Alpha’s Betrayal
Chapter 17

Luna

Several Miles the Claw Mansion Woodward County, Oklahoma

I should have been much angrier at Remus for dragging my wolf forward, even if I did feel significantly better than I had before he'd carried me out of the bedroom and for that matter, did he really have to carry me? I'd have been more irritated if I had the energy to muster any other emotions. Instead, I only wanted to run.

There was a peace that always settled over me when I simply let my paws decide which direction to take us. The cool forest air felt refreshing, allowing relief to well up inside me as if from a spring. I relished the crack of each stick beneath my paws; the way the dirt felt wedged beneath my claws. For at least a few moments, it was just me and the trees, and that was enough.

According to Remus, I had been out at least forty-eight hours, if not more. Lying in the bed that long left me sore in ways I wouldn't have imagined, never mind the bruises and aches Marnet had left. That Sophia had left. It didn't matter, though. The longer I ran, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more strongly my wolf tugged on my thoughts. Marnet was missing, and she knew where he would be or at least the best possibilities. My wolf needed nothing more than to find him.

Frankly, I couldn't see a reason to stop her. She needed to see her mate. But the thought made me pause. What did you even call a mate who rejected you? I'd never heard of such a thing. I had no idea how to refer to him.

Whatever. The name wasn't important. What mattered was that my wolf needed to see Marnet, and so did I; I needed to look him in the eye and demand to know why he'd left me at the mercy of Remus Silverstreak. Whatever he left me with, it wasn't closure. After everything he had put me through, I deserved that at the very least.

Something cold settled in the pit of my stomach and I fought the urge to shudder. The peace had been shattered in one swift moment. Marnet. I was chasing after Marnet blindly, allowing memory to dictate where I went. If my ears and nose were correct, then I wasn't far at all from our love nest.

My ears flicked; I could still hear the sound of another wolf following after us. I didn't need to glance over my shoulder to know it was the large gray alpha bounding after us, keeping pace without ever overtaking me. Was that on purpose?

I slowed down a bit, my ears flicking further back. The alpha didn't close in on me, and he could have made that ground up easily if he wanted to. Alphas were the largest, and an alpha could easily outrun me if he wanted to. My smaller size allowed me to duck through the forest more easily, but in an outright sprint, he'd be faster - and if he just kept running, his endurance would eventually overtake mine. My ears pinned back a little further. Yeah, it's definitely on purpose.

Deciding I had no interest in doing Remus any favors, I shifted my headings slightly, veering away from the love nest I'd spent countless hours at with Marnet. He'd never shown any indication of anything but affection when we shared our time there; sometimes we never even undressed. We'd just lie and stare up at the stars, discussing the things we wanted. Or maybe just venting about the day we had.

It wasn't tainted with bad memories, and that still mattered, somehow.

And if Marnet was hiding out there...?

I shook my head, trying to swallow down the lump forming in my throat. That was not a thought I could deal with...not yet. I needed more time.

With the wind to my snout, I led Remus farther east, away from the little alcove and one of the doors to the underground passage. Instead, I wove through the forest, following the trees. I'd run through here dozens of times, but they'd only been runs, then the occasional hunt, even. Those weren't times to focus on the scenery.

The scent of fresh water tickled my nostrils, and I recalled a small stream in the area. Lifting my muzzle, I inhaled; that seemed as good a destination as any. With a flick of my tail, I accelerated again, testing the wolf behind me. Just as expected, the silver alpha accelerated too, keeping the exact same distance between us.

Damnit. What am I going to do with him?

I hadn't visited this stream in...ages. The first time I had found it, I hadn't been living with my father for very long; despite the tragic situation that led to the man taking me in, my step-sisters hadn't been very understanding. I was shocked and scared and one night, I just ran. In my thirteen-year-old mind, I would be able to find my way into the woods and disguise my scent, and then I would run all the way to my mother's home.

It didn't occur to me that another family had probably moved in. That the garage was someone else's business - or abandoned.

I never made it that far. I had made it to this stream - probably not this exact spot, but somewhere nearby - and sat down and cried. My father had caught up to me. The man hadn't said anything; he'd set a heavy hand on my shoulder and allowed me to sob until my eyes were dry. "I miss Mom," I had choked out. "I miss her. I don't understand!"

She had seemed so healthy. She had seemed so bright and vibrant; I had no idea that anything could be wrong. That was the problem with being a child, I guess - your parents seem infallible. Never wrong. Never sick. My mother seemed like anything but fragile; she was my hero.

An uncomfortable sensation rang through me like someone had struck a bell, the sound reverberating through my bones. I faltered. I grabbed forward blindly; my wolf retreated seamlessly and gave way to my human form. My bare foot caught on a root, and I fell forward. My hands caught my fall, but not before I splashed into the shallow stream.

Not was. My mom never stopped being my hero.

What would she do right now? What would she do if her pack had been taken over, and her mate rejected her, and-

Dad. What had he promised her? Had he- What if-

A heavy hand only my shoulder broke my train of thought and I almost shrieked, having almost entirely forgotten why I had changed my track to come to this stream in the first place. I tried to flinch from beneath the weight, but the steady fingers closed, pressure without pain. It was presence.

