45. Proposition

RE EDITED!!!!!

Allo..

Just wanted to say thank you all so much for the messages and comments i get.. the positive feedback! Thank you for sending me songs that i can use that revolves around the emotions in my chapters!!! Also. If you didnt get the update, i posted the restricted chapter in Freak Nasty for the sexy scene that was optional for the chapter titled Regrets.

Love. Peace. Chicken Grease.

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Nova

I stared out into the night as trees flew past my view...

The midnight sky twinkling with stars, crescent moon shining bright over head.. crisp cool air.. the breeze blowing through the cracked window, cool enough for a jacket at night now.

The big black extended cab ford was a smooth ride down the road, a loud rumble from the engine as we passing city life. It's a thirty minute drive from pack land to no mans land.. human territory.

And here i am sitting in a truck.. with Conrad.. one of the most cruel known Alpha's aside from the Dark Moon alpha.

Well.. he used to be. Conrad's father before him, rumor has it, was that he was a beast.. no one could touch him. Ironically he became diabetic and had organ failure..

The human side sometimes beats the wolf side.

"So..where are we going again?" I clicked my tongue as i scanned the lights glowing from buildings and shops flying past me.. humans out and about on a Saturday night. The hole in my chest seemed so empty.. void. Concentrating on my surroundings, i fought to push the encroaching thoughts and sadness over my newly formed mate bond out of my head.

"We're going to a place call shorties." His gruff answer wasn't enough for me. I caught myself staring up at him.. noting despite how rugged he was... he was handsome. If you cut the beard and the longer hair away, he would be downright sexy for a man nearly the same age as my father..

But he was nearly twenty years older than me at the ripe age of thirty eight.

I chewed my lip nervously.. i have several knives tucked away just in case.. two in my waist band.. one in each boot.. one strapped to my forearm hidden by my sweater.. just in case Conrad has an ulterior motive but i doubt he did. Besides.. you can't be too careful in human territory where hunters scout for wolves for fun. Theres been too many wolf killings.. not knowing of our existence.. just thinking the wolves were your average wild wolves.

Conrad didnt say much to me as My eyes wandered aimlessly.. no radio in the background. He smelled of ash, mint, and a hint of diesel from his hands when he filled up the gas tank.. along with a decadent cologne.. i couldn't place it.

Pulling into the parking lot of a small building with a neon green light that said Shortie's , only the S and the r were burned out, reading, ho tie's.

I couldn't stifle the giggle as we got out of the truck. Rounding my way, Conrad smirked at me. "Yeah.. funny i know. Its been like that for years now. Cheap bastard wont replace it because he says it draws people in. Like hell." He chuckled deeply that made me shiver slightly. I dont think I've heard him laugh before.. aside from the menacing way he has. He secreted power in everything he did.. differently from Blake.

He held the door open for me as i stepped inside the dingy little dive bar.. pool tables in the back.. smoke wirling in the air.. and a long bar on the side wall, mountains of liquor bottles adorning the shelves, with a balding plump man working the counter... his backup was a boy at least seventeen.. my age. He was scurrying along behind the man.. jumping whenever he barked an order.

The lighting was dim.. those green lamps overhead that you see in that painting where the dogs are playing poker? Those 'tiffany' lamps were placed all around, allowing the dimness of the bar to achieve a sort of glow.

Conrad's tall muscled body moved ahead of me, his jeans tight with the way he walked and flannel shirt stretching over large arms.. his style seeming to go with the atmosphere.

I suddenly felt out of place as i glanced around with wide eyes. Men playing pool were eyeing me, saying things i could hear with my wolfs ear.. how they wanted me.

My forehead creased in anger but a low rumble.. a growl caught my attention. I snapped my head towards Conrad who was glaring at the men.. snarling at them. Instantly they nutted up and looked down, going back to their game of pool as if nothing had happened.

Dirty old men.

"Come on sidle up here and we'll have that drink Nova." Conrad (i so want to call him alcide its killing me) pulled out a high top bar stool for me and sat in the one next to it. My eyes lingered... noting how broad he was.. No one would mess with me with Conrad around..

