Her Forbidden Alpha Mates

Chapter Eight--A Song for You

---Kira---

I trailed behind Maximus as we made our way upstairs to the corridor where, I discovered, we were neighbors. I had no idea that their rooms were so close to mine, but Maximus explained that my placement had been arranged by his father in hopes of a quicker connection. It seemed like a modest way of saying that he hoped we would get it over with and f**k. I didn't say that to Maximus, of course. We were all too hot-blooded for that.

Maximus had visibly relaxed as we walked down the corridor to a partially open door across the hall and to the left of my own.

"This is Jax's room," He told me as he pushed the door open and gestured for me to go first.

When I entered, I was surprised to find such a dark space: the walls were painted black which seemed to make the hardwood floors gleam even more, but the many artworks and musical group posters that covered his wall offset what would otherwise be a dull decorative taste; his duvet was the same inky shade as the walls, but what made me almost laugh was the full-size fish body pillow lying across the bed itself. An image of Jaxon cuddled around the fish pillow flashed through my mind and I almost let out a giggle.

Although I'd contained the giggle, I hadn't concealed the smile. "Are you feeling better?" Daxiel asked, the hope evident in his tone. I had sensed him, but didn't noticed that he was leaning on the wall next to the door.

"I'm feeling..." I glanced around the room as I searched for the words, refusing to meet any of the three pairs of eyes that watched me with such intensity. I chose a spot above Jaxon's cross-legged seat on the bed and fixed my eyes on it, "...fairly powerless if I'm being honest."

The confession relaxed something in my spine and I felt my shoulders lengthen from their tight coil. I hadn't realized the tension I'd been carrying in those muscles.

Jaxon leaned back on his arms; his already broad chest seemed to expand, and the muscles beneath his shirt defined.

"We talked about it through mind-link when Alazar was telling you the new plans for Black Wind," He began, "and we want you to know that we have no intention of taking over your pack. If anything, we would plan to merge and rule them together as equal mates. You have Alpha blood."

"And," Started Maximus, "your father can't possibly hold the claim for as long as it would take for a new son to come of age. Someone from your own pack will either challenge him, or we will." He growled the last word and I shuddered as I considered what that meant. A challenge would have one of two outcomes: father would have to submit, or he would be killed. I couldn't picture a scenario where he would submit.

Daxiel pulled a chair from the desk to his left and gestured for me to sit down. I did so, and Maximus closed the door before joining Jaxon on the bed. One long leg lazily fell over the side of the bed while the other drew up, and he leaned himself back against the headboard. The position seemed so effortless, so comfortable. I couldn't place it, but it was as if he had full comand of his body and his comfort. I shook my head again, realizing I was in the lion's den.

"I just don't understand. I'm trying to relax some of this animosity, believe me. You all said something that made sense to me: you were only thirteen when the war took place. I'm trying to remind myself that you weren't there fighting, and Maximus was also right--the Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. But, I fail to see what her plan is for me. I...I don't think I can trust you because I can't trust your father. Your allegiance is to him."

Daxiel settled himself on the floor and looked up at me with baleful eyes.

"What would it take for you to trust us? To believe that we only want what's best for the four of us? Our father has nothing to do with this connection. We only want you."

My breath caught again.

My heart hammered against my sternum threatening to crack right through the bone.

Just try, Osseya pleaded. What can it hurt? You can't go back home. You can't do anything from here without the protection of your pack. Their wolves are sincere. Just give them a chance.

- - - Maximus - - -

It was impossible to rationalize the lying. There was no way that we could tell her the truth; it would seal the deal. She couldn't technically reject us without our acceptance, but how could we refuse her if she truly wanted it? Her acceptance would be based on a lie--one that would eventually come to light. I wondered what, exactly, Alazar Cain had told Alpha Kross. How long could we hold him off? I couldn't imagine he would drop the issue of his missing daughter, but Father seemed certain that we could keep her contained until she was marked and mated. I just didn't know if I could be contained.

I sat on the bed next to Jaxon and watched her in the desk chair. She had changed so much in only five days' time. Her fiesty spirit had diminished since she'd been made prisoner here and, in her mind, temporarily shunned and permanently replaced by her own pack. She didn't carry herself with the same confidence and grace. She seemed...defeated. My heart broke for her; it was wrong, what we were doing. She deserved so much more; she deserved everything. She was a future Alpha, but here she was like some prisoner of war.

As if sensing my thoughts, Jaxon mind-linked me. Keep it together. If we tell her now, it's over.

Fuck, I know. I mind-linked both of them: Isn't this painful for you both? I'm in agony. Look at her! She's practically shrinking.

Dax leaned his head back.

"Hey what if we sing a song for you?" He perked up at his own suggestion. The corners of Kira's lips turned up in what I could only read as the beginning of a smile.

"I don't know..." She said slowly, but the hint of smile was still there.

"Guys," Dax said as he straightened up, "Kira told me that she loves to sing. So, why don't we sing something for her and, if we're lucky, maybe she'll join in?"

Way to go, brother, Jax said over mind-link.

I nodded. "Let's give it a go."

"I'll get my guitar," Jax said. He slid off the bed to pull his guitar off the mount on the wall. As he settled the strap over his shoulder, he looked at Kira. "Do you have a special request? Perhaps a pack song rendition you'd like to hear?"

Kira blushed. "Um, my mother always like to sing Beneath the Shadow of the Blood Moon."

Jax's eyes lit up; that was one of his favorites.

"Okay, one, two, one, two, three..."

Kira's face as we sang seemed to pass through various stages. The first stanza sang the song of a young woman running out by herself under the Blood Moon. Her pack had been brutalized and destroyed, but she had survived, and vowed that her pack would survive through her. She wanders through the night, broken and howling to the Moon Goddess for a sign of what to do. Her eyes seemed to stare into some far-off place where we could not go. My heart ached for her as I realized she was likely thinking of her mother singing the song to her, with her, or both.

We harmonized during the chorus which seemed to bring her from her reverie.

Beneath the shadow of the blood moon

That's where one and one became two

Beneath the shadow of the blood moon

'Twas where I found my strength in you

Give up your heart to the blood moon

The Goddess blessed me; it's true

I could sense the emotions battling each other within her; she wanted to give up her control, but she still fought so hard against it. Rhyel had told me that Osseya, her she-wolf, wanted them just as badly as our wolves wanted her. If we could just break through the barrier.

The second stanza began and we sang of the black wolf that appeared from the cover of the trees to approach the lonely she-wolf beneath the shadow of the blood moon. Aware of a strong mate bond, the two thank the Moon Goddess for giving them this gift in the wake of such tragedy. We began the chorus again, and Kira started to cry.

"Please stop," She begged as she sobbed into her hands.

"Kira--"

"No, I'm--I'm sorry. This is not who I am. I am not weak. I don't even feel like myself anymore. Without my pack, without my purpose I don't even know what to do. And that song? My mother sang it to me often, but hearing it come from you it...it confuses me. I'm reminded that she's dead because of this pack, but when I hear you sing together I...I...I just can't take it. I want..." She broke into her sobs. Daxiel, closest to her, inched over and rose to his knees. Slowly, he reached his arms around her. Jealousy stabbed through my heart, but there was also relief in that she was not suffering alone.

To our surprise, she wrapped her arms around Dax and clung to him as her small frame shook with her sobs.

"Shh," Dax whispered into her hair. She nuzzled his neck further and, to our surprise, pulled away to look him in the eyes with tears streaming down her face. Before Dax had time to speak, she pressed her lips to his and her fingers into the skin of his shoulders--a low moan escaping from her throat.