"Luna?"

"Sorry," I gasped. I had no idea what I was apologizing for. My eyes felt like they were burning. My knees were cold - I must have fallen in some mud. I started trying to pick myself up. All the steadiness I had felt as my wolf had dissipated. My limbs felt like overcooked noodles, barely able to pick myself up. Remus' hand shifted to my elbow, lifting me up; when I wobbled, he pulled me a little closer against his frame. The warmth was a stark contrast to the chilly water against my feet. My ankles. I wish he had remembered to put my shoes on before dragging me outside,I thought dimly.

When I looked up, I realized the alpha wasn't watching me, but rather looking around at the area. He looked - he looked disappointed. Something in me felt validated. My instinct, maybe. At least I still had that. I knew it. I knew he didn't want just a tour of the area. I tried to squirm away once the world had stopped swimming around me. "Looking for something?" I prompted.

Remus dragged his eyes way from the trees surrounding us and settled his dark brown gaze firmly on me instead. My heart stuttered as I braced myself for the red tint to reappear. He had cast his alpha over me to drag my wolf forward - what was stopping him from doing it again to demand answers? It wouldn't work quite as well, especially not if he was after Marnet. I was, technically, still bound to the Lupus Claw alpha; I hadn't paid my respects to Remus. Even if he had all but taken over the territory, I wasn't bound to him. Not yet.

I was bound to Marnet until further notice.

Luna! What is wrong with you? There was absolutely no reason in the world I should stay bound to that man, even if I had been with Lupus Claw since my mother passed away. How long will it take to realize he doesn't want you? No - it's not just that. He left you behind. If Remus was a crueler man, he might have just killed me then and there.

The thought made me shudder and I looked away - there was nothing saying he wouldn't do that still. Marnet had cut me off. Cast me to the wind.

I didn't wait for Remus to answer me; as soon as he released his grip on my elbow, I stepped away, following the flow of the stream. I had no idea where it ended. The cold water was refreshing. It helped, but I needed space. I needed to find my head. I rounded a bend and found the stream was emptying into a pool; without thinking any further about it, I started pushing fabric off my shoulders. Soon I'd shed all my clothing, and I waded in, gasping as the chilly water hit my thighs. Then it was up to my belly. I stood up on my toes and dove in.

I hadn't been to this lake before. Or pool. Or pond. I had no idea how you labeled those things; I didn't really care. The body of water wasn't very large from shore to shore, but the ground beneath me disappeared. Water poured over stones, falling the last four feet into the pool. The rush drowned out the pounding in my chest.

The spray spattered against my face as I swam closer to the waterfall. I turned and wiped the water from my eyes - and saw Remus was only a few feet away. For the second time in less than thirty minutes, I nearly shrieked, paddling wildly. Where the hell did he come from? I didn't hear a thing!

I had spent plenty of time around alphasor one specific alpha, anyways - and silent definitely wasn't a usual alpha trait. Quite the opposite, really. "I'm not going anywhere," I grumbled, my brows pulling down into a bit of a frown. "I just needed some..." Air? That makes literally no sense, Luna. "I just needed some space." He was still watching me. Those rich brown eyes traced the lines of my shoulders with no sense of concern. "I'm not going to run off, Remus." Honestly, I doubted I could. I felt better, but I didn't feel like a track star right now.

When the alpha said nothing in return, I frowned, lifting my hand to flick water at him. He ducked his head, but he didn't move from where he was floating idly. Even though he had joined me in the forest pool, he hadn't taken his hair out of its neat bun. He looked entirely unfazed. My frown dipped further. I repeated the act with both hands this time; Remus ducked again, but that was it. I scowled and leaned back, starting to paddle towards the waterfall again. "You can go back. I just need a minute."

Swimming felt restorative. It wasn't nearly as invigorating as my shift, but there was no way I could call my wolf forward again, not so soon. Not without help. Remus was still here, though, so... I bit the inside of my lower lip and glanced over my shoulder - indeed, the alpha was still there, floating in the middle of the pool where I had left him.

What is he waiting for?

I pivoted and began paddling back towards him. My heart rate finally settled back down a bit. The request for space wasn't a lie. Everything that had gone on earlier this week was just so much; if nothing else, I was simply glad to get out of those four walls. I stopped a short distance away from Remus, my hands out to my side as I paddled to keep myself floating comfortably. Remus' hand darted forward and his strong fingers latched onto my wrist. Before I could process what he was doing, he drew me in closer, until there were only centimeters left between us. My gaze dropped to the surface of the water, suddenly unsure. My pulse began to quicken again. I reached inward for my wolf, but she remained passive. I felt like I was flailing, even if I wasn't moving at all. Cool fingers touched under my chin, and droplets fell from his hand back to the surface. My reflection was obscured by the ripples. I had to fight to keep my eyes cast down, almost afraid of what I might see if I looked up at Remus' face. Into the man's eyes. Unfortunately for me, he did not give me the choice. The pressure against my chin was gentle, but it was there. It remained that way. A nudge, but there was no real force behind it. I probably could have resisted, but...I didn't want to, and that thought confused me,

too.

