115. Tension

KIARA

It had been three days since we returned, and we had made our way straight to The Blood Moon Pack. It felt strange to return here, knowing that it was no longer my pack. Not to mention the eyes that followed me, everyone addressed me as Queen Luna, I felt strange.

Being apart from Alejandro for even a few hours was difficult, and I realised how important the mate bond was. Not to mention, I felt extra possessive of him whenever a she-wolf checked him out. I didn't have much time to ponder over it. We were busy planning and preparing for Endora. With Grandma Amelia's help, we were searching for the land where the witch may have been buried. We needed to stop her before she was able to do whatever strange plans she had in mind.

I had told Grandma Amelia, Damon and Liam about my baby, but apart from that, we were still keeping it a secret. Aunty Indy was not doing great, she didn't leave her room and refused to even speak to Alejandro when he had requested it. He almost lost it and would have snapped if I hadn't been there to calm him down. I knew his patience was wearing thin and I knew that I wouldn't be able to contain him for much longer.

-

It was now just after training, Alejandro had joined Liam and the rest. I had joined in and without my ankle flaring up, I was faster than ever, not to mention being mated to the Lycan King himself gave me more strength too.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I bent over. I was glad training was over for the day, I looked at the three men who were on the floor breathing heavily. Each one looked stunned or in awe. If I wasn't so breathless, I would have found it funny. Not to mention, Alejandro had watched them dangerously as we sparred. I'm sure they were scared to attack me and had stuck to defence for most of the match.

"It seems like our Queen is rather strong… Let's spar." Mom's voice came from behind me.

My heart thumped as I turned to look at her. I wasn't the only strong female around. Yes, Mom and I always sparred, but I was never able to defeat her… and we never sparred in public.

Dad stood by Moms' side, and Alejandro crossed his arms. I bit my lip trying not to admire how good he looked… my eyes dipping to his defined V and the urge to drop to my knees and lick-

A growl snapped me out of my thoughts, and I blushed, seeing Alejandro staring at me.

‘Keep thinking that, Amore Mio, and I'll fucking lose control.' His voice came through the link.

Even my wolf felt restless at those words.

‘I wouldn't mind…'

"Ahem!" Mom said smirking, and I knew she knew we were mind linking.

‘Maybe later.' I added, before looking at her.

"Seems like your mate"s going to be knocked on her ass by mine." Alejandro remarked to Dad.

"I'm rooting for them both." He replied.

I moved back and looked at Mom,

"Are we doing hand to hand or weapons?"

"Hand to hand should be fine." She replied, running her fingers through her hair.

I nodded and we began circling. Everyone was watching, whilst Raven stood there with a smirk on her face.

"Good luck ladies! Show these men how Queens spar!"

"Can you not be so loud?" Damon whispered, prodding her waist.

I didn't miss Liam glance between them, frowning slightly as he looked away. I didn't have time to ponder on it when Mom was in front of me in a flash. I blocked, slamming her to the side. Her eyes widened in surprise before she spun around and aimed a kick at me. Mom and I had always had very different styles. Although Mom taught me, she always went for the offence, I was the type to go for the defence unless I needed to resort to violence.

We were a blur of kicks and punches. Sparring with Mom was like a dance perfected over years of practice. The only difference was, I was stronger, faster and more agile than before. I gasped when I kicked Mom straight in the chest, knocking her back.

"Shit!" I had expected her to block that. Dad was by her side, but Mom raised her hand. Her eyes flashed silver.

"I'm fine. That was a good one... Let's carry on."

I heard Alejandro snicker, and I glared at him as Dad looked at Mom in concern.

"I'm fine, baby." Mom reassured him.

"Wow, go Kia!" Raven whistled.

Dad nodded and stepped away, arms crossed as he gave Alejandro a murderous glare.

"For now. Until she knocks you on your ass again." Alejandro mocked.

Mom frowned at him, and I sighed. He loved to annoy my parents a lot. Then again, he liked to annoy everyone… I swear by Selene, he is so different when it comes to me. Mom lunged at me but I blocked her before doing a flip and aiming a kick at her knee. After feigning a punch, I crouched down and kicked her hard in the stomach.

She staggered back, coughing, and I really didn't want to hurt her anymore, I needed to end this. Spinning around, I lunged at her. She raised her arm, but weirdly she was slower than normal; that or I was a lot faster. I grabbed her by the shoulders slamming her to the ground as I straddled her, pinning her wrists by her head.

Gasps filled the training grounds and Mom stared at me completely shocked.

"Wow…" Liam whistled.

"I win?" I asked stunned, as claps broke out.

"You're fast…" Mom exclaimed, stunned.

"There's only one person who I know is faster…" Dad said, coming over as I got off Mom, he helped her up. I knew he meant Alejandro. Dad smiled proudly at me before kissing Mom, and I took her hand, letting my healing rush through her. I knew I had probably left a few bruises on her.

"That's my girl." Alejandro said, motioning for me to come over.

