The Alpha's Lost Luna

ith every step I took. Loren's words replayed in my mind-"People have a way of leaving when you need th

far ahead, never slowing down,

er turned around or acknowledged me but I close

then he faced me with icy and defensive eyes. It was as if he

insistently cold, almost dismissive, yet in tho

ut to let him squirm into silence.

ore than a reminder of everything I lost. He's the one who--" He halted, the Allrel on his f

anger. "You can't keep shutting everyone out. If I want to

ou are a part of this pack? You have just set foot

el; surely I deserve a

st. For one instant, I thought he was about to warm towards me and l

ice freezing. "I learned the hard way that it is

u'd rather just push everyone away? Keep them at

his eyes aflame. "You don

. I did not know why I said it or what I expected him to do, but I couldn't call it back.

once, he would speak, that this wall of his would finally cr

e said, barrels of ice that he

and with something else, something much deeper. I watched him go with an unreadable ache in my

-

wearing a look of intensity. "I saw Loren leaving,"

amed. "No. But that doesn'

aze. "Good. You're braver than most. Loren...He's dangerous, Willow. Kael does

ing onto every wo

hear. "Loren was Kael's second-in-command, back when they were still par

hrough my spine.

Made it look like Kael was leaning with rogues. The council balanced Kael

wisted. No wonder Kael was so tight-lipped, and untrusting.

waiting for a way to make things right. And he can't do it

sen within me. "Then I will help him. I will

not argue. Instead, he nodded, smiling fain

e thoughts that were swirling in my mind. Loren's visit, Kael's past, the quiet desperation in

rned; my senses were on high alert. A figure emerged f

I breat

worn before. "So, out here all alone?

run. But I stood my ground, trying to shoo

lassy green eyes. "You have gotten close to Ka

I shot back, squeezing my voic

see, Kael and I... we have unfinished business. And you, l

to flinch. "If you care about Kael, you will do as I say. Sta

lls, refusing to back down

danger roiling within his voice. "For, if you don't step aside, you

disappeared into the shadows, leaving

d requiem. I knew that it was dangerous, the game he was playing was one I barely und

rest of the camp was still shrouded in the early morning's enigmatic hush. I had

e. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that it was Kael, sitting

ed softly as I

stion in his gaze. "Willow," he c

u," I said, sitting bes

ermined not to back down. "He was here again. Last nig

firing up with rage. "That bastard doe

mently, meeting his eyes. "I don't ca

flickering in his eyes. Then, slowly, his face softened,

ings of fresh delight, all f

hrough the trees, Kael stood to f

and I felt the icy grip of fear insinuate itsel

with a snarl, his voice deep

urmured, his voic