Wild at Heart

I stood there in shock, staring down at the body of the former East Alpha. What the hell just happened? What the hell did Nick do? I couldn’t even look over at my mate. Was I upset the perverse madman was dead? Hell no. Was I upset my mate did it after talking me out of doing it myself just months ago? Hell yes. How could he kill him after everything we spoke about? He himself said it was a terrible idea.

An unexplainably powerful feeling was welling up inside me as if it were trying to swallow me whole. What the hell is that? I finally turned to look at my mate, but he avoided my eyes. The feeling of power was that of our pack expanding. With Reginald’s unexpected death, his pack was without an Alpha, but only for mere seconds. The Alpha’s death was at the hands of my mate, meaning Nick was now Alpha of the North and East pack, making me Luna of the North and East pack.

Not only was the North pack also in shock as they witnessed their Alpha killing the Alpha of our allied pack, but the East pack was as well. Some followers of Reginald were angry and went after Nick, but my pack defended their Alpha. Shockingly enough, so did Kendrick.

“Enough!” Kenrick pushed back the beginnings of a crowd. “You are defending nothing more than a rapist!” He turned and spit on Reginald’s body. “With his death, we are free!” As the reality of the rumors began to set on the other members of the East pack, they settled their yelling to mumbles and listened to Kendrick. “Those of us who wish to follow our new leader to a better life will do so, those of you who wish to follow in Reginald’s footsteps are no better than the South and can follow them to their new home.” Kendrick turned to Nick and dropped to one knee. “Thank you for freeing us, Alpha.” He bowed his head and other began to follow. One by one, wolves dropped to their knees and bowed their heads to my mate. He held his own head high and I couldn’t help but stare at the sheer power his half-naked body held. His muscles rippled in the heat of the war, blood splatters covered his skin and matted his hair. I couldn’t shake this feeling of being betrayed. How could he make such a huge decision without me? My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for my friend, but I couldn’t find her. My eyes paused at her doppelganger, but I could tell it was just Ophelia. Octavia was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. I knew she was okay; I saw her after battle, but she vanished after her father’s body fell to the ground.

“You are all welcome within our land.” Nick spoke to the crowd. “Those of you who wish to stay in your homes in the East are more than welcome. If you want to make your new home in the North territory, you can. It is all your home now. We are no longer North and East, we are the Northeast.” The cheers that erupted from the packs sent chills down my spine. How could I be so angry and so happy at the same time? This could have gone horribly. Reginald’s followers could have put up more of a fight and not accepted Nick as Alpha. Nick turned to me and reached for my hand, but I unknowingly recoiled.

“I have to find Chloe.” I muttered. “I have to find my dad and make sure they’re okay.” I couldn’t look him in the eye, but I saw him lower his head in a nod.

I found Chloe with Kyle and my dad in the cellar of my bar, right where I told them to stay put. After letting them know they were safe, I helped them to the dining area and went straight behind the bar to pour us all a drink. I filled them in on what happened, and my dad had no interest in sticking around. He muttered something about checking on his house, but I knew he wanted to find his latest love interest. Whatever her name may be this time.

“So, how do you feel?” Chloe asked me. I tipped back a sour shot of whiskey and shuddered at the aftertaste.

“I feel like I did when Nick and I made the mating official.” I admitted. “Like I have power running through my veins instead of blood.” I didn’t know how else to describe it my friends. They knew nothing of the power I spoke of.

“I don’t think there’s ever been an Alpha and Luna with as much power as the two of you now have.” Kyle said. “No wonder Stefan was threatened enough to go to war.”

“Where is Stefan?” Chloe asked. I shrugged and poured myself another glass.

“He fled.” I said. He has nowhere to go. “The West will kill him on sight for what he put them through, and he has no power left. Grayson is the new Alpha of the South and I don’t know him well, but he helped me.” He will be an ally in the future and not an enemy. The West is the only pack we would have to worry about in our surrounding territories, but I don’t see them causing any problems any time soon.

“So, what now?” Chloe asked. “With the North and the East being united, what changes? Will you live somewhere in between the territories now?”

“There’s so much land.” Kyle chimed in while I downed another drink.

“I wish I knew.” I said. “Nick’s left me in the dark on this one.”

“Then why are you here?” Chloe asked. “Shouldn’t you be with him?” I should. But I always seem to run from him when we need each other most.

“I’m worried about Octavia.” I changed the subject abruptly.

“She just saw her father die; she probably needs some time to adjust.” Chloe said. I shook my head.

“She wanted this. She wanted this more than anything. The things he did to her and her sister, to her whole pack. She has no feelings but hatred towards her father. She had to have left for another reason.” But she left her sister behind. That was so out of character for her, and that’s what really had me worried.

“It’s easy to say you want something done until it happens. Maybe she didn’t realize how hard it would be to see her wish come true.” Chloe reached out and touched my hand. I flinched, uncertain of such a gentle touch after a battle. “Emma,” I turned to her and met her soft eyes. “Are you okay?” She asked. “Physically, mentally, all of the above.” I thought about her question. The alcohol was starting to numb the physical pain, but it was still there. I wasn’t mentally in pain, but I was mentally exhausted. If I could go just one year, just one full year without any drama, without any death, I would be forever grateful to the Moon Goddess.

“It hurts when I’m away from Nick.” I admitted. “The physical pain will heal, nothing is life-threatening, but mentally—” I lowered my eyes to my empty glass. “It’s worse when I pull away from him, but I keep doing it.”

“You’ve been on your own for a long time, Emma.” Chloe’s voice was like spreadable butter. “You’re the strongest wolf I’ve ever met in my entire life and you always think you have to do things alone.” She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “You don’t.” I looked up to her again. “And he’s waiting for you to realize that.” I shifted my eyes between her and Kyle. The wise words she spoke were out of experience between the love she and her mate shared. Chloe and Kyle were soulmates carved for each other directly from the Moon Goddess and she knew love when she saw it. I smiled at my friends and pulled my hand out from under hers. I didn’t need any more advice from her. I just wanted to get home to Nick.