I walked over, not missing how the sun glinted off his nipple piercings, making me lick my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he placed his hands on my ass as he kissed me. I heard Dad growl the moment Alejandro squeezed my ass.

"What the fuck is your problem?" He asked Dad when we broke away.

Liam dismissed the warriors, and I was glad. I did not want a showdown.

"That's my daughter." Dad said, disapprovingly.

"Yeah, at least she ain"t my sister." Alejandro shot back with a cold glare. I sighed, did he have to go there?

"Elijah." Mom said.

"Alejandro…" I whispered, caressing his arms.

"Just saying, I don't appreciate anyone telling me what the fuck I should and shouldn't do with my mate." He growled, glaring at Dad. "I'm not a fucking kid."

I knew things were tense with the upcoming events, not to mention Aunty Indy was really irritating Alejandro. His patience was wearing out. He also hated Damon around me, something which was hard to avoid considering he was the future Beta of this pack.

"It's called having some damn control in front of her father." Dad growled.

"Dad, come on." Liam said, frowning.

Like me, he knew things were not going to go well if this continued.

"Just the way you have control, huh?" Alejandro remarked.

"Ok, can I not leave you two alone for even an hour?" Rafael's voice came, and I breathed in relief. "Shall we get to some actual planning rather than you two just snapping at each other"s throats?"

"Stay the fuck out of my business." Alejandro shot at him. Before turning his murderous gaze towards Dad. "She's mine and what I do to her, is none of your fucking business. I mean, you should know what goes down between mates. Just picture that and ten times more." He added tauntingly.

I closed my eyes as Dad growled and Mom had to pull him back. I ran my hand down Alejandro's chest, kissing his neck.

‘Calm down, my sexy beast... What's wrong?' I asked quietly.

I knew there was more to it than he was letting on. Everyone was on edge, snapping at each other's necks, but we needed to remain rational.

‘Nothing.' He sighed, wrapping his arms around me, and once again he placed his hand on my ass. He couldn"t keep his hands off of me and already told me he loved my ass in yoga pants. I just hoped Dad wouldn't speak this time. Sure enough, I saw Dad walk off ahead, heading back towards home, his anger rolling off him in waves.

Like always, we would shower and then get to planning. With each passing day, things were becoming tenser, and I was worried too. Many of Alejandro's men would be coming here and some already were, working on setting up traps and making it harder to breach the pack. However, this pack was not built as securely as Alejandro's, and there were too many trees around. Too many places to hide.

There was also the fact that all packs were exposed, and we were riding on Delsanra's words. Everyone had been uncertain, apart from Rayhan and I, both of whom believed her. So the decision was made, Darien would remain at our pack, and Rayhan would head his dad"s pack. Marcel had joined us here last night as well, and although Alejandro didn't trust him completely, I did.

-----

It was later in the morning, and we had all showered, eaten, and were now in the meeting room, with Beta Aaron, Dad, Rafael, Mom, Damon, Marcel, Liam and Alpha Allen. Although other Alphas would be helping, we were keeping the plan as secret as possible.

"I still think we're missing something. Something fucking big." Alejandro growled, turning his back to the table as he lit a cigarette.

"Like what?" Liam asked.

"If I fucking knew, I would tell you." Alejandro replied coldly, taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"We need to organise the front line…" Dad said quietly.

"I need you at the front, Raf…" Alejandro said, now glancing at his brother. "Endora said you couldn't be influenced... It must be something to do with having a hybrid for a mother… You may be the only one able to get to her… I also need you to get her necklace."

"I can face her too." I piped in.

All eyes snapped to me.

"I'm not risking you at the front." Alejandro said, quietly.

"So, you will risk Rafael?" I asked.

"It makes sense, Kiara." Rafael said gently.

No, it didn't.

"Look, Alejandro… You saw what happened in that cavern… You didn't have a chance… neither did Marcel. Maybe this was why we were paired, why I, a blessed wolf, was born. There must be something we need to do. Maybe Endora is that evil we need to defeat." I said quietly.

"I of all people don't want to say this, but the Queen is correct. You need her in the frontlines." Allen said quietly.

I knew what everyone was thinking about: My pregnancy. I knew if Allen knew, he may not have agreed either, but I did need to do this.

"I can't risk her." Alejandro said quietly, resting his hand on the window frame, his back to us all. "I'm willing to forsake everything for her…" His voice was thick with emotions, and my heart ached hearing him sound so… scared… It was fear in his voice. I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him from behind.

"You won't be, you'll be right there with me." I said quietly. I could hear his heart thudding, his restlessness.

"There's a chance you may have got something from Kiara too… Mates make each other stronger. Maybe now that you're mated to Kiara, there's something you've improved in, something that would help against Endora." Mom said.

Dad sighed. "We have to admit, the witch is strong as hell… We need to try to make sure the battle ends fast… Rafael, Alejandro, Me, Scarlett…and Kiara will fight in the front lines… is that fine, Alejandro?" I could feel his pain, but he still accepted that Mom and I were not ordinary she-wolves.

