Page 57 of Pack: Posy 3
It didn't take the witches long to find something.
Alpha Cole, this is not good, Ariel warned me.Her wolf is dead and, for all intents and purposes, so is she. Alpha Quake is not going to take this well.
That's what I thought,I said.
Will Kayvon be able to step up as alpha without a luna, even if it is their tradition here?Mariaasked. Or did King Julian leave other orders for the leadership here?
Kayvon will lead, regardless of his mate status. The king ordered it so.
"Hey, Kayvon, while they work, could you show me where the bathroom is?" I asked.
Fortunately, he was smart enough to take the hint.
"Of course."
Wait until I get back to tell him anything, I told the witches.
As soon as we were down the hall, Kayvon stopped me and gave me a hard look.
"She's gone," I told him.
"I know. I've known for a while. Now what? Pops can't end her, and I don't think I can, either, but it's not right to let her continue suffering."
"I'll take care of it," I muttered. "Are you prepared to step up as alpha? I understand your tradition here, but, even if your father wants to live afterwards, he's not going to be able to run the pack anymore."
"I know that, too. I've been to every pack in North America except for yours and Black Night. I'll visit those two and pray my mate is in one of them. But even if she's not, I can lead without a luna. At least for a while."
He took a deep breath and his eyes flicked to the floor before meeting mine again.
"But what happens if I don't ever find her?"
"You've got a few years before it becomes an issue," I told him. "You'll find her before it does."
"I pray to the Goddess you're right."
Me, too, friend.
"Well, you're welcome to visit Five Fangs any time to look for her," I told him. "Uh, before we go back to your parents, I really do have to use the bathroom."
"Sure, man." He pointed to a door on the left. "I'll be in the living room."
"Yeah. Thanks."
He nodded, turned, and left.
I did my business, washed my hands, and headed back, reminding myself to ask the witches if they needed to go before we left here.
When I entered the room, Maria and Ariel stood up and stepped away from the luna. They clasped their hands in front of them and looked at me.
"Let's hear it," I said.
"Alpha Quake." Maria drew a deep breath and looked at him. "Your mate is infected by a parasite. It ate her wolf first. Maybe four or five years ago now. Probably so her wolf couldn't fight it or heal Luna Norah."
"Then it began to eat her," Ariel picked up. "Alpha, I'm so sorry, but there is nothing of your luna left inside this body."
"She is not gone!" he blustered at the witches and looked at his son. "They're lying! They're making it up because they don't know what's wrong with Norah, either!"
"Pops, they're not lying." Kayvon laid a hand on his shoulder. "Mom is gone and has been for a long time. I know it, Beta Brooks knows it, and I think you do, too, somewhere deep inside."