Climbing up the seat, i made myself comfortable and peered at Conrad who always wore that blank mask.. as if he had trained all his life to do so.

A slow rythmic rock and roll song played in the background lightly. Nothing too overbearing. I knew it.. it was called simple man by lynyrd skynyrd.

"Nova, this here is shortie.. the fat one." His lips pulled up at the corners a little. My eyes went to the older short man who quickly defended himself.

"Conrad i told you i aint fat! There's extra to love, right darlin?" He grinned at me showing off a missing tooth as he winked.

Containing my laughter, i pressed my hand over my mouth as i nodded quickly, his grin beaming at me ten fold as he dried a beer mug with a clean towel. He took me seriously.

Conrad leaned over slightly, voice so deep. "And that kid over there is Bradley. He's Shortie's nephew." Nodding to Bradley who was a tall skinny thing.. not much weight on him at all but he had pretty eyes..

I nodded, flashing a smile at Bradley who stilled, flabbergasted a girl smiled at him, while Conrad and Shortie went back and forth with their insults.

"So what do you want?" Conrad turned to me, voice alto and gruff. My green eyes found his blue ones.. a dark midnight blue that seemed to remind me of a starry night.

"Ill just have a glass of moscato." I gave him a small smile, blushing slightly at my inexperience to alcohol.

His brows furrowed. "You cant drink your sorrows away with moscato " it was said as if it were an ugly word. My brow arched.

"Umm well i dont drink.. only once I've tried it and it was tequila.. and... i might be.. i dont know if i might be.. -" i bit my lip as i glanced down.

"Pregnant?" He rose a dark brow. Lifting my gaze, I sighed sadly, nodding my head as i found the wooden bar very interesting.

He seemed to think for a moment as i stayed focused on the old wooden bar, its polish flaking off.... names carved in it from many a years.

"Alright" he smacked the bar with a heavy hand. "im goin to order you a drink. You'll like it. Its that fruity shít girls love." He then leaned in to me "And you mated three days ago. It won't kill you to have a few drinks scouts honor. Its nothing but a bunch of cells right now if you are indeed pregnant. In a few weeks is when you really need to batton down the hatches." He chuckled, pulling away. "Shortie let me get a tall stella with a jack backer. Straight up. And.... uhh.. a surfer on acid. Drink.. not the shot." He called out to Shortie who nodded and winked, bustling to get the order ready.

I stared at the side of Conrad's face, unsure of what language he had just spoken.. "What did you even just say? And what's a surfer on acid???" My voice was low.

He grinned, flashing white teeth i hadn't seen very much.. His large frame seemed to dwarf the bar chair he sat on as his eyes found mine.. amused. "A stella is a beer. Stella Artois. And a jack backer... well a backer is a shot to go along with your order.. jack.. is well.. jack daniels. Its good. Whiskey is good for the soul." He seemed far away as he mulled something over in his mind.. eyes staring past me.

"And the surfer on acid?" I questioned with a lopsided smirk.

He switched his gaze at me, jolting out of his thoughts. "Ah. Thats Jägermeister and coconut rum mixed with pineapple juice. Most bartenders dont know what it is but i promise you'll love it. Comes in a shot or a drink. Sounds gross i know.. but its actually pretty good. Dont worry about it. You'll be fine." He nodded my way as I gave him a tight lipped smile.

(A/n: those of you older folks. Please go try a surfer on acid.. thank me later. Its one of my favs. No one knows how to make it anymore and i know it sounds disgusting and i hate jager but i swear it's the best drink ever. 1 shot of jager. 1 shot of coconut rum.. fill with pineapple juice. Try it im telling you!!!!

We sat in silence, my legs dangling off the end of the bar stool.. my mind wandering over the events that happened this evening..

I gave up on him..

My soul finally broke and i gave up. And rightfully so..

I can't be second best anymore.. i cant be the one there for everyone when no one is there for me. The moon may not like my decision and if she doesn't... she will put me on the path i need to be on. No one else has been there for me though.. besides Deacon.

