Chapter Thirty-Four

Reed's gone in the morning.

I'm relieved, but concerned at the same time. I get up, take my morning shower and get dressed. I choose a plain yellow sundress and flip-flops. I don't feel like dressing up today. These dresses all cling to my skin and it's particularly hot today, I can feel the heat from here.

I find a pair of sunglasses and I walk out of the room. Already there's someone at the door, waiting to tidy it. I thought this was meant to be punishment? But then again, things work a little differently here. I'm informed that breakfast was already served and if I want some, they would gladly serve me. I refuse. I'm not hungry. All I want to do is bathe in the sun and hope the sun burns away my troubles. I walk outside and the sun hits my skin. This is what I need today. I take a deep breath of fresh air. The air smells of pine needles and freshly mowed grass. The sky is a light blue and it's a glorious day, I have to admit.

I take a walk around the grounds and I come across the training area. It's behind the house and away from the bedroom wing, which is why I never saw them when I stared out the window. It's so different from the encampment. Everything here is organized and the warriors look fit, both the males and the females. And they aren't naked. I guess they have clothes to spare here.

Someone approaches me and I recognize him as Jared, the new Beta. What does he want from me? He bows his head in greeting.

"Luna Bea, how may I assist you?"

"No need for the formality, Jared. I'm only looking." There's a sharpness to my tone that is unfamiliar to me. It surprises me, but I don't try to change it. It's better this way.

"Is there something you're looking for specifically?"

I smile a strained smile. "No."

He sticks to my side, however, and begins talking about the history of StoneMoon. I don't remember asking, but I listen anyways. It's always important to know, since I run this pack, too.

"It was first established by Alpha Reed's great grandfather. It was a great pack in the 80's, but it declined after BloodPaw built their house around this area."

I stop. "We have neighbors?"

"No, but they're the closest to us. All the others are far away. There are only three large packs in the south, and StoneMoon is part of the three."

"Who's the third?"

"BlackFur."

All these names, they're a little hard to remember. We walk around the training grounds in silence. Then, he starts talking about the pack again. About plans and training methods. I just nod along, but I'm not listening to anything. He's kind and enthusiastic, but I can't help but compare him to Gregory. Sure, I didn't know Gregory that long, but you could tell he was a male of honor. Jared is always trying too hard to please. I bet this is why Reed chose him. He doesn't want to be challenged by his own Beta, and he wants a Beta who fears him. Jared clearly does.

I leave him and I make my way back to the house. I look up before I enter and Reed is staring at me. He's in his office. I sigh with exhaustion and I make my way inside. Someone's rushing to me. I forgot what her name is. "Luna Bea, Alpha Reed wants to see you in his office."

I ascend the stairs to the first floor. His door is open and when I walk in, he tells me to shut the door behind me. I remove my sunglasses. "What, Reed? What is it this time?"

He turns around. His eyes are dark and his nostrils are flared. "Why did you leave the dinner last night? It was your announcement dinner. You were supposed to leave with me."

I roll my eyes. "Yes, because I'm supposed to know werewolf customs. Give me a break, Reed."

His eyes soften. "You told me you would try. You haven't stopped thinking about him. You're always comparing the two of us."

"That's unavoidable."

"Bea—"

"I gave myself willingly to you, Reed. You know that. I haven't been fighting you, and I'm doing everything you want even though it's against my wishes. You can't stop me from thinking about Raphas."

"You force yourself to think about him. You do these things over and over again just to spite me. Why don't you forget about him and try to live a life with me? Is that so hard?"

I turn to leave. "We're not going to have this conversation."

He comes between me and the door in a flash. "Don't you dare walk out on me, Bea." He's using what I've dubbed his Alpha voice. It only works when I'm in wolf form. In human form, it's a completely different story.

"I'll walk out on you whenever I feel like it. You're upsetting me with your rules and your elevated standards. Why didn't you bond with somebody else then? When you took me, you knew I was in love with your brother. Deal with it."

His nostrils flare. "Don't try me, Bea."

"Or what?"

He presses his lips to mine and his kiss is aggressive and angry. He lifts me and places me on top of his table. "You'll be the death of me, Bea. I can't tame you, and it's driving me insane."

"I'm not a beast you can tame, Reed. You're just upset you're not the one I think about."

He wraps his hand around my neck. "I could kill you for saying these things to me."

"Then do it."

He doesn't. Instead, he gets on his knees in front of me and lifts my dress. He tastes the inside of my thighs, inhales my scent. I'm only mildly aroused. He's trying so hard to please me, but nothing he does is good enough. It never will be.

"We had a deal, Bea."

"I said I would try."

"You're not trying."

"If I say I am, then I am."

He tastes me through my panties and my legs tremble. He loves it when I surrender myself to him, and I don't have a choice when it comes to sex. I throw my head back.

Jared storms into the office, but Reed doesn't let go of me. There's no modesty in this world. I lower my dress and Jared clears his throat. Reed rises to his full height. He hides me from Jared's view. I'm still trying to compose myself. He sounds annoyed.

"How dare you interrupt us?"

"Forgive me Alpha, but there's something you should know. Something urgent. It cannot wait."

"What is it, Jared?"

"The Nameless Pack," he says with a nod of his head. "They're here."