Chapter 134: Chapter 133

Chapter 44 She’s Gone

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“Times will change for the better when you change.“–Maxwell Maltz

Neron

Seconds turn to minutes, minutes turn to hours, and hours turn to a lifetime. It is like two lifetimes had passed since Kiya and her family left my land. Her absence is noticeable, especially with the change in temperature. The sun shines, warming my territory, but it can’t compare to the warmth my mate held. She is the sun.

I don’t know how long I sat on these stairs, staring out into the dense woodlands. A miniscule speck of hope dances in me, thinking that Kiya would emerge from the trees with her beautiful smile. I long to see her again, but it’s false hope clinging onto my side of the mate bond.

I shouldn’t have hope of any kind. She’s gone and I can’t wish for her to come back for me. As much as I miss her, I don’t want her back on my lands.

This experience got me thinking about this pack’s long–standing history. Or the parts I know of. Zircon Moon is an old name, existing for nearly two hundred years according to Dad. Five generations had passed since its birth, marking me as the sixth. The honor and pride of my predecessors‘ rest on my shoulders–to bring our pack to a bright future and to bring an heir to carry on our legacy.

I didn’t want that burden. Not after the shit we’ve done.

I heard a shuffle beside me. Both Raina and Valerian took their seats on the stone stairs, keeping my lonely. self company for the millionth time. My Beta offered a bottle of soda, which I took. But I have no desire to

drink.

“How are you holding up, dude?” He asked. Raina looked at me as her fingers fiddling in her nap. My fingers rapped against the bottle as 1 try to come up with the right words.

“I’ll be fine, all things considering.” I offered them a small smile. “It’s a feeling I must get used to.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Neron. I wish she was still here, too.” Raina spoke up with a twinge of sadness in her tone. Tears threaten to spill from her eyes. Jeez, I’m wallowing in my misery–Raina is feeling worse than me. “She’s in a better place now.”

“You’re making it sound like she’s dead.” Valerian chuckled, sipping his drink. “In a few short months, Kiya knew how to turn this place upside–down.” I glared at him. “In a good way.”

“It was a wake–up call we all needed.” I pondered, resting my chin on my fist. “Kiya’s arrival was a good thing. Garnet Moon did a fantastic job at helping her blossom.”

“They are her family.” Raina spoke with a pained smile. “While she was here, I kept thinking of ways to bring my family together again. We share the same blood, but this experience taught me two things: blood doesn’t make a family, the bonds do. And I’ve been selfish.”

Kiya was at her happiest with her friends. Her smile shined the brightest and her laughter was at its purest form. Her bonds with her friends are the strongest. With her parents, it was incredible and, I admit, I was a little jealous. Lyra and Nikolai fiercely protected their pup. They’ve earned Kiya’s trust without trying.

Chapter 44–She’s Gone

The old me would’ve hated this. Goddess, how did I stomach hurting her back then? We grew up side–by–side and I let my father’s lies get to my head. Everything he said about her, I believed. I had to, even if it meant. going against Onyx. That shame will never disappear. It shouldn’t. I need this reminder to help me realize how much of a shitty person I was and, probably, still am.

No one can hide from their past. I can run as fast as I can from it, but it’ll still snatch me up like a cheetah to a gazelle.

“Do you still wish her to be your Luna, Neron?” Raina asked me, curious. “I mean…an Alpha always needs their Luna, right? And you love her.”

“I love Kiya enough to know I don’t want her to be my Luna.”

The weight of my words stopped my Betas‘ breathing in their tracks. Valerian stared at me as if I’ve grown three heads and Raina’s jaw dropped in which her husband helped close.

“In a perfect world, I would want that. Since we were kids, there was something I liked about her. Just like with Nuria, I wanted to protect her. Despite the horrible pranks, the groundings and overall hell those two would raise, I liked her. She was young, but fun! Maybe those feelings were a subtle sign that we were mates? Young me would’ve never known.”

