Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Karl

I sit in my office, the plans for the party shifting from a regular holiday gathering to a masquerade. The change feels refreshing, and much to my surprise, I find myself smiling as I work.

The party is this weekend, which is only a few days away; I feel bad making it on such short notice, but I know that people will come. And besides, I'm more concerned about Abby being able to make it—not to mention the effect this will have on the upcoming election.

I sigh as I finalize some details for the party. I'm just finishing up a request for a string quartet online. Originally, I was just going to hire a violinist and a pianist, but I decided to make the switch to a string quartet for the masquerade’s sake.

After all, I want this to be big.

I just hope that Abby will be right about the positive effect this will have on the election. With the announcement coming up just next week, I want people to feel like I'm not only a dedicated Alpha, but a fun and exciting one as well.

As much as it pains me to fight against my brother throughout this election, I know that this is my chance to get this edge over him before the election ultimately begins. Sure, he’s got the bloodline and the charisma, but I've been filling in as an ideal Alpha for years since he was in his coma.

I need to make sure that people remember that.

“Marcus, make sure to send out the updated party invitations by the end of the night,” I say into the earpiece I've got in my ear. “I don't want this to be too last-minute.”

"Of course, Karl,” Marcus replies.

The ear pieces we started using between me, Marcus, and Sarah since the election plans began have been a godsend in this huge house. With so much going on, I can't afford to be spending time running back and forth across the mansion just to relay a single command to my Beta.

I lean back in my chair, thinking about the masquerade. “This was a good idea, Abby,” I say to myself with a soft chuckle as I look down at the computer screen in front of me.

I can't help it; there's a smile playing on my lips as I imagine Abby by my side in a ballgown, her eyes hidden behind an elegant mask. I wonder what she picked out. I hope it's at least nearly as beautiful as the white dress she wore to the Alpha gathering.

Oh, who am I kidding? She'd look stunning in a burlap sack.

The thought of her at the masquerade party makes my heart race. I can't help but think that maybe after this weekend, I'll finally be able to convince her to be with me completely, to make our relationship official.

The prospect of having her by my side, not just as a casual partner, but as my Luna once more, fills me with a sense of longing and anticipation.

Hell, maybe I can convince her to finally come home. She can let go of that restaurant in the city; if she wants, I'll fund a new restaurant for her here. She won't need to scrape by anymore to make ends meet. She won't need to work so much.

She can just delegate and work in the kitchen once in a while.

I glance at the picture of Abby and me on my desk, memories of our marriage flooding back. The warmth of her smile, the way she used to look at me with those eyes that held a universe of emotions.

The picture is a reminder of what we once had and what I hope we can have again, and I'm determined to make that happen.

But as I sit here, my wolf stirs inside of me. “That's not what she wants and you know it,” he hisses, annoyed by my arrogance.

I heave a sigh, my thoughts torn between my desires and the reality of Abby's own dreams and ambitions. “I could show her that she has all she needs here, where she belongs,” I murmur out loud. “That city isn't good for her.”

My wolf growls. “You don't know what's good for her. You don’t know what she'd want.”

A frown flickers across my lips as I consider the options. I don’t want to move to that city; I mean, I can't. Not with my Alpha duties here. And besides, I like it here. If our relationship becomes official again, one of us would have to concede.

And it's not going to be me.

My gaze lingers on the picture then, and it makes me wonder if I'm getting ahead of myself.

After all, there's still the matter of the upcoming election. I need to focus on that first, and who knows if I'll even win?

If I don't win, then maybe the decision will be made for me. Maybe I'll need to cower, to hide in the city from my shame. And as much as I dislike the city, I guess I could grow to like it so long as I'm with Abby.

But before any of these plans can take shape, I'm brought back to the present by a nagging worry. Abby was supposed to return half an hour ago, and she’s still not back.

I glance at my watch, anxiety creeping in as I see the time. It's almost seven, and the sky has long since gone dark. Maybe she’s home already and I just didn’t notice.

I make my way downstairs to see that the party preparations have died down. The house is decorated with vibrant reds and greens, fragrant garlands and velvet ribbons. The tall Christmas tree stands tall in the middle of the living room, decorated lovingly with sparkling ornaments.

It just needs the star on top, but I always save that for the party.

"Hey, Alice,” I say, spotting the middle-aged housekeeper scurrying into the kitchen with an apron on. “Have you seen Abby?”

Alice furrows her brow as she bends down to remove a glistening roast chicken for dinner out of the oven. “No, Alpha,” she says. “I haven't.”

Her words make me frown. Just then, Elsie comes in, and I decide to ask her. “Elsie, have you seen Abby?"

“No,” Elsie replies with a shake of her head. “I thought she was with you.”

My frown deepens. As my heart begins to pound ever so slightly, I make my way over to the front door and peer out to see that the car I loaned her for the day is still gone.

Strange.

As I return to my office, I can't shake the growing sense of unease. I switch on the television and the weather forecast reveals the source of my worry—a freak blizzard has swept into the area where Abby went shopping.

My heart clenches with fear as I dial her number, but it goes straight to voicemail. Panic courses through me as I realize the danger she might be in. I know Abby can take care of herself, but the weather has taken a dangerous turn.

The snow begins to fall heavily outside my window, and I watch as the world outside is blanketed in white. I can't sit here any longer.

I need to find Abby. I need to make sure she's safe.