Moon God Mates 2

Chapter 6

Luke's POV:

I rub my wrists as I sit on the bed in the Alpha’s quarters. The wounds are finally starting to close up, but they still burn. When I lay back, the gashes on my back scream at me, reminding me I’m far from healed. I need a shower. I need sleep.

But more than anything, I crave that feeling from my dreams. The deep red that’s become my new favorite color. It’s pathetic, how badly I want it. It’s the only place I feel alive anymore.

A knock pulls me out of it, yanking me back into this shitty reality I’m forced to live in.

Before I can say anything, a young she-wolf pokes her head through the door.

“Alpha Ryker? It’s nice to finally meet you, sir.” She bows, and the sight turns my stomach. No one should be bowing to me.

I push myself upright and study her. She can’t be older than sixteen. Thin, with long brown hair cascading down her back. When her orange eyes meet mine, she flinches. There’s something broken in them. The bruises on her arm tell me exactly what kind of life she’s been living.

I hate this pack already. Who the hell am I kidding? I’ve always hated this pack.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Kim—Kimberly.” Her eyes drop to the floor, her voice so small I barely catch it. I pity her, but I can’t afford to trust anyone.

“Why have you come, Kimberly?”

“B-Beta Declan sent a suit for you. He said you must be ready by eight.” Her voice quivers, terrified of being punished just for speaking.

“Set it over there,” I nod toward the oak wardrobe. I’m not ready to play their games, but Declan’s got me by the throat. I’ve got no choice. Not with what he’s holding over me.

He knows exactly how to control me—pain is one thing, but threatening what I love most? That’s the real torture. That’s what makes me bend. But one day I’ll end this. I swear on my life.

Kimberly still stands there, fidgeting. “What is it now?” My voice comes out harsher than I meant, and she flinches. f**k.

“I am to help you get ready, sir.” Her eyes stay glued to the ground.

“Help me? How the hell are you supposed to help me?”

“Any way you need, Alpha.” She finally looks up, and there it is—pure fear. She’s just a kid, terrified, fragile, and already ruined by this place.

Rage coils in my gut. I want to kill every last person who’s ever laid a hand on her. Or anyone else like her. The Blue Blood Pack is rotted to its core.

Before I realize it, she’s lifting my shirt over my head. Her hands tremble so badly it nearly falls from her grip. Then she leans in and plants a soft, wet kiss on my chest. Tears drip down her cheeks.

What the hell is she doing?

“Hey.” I grab her wrists and force her to look at me. “You don’t have to do that.”

“No, Alpha,” she whimpers, trying to choke back a sob. “I can do better. Please—I can do this.” Her hands drift toward me again.

“Stop.” I jerk back, putting distance between us.

“I’m sorry!” she cries, dropping to her knees. “I’m sorry, Alpha, please!” Her hands cover her face as sobs wrack her tiny frame. “Please, Alpha, please.”

“Stop calling me Alpha!” I pace the room, hands on my head like that’ll help the storm raging inside it.

When I look back, she’s huddled on the floor, shaking. So small. So damn breakable.

“Kimberly?” I kneel down carefully, trying not to scare her. “Do you have a phone?”

She peeks up, confused. “N-no, Al—sir. But I can get one.”

“Good. Bring it to me.”

She jumps up and bolts from the room. Part of me wants to run after her, to promise she’ll never have to do this s**t again. But I can’t even save myself. There’s no point dragging someone else into this hell with me.

I drag myself into the shower. Hot water pelts my wounds, and I grit my teeth. When I finally step out, I catch my reflection in the mirror. When did I become this? When did I start caring so damn much about people who aren’t me?

This morning changed something. Midnight hit, and suddenly I had to be better. Like there was someone else in it with me, pushing me forward. For once, I don’t feel completely alone. And I know it’s because of the red.

I close my eyes, letting it fill me. Letting it steady me.

A knock makes my jaw tighten. “Son?” My father’s voice grates on every nerve. “I’ve set out a few ties. We must leave soon.”

I step into the bedroom in just a towel, ignoring him. I grab the navy suit laid out for me and shove past him into the bathroom again.

“Son, please listen—”

I shove back out, brushing by him. Ready to slam the door on everything he is.

“For what it’s worth,” he says, voice low, “thank you for doing this. Your mother would’ve been proud.”

That stops me cold. The door hangs half-closed between us. Proud? The rage explodes.

“Yeah? Proud?” I shove it open and tower over him. “How do you think she’d feel about your betrayal? How the hell did we end up here? Wasn’t it your job to protect her?”

He looks away. Coward.

I breathe through the fury, knowing I could kill him right now. He’s lucky I haven’t already. I turn away and slam the door so hard the frame rattles.

Staring at myself in the mirror again, I hate the man looking back. I grab the clippers off the counter and start buzzing. Hair falls in chunks. Maybe if I change the outside, the inside won’t hurt so much.

When I finally walk out, the room’s empty. Three ties sit neatly on the bed. My eyes lock on the deep red one. Without a second thought, I put it on. It feels like armor.

I stand in front of the mirror, adjusted tie knotted at my throat. I don’t recognize this man. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see my son again after this. Or if it would even be right to be in his life. My life’s a joke. I’ve just agreed to be Declan’s puppet Alpha.

“What have you become, