Chapter Thirty

KEYARA

She could barely stomach the stew Ash had brought her as she took the first bite, even though it smelled rich and delicious.

Her head still felt as if it were splitting in two, and the whole room seemed to rock slightly with her dizziness. He hovered beside her, stroking her hair and encouraging her to eat just a few more bites.

She really tried, but on the third bite she could feel everything coming up again. She thrust the dish into Ash’s hands and sprung from the bed, hurling into the empty bucket by the tub.

She sat on the floor shuddering and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, feeling his concern for her seeping through the mate bond.

“Don’t apologize, Key,” he said quietly, joining her on the floor and stroking her back.

“You should listen to your body and what it needs. I just was worried about you keeping your strength up, but I won’t push you again. I’m sorry.”

She leaned against him and closed her eyes, and his arms wrapped around her. The room seemed to still a bit as long as she kept her eyes closed.

She felt herself being lifted into his arms, and she gripped his shirt tightly in her hands, fighting against the lurch in her stomach the movement created.

He tucked her back in bed, kissing her on the head. She opened her eyes slightly and gave him a weak smile.

“Get some rest,” he told her. “I need to go address the men. They need to know what I’ve done from my own lips.”

Key frowned, remembering his explanation that he would likely be shunned for turning her. She worried with so many of them here they could turn on Ash as soon as he told them.

“Will they be very angry?” she asked him, the worry seeping through her voice.

Ash took her hand, rubbing small circles into her palm with his thumb.

“My men are loyal to me, Key. I’ve known most of them since we were children. They may not agree with it, but they will follow me until I am no longer their alpha, and only the council can decide that.”

She nodded and closed her eyes, unable to fight against the dizziness any longer. “Can I have some water?” she asked weakly.

Ash stroked her hair, and she felt a cool glass press into her hand. She took a small sip and handed it back. She heard it clink on the table next to the bed as he set it back down.

“I’ll be back later,” she heard him say, as she slipped into sleep.

ASH

Ash watched her a moment after she fell asleep, a worried frown on his lips. He was very concerned that she had not been able to keep food down.

The change was a week away, and if she was not able to eat before then, her body would be too weak to make it through.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair before tying it up on the top of his head.

~“Luca,”~ he called. ~“Gather the men in the barn. We may as well break the news about Keyara now.”~

~“Yes, Alpha,” ~came the nervous reply.

He tucked the blanket around his mate, kissing her softly on the forehead before making his way slowly to the barn.

He could hear the men gathered inside, murmuring softly, and he went over what he would say in his head as he approached, wondering the best way to soften his transgression.

When he entered, the men turned to him and straightened, giving him their full attention. Luca came to stand behind his shoulder, giving him a nod, and Ash appreciated his show of support.

“I know you all may be wondering why exactly you were called back here so suddenly,” he began.

“As you know, the luna was apprehended by Lord Jonas, of Levia. They ambushed us by the lake, bound me to a tree, and stabbed me to leave me for dead. I healed and freed myself, and took care of the men that took the luna.”

He paused, looking between the men. They were following, all aware of the outcome of that interaction.

Ash cleared his throat, approaching the difficult part. “However, I did not get there quite in time. Your luna was reacting to being separated from her mate before she was ready.”

His men were nodding, understanding what would have happened when she was taken away from Ash.

“Her sudden illness confused the men who took her.” He pressed forward. “She could not continue on the journey, so they attempted to kill her instead. She was gravely injured.”

There were startled murmurs, and the men looked at each other in confusion. If she was seriously wounded, they would have been able to sense it when they arrived, as she was their luna.

All members of the pack had a slight link to the alpha and the luna both.

“She would not have survived,” he told them. “I made a judgment call in the moment in an attempt to save her, and I turned her.”

He looked at each man individually, taking in their shocked expressions, but he was relieved to see that none of them seemed hostile.

Luca cleared his throat behind Ash. “The alpha did this in communication with me and with my full support,” he said firmly.

“It was my opinion that the sudden death of the luna would have more serious repercussions, especially since the alpha was isolated at the time.”

The men nodded slowly in agreement, any sign of concern disappearing from their expressions. If the mate bond had severed with no one there for support, Ash likely would have gone completely feral.

~“Thank you, Beta,”~ he told Luca. His support meant a lot and certainly had influenced the opinion of the men before them.

~“Of course,” ~Luca replied. ~“But they were the easy ones to convince,” ~he said seriously. ~“The council won’t be as easily swayed.”~