Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

NIRVANA “What’s going on, honey?”

“What do you mean, Grandpa?” The last time I danced with him was when I turned eighteen. I always dreamed of dancing with him at my wedding, but maybe that chance was over.

My grandfather raised me, and I was an awkward kid growing up. I didn’t have many friends, or I preferred not to. I always knew I was different, and I chose scribbling in my notebook over going out with girls. I was always a loner until I went to college and met Kailin.

Maybe that was why I was still a virgin until I met Knight. I had two boyfriends, and they both were after getting into my pants. Perhaps that was why Axell broke up with me.

Before our trip, I was ready to sleep with him once we got to California, but there was always a reason for everything. We were not meant to be.

“Vana, why did you want to see your distant cousin? Knight asked me the address.”

“After great grandpa Ambrose brought me back to life, I acquired a gift.”

“Yeah. I know that.”

“And I might face Cyrius again, but let’s not talk about it here.”

“All right, but are you okay? You’ve only gone for weeks and seem to have changed a lot, and I could feel the worry in Knight’s messages.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“That’s the problem. It’s too good to be true. I mean, you grow up too fast, honey. And you’re making me worried.” I remembered how he looked at me when I first went on the school camping trip.

I laughed. “Seriously? I’m twenty-one, and I finally have a boyfriend. How you look at him, he passed the long list of your granddaughter’s boyfriend’s resume.”

“All I ever want is what’s good for you.”

“Glad you didn’t like Axell. He was a world-class jerk.” Did I feel guilty for what happened to him? Not really. He should have left me alone when I told him I had moved on, but he kept pushing it.

“Language, Vana. You’re a luna now. Every action you make is considered a strong decision. Every word you said-”

“Can be used against me?” I smiled, causing him to frown.

“I’m serious. Pack matter isn’t a joke.”

“I know, Grandpa. I just missed you. I’ve been busy lately and didn’t even call you once.”

“Knight was keeping me updated once in a while by sending me messages. And I know you’re in good hands, and he will protect you with his life. I know you deserve a man like him. You deserve better, and he is better.”

“Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”

The dinner began. I wasn’t sure what the menu was until Kailin showed me this morning. She was really good at her job as assistant to the alpha, and all the guys in the rank had all figured it out. That was how good they were, handling pack business. And I had a lot of things to learn.

The menu was a five-course meal. The wine, of course, was courtesy of the Blackwell Winery. Alpha even had a special bottle of a giveaway gift to our guests.

I finally felt what it was to be an adult as I sat beside my mate and the elders.

When Zarah excused herself and rose from her seat, I had a feeling it was more than just going to the powder room, and that had my pulse racing.

Shadow, though, I didn’t think she was a big deal. I knew she was a lycan princess, but damn, being a hybrid was something, and her gift was incredible, and the people around knew her. The way they looked at her was with utmost respect and admiration.

I instantly remembered what Evelyn told us about ancient times- a werewolf with a gift like Shadow was worshiped like a god.

Kailin went to Grandpa, kissing him on the cheek. They were closed even before they revealed what they were to me. I understood now what they had in common.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Zarah wants to talk to you somewhere private,” Kailin said through our pack link. It still felt surreal about this Wi-Fi thingy.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Excuse us. Enjoy your meal.” I rose from our table and asked her once we were far enough, “What’s going on?”

“I was hoping you could tell me. You’ve only been gone for three days, but I sense something different about you. You’re not pregnant, that’s for sure.”

I halted, held her on her arm, and stared at her. My stomach did a freefall.

Shit.

God, I am so irresponsible.

It didn’t occur to me the possibility of getting pregnant. What would my baby be? A werewolf, too? Or a human like me. Could I get pregnant? The reality hit me hard after what we did in the cabin and our bedroom without protection. And it wasn’t definitely the right time to bear a child. With what was going on in the underworld right now, there would never be a right now. Now, it scared the hell out of me.

“Earth to, Vana. Where the hell did you go for a moment?”

“What?”

“The way you stared at me, you didn’t expect you couldn’t get pregnant because he’s a werewolf, and you’re a human, did you?”

“Can we not talk about it right now?”

“Right. Let’s go to the office.”

The door opened. I only expected to see Zarah and Knight, but everyone, including Alpha Frye and Evelyn, was there.

My pulse raced. “What’s going on?”

“Come in and close the door behind you,” said Knight.

I didn’t even touch the doorknob. It shut by itself.

“Now, no one can hear us.” Zarah performed her magic trick, and she and Knight looked more serious than ever.

I stood beside Grandpa, sitting on the chair. Califf stood near the window while Shadow was on the couch with Evelyn.

“I lost a man three days ago, just right after you both left. Then yesterday, we found him dead, floating in the lake with dead veins all over his skin.”

I stared at Alpha Frye.

“So, how long has this been going on?”

I shifted my gaze at Grandpa. “There’s weird happening in Portland. When we went to see Dylan, they had bows and arrows, and he showed Knight the video of a werewolf running towards the bus. He died on the spot, but it seemed only the werewolf was affected.”

“And you didn’t tell me about this?” Grandpa turned to Knight. “You risked my granddaughter by bringing her there.”

“Grandpa, we just figured it out from Dylan. We were shocked ourselves.”

“What about the guys who followed you from PIA?” McKaye asked. There was a bomb in the SUV, but it wasn’t meant to detonate.

“We’re not sure if it was a related incident or they just targeted us,” Knight replied.

“And why have I just heard about it now?”

Knight looked at Kailin. “We’re not sure what’s going on, but it seems our world is in chaos.”

“And what’s the Werewolf Council doing about these incidents?”

“I’m not aware there’s a meeting arranged, Kailin,” Knight replied.

“I want to arrange a meeting with the Werewolf Council.” They all stared at me in shock.

“Sweetheart, I’m not sure if they will honor your request.” Knight was too polite with words.

“Why? Because I’m not one of you? What about the alphas of those infected with something? What did they do? Wait until it escalates all over the country? No offense, Alpha Frye.”

“None taken, Luna,” he noted.

“I will talk to my father about this. He’s on a business trip right now,” Shadow mentioned. “How about you, Califf? Have you heard any reports from our allies?”

“No, but I will set a meeting as soon as we get back to the compound.”

“We need to investigate what’s going on. If there’s an incident in our pack, Alpha Grayson should have said something.” Grandpa sighed heavily. I knew he was worried about me, but I was more worried about him.

“What’s on your mind, Zarah? You’ve never been this silent, and it’s unnerving.” I waited for her reply, but nothing happened.

“We must do something,” Kailin said.

“If Werewolf Council won’t do something, I just have to find evidence and bring it to them myself.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Knight countered me.

“Why is that?”

“You have more important things to do.”

“Why is this killing not important to them? Because those dead werewolves were not alphas; they were just ordinary lowlife and rankless werewolves. Well, let’s forget me because I’m just a human to them. It’s settled then.”

“I told you. She’s just like me. A real pain in the ass,” Shadow just told her mate, chuckling.

“You should train hard. Leave this issue to the alphas. Besides, your mate has a seat in the council. He can force them to take action.”

“Now you talk. Do you know something I don’t, Zarah?”

“The fact that you’re not ready and this is starting to happen scares me, Nirvana.”

“Well, maybe my bloodline ought to fail.”