Chapter 13

Kimble

“The werewolf community loathes humans,” Macy said as she wove flowers into my hair. “But you’re lucky that you’ve come to the right place.”

Ever since I arrived, I’d been sleeping in the room beside hers. Macy was Alpha Liam’s housekeeper.

Over the last ten days, Alpha Liam had been nothing but charming. He never touched me once, was very polite and did everything to make me happy. Small gestures like giving me a wild dandelion made my heart flutter. He would always ask if I had eaten or not, or needed more comfort.

Initially, when he told me I was in his pack and they were all werewolves, I was shocked. I was living with wolves.

My initial shock when a man shifted into a wolf from his anger at seeing me was mind-numbing. It happened on the second day when Alpha Liam’s Beta, Ty, had come to his house. The moment he saw me, his temper flared and he shifted into his wolf who wanted to attack and kill me. I couldn’t move from where I stood, waiting for my end. However, the moment he leaped at me, a growl burst from behind me.

“Ty, noooo!” The next instant, I saw Liam turn into a brown wolf and chase him to the garden in a frenzy of howls and nips and yelps and fangs.

Shock left me momentarily stunned, with the world around me blurring and titling as if reality had short-circuited. Macy came running out. She held me and made me sit down. “I’m so sorry, Kimble,” she said, giving me a glass of water. “This was not how it should have come out.”

I sipped the water and tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Werewolves? All my imagination and nightmares coalesced. My mind raced with thoughts and confusion as a cold, prickling numbness spread over my body.

Liam came back in his jeans with Ty, bruises on their bodies, and rushed to me. “I’m so sorry, Kimble,” he said in a panicky voice. “Are you alright?”

It took me two days to come out of that haze and back to reality. I was amongst werewolves. Talon was a werewolf, too, and so was Aria. Alpha Talon was the most ruthless and baddest of all the wolves. No one had told me anything about it when I was in their pack. How did they manage to hide it so well?

Macy educated me a lot about werewolves. I also got hold of a book from the library and researched on the internet about it. My world would never be the same as before. These days I lived in fear and stayed close to Macy. Every time I looked at a pack member, I felt like they would attack me. According to Macy, things were getting messy near the pack’s border.

Apparently, Alpha Talon’s pack’s name was Umbra pack and Liam’s was Eclipse pack. And they were on the verge of a war. My heart had been restless ever since I’d learned that information.

“Trouble is brewing between the packs, and it doesn’t look good,” Macy sighed. She placed another half-woven wreath on the table and turned to me. “Kimble, do you know that the Moonlit Choosing Ritual is just round the corner?”

I nodded as I twirled a pink gerbera in my hand. “I’ve heard about it.” Kenzie had mentioned it.

She reached out and placed her hand on my arm gently. “I think Alpha Liam is in love with you. Would you marry him?”

Her question made me gasp. “M—marry him?” Hell! “I’m not eighteen. I can’t!” And Alpha Liam loved me? OMG! That was huge. Why was I so panicky?

She chuckled. “That’s a rule for humans, not us. Besides, when do you turn eighteen?”

“In ten days, the day of the Moonlit Choosing Ritual.”

“Oh wonderful!” Macy chirped, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“But you just said that werewolves loathed humans. Why does he want to marry me?” It just didn’t make sense. Moreover, why did I feel repulsed at the idea of marrying him? Sure, he smiled at me a lot and was an absolute gentleman, but that didn’t mean he loved me.

Macy removed her hand from my arm and cupped my cheek gently. “Alpha Liam isn’t the kind of person who would express his love. He’s scared for you. If he openly declares his love for you, he’s afraid that the pack members would take it adversely.”

I opened my lips to speak, but then closed them again, my mind suddenly blank and the words slipping away.

Macy continued, “I know this is a huge surprise, but if you could give Alpha Liam a chance. I’ve never seen him so careful and loving toward anyone else. Ever since his mother died…” She swallowed her words, her eyes turning moist. “You’re his savior, Kimble. He’s so lost and I know you’re his anchor. Please marry him.”

“B—but—” Confusion and reluctance washed over me. “Why are you saying this? Don’t werewolves have mates?”

“Werewolves have mates, but he hasn’t found one yet. And I know this would be right for him. Alpha Liam’s nearly thirty and it’s high time he married. He hasn’t found a single she-wolf who he wants to tie the knot with.” She smiled softly. “Ever since he was a kid, and his parents died, I’ve been looking after him. I was his nanny when he was younger, but I feel like I’m his mother now. He’s a shy boy, he’s never been able to express himself well. He’s hard on the outside but a total softy on the inside.” Her lips curled into a smile, her affection showing on her face. She turned her attention to the flowers on the table. “Why don’t you spend a day with him and get to know each other? And then, at the Moonlit Choosing Ritual, he can select you as his bride.”

