Azalea

After what felt like forever, I heard the door lock click, and it swung open. I rose from the bed and saw John in the doorway. He motioned for me to follow him, and I did.

We walked silently down a hallway and some stairs. A soft rug muffled the cold hardwood floors beneath my feet. After descending two flights of stairs, John led me to an office. He knocked twice, and we heard, "Come in." He opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

Inside, I saw Kol seated at a desk. A couch and small coffee table sat to one side of the room; shelves lined another wall with files. It looked like an Alpha's office.

"Please sit, Azalea. We have things to talk about," Kol said, his gaze fixed on me.

I shuffled to a chair in front of his desk and sat, fidgeting nervously, pulling my sleeves down over my hands. After a moment of silence, I quietly asked, "Why am I here?"

He smiled. "Well, you're my mate, of course." I looked up, confused.

"No, I'm not," I said.

"Ah, little flower, but you are. This wasn't the Moon Goddess's decision, but our parents'. You were promised to me." My mouth dropped open. My parents promised me?

"That's impossible…" I whispered.

"You don't even know the circumstances of your arrival in the Blood Eclipse pack, do you? Do you know who your mother is?"

I stared at him. My parents had died fifteen years ago after plotting against the Alpha. Their crimes were punishable by death, leaving me alone, unloved, and unwanted.

"Your mother was the true Alpha of the White Moon pack. Shortly after being told her twin brother—born second—would become Alpha, she found her mate. Your father was my father's best and most trusted friend. Heartbroken and upset with her family, she joined the Blood Eclipse pack with your father."

"But what does any of that have to do with me?"

"Shhh. You'll understand in time," he said. He cleared his throat. "My father is Alpha Robert's younger brother. Though younger, he should have been Alpha. He was stronger, faster, and smarter than Alpha Robert, and would have been a powerful leader. He even found his mate early—a testament to his exceptional nature. I was born shortly before your mate, Liam, as my father wanted an heir to secure his claim to the Alpha title. Conveniently, your mother became pregnant soon after mine. Our fathers believed merging our bloodlines would produce an exceptional wolf."

"What do you mean, exceptional?"

"You know nothing of the White Moon pack?" he asked. I shook my head. "White Moon wolves possess special abilities. Alphas and their kin often have more than one. You can understand why our fathers wanted us mated, to one day rule the Blood Eclipse pack as Alpha and Luna."

Fear gripped me. He had the wrong person. I wasn't special. I couldn't access my wolf; I was little more than a weak human. What would he do when he realized I had no special abilities?

He continued. "Don't misunderstand me; I know you can't shift and haven't unlocked your abilities. But I know they're there. And I will unlock them, I promise you, little flower. Back to my story—Your mother joined Blood Eclipse to be with your father. My father intended to make him his Beta, if he could overthrow Alpha Robert. His obsession with the Alpha title grew; it consumed him. They planned a coup, a perfect plan to defeat the Alpha and anyone in their way. But your mother interfered. She warned Robert's Beta, Declan, thwarting their plans. Your mother was injured, and she died after your father's death. My father was injured but escaped with me. You were left to face the consequences."

My mind reeled. My mother was of special Alpha blood; my father sided with a madman. My mother tried to stop them and still died. Kol stood, walked around the desk, and knelt before me.

"We were promised to each other since birth, my little flower. And I will save you from everything the pack inflicted upon you," he said, stroking my cheek.

"I don't understand…" I said quietly.

"What don't you understand?" he asked gently. I looked into his blue eyes, so much like Liam's. Tears welled up, and I longed for Liam to rescue me. Whatever this was, I didn't want any part of it.

"If I was so special and promised to you, why didn't you take me sooner? Why did I suffer for twelve years in that packhouse?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He sighed. "I didn't know you survived at first. I didn't learn until your sixteenth birthday. I infiltrated the pack to find you. I watched you for days, enraged by your treatment. I saw you through your window on your birthday, your tears as you watched the moon, your lips moving as if singing happy birthday. I was furious. I left to devise a plan to get you out. I planned to get you before your seventeenth birthday. But when I returned, I heard girls talking about Liam, the future Alpha, expelling you. I thought you'd become a rogue. It took months to find you in that human town. Once I knew you were safe, I waited. I sent John to watch over you."