Deacon.. he's always been there for me and i havent forgotten about him. I know he's doing better.. and soon he will be out of that cellar. I need to go to him soon. Not even my own brother can promise loyalty. I was still angry at him but i felt compelled to forgive him. He's battling with the feelings I had battled as well.

Drinks being sat on the table brought me out of my reverie, pushing thoughts out of my head as i kept my walls up so Zaryn couldn't get to me through the bond. I stared at the muddy colored drink in front of me.. tinged with yellow.

"Go on. Try it." Conrad nudged me.

I couldn't help but feel guilty.. if i was pregnant... it wouldn't harm the pup i know.. considering it just happened.. it wasnt even a pup yet.. but still .. i felt bad.. like a bad mother..

Conrad sighed loudly. "Hey. Its not gonna hurt you okay? Go on."

I sighed.. feeling myself smile as the adrenaline rush of being here with him in human territory ran through me. I could smell no other wolves.. just humans.

Lifting the glass to my lips, taking a sniff. It smelled good.. sweet. I took a tentative sip and was surprised when it didn't taste like complete ass!

My brows shot up as i glanced at Conrad who grinned in that 'told ya so' manner.

Three drinks later and the thoughts of the mate bond were long gone as we joked around with Shortie about his hair. He wanted to get some plugs so the women had something to run their hands through. Conrad snorted, beer coming out of his mouth as he laughed hard... a bellowing laugh that had me chortling with my own laughter. It felt good.

"Shortie i dont think that's going to help you out with the ladies." He chuckled.

Shortie harumphed. "What do you know ya big ape? First gal i ever seen you with is right here and i think she interested in me more than you. Aint ya sugar?" He winked again sending me his signature goofy grin.

I just laughed.. holding my stomach.

"See Shortie?" Conrad grinned. "She thinks the mere thought of that is just hilarious!" He chuckled.

It was... different.. being around humans. They were funny.. it was different seeing an Alpha male joke with another human.. i guess he felt comfortable not having to be in his Alpha role. It was clear Shortie was in charge here though. This was his turf.

Once Shortie had finally laughed off the jokes, he busied himself across the bar, away from our space. I leaned on the bar with my elbow, slumping into it as i smiled.. i had cut myself off after the third drink.. my head light and fuzzy. It felt nice to wash the sorrows away. I felt.. happy. No... content. Yeah. Content. My eyes roved over to Conrad who stared down at me with amusement. "Light weight." He chuckled for the millionth time as he threw a shot back, slamming it on the bar as he shook his head, swallowing.

"Whoo! Thats good stuff."

A giggle escaped my lips and he smiled at me..

"Conrad.. why did you bring me here? I mean.. i know why.. but why did you ask me to go with you?" I pondered that the whole night.

He sighed, taking peeks at me before finally turning to me. "I know you know my story.. well... Anita's story." He grumbled. " Zaryn confronted me about it.. letting me see what an awful witch of a wolf Anita really is." He glowered at her name.

"Yeah? And?"

"And.." he sighed. "Thats apart of my life i cant seem to ever forget.. Cilla i mean. My mate. You remind me of her." He peered up at me with glassy eyes, not from emotion but from the drinks. "The way you get angry.. the way you stand up for yourself. You even smile like she did.. and you resemble her somewhat.. its like im looking at her all over again. Your personality..everything." he ran a hand through his unruly hair.

I watched him.. curiosity etched on my face. I reminded him of his late mate?

"Cilla was a good woman. I was an idiot back when i was younger.. you might not know this.. not many do. But.. my father.. after he died i was sent to live with my dad's cousin.. my second cousin...  until i was of age to take over my father's pack. This pack. My fathers beta took charge in the meantime. The cousn i went to live with was the previous Alpha of Dark Moon... Maximus."

My brows rose and eyes widened. I felt tipsy but not enough to where i didnt know what he was talking about. Dark Moon was the most vicious pack out there. "But.. didnt Nyra and Penelope come from Dark Moon?"

