Chapter 11

Kayla

Nicholas helped me into the car, then slid into the driver’s seat and put the car in drive.

“So,” he began, casting a sideways glance at me, “I’ve moved out of my old place. We’ll be living in the Alpha Manor together.”

I felt my heart skip a little. The Alpha Manor was where the Alpha and his family lived, which was no surprise. But it also meant we wouldn’t be alone. “Isn’t that where Liam and Isabella live?”

He nodded. “For now, yes. They’re reluctant to leave. It’s like they think stepping out means admitting defeat.”

I clenched my jaw and stared out the window.

“If it’s any consolation, they’ll be moving to the outskirts of the manor in a week,” he continued. “But for now, we’ll all be living together.”

The thought didn’t exactly fill me with joy. Having to live in a foreign place was bad enough as it was, let alone with those two. I hoped that Nicholas would be there for me if either of them tried anything.

The drive was short, and soon we pulled up to the imposing gates of the Alpha Manor. The wrought iron archway depicted intricate designs of wolves and moons, and the tall spires and dark roofs of the manor made it look all the more intimidating.

But it really was beautiful, despite my apprehension. And the sprawling gardens and mossy forest surrounding it were even more breathtaking. A cobblestone path edged with mossy green rocks trailed up to the front door, trickling fountains playing in the warm evening air.

We parked, and Nicholas led the way inside. The grand foyer greeted us with marble floors and high ceilings, but it was surprisingly barren.

“Wow,” I murmured, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. “It’s... empty.”

Nicholas gave a wry smile. “Isabella took everything valuable.”

I folded my arms. “We should get the media to report this,” I mused, looking around at the empty walls and bare tables. “But at least I won’t be drinking from a cup Liam’s used, so I guess that’s a good thing.”

Nicholas snorted. “That’s one way to look at it.”

He guided me up the staircase to the second floor, then down a long corridor lined with doors.He opened one to reveal a spacious bedroom with a large window overlooking the gardens. The sunlight streamed in, casting a golden glow over the polished wooden floor.

“This is your room. I hope it’s to your liking,” he said.

I set my suitcase down near the large four-poster bed, which had sheer white drapes hanging from the corners. The blankets and pillows looked cozy and inviting, and the room was well-furnished with its own en suite bathroom—complete with an enormous clawfoot bathtub.

I’d have to do some decorating of my own in the main space to make it feel more like ‘me’ during my stay, but it was really nice.

After unpacking a few essentials, I changed into something suitable for walking outside and joined Nicholas downstairs.

He was waiting by the front door, hands in his pockets. I tried not to notice the way his hair was slightly tousled, like he had been running his hands through it, and he had swapped out his crisp button-down and loafers for a handsome sweater and boots. He looked ruggedly handsome, like he’d stepped out of a men’s fashion magazine.

We stepped outside, and Nicholas began introducing me to the various buildings of Nightshade Pack. The training grounds, the communal hall, the gardens—all meticulously maintained.

As we walked, I noticed many wolves watching us. Their eyes followed our movements, whispering amongst themselves.

I smiled and waved at a group of young she-wolves who giggled and whispered behind their hands.

One of them called out, “You look beautiful, Luna Kayla!”

“Thank you,” I replied warmly.

An older wolf approached us, bowing his head slightly. “It’s an honor to have you with us, Luna,” he said. “Standing alongside Alpha Nicholas suits you.”

“I appreciate your kind words,” I said, blushing. It was a little strange, to be treated with respect after being treated like a burden for so long. It was sort of… nice. But I didn’t want to get too used to it.

Finally, a tall man with sandy hair approached us.

“Kayla, this is my beta, Marcus,” Nicholas introduced.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Marcus said, extending his hand.

“Likewise.”

“And this is Marcus’s sister, Emma,” Nicholas added, gesturing to a petite girl with blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a camera slung around her neck.

She immediately rushed forward and hugged me, throwing me off guard. “Hi! I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Only good things, I hope,” I said, returning her hug.