"So, John…"

"Yes. He's a hunter, sent by me to protect you. We had a mutual interest, you could say," he said.

"Liam," I concluded.

"Yes. I planned to take my rightful place as Alpha. Then we learned he's your fated mate."

Tears flowed. "You don't understand. You're wrong. I'm not special. I can't shift; I can't speak to my wolf. There's nothing special about me; you have the wrong person!" I cried. Kol pulled me to his chest, hugging me tightly.

"No, little flower. You are exceptional. And I will show you. I could never hurt you like he did." My body stiffened. How did he know? Kol pulled away. "Oh yes, I know how he tried to hurt you. I could never do that to you." He caressed my cheek, his expression sincere, his demeanor non-threatening. He seemed to genuinely care, as if he'd waited his whole life for me, as if I were his true mate.

"Kol, I'm not your mate. I'm Liam's. I'm sorry…" I said quietly, turning away. This was too much; I missed Liam, even though I hadn't forgiven him. "Please, just let me go…" I whispered.

Kol stood. His anger was evident. "I'm sorry, but I can't. He rejected you, then hurt you, Azalea. I won't allow him to touch what is mine." He walked around his desk. "That's enough for now. Join me for dinner later, little flower." His door swung open. I stood, understanding this was my cue to leave. John stood in the doorway, ready to escort me.

I silently followed John back through the house, trying to note my surroundings, but everything looked the same. We reached my room; John opened the door. I entered, and he closed and locked it behind me. Sadness and helplessness overwhelmed me. Kol wouldn't let me go, and he would hurt Liam. There was nothing I could do. I curled into a ball on the bed, sobbing until I finally fell into a fitful sleep.

Liam

My uncle arrived at my office. Lily and I waited with Damien. I stood as he entered.

"What's so important? Is everything alright?" he asked, worried. Damien hadn't filled him in.

"I need to know what happens if another wolf marks my mate," I said calmly. He looked confused at the three of us.

"Many things. Why would someone mark Azalea? Where is she?"

"She's been taken."

He nodded. "I understand. Since you haven't mated with Azalea yet—"

"Tell him," Lily interrupted. He looked at her questioningly.

My uncle turned to me. "Tell me what? Liam, you resisted her heat, correct?"

I sighed. "Not exactly. There was a…complication during her heat."

"What sort of complication?"

"It surprised me. We were arguing, and her heat started. Gavin took over and mated with Azalea," I said, hanging my head.

"Against her will," Damien said quietly.

My uncle looked at us. "That complicates things. It's uncommon for wolves to mate and not be marked quickly afterward. As for another wolf mating her, it will hurt. She'll feel physical pain from another wolf touching her now that you've mated. You'll also feel her pain. If she's marked, it would likely sever the mate bond. I've only read of a few similar instances. You'd feel pain similar to rejection. Azalea's pain will be much worse if she's marked. There was even a case where the marked she-wolf felt residual pain until she could no longer bear it."

"Until she could no longer bear it? What does that mean?" Lily asked.

"She took her own life. She was marked by a man who wasn't her mate, and the pain was unbearable," he explained. Lily gasped, covering her mouth.

"I doubt your cousin will act until he's dealt with you, Liam," my uncle continued.

"Wait, you know?"

"Though I had no interest in pack affairs, I wasn't naive to my brothers' quarrel. I suspected Kol had survived," he replied calmly.

"So, he's after my pack, and he has my mate. Are you sure he won't hurt her until he kills me?"

"I can't be certain, but I doubt it. Young Kol was obsessed with Azalea. He treated her like a princess. They were probably each other's only friends. Kol has had many opportunities to harm Azalea. He hasn't. How long has he had her?"

"Three days," Damien said.

"He hasn't harmed her in three days. He'll wait until he eliminates you before attempting to mark Azalea. He'll likely refrain from hurting her more than necessary."

We sat in silence. Lily went to Damien, burying her face in his chest. I knew she worried for Azalea. My uncle left. I sat, despair and hopelessness settling in. This had to be Azalea. "We have to find her…" I whispered.