My mouth fell to the floor. Dread skittered down my spine. “That’s a huge event, Macy. Won’t there be like thousands of werewolves choosing or finding their mate? I’m human. What if I get killed?” Moreover, my sole purpose was to flee, and not get trapped here. This wasn’t my place or my people.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it. It will all be staged. Someone else will go there under your name while your actual marriage ceremony will take place here.”

“That would be ch-cheating,” I pointed out because I couldn’t wrap my head around this hush-hush quick-wedding concept. And it sounded like I would be his mistress.

She shook her head in exasperation. “If only our law allowed us to choose a bride without going to the ritual, it would be much easier.” She turned her head toward me. “Alpha Liam’s willing to take this risk for you, Kimble. Can you imagine his sacrifice? Won’t you give him this little chance at happiness?”

“But he’ll mark someone else,” I pointed out.

She shook her head with a mischievous smile. “Like I said, it will be staged.”

I seriously didn’t have words other than, “I—I’m confused.” I wasn’t ready for this because I wanted to get out of this crazy world and go back to mine. Not to my mom, but to where I could be free, where I could disappear into anonymity. I shook my head. “This isn’t for me, Macy… I can’t promise—”

She placed her finger on my lips. “Spend a day with him. I’m sure you’ll understand his urgency,” she pleaded. “I’ve never seen him so desperate.”

“This is a lot for me to take in, Macy,” I said, feeling like a weight had settled in my heart. I felt obligated to marry him because he’d saved my life and protected me from Alpha Talon.

As if understanding my thoughts, she said, “Liam would never force himself on you, Kimble. But now I’ve let the cat out of the bag, can you at least spend some time with him and judge his feelings for yourself?” She took a deep breath. “Sometimes, we don’t know what’s right or wrong for us. Just leave it to the Moon Goddess to guide you, okay?”

“Okay…” I succumbed. Something inside me stirred restlessly.

She hugged me with a squeal and I giggled. Everything was happening too fast.

The next morning, when I came out of my room, I found Alpha Liam sitting at the breakfast table. He was dressed in a black shirt and jeans, with his hair gelled back. His lips lifted into a soft smile upon seeing me. “Hi,” he said in a husky voice.

“Hi!” I blushed and went to sit in my usual place, which was on his left, two chairs away. Macy had told me that Alpha Liam wanted to take me out on a date.

I lowered my head and picked up a sausage. I didn’t know how to address the awkwardness.

“Kimble,” he said, and I whipped my head up. “Don’t think so much, okay? It’s just a date. If you don’t like it, we can go our separate ways, right? I mean you can leave me and go to your town. But I really want to give ‘us’ a chance.”

I let out a rough exhale. “Alpha Liam, I—” I bit my bottom lip. “This just seems so rushed. Besides—” I shook my head. “I’m not ready for a commitment like this.”

“Of course, I understand. In either case, we’ll be spending the day together. Date or no date.”

His words relaxed me and my shoulders sagged. “Sure.” I grinned.

“Cool. I’ll take you around my pack and then to my favorite spot.”

“I want to say something to you before you take me out, Alpha Liam,” I blurted.

“Sure,” he said with a frown on his lips.

“Thank you for giving me shelter and keeping me hidden in your pack. I don’t know why you’re being so nice, but—” I shook my head as tears gathered in my eyes. “But no one has ever been this kind to me.”

“Hey, please don’t beat yourself up. I know how you were treated in the Umbra pack. It was horrible!”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. It was horrible but… “I’m not sure if I’m the right person for you, but I’d like to leave if things don’t work out, and go back to a human city.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll personally take you to Portland.”

“Not Portland. I want to go to the east coast.” I wanted to be as far away as possible.

He jerked his head back in surprise. A moment later, he said, “Okay, to the east coast. But first, let’s take you on a tour of my pack.”

“There’s just one more question. I’ve heard that werewolves have mates. What if you find yours?”

He stared at me for a few moments and then looked away, his face etched with sadness. “I don’t think there’s anyone for me out there.”

“I’m sorry…” I said, knowing that I’d touched a soft nerve.

“It’s fine. I hope you give me a chance.”

Gods. I was feeling like a young tree, heavily pressured, getting bent and twisted in the howling winds of generosity, each branch and root getting strained.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting in his jeep.