He nodded, his large hsnds resting on the bar as he looked ahead, my eyes trained on the side of his face. "Nyra was my cousin too. Third cousin. I loved her. She was like a sister to me.. Penelope was her first cousin.. my second cousin."

I was having a hard time keeping up.

"I never knew Penelope growing up but Maximus.. the Alpha of Darkmoon then.. Nyra was his daughter. Maximus wanted everyone to fear him and his pack.. the rumors you hear.. they are true." He stared down into his glass. "He trains all his members in the art of war.. female and male alike.. if they choose it. And Mates.." he laughed sarcastically. "If anyone of his family members had a weak mate, he forced them to find another. He accepted Blake as Nyra's mate because he was a first born Alpha.. strong bloodlines. He also wanted a treaty with them. When Nyra died i was enraged.. she was close to me.. Maximus was torn up about it as well. He cared more about the treaty though. That's why he made Blake feel guilty over Nyra's death.. made him choose Penelope as his mate.. Penelope had denied her mate under Maximus orders though she didnt want to. He was a low ranking wolf and despite Penelopes refusal.. Maximus forced her to mate with Blake anyhow." He seemed saddened by this.

Turning to me, i sat still in my intoxicated haze, listening. "That wolf was my mate's brother. I never associated with Penelope but her mate was how i found my mate.. Maximus was big on bloodlines.. strong ones. The way he raised me.. he raised me to believe females were there for our producing of heirs.. not to love. He would cheat on his mate with any female, knowing she would feel the pain from the bond and i became the hard male he raised me to be as i grew.. following in his footsteps. He was a strict man" He laughed darkly, staring into the glass he held as he swirled the liquid.

"When i found my mate.. i was 17. I was just a pup. Thinking i was a hot shot. Maximus wanted me to reject her and find another but my father always told me you never reject the moons gifts so i went against him. I kept Cilla. But i was so awful to her. I stayed away from her.. told her she needed to train to become a warrior before i would mate her." He shook his head sadly. "I loved her.. yet i took other females to bed.. she would see and i would brush it off. i never marked Cilla because i didnt want her to feel the pain.. but if i didnt sleep around.. Maximus would call me soft.. force me to do things i didnt want to. I even went as low as taking Anita to me bed." he made a disgusted face. This story broke my heart.. here i thought he had always been heartless. His eyes never meeting mine as he continued.

"When Cilla's heat came.. she seduced me.. i was with her then.. and she became pregnant. I was 18 then. I never knew she and Ben had a relationship behind my back but i dont blame her... for how awful i was to her. I wanted her.. i just didnt want maximus to see me as weak.. to hold Cilla over my head. It was his choice to decide when I was ready to take over my father's pack afterall. But when Cilla got pregnant... i was overjoyed. I stopped sleeping around but Maximus said i was becoming soft.. dangled my title in the air.. saying he would rape Cilla if i didnt go back to my ways. He wanted me to be like him. so once Grace was born, i started sleeping around again." He looked down, shaking his head as a hand ran through his hair.

My heart pulled at the story he told me.. he was blackmaled with his rightful title to treat his own mate that way... he should have killed Maximus.

"What happened next?" I leaned forward, intrigued by his story. It seems everyone has a story..

He smiled at a memory. "Well i loved Grace. She was a sweet pup. Maximus hated the thought i didn't have a male considering i was Alpha. It happened but it was rare. I never thought much of it. Now it makes sense why my first born was female.. " he mused. "I was a good dad to Grace.. maximus kept dangling my title.. he had me by the balls. Then one day after a month of being back with Anita and others.. Cilla killed herself. I found her ... with Anita bent over her as she cried.. her wrists were slit.. there was so much blood." He whispered, eyes wide upon remembering the vision. "Thats when i became heartless. Truly heartless. I felt devastated.. Anita said it was my fault and it was. But it was hers too. I never knew Anita's plans of wanting to take Cillas place.. my mate killed herself because of me. I became depressed out of guilt from the way i treated her.. so i treated our daughter like a princess to make up for it , though I know it never would make up for the wrong that I did. I regret every day for not standing up to Maximus and loving my mate for the world to see." His voice soft.. cracking at the end.