“Onyx liked her; I remember.” The Beta Female smiled, reminiscing on old memories, “He was like a, no offense, but a dumb puppy around her–that tail of his was like a damn propeller. Ignorance was bliss when we were kids, don’t you think?”

Onyx whined, the only sound he’d made since our talk in Kiya’s room. He remembers. It was strange for a wolf to be fascinated with my sister’s friend, but now I see why. Snapping the bottle cap off my soda bottle, I took a sip before walking down the stairs to stare at the large, four–story pack house standing before me..

It’s a home, but it doesn’t feel like one. I wouldn’t say I hated the place, but it did nothing for me anymore.

“Be honest with me, you two.” I spoke, seizing their attention. “Do you believe this pack has a future?”

Valerian and Raina spared glances, confused. With more time on my hands and Kiya gone, there was time to contemplate on where I want to go with Zircon Moon.

“This pack needs work, I admit.” Valerian spoke up with a sign. “It’s not because of your leadership, Neron, it’s the wolves themselves. It’s because of their unwillingness to change and the constant shift in morality. You saw how many of them switched sides at Tristan’s execution.”

Goddamit, I hate that f*cking name. But Valerian is right; whatever fits their personal agenda, they’ll latch on like leeches to flesh. They cling onto my father’s every word. He poisoned my head about Kiya’s involvement and treatment in the past and continued to discredit her in the present until her family took her away,

Goddess knows what would’ve happened if she stayed.

“You know how you cut the dead leaves off plants to help new ones to grow?” Raina added. “That’s what this pack needs; a good clipping.”

“Or just burn it all down and start over.” Kwame walked up with Lorelal at his side, holding hands. “I apologize for the interjection, but this place needs a good cleansing.”

“What do you mean?”

My Gamma shrugged. “Look, I notice a lot of things. I don’t talk, but I see all. If Zircon Moon were to go anywhere or to “prosper” as it did before, things need to change. That’s the benefit you have as Alpha, Neron, The ball is in your court, so you can determine this pack’s future–if it has one.”

For so long, what I wanted or believed didn’t matter. My destiny was to be an Alpha with an iron fist, no matter how much I tried to run from it. Instead, my father violently pulled me back until I gave up accepted his twisted wisdom. Everything I do was for the pack; even harming an innocent person.

That didn’t do a f*cking thing. Dad was wrong and I cannot afford to listen to him anymore.

I won’t listen to him anymore.

‘Our fates may not have been ours to choose, but we sure as hell can change H. Kiya’s words from our trip to the mall lingered in my head, her voice sweet as honey but laced with truth. She was right.

“Okay.” I nodded. “Thank you, Kwam. I know what to do, but I can’t do it alone, I need you four to support me, because you’re the only people I can trust right.”

“What do you want us to do?” Valerian stood, helping Raina to her feet.

My heart warmed with the smoldering ember of joy, Raina nodded with her husband, and Kwame and Lorelai nodded as well. My trust has become selective since Tristan. All I’ve inherited from my father has me questioning how many are at my side. That is something I must rectify, including the debacle with Odessa. But, my Betas and Gammas never failed me, I’d die for them.

I couldn’t ask for a better team.

“Okay. As for Zircon Moon, I’ve been thinking about dish-”

Onyx, out of the blue, grew restless in my mind. On his paws, he spun in circles with panic and fear oozing from his fur, growling, and whimpering. “Mate! Kiya! Artemis! Something’s happened!”

“Onyx, what the hell are you talking about?”

My cell phone in my back pocket buzzed. Pulling it out, Alpha Anthony’s caller ID flashed on the screen. I answered his call, wondering if it’s about Kiya.

It was.

And my world shattered into a million pieces.

I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened like a knot, restricting my breathing. My hands became so clammy that my phone slipped from my palms to the ground. Tears burned my eyes like acid, my heart thudded to the beat of unadulterated terror and lightheadedness crawled into my mind. Alpha Anthony’s reveal sent me on a downward spiral. I couldn’t concentrate; my fear spiked higher than my blood pressure.

