Chapter 10

Kayla

I looked around the room I had lived in for twenty-two years, and felt my heart sink. I didn’t want to leave. But I had to.

Sitting at my desk one last time, I began composing a letter to the guild. I was formally requesting that Nicholas be appointed as the temporary Alpha of Bluemoon Pack. Perhaps, by the time our arrangement ended, my would would finally have emerged and I could become Alpha myself.

At least, I hoped that wasn’t just wishful thinking.

I decided to pack light, only gathering a few basic items into the suitcase. After all, I planned on returning often. With Ava’s help, we made quick work of the task. As we folded the last of my dresses, something shiny caught my eye.

The engagement ring Liam had once given me rested at the bottom of my jewelry box. I remembered the day he gave it to me, how my heart had swelled at its beauty.

But now, as I held it between my fingers, it seemed so dull, almost lifeless.

I tossed it into my bedside table, choosing to leave it behind.

Once I was packed, we made our way downstairs, where Henry was waiting. I hugged him tightly. “I’ll miss you,” I murmured into the Beta’s shoulder. “I trust you to look after the pack while I’m gone.”

Henry gave me a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll keep things running nice and smoothly, Miss Kayla. You focus on what you need to do.”

“Stay safe,” Ava added, pulling me into a warm hug. I felt her dark curls press against my cheek, and I couldn’t help but smile.

With my goodbyes said, I headed to the hospital to visit my father. I’d been here a million times before—often enough that the receptionist barely cast me a glance as I walked right past. I made my way to his room, finding him exactly where he always was.

Laying in a hospital bed, motionless, hooked up to a dozen different machines.

I sat beside him, taking his hand into mine. His fingers were once thick and callused from hard work, but now they were slender and pale.

“Hey, Dad,” I whispered. “I... I wanted to see you before I left for a while.”

Silence was my only response.

A single tear escaped, sliding down my cheek. No matter how many times I visited, this never got any easier. It was part of the reason why I always insisted on coming alone; I couldn’t bear to let anyone see me cry.

“I wish you were here,” I said softly. “Everything is changing so fast, and I could really use your guidance.”

I remembered two years ago when he was still in good health, always smiling and happy. “Never feel guilty about being without a wolf,” he had told me. “You’ll lead in your own way. And I might just live another forty years to see it.”

He had looked so strong then, no signs of aging. And I was still his carefree daughter, blissfully unaware of the storms on our horizon.

But everything changed when he went to quell a rogue rebellion. He’d been struck by an arrow tipped with wolfsbane. It started with a fever, and soon after, he slipped into a coma.

I refused to let myself believe that he might never wake up, even when the doctors kept telling me that he wouldn’t. He had to wake up. Maybe it was illogical of me, but I wouldn’t believe otherwise.

I stayed for a little while longer, just updating my father on my life. I stayed until Nicholas was supposed to arrive, then kissed my father on the cheeks, gathered my bags, and headed out. Surprisingly, Nicholas still wasn’t waiting for me in the parking lot.

Just then, a commotion stirred nearby. A group of wolves emerged from the sidelines.

“Leaving so soon, Kayla?” one of them jeered. “Abandoning the pack for your own gain?”

I frowned. “I’m not abandoning anyone. I’ll still be leading the pack, just from Nightshade territory.”

Another scoffed. “You might as well let the guild take Bluemoon if that’s the case. Useless fucking Alpha’s daughter.”

My heart twisted painfully at their words. I was fresh from visiting my incapacitated father, and this was how they treated me? But I pulled my shoulders back and glared at them.

“Is that what you all think?” I asked, slowly making my way down the steps.

“We deserve a real leader,” one of them hissed. “Not you, a wolfless nobody. You bring dishonor upon Alpha Owen’s legacy.”

Amidst the crowd, I noticed a figure at the back—a man who seemed too composed compared to the others. He was standing still, his eyes darting around and his lips moving subtly.

He was using a Mindlink to orchestrate the chaos.