He peered over at me, dark laughter reverberating from his chest. " Then I found out that our daughter isn't even mine!" He shook his head as he laughed. "The moon really has it out for me.. i snubbed my gift from her.. and now i have no one." Shrugging, he tipped back his glass and emptied his beer.. narrowing his eyes at me as he thought..

"I probably shouldn't have killed Ben. It hurt Grace. I was just so angry my best friend went behind my back with my mate. But... im being a hypocrite if i say that. Its just.... complicated." His tone changed to one of sorrow.. and i felt for him.

Licking my lips, i debated my next words. "But.. you rejected her. Why would you want her back? Just for an heir to your pack?" I rose a brow in curiosity.

He pursed his lips, his eyes moving to watch me. "At first I thought that way.. then i realized i owed it to Cilla to care for her. She may not be mine but she always thought she was. I was the only dad she knew. I can't be an asshole forever can I. But she denied me.. i was too harsh and shes hurt now. Shes really not a bad female... i just... i just lost it. But she is choosing to stay with your pack. She wants to be with Nic. Her true mate."

I felt my wolf bristle.. neither one of us liked these words.

My brows furrowed as i watched him down another shot.. "but you wanted me to mate with Zaryn.. Anita.. she did too. She's been working this entire time to fool you so you wouldn't know about Ben being her dad. Now im mated to Zaryn but shes carrying his pup! You know i can't be with him now and how is she going to be with my brother when he's Alpha.. i wont let her do that. She may not be a bad female in your eyes but shes done some horrible things.." I shook my head, my eyes becoming glassy from emotion.

He eyed me. "That pup in her belly will be a problem for an Alpha blood. If it lives. I see your side... you feel betrayed. I heard about what Anita did.. trapping you in that cave with him. If you truly want away from him, i have a proposition for you then. One i have thought about for a while.. when i asked Grace to come back with me and she refused... i thought..."

Frowning, "yes?"

His eyes swept my face before landing on my stomach. "What if i offer for you to come back with me. To be my Luna. If you are pregnant... the pup will have Alpha blood despite not being first born blood. I will grant him right over my pack. My heir. If you truly want to leave Zaryn. Its up to you how you want the details to work if you decide.. you dont have to be my Luna in anything other than name alone. We wouldn't have to share a bed... Nova im getting older. You remind me so much of Cilla.. and if Grace wont let me make amends.. id rather give all my properties to you and your pup. Its my fault you're in this mess.. say yes and ill make it happen. All i ask for is your company." His midnight blue orbs focused on mine as i shifted on my seat.. wide eyed.

Did he just ask me that? Propose i leave with him!?

He would make me Luna and give my supposed pup rights?

The bond was vibrating painfully as i even thought about it...

"What if im not even pregnant? I don't know for sure..." i replied skeptically.. waiting for his reaction.

He shrugged. "I could give you a son."

I sighed. "Conrad.. im not interested in titles and-"

"I know you arent." He took my hands in his. "And i know you are marked and can bear no other mark. I wouldn't need to mark you.. i would just need to put a pup in you. Once. If that's all .. just one time.. then so be it. I need an heir Nova and you'd make a strong Luna.. you're a fierce savage underneath that pretty face and lithe body. You have been hurt time and time again and its changed the person you once were. I can sense that. Im not asking you to run away with me and be my lover. Im making you a proposition. A business deal. I know you're young but that's what i need. I have no one to give my land to.. no one to take over the pack. And if were being honest.. you havent started bleeding yet...that's usually a sign you are in fact pregnant already." My lips parted as he spoke matter of factly. Surprise and fear in my eyes.

I couldn't be with him to procreate.. zaryn would know. I couldn't do that. But pregnant? Could i truly be pregnant?

"Conrad..." i glanced around unsure as i took my hands out of his large ones. My wolf not liking this conversation, she bristled. He chuckled lowly.

"Your wolf doesnt like this. I get it. You dont have to answer now. Just think about it." He smiled slightly, finishing off his last glass before looking at his watch.

