lexa's torture.
"How could she do that?" I muttered under my breath as we approached the pack house. "How could my own mother treat you like that?"
Lexa's hand found mine, her fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture that was both comforting and grounding. "She was protecting what she thought was best for the pack," she said softly. "I understand her motivations, even if I can't forgive her methods."
"Don't make excuses for her," I said firmly. "What she did was unforgivable. No mother should ever hurt their son's mate, regardless of politics or bloodlines."
When we finally reached Green Pack territory, my men seemed genuinely excited to see us return. They rushed forward with broad smiles and enthusiastic greetings, clearly thinking that I had finally left my family's pack permanently to take my rightful place here.
"Commander Kyle!" one of them called out. "We're so glad you're back. We were starting to worry that your family had convinced you to stay."
"Never," I said firmly. "This is where I belong now."
"Alpha Tyson has been checking on the place regularly," another guard informed me, his tone respectful but curious. "He made sure we were all okay and that everything was running smoothly in your absence. He seemed very concerned about your welfare."
I raised my brows in confusion at this information. Tyson had been looking after my men while I was gone? The bastard was trying so hard to impress me, but why? What was his angle in all of this?
"That's... unexpected," I said carefully. "But appreciated."
My men turned their attention to Lexa, and I watched as they bowed respectfully to her, recognizing her as my mate even though she hadn't been formally introduced as such. Lexa, ever the humble maid, immediately bowed back to them in response.
A growl rumbled from my chest before I could stop it. "Don't bow to them," I said firmly. "You need to start acting like a Luna, not a servant. These men serve us now, not the other way around."
Lexa looked up at me with wide eyes, clearly struggling with the sudden change in her status. "Kyle, I don't know how to be a Luna. I've been a maid my entire life."
"You'll learn," I said, my voice gentler now. "But you need to start seeing yourself as my equal, as the woman who will stand beside me and help lead this pack."
She nodded slowly, understanding beginning to dawn in her beautiful green eyes. "I'll try," she promised.
"I want to see Zenevieva," she said after a moment. "I need to make sure she's okay and explain why I disappeared so suddenly."
For the first time since we'd returned, I felt a stab of discomfort that had nothing to do with my family's betrayal. The thought of Lexa spending time with Zenevieva—the woman I had once loved, the woman who still held a piece of my heart—made my wolf snarl with possessive jealousy.
"I don't like that," I said honestly, unable to hide my feelings.
Lexa frowned, her expression confused and slightly hurt. "Why are you acting this way? Zenevieva is my friend, and she's pregnant. She needs support right now."
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated with my own irrational jealousy. "I care about Zenevieva," I said carefully. "But my mate being with the woman I once loved makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I can't help it."
"Kyle," Lexa said softly, stepping closer to me. "You don't have anything to worry about. I know about your history with her, but that doesn't change how I feel about you."
"I know that logically," I admitted. "But my wolf doesn't like sharing your attention with anyone, especially not with her."
"Then I'll make this simple," Lexa said, reaching up to cup my face in her hands. "You'll stop being her maid," I said firmly. "You're my Luna now, not anyone's servant."
She frowned again, clearly struggling with the implications of what I was saying. "But she needs help, especially with the pregnancy. I can't just abandon her."
"You're not abandoning her," I explained. "You're transitioning into your new role. You can still be her friend, but you won't be serving her anymore."
"I understand," she said finally, and then she kissed me.
What started as a simple kiss of understanding quickly escalated into something much more intense. Her lips moved against mine with a hunger that matched my own, and I could taste the relief and desire on her tongue as she pressed closer to me.
"I need you," she whispered against my lips. "I need to feel you claiming me again."
The kiss deepened, becoming desperate and consuming as months of tension and fear finally found their release. My hands moved to her clothes, ripping at the fabric with an urgency that bordered on violence.
"Yes," she gasped as I exposed her breasts, my hands immediately moving to cup and caress the soft flesh. "Touch me, Kyle. Make me forget everything except you."
I lowered my head to take one of her nipples into my mouth, sucking and biting gently while my fingers worked between her legs, finding her already wet and ready for me.
"Please," she begged, her hips moving against my hand as I fingered her with increasing intensity. "I need your cock inside me. I need you to fuck me until I can't think about anything else."
"Take me," I growled against her breast, positioning myself at her entrance. "Take my cock and let me fuck you the way you deserve."
As I thrust upward into her welcoming heat, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together as mates, as equals, as the Luna and Commander of our own destiny.