Finally, I lifted my chin - and allowed Remus to guide my gaze upwards. He shifted his hand, fingers resting against my cheek. He stroked his thumb over my cheekbone; his calf brushed against mine. Oh. I was right about that tattoo. The thought felt far away as I followed the line of his arm. it wasn't just one tattoo, but several. His arms were covered. Full sleeves. Dark ink peeked out over the surface of the water, suggesting the tattoos went well below his shoulders. His chest.

I hadn't even realized we'd floated closer, practically aligned from chest to toes. My brain shuddered at the proximity. "No one should have laid a hand on you."

"What?" My head jerked and I glanced back up, searching his face wildly. Surely I hadn't heard him correctly over the rush of blood in my ears. The roar of my pulse. "What did you just say?"

The corner of Remus' mouth twitched, and he tipped his head to one side, still running his thumb over my cheek. It was such a minute movement. "No one should have laid a hand on you. Not another wolf. Not a partner. Not an alpha. No one."

I blinked, almost unable to comprehend he was saying. "I..." I closed my mouth again. What do I even say to that?

"I should have stepped in," Remus murmured. He was only a breath away. I remained entranced, even though there was no hint of alpha red in his eyes. There was no reason for me to be bewitched like this. He wasn't influencing me, but I still couldn't look away. The cool fingertips against my cheek were soothing instead of chilling.

"You should have." I was unable to stop the words from stumbling out. Someone should have. My stepmother. My father. A packmate. Another alpha. Anyone.

"It won't happen again," Remus said. His other hand surfaced, and wet fingertips pressed to my other cheek. I leaned into the touch despite myself, as if I were starved for basic human contact. When I opened my eyes again, Remus was only inches away. His l!ps brushed over mine.

I froze.

Time seemed to stop around us. Sunlight drifted down through the canopy, dappling the banks of the pool. Rays of sunshine fell over his shoulder, dancing over the water droplets on his skin like shimmering freckles. The waterfall sounded like it was dozens of yards away rather than a few feet, and I was barely aware of the leaves shifting overhead in the breeze.

Remus was so close that my toes brushed against his shin as I paddled just enough to keep myself afloat. Even my heart seemed to have stopped beating, the traitorous thing. I couldn't form a single thought. Not one.

Remus was kissing me. Remus was k!ssing me.

I had thought he'd been after Marnet, but...

My mind wandered off without me as Remus leaned in again. He settled one of his broad hands above my hip. Some sort of calm settled over me, leaving my thoughts blissfully quiet. I'd forgotten how nice that could feel. I didn't move, but Remus didn't draw away. Remus kissed me again and this time I gasped softly; it wasn't like any k!ss I'd ever experienced. I'd kissed other boys before Marnet, but I had always thought my mate would be the best I'd ever have, simply by virtue of the bond, but... He paused only for a moment, darkened eyes flickering open; if I didn't know better, I would have sworn he looked a bit surprised? Had he expected me to pull back?

I sighed softly against his l!ps and any hesitation disappeared. His other hand materialized to tangle in my long hair. My toes curled as Remus' fingers dug into my side; his nails prickled against my scalp. His beard was surprisingly soft against my skin, the well- groomed hair barely more than a tickle against my face as he kissed me. He didn't move either hand after that. The kiss was tender and- And I felt desired, like he had nowhere to look but at me. Like even if he wanted to, he couldn't look away. I hadn't felt this warm in days. When Remus tugged me a little closer, I put up no resistance.

My leg brushed against his again and this time I didn't jerk away. Instead, I shifted to try to accommodate him, tentatively tangling our limbs. A gentle heat started to pool in my belly as I finally brought my arms up from the pool, draping them both over the alpha's shoulders as little rivulets of water ran down his skin. Remus rumbled deep in his chest as my nails scratched across his skin and it reverberated through my core, drawing another quiet sigh from me. The sound made the ember spark inside me and I squirmed, curling my fingers against his skin. The movement only served to encourage Remus further. He slid his hand from my hip to the small of my back, flattening it there - anchoring me against his torso.

Before I knew it, he had tipped his head to one side; he trailed his lips down the side of my neck. When he nipped sharply at my collarbone, I finally gasped out loud, high and sharp. I dug my fingertips into the meat of his shoulder, then raked them across his skin. When was the last time anyone had made me feel like this? So - wanted? Desirable? This didn't even feel real. This felt like this felt like a damn Hallmark movie, and I was the princess. Even my time with Marnet had fallen into some sort of pattern. A ritual. Marnet.

Remus' hand slipped from my hair and down to my thigh, then finding my belly and sliding lower. Again, I thought of Marnet - my l!p trembled as my eyes flashed open. I untangled myself quickly and pushed away, trying to get as much space between us as I possible could.

All my thoughts came flooding back uninvited.

What am I doing? This man took over my pack! He - he killed some of my packmates!

And even if he hadn't done it himself, he had authorized it. Hadn't he brought me out here just to track Marnet down? I couldn't trust him! Why are you kissing him, Luna?

I turned around and swam towards the waterfall as my hands started to shake.

What have I done?