"Well. Come on. We're gonna miss the show." He smacked his lips, getting up from his barstool.

I frowned at him, confused. "What show?"

A glint of satisfaction in his eye as he turned to me, slamming a few large notes on the bar. "Why, The prisoners punishments of course. Didn't you hear? Tonight is Anita's sentencing.. we all decided she be burned at the stake.. a true death for a witch." He chuckled, seeming happy at the thought as he turned, walking toward the door.

Getting out of my seat, i scurried after him. "What about Deacon!?" My voice was filled with fear.

He peered at me as we walked toward his truck in the chilly night air. "He is being sentenced tonight as well. But not with death. I believe i heard he is going to be in the cellar a while before they collar him in wolf form to the dog house." He told me, non chalantly as he opened the passenger door for me.

I paled..

I waited too long to put my plan in motion but i still have time if be will be in there for a while.i have been so wrapped up in my own world that i completely put him on the back burner, knowing he's suffering. Climbing in the cab, i hung my head in shame..

The bond had twisted in my gut so many times tonight.. my wolf angry at the thoughts formulating in my mind. She wanted her mate.. she just wanted to take out the pup and Grace along with it.. she was becoming more and more agressive.

I couldn't let that happen. I needed to get Deacon to safety and get out of here before something bad happened. I had hears rumors there were challenges going to be insinuated against him once his punishment was up..

Glancing down at my belly, i prayed to the moon that i wasnt pregnant. Zaryn would try to stop me from whatever i planned if i was.

A burst of cool air entered the cab as Conrad climbed in, his large towering form sliding in without trouble as he started the ignition, his handsome face directing towards me.

"I really hope you consider my offer. If its your wolf you're worried about.. communicate with her that i have miles and miles of land that she would be able to control.. by my side " he smirked.

My wolf lifted her head at this.. her eyes greedy with the offer of controlling vast amounts of land.

He laughed lowly. "I told you that you were Luna material. Even your wolf is intrigued by power."

Is he right?

Would this be the best decision?

Or would it be a horrible mistake?

For now all i could think about was the pleasure i would receive when I watched Anita go up and flames soon.

I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that my best friend would be on the stage as well, being sentenced. No one has put any effort into clearing his name, knowing that Anita was responsible for the things that he did. Not even his own father...

Maybe Luna Penelope would help me out on that one...

She loves Deacon. She wouldn't let him go down like this.

As we drove, i pushed all thoughts of Zaryn out of my mind.. the alcohol helping me numb the pain from the empty hole in my chest as i formulated a plan of action.

Dun dun dun!

(Keep scrolling for a/n)

OOhmygosh hes sexy. Like fr ba3

I know i told you guys i was ending at ch.50 but with new additions to my plans.. it may be ch.60 😑 theres no way i could make these chapters long enough without my fingers falling off since i try to update daily!

Also.. what do you think about Conrad's proposal!? Some of you nailed it! But think of Nova.. do you think she will take it? We are seeing that fora 17 year old, she has grown into a bright and widely loved wolf. Even Conrad opened up to her.

What do you all think of Conrad now after hearing his side of the story?

And she hasnt forgttrn ab Deacon. He was supposed to be the main part of this svene but i wanted to do a scene in a bar off the pack lands bc it seems to get boring staying on pack lands all the time!

Also.. i thank u guy for your interest in my story! So much! But no im not changing the plot i have in my mind.. its been carefully thought out and events that happen are things that need to happen in order for me to get to those plot endings!!

The book ends really well. No this isnt a book where nova ends up an alpha and alone. The Moon's will is whats guiding everyone. The moon will have what she wants. She wants justice served.. that's the main thing. Nova is strong.. but no an alpha.

And im sorry to say she is going to be independent but not forever. Our hearts always swell for someone eventually.

Not to worry.

Every character you hate.. will redeem themselves. Even Grace. But will Grace get what she wants? I dont know about that one.. the moon is serving up justice.. and she wants her justice served right.

And wow i just tasted a sesame seed flavor in my mouth. Weird.

Until the next chapter!

Xoxo Chilee

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