“Neron?” Lorelai ask worryingly. “What’s going on?”

“Kiya never made it home.” I whispered hoarsely. “She never…”

“WHAT?!” Raina screamed in shock. “My sister is gone?!”

“Find mate, now!”

Chapter 44–She’s Gone

There wasn’t time to lose. Onyx kicked my ass into high–gear, giving me the boost needed to focus. Kiya disappearing is something I couldn’t fathom. Hours before, she was here! How is she gone?!

Abandoning my phone, I marched toward the garage. “If any of you are coming with me, high–tail your asses to my car!” The harshness of my tone was unintended, but I couldn’t waste any time. Alpha Anthony wouldn’t lie to me, but by the tone of his voice, he’s just as panicked as Onyx.

Quickly, I found my car and got it started. Raina and Kwame hopped into the backseat, buckling in their seatbelts. Their mates spoke to me, through mind–link, that they’ll stay behind to watch over in my absence. I noticed Dad’s car is missing, but I couldn’t care less. Once I rolled off the territory, I stomped on the gas and sped down the road, breaking every traffic law known to man.

She can’t be gone!

Moon Goddess, please tell me my mate is okay!

Kwame, Raina, and I reached the scene of the car accident in less than half an hour. The foul stench in the air burned my nostrils, taking my mind back to when the undead rogues trespassed on my land. Littering the ground are their rotting, dismembered body

The passenger van the family rode has as being swept away by the backup Alpha Anthony brought.

scene, either helping or talking.

dent sizable enough to kill humans. Kiya’s family is spread across the

Lyra and Nikolai look devastated. My heart shattered; their faces confirmed my fears.

Raina was the first to jump out of the car once it stopped, eyes wildly searching for a familiar head of curls.

“Where is she?!”

“Beta Female Raina, please stay calm.” Alpha Anthony walked up from his car. But, that statement made her agitation worse because she didn’t stop trembling..

“No, tell me where my little sister is!” Immediately, Kwame and I walked up, pulling the heartbroken woman to the side, leaving me alone with my fellow Alpha.

“What happened?” I ask, deathly afraid of the answer. Onyx perked up to listen.

“According to my parents, they were ambushed.” He replied. His voice is hard and steady, but his eyes betray his emotions. “They were hit by another car and then attacked by rogues. They lost Kiya in the chaos. Afterwards, when they noticed she was missing, Darien and Sapphire tracked her scent into the deeper woods, but she was nowhere to be found. She left her phone behind.”

“She was taken!” Lyra sobbed heavily into her hands while sitting on a rock next to her husband. “Her last message to me was to get help! Someone took my baby girl!”

“We’ve all tried connecting to her though our mind–link, but none of us could get through.” Nikolai added, rubbing soothing circles on Lyra’s back.

“Hoo!” Diana, like an angel, swooped in with something shiny in her talons. Holding out my arm, the bird landed with ease, dropping the mysterious item into my palm, cooing in sadness.

My heart stopped.

Chapter 44 She Cone

In my hands is Kiya’s necklace with the clasps completely broken. As if someone yanked it off her neck. The pendant is cracked, and the bail is falling apart. My gift to my mate was treated like garbage, damaged by a careless hand!

Diana’s head nuzzled against my shoulder, but my vision blurred. I couldn’t see anything through my falling tears, landing in my palms. My world got colder when Kiya left. Now, it’s frozen, because the sun of my world disappeared. Guilt batters against me, demanding why I made the choice to let her go, blaming me for her disappearance.

My hand balled into a fist with her necklace inside. I’m devastated, but I’m enraged!

Someone stole Kiya from her family.

There’s one person who I know wanted her more than anything. Only he could stage a diversion like this to kidnap my mate. It all made sense!

And I won’t stop until I kill him!

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