I knew he didn't want Mom there or me, but living with someone like Mom, an Alpha, he knew he had to step down. I think it was this, that made him realise I had to do this.

"You're asking me to risk her life?" Alejandro replied, now turning as he looked at Dad coldly, wrapping his arms around me possessively.

"I'm her father. How the hell do you think I feel? I'm being realistic here. You know, we need her… To minimise the loss of our people."

"Do forgive me, but Elijah is right, if you're defeated in the front line, do you really think she won't get hurt? Remember, Endora wants her." Beta Aaron asked.

"I don't think she's going to just walk in and attack. It will be a surprise… I'm assuming she's already seen wolves on the move." Liam said quietly.

"I want to be at the front too." Marcel said. "I have a score to settle."

"Before that, you need to initiate your rogues into your pack. I know you are all fucking happy to be lone wolves, but you need the mind link. You need to become a proper fucking Alpha first." Alejandro said coldly.

"I don't want to force anyone." Marcel growled.

"Well then give them a fucking option, I'm sure they'll agree. They're already at your fucking beck and call."

"Can everyone just calm down? Seriously, there seems to be so much anger and restlessness in this room in itself." Liam said, sighing. Damon nodded.

"Liam's right, I know things aren't perfect, but we need to work as a team. Alejandro, I know you like to work alone, especially in combat. You are used to it… but we will need a team this time. Marcel, Alejandro isn't wrong, you need to unite the rogues, and Endora was probably the one who probably instilled in you that becoming a pack was not ideal. If you become a pack you've got some independence. Something she probably didn't want." I added.

"Kia's right." Damon frowned, "I think we need to split the powerhouses into two, though…"

"Just in case…" Liam nodded in agreement.

The door opened and Aunty Indigo stepped inside.

"I'm in too." She said quietly, her eyes held bags under them. She had lost a lot of weight too, and she looked pale.

"Ind-"

"Don't!" She shrieked before Dad could even finish, "I need to do something or I'll go crazy!"

"Ok…" Mom said, softly going over to her. She moved away not looking at Mom.

"You're pregnant. Are you going to risk the pup?" Alejandro asked.

I knew I was pregnant as well, but unlike me, Aunty didn't have any special abilities.

"As if you care, you killed its father already. One more dead, I'm sure you wouldn't even bat an eyelid!" She spat venomously.

That wasn't fair… It hurt to hear her say that about him when he had done this for her. He had done what Mom and Dad wanted to do too… he became the bad guy alone… But I also knew she was hurting. The room went silent, and a heavy tension fell.

Thick darkness swirled through the room. Alejandro's eyes flashed, his aura suffocating everyone but me.

"Remember who the fuck you're talking to. He deserved it." He said coldly.

"That was my decision to make!" She shouted, her eyes flashing, her teeth and claws elongating.

"Too bad he was part of my pack." Alejandro shot back coldly. I tried to prevent him, but he refused to be stopped. Aunty Indy glared at him until she was forced to submit. "My only regret, I didn't send him off to a more painful death."

She gasped, and I knew those words must have stung. After all, he had been her mate…

‘Alejandro, baby please…' I whispered, pleadingly. But he refused to listen.

"Karma is a horrible thing, Alpha… I wonder how you'd feel if Kiara suffered like me!"

"Indy!" Mom gasped.

I kept my face passive. She was hurting. She didn't mean that... She was only trying to hurt Alejandro…

"Imagine if she was pregnant! And you died! Then I'm sure none of you would be there telling her to move on and just act ok!" She shouted.

"Indigo stop." Dad said, he looked pale, but he had his emotions in check.

If only she knew how I knew those words were a possibility. How I knew, even if I dare not speak it… I was scared to lose him… I knew he'd risk his all… for our kind. It terrified me day and night, and neither I nor Alejandro dared speak of it. Although, I knew it must have crossed his mind too…

"I may be a fucking monster, but I am not a shithead like that fucker Fred… You've had enough time playing the fucking victim. He fucking broke you, and you've become a pathetic excuse of who you once were. Fix your fucking self up."

"I hate you! You're a monster!" Aunty cried, her entire body shaking as she fought against his Alpha aura.

Before I could even comprehend what was happening, Alejandro slashed her across her mate mark. The smell of blood and the splash of blood shocking me to the core.

"I, Alpha Alejandro Rossi, exile you from the Night Walkers Pack. Effective immediately." His cold, emotionless voice rang in the room. My heart was pounding as I realised he had just cut the link with her. I felt the gut-wrenching pull in my chest before the emptiness that followed.

She stepped back, the three claw marks dripping blood down her shoulder as the rest in the room remained silent. Everyone was shell shocked and all I could hear were their thudding hearts…

Exiles were rare… Usually, people joined one pack to another breaking the old tie… but this method was brutal. Those marks would always remain upon her and to make it worse, they had destroyed her mate mark... One of the only things she had left to remember her mate by.

Mom looked pale as she stood there, frozen. No one moved until Alejandro pushed past both women and stormed out of the room, leaving a deafening silence in his wake…