Heart of the Moon

Kieran’s POV ~

I am absolutely dreading the trip to Dark Moon today. Calista isn’t going to be happy that I’m there.. and I honestly am not sure I want to see her. Onyx hasn’t given me a moment’s peace since we saw her day before yesterday. Cole went over yesterday and visited her.. said she’s still the same amazing girl he knew in school. He’s really not talking to me.. I overheard him telling Axel.

I am heading out to get in the truck when Valerie steps up, wrapping her arms around my neck, she kisses me. Onyx growls low in my chest and I step away from her. I glared at her “Never do that again! The only contact we have is contact I initiate. You are shifting from your lane.. and you’d best get back between the lines!”

She pouted “I just wanted you to know I will miss you. I will wait in our room for you to come home.” Onyx growled loud enough to shake the windows “There is no ‘Our Room’ there is Your room.. and My room! How dare you insinuate there is more between us than a few dates! You are well on your way back to the women’s quarters!”

I slammed out the door and climbed into the truck. My mood was bad enough, and now, it’s taken a hard turn south! I somehow doubt it is going to get any better! I just hope Alec has information on this Heart of the Moon.

Axel speaks up “I have a feeling Valerie is going to start pushing you to take her as your chosen. I don’t see it ending well.” Cole scoffs “She will just tantrum her way into getting him to agree.”

I glance back at Cole and tell him “Spit it out! This shit is eating at you.. Cole.. you are a brother to me.. you have a problem with me.. let’s talk it out!” He asks, in all seriousness, “Would it make a difference? I just don’t get it! I have been waiting for my mate since my eighteenth birthday. She’s all I ever think about. But for two years… Two fucking years.. you have known who your mate is.. You mated her, Kieran! And now you ignore her! That is messed up, on so many levels!”

I snarled “If she is attacked.. if she died.. it would weaken me! It would weaken the pack! I have to be absolutely certain any threat to me.. to our pack.. is eradicated before I could think about accepting her!” Axel shrugs and chuckles “That’s even if she will accept you now! You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t hate you!”

I sneer at them both “Thanks for the pep talk, guys! Really lifted my spirits!” Cole laughed and responded “What? You want us to blow smoke up your ass.. about something you know, in your heart.. is wrong!? That’s not how brotherhood works, dude!”

We rode the rest of the way in silence. I was arguing with Onyx.. even he is mad at me. But I don’t blame him. Every instinct he has is to be with his mate, at all costs. All I know is my mate is a healer and that means she needs protection. Once the Rogue King is put down, I will consider accepting her.

Arriving at Dark Woods, Alec and Simon met us at the door.. there seemed to be some kind of party being set up.. and I asked “Someone’s birthday?” They didn’t answer until we were in the office. Alec said “Derek and Darius are turning two today.” That was it… he didn’t expound. So, I didn’t press it further.

I asked Alec “How’s Peter doing now?” His face lit up “He’s so much better! Callie brought him up and out of the coma yesterday! He’s already had two therapy sessions! He will be at dinner later.”

I grinned at his excitement “That is good news! I am happy to hear it! Is his long term prognosis good then?” He nods again, saying “Calista identified the problems and set about healing him the first night she got home! She is an incredible healer!”

Cole stood and tells us “Speaking of that healer.. I’m going to go hunt her down! I’m sure she needs help with something!” I said “Cole! Shouldn’t you ask your Alpha?” He grins and shrugging, says “Gamma protects Luna!” And walked out the door.

I groaned and Axel said “You probably shouldn’t have told him Calista is your mate, yeah? He’s going to make our lives hell!” Alec started laughing “You told him? Dude! Cole and Calista were inseparable.. Simon and I called them TweedleDee and TweedleDum! You seldom saw one without the other! That’s going to be painful for you!”

Yeah! There’s some good news, right there! I asked Alec “What can you tell me about this heart of the moon thing? Do you know where it is? Do you have it? Because, if this Rogue King is after it… and it’s as important as it seems, we need to step up security.”

Alec looks at me, with such an odd look on his face, it confused me.. before he responded “You are willing to step up protection for something you don’t understand! Fascinating! I do not have it.. I do know where it is.. It is more important… more precious than you know! I wish I could tell you more.. But it’s not my story to tell.”

I smile.. “Then, we defend it! Is it kept in a safe place? I mean.. easily defendable? Shall I send some warriors over.. just in case?” Alec shook his head, letting us know “We have stepped up security around the borders.. our towers should be occupant ready today.. our bunkers are fully equipped and have warriors rotating shifts in them. We installed over a hundred cameras around the borders and in the woodlines.”

Axel looks at me “That’s impressive! I wouldn’t mind seeing the bunkers.. We might want to look into doing that at home, Kieran.” I agree and ask Alec “What prompted all the beefed up security measures? It feels like it’s more than your father’s injuries!”

He shrugs “My dad was targeted.. deliberately forced away from the fighting.. he was singled out, then attacked by five rogues! By the time I could get to him, he was in bad shape and this was pinned to his chest” He handed me a piece of paper.

Give us the heart, or next time he dies..

I felt a white hot rage fill my body.. I growled “Threatening you.. is threatening me! This so-called Rogue King has bitten off more than he can chew! Let’s take a look at those bunkers!”

Walking around the inside of the bunkers, I was impressed. Room enough for eight men to bivouac comfortably.. with running water and electricity. A separate weapons room, with a veritable arsenal! There are monitors watching the cameras.. even a small kitchenette for making snacks.. holding drinks. Simon was taking notes of everything! I asked Alec “Who constructed this? I’d really like to hire him.. as long as he’s discreet!”

He laughed “Nick has three guys he used.. we rented the equipment.. a backhoe.. and a trackhoe.. as well as a bobcat. Calista designed it.”

Alec was called back to his office for an important phone call, so Simon and I ran around the borders just to check the camera locations. We headed back to the pack house and as I was crossing the backyard, I saw a young boy.. probably five or ten.. who knows.. kids all look alike.. That boy slapped the snot out of a little boy.. a toddler, judging by his size.

Calista stormed over.. with an identical toddler on her hip.. she knelt to the one on the ground and rubbed his cheek, before picking him up, as well. She looked down at the boy who had hit him… without taking her eyes from him, she yelled “Phoebe! I warned you to keep your crotch goblin on a leash! Now YOU will face the consequences of his actions! You should have heeded my warning! Someone has a lesson to learn and it might as well be you!”

From where I stood in the tree line, I could literally see the fury that radiated off my mate.. I couldn’t help feeling that was more than anger at a child being struck by another! I have more questions than answers.