“She never took it while Damien was here, because he would notice.” Alora said, her voice distant, as if she was lost in her memories. “Sarah never wanted to cross Damien, at least not openly. So, the moment he was gone…she ripped it off my neck.
“That’s why you stopped wearing it?” Darien asked with surprise. “I thought it was because you were upset that Damien was gone and didn’t want to be reminded about that by wearing the necklace.”
Kain scoffed before admonishing Darien. “And to think, brain trust here is going to be the one to take care of our darling sister’s tender feelings.”
Galen shook his head. “That’s seriously what you thought?” he asked with disbelief. “When a female is missing someone, she is more likely to wear or carry something with her to remind her of them. It makes them feel close to the special someone they are missing.”
Darien grimaced. “I have a reason for thinking this way.”
“Really, do tell.” Kain said, giving him a hard look, one brow raised.
Next to Alora, Alpha Andrew was having a hard time containing his smile at the ribbing his son was receiving from his fated mate’s brothers. Alora glanced sideways at the Alpha, then turned her gaze quickly back out the window. If she had kept looking in his direction, they would both lose the battle against their laughter.
“Every morning Damien and I would meet up with Alora, he would touch the necklace and say, ‘Good morning, Starlight.’ Then pat her on the head before we spent time chatting away before class.” Darien said. “I figured, now that he wasn’t here to greet her like that, something only he did, she was too sad to wear the necklace.”
“Huh…” Galen said.
“When you put it that way…” Kain started.
“It makes sense.” Galen completed.
“Hey, look at that, you’re not totally ignorant of a female’s softer emotions.” Kain teased.
Darien growled at them. “What did I do to you two?”
“You’re laying claim to our beloved little sister.” Galen said dryly.
“I have a question.” Kain said. “Why does Damien call Alora, Starlight?”
Alora blushed, it was an endearment Damien had been calling her since they first met. “It’s something Damien has always called Alora. I never knew what it was about.” Darien told them.
“Alora?” Kain asked.
Alora blushed harder. “It’s something really personal, I would rather not talk about it.” There was no way she was going to tell them why Damien called her Starlight. He called her that saying she was ‘his guiding star light in all the world's darkness.’
“What is your relationship with Damien?” Galen asked. “Because whatever it is, it’s different from the one you have with Darien.”
“Right! I was just wondering about that myself.” Kain said. “If I didn’t know better, I would say Damien was your mate.
Alora had a full body blush going now and wished for nothing more in that moment than for this conversation to end. Damien’s father, and their Pack Alpha was sitting right next to her, making her embarrassment all the worse.
“That was actually a hope of mine.” Darien said. “Then this morning happened, and my hopes seemed to crumple into dust.” Darien threw his hands up in the air to emphasize his point. “Fortunately, they were revived once more earlier.”
“So, you’re still hoping for Alora to become your sister-in-law through mating?” Galen asked.
“Yes.” Darien confirmed, then proceeded to explain his reasoning. “No one would treat her better as a mate than my brother. He practically worships the ground she walks on. I really can’t imagine Damien with anyone else but Alora, and I never would have put Alora with Matt.”
Alora tried to make herself smaller by sinking further down into her seat, and prayed, ‘Please let this come to an end, please let this come to an end, please let this come to an end’. She didn’t even dare to look at the Alpha, or the sympathetic expression on his face. Alora was hoping, by making herself disappear further into her seat they would forget she was there, but she had no such luck.
“Does Sarah still have your necklace, Alora?” Kain asked.
Forced to face the fact that it was impossible for her to become one with her seat, Alora straightened back up in it before answering. “She does.”
“Why haven’t I seen her wear it?” Darien asked.
“That’s because she knows if she wears it out of the house, and you happen to see it, she would run afoul of questions she would not want asked.” Alora told him.
What she didn’t mention was the times Sarah did wear the necklace. It would just upset Darien to know about them. Sarah liked to wear the necklace when she had her at her mercy in the basement. Sometimes it would be the only thing Sarah wore as she cut her up with her knives like a fresh kill.
Something must have shown on her face, or maybe there was something in her tone, but a grim air entered the vehicle. Alora looked around, her gaze landing on each male's hard expressions. Even Alpha Andrew’s expression was hard while his eyes were on the road. The air in the vehicle became even more stifling when they turned the corner onto the street the Northmountain’s house was on.
The Northmountain’s house was in a neighborhood that straddles the territory between the Frost Clan and the Northmountain Clan territories. This meant they were attracting quite a bit of attention from both Clans as they pulled up. It was hard to ignore the Pack Alpha’s vehicle, especially when the protection detail that always followed the Alpha of Alpha’s pulled in behind them.
While Alpha Andrew pulled into the drive, his protection detail, parked on the street. Two big black SUV’s that screamed security detail, parking in front of her parent’s house would definitely draw out all the curious neighbors. After turning off the SUV, they didn’t get out right away. Alpha Andrew sat there quietly and stared down at the steering wheel with a dark look on his face.
Finally, he looked up and his gaze met Alora’s. “Do you want that necklace back?” he asked, his deep voice low.
Alora didn’t hesitate to give her answer. “Yes.” It did not matter that Sarah had worn it while torturing and tormenting her. All that mattered was that it was a gift from Damien, one she had cherished and still would after getting it back.
Alpha Andrew turned to look out the windshield and nodded. “Okay. I will get it back for you.”
Alora’s heart skipped a beat as hope blossomed in it, if anyone could make Sarah give her back the necklace, it was the Alpha. Alora’s, “Thank you.” came out a little choked.
Alpha Andrew patted her on her head. “This is nothing you need to thank me for. You have been wronged, and as the Alpha it is my duty to make sure it’s made right.” His voice was hoarse. “But as a male who has watched you grow as an integral part of his family…it is my pleasure and privilege to be able to do at least this for you.”
Alora swallowed, her eyes burned with the tears she barely kept from falling. She didn’t know what to say to express her gratitude at what the Alpha said to her. So, she did what felt natural after being given so much care. Leaning forward out of her seat and over the center console, she hugged Alpha Andrew.
Alpha Andrew hugged her back, and Darien reached forward and pet her back soothingly. “Hey, little sister, everything is going to be okay now. We’re here for you, and we’re not going away. You know that right?”
Alora swallowed, and choked back a sob that wanted to escape, she nodded her head against Alpha Andrew’s chest. Alora didn’t trust herself to speak. She was even trying not to blink, afraid the tears would start falling and then never stop. Alpha Andrew held her for a little longer, long enough for Alora to gather herself again.
“Come on, let's get this over with so we can get you home. Knowing Ember, she commandeered the Alpha Wing’s kitchen with Camille and Serenity and is cooking up a storm.” Alpha Andrew said, releasing Alora.
Alora's smile was small, but there as she nodded. “She’ll also be asking them question after question to find out as much about Serenity as she can while she’s at it too.”
“Oh, Goddess, we left my mate with my mother!” Darien cried out dramatically, gripping his hair at his temples, his expression terrified. “What have we done?!”
Alpha Andrew turned in his seat to look at Darien. “What is wrong with you?”
“I was born.” Darien answered dead panned. Then he was making shooing gestures. “Come on! Come on! Get those furry butts in gear and let’s move already!”
Instead of moving as he demanded, everyone looked at Darien like he had grown a second, and maybe a third, head. Darien looked back at each of them in turn.
Looking confused and frustrated, Darien asked. “What?!” Frowning, he looked at them all again. “Why are you all not moving?! I want to get back before my mother horrifies my mate beyond all reason with her endless questions and meddling ways, sending her running for the hills!”