34

                                    

                                          
KENNA
"Well, look what the wolf brought in." I grin.
Chaney freezes when turn my flashlight on. She's halfway across the territory, her clothes crumpled, and lipstick smeared.
"Hey, Kenna."
I turn the light off. "I hope your date with your alpha went well."
"How'd you know I was with him?"
"Chaney, please. You look like a mess, so you were either fucking or fighting a bear out there."
She chuckles, and we walk back to the pack house. Chaney has had a room there for as long as I can remember, and I'm sure her alpha is asking her to transfer packs to be with him. I doubt he feels comfortable traveling and leaving his pack for hours to be with her for a short while.
"You can go, you know," I tell her. The words taste sour in my mouth, but I have found my happiness. I want her to find it too and grow how like I have.
"Kenna..." she hesitates. "I can't leave you alone. You just became Luna and need my support."
This is a hard topic for us. We have been friends for years, and if she were to transfer packs, I would hardly see her.
"Don't lose him for me, Chaney. It would be selfish for me to ask you to stay. Go. I'll be okay."
We spend the rest of the night on the grass under the stars, sniffling because we know we will soon have to say goodbye. I ask her if she thinks he's the one. She laughs and replies she can't possibly know that yet, but I argue alphas are so intense they declare you as their territory early on. I know from experience.
When I come home, Kaden finds me looking gloomy. He demands to know what's wrong, promising that he will resolve whatever the problem is. When I tell him, he looks almost angry that this is out of his control. Chaney will leave one day or another.
The next morning, he tells me that my old cabin has been given to a pregnant mother. He did it in honor of Anja, the young girl that died tragically. Although she passed away before I could do much for her, at least another mother will have support.
My criminal case is still pending, but Kaden doubts my medical license will be revoked. That's all that matters to me.
I walk into the kitchen and take my phone. After my mother caught wind of my marking, she has become hellbent on visiting. I've run out of excuses to keep her at arm's length. She's coming to the pack and will likely demand that Kaden gets her a flashy new gift.
I rub my forehead.
"Hey," Kaden enters the kitchen. "Are you still thinking about Chaney?"
"About my mom, actually. She's going to drive us nuts with her demands."
Kaden shrugs. "I'll smile wide, and that will distract her. That seems to work on you."
"I'm serious."
"Don't worry about it. If it's money she wants, I'll give it to her."
"Kaden, that's now how things should be."
He takes my hand. "Let's go on a walk."
We tread deep into the wilderness; the sun beaming above us. Kaden sits by a tall tree and pulls me to his lap. The cool breeze brushes my hair all over the place, and Kaden strokes it behind my ears.
"Remember when I thought you went missing and sent the pack on a manhunt after you?"
I chuckle. "Of course. You were so dramatic."
"I fucking lost my mind thinking you were in danger. The pack was caught off guard by my behavior. Looking back, I think that's the day I accepted that I'm screwed. You had me wrapped around your finger."
"Pff. Don't flatter yourself. You were enthralled by me since day one."
"Wow," he says. "If only the pack knew how humble their luna is."
I laugh and swat his leg. "Leave me alone."
"You know I love you. Right, doctor? More than my wolf."
My smile consumes my face. I turn around and snuggle into his chest. "Me too. I'm glad you burst into my office that day and made your ridiculous proposition."
"Hmm. I think that's my favorite memory."
We stay there for a while, forgetting about the responsibilities of the pack. Right now, we're just two souls in love. I have a strange dream. Usually, I don't remember them, but this one is fresh. First, I see a figure of light, who I assume is the goddess. I stare at her with awe. She disappears, and right as darkness engulfs me, Kaden appears with a baby in his arms.
"There you are," he said with a warm smile. "We were looking for you."
I'm startled awake. Kaden and I are still against the tree, but there's no child.
"What is it?" he asks.
"Nothing," I chuckle. "Just had a weird dream."
He doesn't ask me to elaborate, only takes my hand and begins leading me back to the pack.
I glance over my shoulder to look at the tree we were against, and there, I swear I see a floating blob of light. The Luna is watching over us, and maybe she's hinting that although I'll say goodbye to Chaney and my previous lifestyle, a wonderful gift is coming our way.
I smile and tell her, "thank you."
"What?" Kaden replies. He looks back, but the blob has disappeared.
"I said thank you for being so lovely."
He rolls his shoulders arrogantly. "What can I say? The moon goddess knows how to build her alphas."
"Wow, look who is being arrogant now."
"It's only the truth, baby."
I take off running to show him how he can't resist the chase. A reminder that I have him 'wrapped around his finger,' as he calls it. Kaden's instinct has him taking off after me.
He easily catches me, of course he does, and we go tumbling down on the grass in a fit of laughter. He hovers above me and smiles down like I put the moon in the sky.
I smile back, my chest feeling full. If I hung the moon, he hung the sun.