Why does he care?

Why does he care?

Kayla POV

He leaves me to rest and sort through all the thoughts running through my mind. I am still hurt from everything Ranon did to me. I do not want to talk about that, not now or ever. I want to bury the things Ranon did to me and let all the feelings and memories rot somewhere. I cannot face any of that now.

Alpha Maximus is kind to me, even though he does not have to be kind or helpful or even be here. He could have handed everything over to me and left, but he stays to help me and make sure I could handle it. Maybe he is worried about me taking over his family's land. No, that is not it. Soran told me once about Alpha Maximus and how he left as a child. He said he never fit in with the family. It must be hard for him to be here.

I scoot to the side of the bed. I gather my strength, and after a few failed attempts, I finally can get to my feet. I walk carefully to the door and then make my way into the kitchen, where Char is finishing up the meal. "Luna, do you need help?" she asks me.

It is odd to hear the word Luna, and someone is talking about me. Luna, I guess I am the Luna of this pack; what is left of it anyway. If there are only five wolves left in the pack, I will serve this pack; that is what Soran would want of me. At least, I think that is what he would wish for me to do. I really have no idea what Soran would want from me.

Soran and I were not mates. He was kind, he cared for me, and I cared for him, but we were not chosen mates; we were arranged. What if I never find my mate? I think I would be okay with that. I do not believe there is any way I will ever marry again, no matter if my mate jumps in front of me, takes my hand, and begs for me. I honestly never want a man to touch me again. My only encounter with a man sexually is a nightmare I never want to relive, and no man will understand that pain or any of the things I have been through when I decided to marry. My focus should be on Soran's pack, and that will be my main concern.

I watch Alpha Maximus as he sits on the front porch. He seems occupied, and maybe it is the worry; perhaps he needs to get back to his wolves. Being here with me cannot be easy for him. I hate to be a burden to anyone. I am not sure if he is waiting for me to tell him how Soran died or if he is really here to help me. I have no idea of his intentions. He stands up, and I look at him. He seems shocked as he peers through the door at me.

I realize I am standing in the doorway in a long white gown. I must look frightful. He opens the door and invites me onto the porch with his beautiful eyes.

"I am sorry, Alpha. I did not mean to disturb you," I say to him. He smiles at me, and it is so beautiful. It feels wonderful to see such a beautiful sight, especially right now when I feel as if my body is coming apart.

"It is okay. I want you to disturb me," Alpha Max says. His words radiate through me. I am not sure why, but I start telling him how Soran died and how he sacrificed himself to save Candy, not that it did any good. Ranon still killed her.

Alpha Max listens to me, and I feel as if I can tell him anything. He reaches over and takes my hand. "I will stay as long as you need me," he says. I look into his beautiful eyes, and like a ton of bricks, it hits me. He cannot be. This is too soon. How can this happen right now?

"Mate," I whisper so quietly.

Alpha Maximus lets go of my hand and stands up. He moves off the porch quickly. I know this is not something he wants, and I do not want it either. "I will not be the type of wolf that takes his brother's wife," Alpha Max says. He turns back and looks at me.

"I have no intentions of taking a mate or ever having a man in my bed," I say to him sternly.

"Good, then there is no need to discuss this any further, correct?" Alpha Max asks me as if I am a child needing to be corrected. This infuriates me.

"I am not a child. I am a grown woman, Alpha Max, and I will not be talked down to, got it?" I bark at him.

Alpha Max shakes his head. "I meant no disrespect to you, Luna Kayla. I am a single wolf, and I like it that way, okay. You just lost your husband, my brother, and have been through an ordeal, so we both agree that for now, we need to only concentrate on the pack and, most importantly, your recovery," Alpha Maximus says.

"I agree, but I hope that you will stay. I want you to stay as you promised," I say. I have no idea how to handle a pack or a pack's needs.

"I will keep my word to you, Luna Kayla. I will help you and show you how to run a pack. I will help you build this pack up, and maybe someday you will return it to its former glory, only better," Alpha Maximus says.

"Thank you," I say to him.

I look over to see Char standing at the door like she just walked in on a private conversation and is unsure if she should speak up or not. "Dinner is ready," Char says.

Alpha Maximus and I go into the house. We sit down and eat together. We are careful not to touch one another and try to avoid eye contact, but my wolf is going insane. My wolf wants to feel his touch and look into his eyes. I am not sure I will ever be ready for someone to touch me again.

I look up from my plate and catch a glimpse of him. Our eyes lock, and I melt. Every part of me melts for him. This cannot be happening to me. I cannot stand the thought of a man touching my body or being inside me, but Alpha Maximus is doing something to me. Mate! My wolf screams for him. I can feel the tears coming again.

"I am sorry," I say as I spring from the table. I rush back to the bedroom. I close the door and go straight to bed. I fall into bed and close my eyes. I hold the pillow close to my face, and I scream as loud as I can into the pillow. What kind of sick joke is this?