36

Koa's POV

Alcander was now tied up to a chair as we all stood around him and stared. Dieter standing in front of him and his face looks like he wants to kill. The only emotion this man had yet to show. Alcander was breathing heavily his eyes flickering around, but lingering on me. It was hard to see my friend sitting here before me and being the cause of my distress.

Part of me thinks that if I talked to him, we could let him go without any punishment. But I knew that was not an option. At least not for Allister, and surely not for Dieter. This was the end for Alcander. That thought alone caused immense sadness in me.

"Do you always cause this much trouble?" Dieter's voice rumbles as he glared at Alcander.

"Koa, you look good," Alcander spoke completely ignoring what Dieter said, which caused him to grunt.

I took a step closer and stood in front of him, his eyes trailed up my body and landed on my neck. I saw his energy shift almost immediately. His eyes darkened and he turned up his lip. I watched as his fangs dropped down and claws extend.

"You mated that fucker?" He growled out.

"Watch your mouth," I growled back, setting Allister on high alert. Not liking how he was speaking about our mate.

"And you let Cristoff on the territory? After everything that has happened? I thought you were smarter than that." I rolled my eyes in annoyance and backed away. Giving Dieter the space to do as he pleases.

"Look at your face...gnarly." Alcander chuckled but Dieter's face stayed blank and cold. He stood at full height and slowly began wrapping his hands around his neck.

"Do you want to know anything else?" Dieter rumbled out as we watched his hand get tighter and tighter.

"Just give us a minute," I said quietly. Dieter reluctantly removed his hand from his neck and backed away. "Alone."

Everyone gave me weary looks as the word left my mouth. But I gave a nod reassuring them that I would be okay. And slowly one by one they left the room. Leaving me and Alcander. I grabbed a chair and moved to sit in front of him, but not too close. His eyes tracked my every move as I did.

"What did you think was going to happen?" I asked gruffly.

"That'd you'd come to your senses. Realize that the moon goddess made a mistake." I scoffed at his idiotic comment. There is no reality where I would ever say that the moon goddess made a mistake. "Are you going to pretend that you had no idea that I was in love with you for all these years?"

"Alcander--"

"No, be honest. Deep down, you knew. And you loved it. You loved the attention I gave you. You loved the fact that I didn't have a mate either. You didn't want to be alone. And I know that, but don't pretend that you didn't take advantage of it."

Part of me wanted to deny everything that he said. I didn't know he had those feelings for me. But I also have to recognize that yes I was lonely. Especially after I turned nineteen and still had not found my mate. We both had bonded with the fact neither of us was mated. But it wasn't that I was using him. Or at least not on purpose.

"I can see where you might think that." Alcander scoffs at that and struggles against the ties that hold him down.

"For your information, I wasn't going to try and attack. I'm not that stupid. I just threatened it because I just wanted you. Your attention that's all." He sighed and continued. "I overtook Cristoff for you. If he'd still be in charge then this whole conversation would be different right now."

"You did what?"

"I knew what Cristoff wanted. He wanted you. And I couldn't have that. So I overthrew him...for you. It ended up working in my favor because he found out he was mated to your sister. But had I not, he would have still come for you."

If this was any other time I would have been grateful for it. For Alcander going to such great lengths for me. But was it really for me? No...it was to earn my love. To keep me alive so that he could have me.

"None of those rogues wanted to fight anyways. It was easy winning them over once I told them I wouldn't have them go to war." Alcander continued but I stayed silent. Not having anything to say but also letting him get his words off his chest.

"Do you truly think Cristoff has changed?" He scoffed out, the question catching me off-guard.

"I do."

"I never pegged you as an idiot, Koa. Cristoff wanted to kill you and wanted your powers. Now that he has a mate all that changed? And you believe that?"

"Don't underestimate the power of a mate," I spoke keeping my voice steady, no longer feeling up to having this conversation. Though Alcander just scoffed and rolled his head back.

"You didn't even tell me you were back. You didn't even tell me you were leaving. You just left." He sighed, no longer meeting my gaze.

"I didn't tell anyone."

"I'm not just anyone! I'm your best fucking friend. You couldn't even give me that." His eyes went downcast and I felt slightly guilty.

"What did you think was going to happen? Did you think I would have left Tino for you?"

"I thought you would have come to your sense and realized he isn't worth the trouble."

"Watch how you speak about my mate," I growled out, squinting my eyes at him.

"Or what? Are you going to kill me? No need seems as Dieter already claimed that." He shifted uncomfortably and broke eye contact with me at the mention of Dieter. I was curious to know what he did.

"You brought this on yourself."

"Fuck, I know that. But I don't regret it. Because there was a small chance that you could have picked me."

"Alcander, it's not about picking." I sighed in annoyance and leaned back into the chair. "We are lycans, we know that the moon goddess makes our mates and creates them specifically for us. You know lycans have a greater connection to her too. And here you are constantly spitting in her face."