She pulled back, squeezing my shoulders, but then her eyes widened. “Do you mind if I take some photos of you? The light is perfect right now. It makes your red hair look like it’s on fire.”

I blushed, but nodded, allowing her to take the pictures. Nicholas explained that Emma was a photographer. She seemed to have a real passion for it.

Suddenly, another figure approached. A striking woman with raven-black hair and dark eyes.

“Nora,” Nicholas said. “This is Kayla.”

Nora looked me up and down. “So, you’re the new Luna,” she said flatly.

“Nora is the daughter of the previous gamma,” Nicholas explained.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, extending a hand.

She ignored it, turning to Nicholas. “I thought you had better taste.”

My mouth flew open. Emma shot Nora a sharp look. “Nora!” she chided. Nicholas just looked… frustrated.

“It’s fine,” I interjected, dropping my hand.

Nicholas frowned. “I need to check on something. Will you be okay here for a moment?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

As he walked away, Emma looped her arm through mine. “Don’t mind her,” she whispered. “She’s always like that.”

Nora scoffed. “I’m just honest. I mean, you’re wolfless. How can you possibly lead as Luna?”

And there it was. It seemed the newfound respect I had here wasn’t universal. Her words stung like salt in an open wound, especially after that coup attempt, but I lifted my chin and tried to keep my face neutral. “Leadership isn’t solely about physical strength.”

She rolled her eyes. “Spoken like someone who doesn’t know any better.”

My heart began to race even faster, torn between hurt and anger. But I stood my ground and glared at Nora. “If you have something to say, then say it.”

Nora smirked. “Nicholas once told me that I’m the special one. That he likes me.”

“Then why didn’t he marry you?”

The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. I didn’t mean to come across as rude, truly—I was more curious than anything—but it was too late. She stared at me for a moment, her jaw ticking. Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

Emma sighed. “Don’t let her get to you. Nora’s been clinging to Nicholas for ages. She does this with all his girlfriends. But everyone knows she’s just jealous.”

“I see,” I said slowly. The mention of girlfriends—plural—did send a pang through my chest that I wasn’t prepared for.

But really, I didn’t care who he was with. The relationship between me and Nicholas was just a transaction, nothing more. Just so long as it didn’t get in the way of our arrangement.

Nicholas returned then and we said goodbye to Emma. As Nicholas and I walked back toward the manor, I glanced at him out of the corner of my eyes. Girlfriends…

We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before I cleared my throat. “I was thinking...”

“About?”

“Maybe we should set some boundaries,” I suggested. “Regarding dating other people.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and he stopped and turned to face me. “Jealous?”

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. “No, it’s not that. I know there are plenty of she-wolves who are fond of you. It’s just about our reputation. If we’re supposed to be the perfect couple, it wouldn’t look good if either of us were seen with someone else.”

He took a step closer, that mischievous glint returning to his eyes. “Are you sure that’s the only reason?” His voice was low and smooth, and I felt my knees begin to quake again, just as they had earlier in that room together.

I swallowed and looked away. “Yes.”

“We’ll see about that.” Before I could stop him, Nicholas suddenly scooped me up into his arms.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, my hands instinctively pressing against his chest. “What are you doing?”

He shrugged lightly. “No one’s around, Kayla. You don’t have to pretend that you don’t like this.”

My face heated. I was hyper-aware of the warmth of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. My gaze drifted to his lips before I quickly looked away, clenching my teeth.

“Put me down,” I mumbled.

“Don’t hide yourself from me,” he whispered.

Before I could respond, his hand slid gently along my thigh. A tingling sensation spread through me as his fingers brushed the inside of my leg.

“You can’t do this,” I whined, shoving pathetically against his chest. My face was beet red, my heart pounding a mile a minute. Every touch felt like a livewire, and Nicholas just smirked down at me, clearly enjoying the way he was making me all flustered.

Just then, a familiar voice pierced the air.

Liam.

“Kayla is not yours!”