I narrowed my eyes. So, this wasn’t just some spontaneous uprising. It was planned. A coup.

“You are unfit to take over as Alpha!” another voice rang out. “We all agree to make Mason the new Alpha!”

Mason. I stored that name away for later.

“You,” I called, pointing at the orchestrator. “Step forward. I challenge you.”

The crowd parted slightly, following my finger. The man hesitated, looking panicked.

“You can’t challenge me,” he stammered. “You don’t even have a wolf!”

I smirked as I dropped my suitcases, rolling my neck. “Afraid to face a wolfless woman?”

He gritted his teeth. “I’m not afraid of anything!”

“Then face me,” I demanded, holding my hands out to the sides. “Unless you’re all bark and no bite.”

His eyes flashed with anger. Without warning, he lunged at me. But I was ready.

I didn’t have a wolf, but years of combat training had honed my reflexes nonetheless. I sidestepped his attack effortlessly, using his momentum against him. Grabbing his arm, I twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the ground within moments.

He growled, struggling to break free. “Get off of me, bitch!”

“Not until you yield,” I replied calmly.

He attempted to throw me off, but I tightened my grip. The crowd watched in stunned silence.

“Enough!” he finally spat out. “I yield.”

I released him, rising and stepping back cautiously. He scrambled to his feet, clutching his arm.

“Anyone else?” I called out.

They exchanged uneasy glances, but no one stepped forward. Not after their little ringleader had just had his ass handed to him by a wolfless girl in a matter of five seconds.

Turning, I saw Nicholas leaning casually against his car parked nearby. His hands were tucked into his pockets, an amused expression playing on his face.

I frowned. How long had he been watching the exchange and just stood there?

Nicholas pushed off the car and walked over, picking up my fallen suitcases along the way. “Impressive, my love,” he remarked, shooting me the subtlest wink before turning to the gathered wolves. “You lot, not so much.”

The atmosphere grew tense. The wolves shuffled uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze, murmuring amongst themselves. I was too satisfied by the sight to think about the fact that he had just called me ‘my love’ in front of everyone.

But then Nicholas’s voice dropped to an icy timbre. “Who sent you here? The old Alpha isn’t dead yet, and you dare to rebel?”

“We want to install a new Alpha,” the man I’d just bested growled. “Kayla Sterling is unfit to lead the pack!”

“Is that so?” In a flash, Nicholas moved, pinning the man against the hood of the car with ease. “You will respect your Luna,” he growled in the man’s ear. “Or face the consequences.”

The man struggled momentarily but soon realized it was futile.

Suddenly, a security officer came running outside. “What is going on here?”

Nicholas shoved the man so hard that he fell to his hands and knees. “Take him into custody. He just attempted a coup.”

While the guard escorted the man away, Nicholas turned to the remaining wolves, his eyes blazing.

Then, suddenly, he let out an Alpha roar—loud enough to send a shiver through everyone present. Even without my own wolf, I could feel the magnitude of his authority, and my heart began to pound.

For other reasons, too.

“From now until indicated otherwise,” Nicholas declared, his voice echoing through the empty parking lot, “I am your Alpha. Kayla Sterling is my Luna, which means I will protect both her and Bluemoon Pack with everything I have. Do you hear me?”

A chorus of voices responded in unison, “Yes, Alpha.”

The defiance in their eyes had vanished, replaced by a mixture of respect and, perhaps, a touch of fear. As for me, I didn’t know whether I wanted to fall to my knees in front of Nicholas or leap into his arms. Maybe both.

Nicholas glanced back at me, the fires in his eyes dimming ever so slightly. Without a word, he stepped closer and grasped my hand.

A warm energy flowed from his palm into mine as he pulled me toward the car, his very touch soothing me from my core. It felt like warm honey was being poured over my head, thick and sweet.

And as we walked toward the car, I realized that this was the first time since my father’s coma that I truly felt a sense of security.

It made me want to smile.