Alcander just shrugs as if it means nothing. That the moon goddess means nothing. It disgusted me. Silence fell on us as he sat and stared at me. The thicker the tension got the more emotions began to build within me.

"I don't know what else you want me to say." I shrugged and told him truthfully. My voice came out cracked and soft. For one of the very few times in my life, I was speechless.

"Nothing I guess. All I ask is that you at least ask Dieter to make it painless. He's not letting me go. Not after what I did." I nodded at his response and stood ready to leave. I didn't want to be here when they gave him his punishment. "How is he? Quinton?"

"He and his mate are doing great." Alcander's face fell with confusion.

"The moon goddess granted him another mate?"

"Goodbye, Alcander."

"Bye, Koa."

*****

I should be on a high.

I shouldn't feel this heavy but I do.

I walk through the door of the house and Tino is sitting in the same spot I left him. He had a beautiful smile on his face and my chest tightened at the action. But it fell immediately once he saw my solemn mood.

"What's wrong?" He questioned, he quickly stood to his feet but I noticed the wince he let out but tried to play it off. "Is it Alcander?" All I could is nod in response and keep my gaze down.

"Did they find him?"

I nod.

"Did you have to fight?"

I nod.

"Did you get hurt?"

I shake my head no.

"Is that Alpha here?"

I nod.

"Did he explain?"

I nod.

"Did he get his punishment...?"

I nod. Slowly.

I could feel my eyes burning from tears and holding them back. I shouldn't be sad. I should feel relieved. It's over. Tino and I are safe and we can finally focus on ourselves and start a family. But here I am fighting back tears.

"Koa." He moved his hand to my cheek and lifted my head to meet his big, understanding eyes.

"I shouldn't be upset. I know I shouldn't but--" My voice croaked, it sounded foreign to my ears.

"He was your best friend." He whispered slowly as he pulled me into his arms.

"I'm sorry, I should be happy."

"No, don't apologize. At the end of the day, he was your friend. Your closest friend." He whispered in my ear. He pulled back and dragged me to the bed. I quickly curled up next to him and rested my head on his firm chest. One of his hands went to cradle my face and the other ran through my hair.

"It's bittersweet. But don't feel bad about being sad. This is hard. And I'm right here, every step of the way."

I let a few tears fall as he held me to his chest. I could feel my eyes get heavy and sleep fighting its way. Though this isn't how I envisioned this afternoon to go. And I wanted to spend the evening wrapped around Tino differently, this was just as good. Knowing that I am safe to be vulnerable and still with him.

"Did you want to tell me what happened?" Tino ran his finger through my hair as I let out a deep breath and I told him.

I told him everything. Everything that was said between us. The looks, the feelings. I told him about the fight with the rogues. And how even though I hated it, I still had concerns about Cristoff. Maybe a mate isn't enough for someone to change, though it seemed it had. And Tino sat in silence and he listened. He let me vent. And it made me fall in love with him even more.

"How was your day?" I asked, wanting to change the subject from me. I had finished my rant and we were just sitting in silence. I could feel myself dozing off but I wanted to be in his presence. Hear his sweet voice. Needing to hear something good.

"It was chill. Q came and hung out with me. We watched a movie, but there were some things I wanted to talk with you about if you're up for it?"

I leaned my head up to look at him, and he had his bottom lip between his teeth. Which he only does when he is nervous or embarrassed. I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.

"Did you know I could get pregnant?" I sat up immediately and I turned to him. My mouth was dry with how I was going to answer the question.

"Uh...I didn't. Not until this morning." I told him truthfully. I'm sure my face was bright red. And I could hear Allister laughing at me.

"Yeah...when Q was over he was talking about how Jonah is on birth control and I was confused. And then I remember Vin mentioning it once before, and then my clothes haven't been fitting me the best. And I did my research and I guess I have a womb now. I also talked to Zay and he was like 'Oh yeah that makes sense why I had this urge to come back'. And you liked NUTTED in me a lot last night, so there is a chance I could be pregnant already and that just means we should get a move on and get back to your territory soon. So we can get settled in case I am."

Tinos rant was long and all over the place and his eyes barely met mine. I started with an amused look on my face as he finished. Thankful that he wasn't freaking out too much.

"You're probably wondering why I am so calm. Well, I already yelled 'fuck' fifty times and I ran over each possible scenario either way it all ended the same. Us moving and starting a family. This would just be a lot sooner than expected."

Tino's eyes flew across my face and worry began to cover his. "Say something damnit."

"You want to move with me?" A smile erupted on my face and I could see the worry flee from his.

"Duh. Where you go I go."

I leaned forward quickly and smashed my lips onto his. He immediately welcomed my mouth as I drove my tongue in and began tasting him, knowing I will never get used to it. He wrapped his arms around my neck, hands digging into my hair.

"Are you still sore?" I whispered quickly against his lips. Feeling the urge to take Tino becoming too big to ignore.

"Fuck no."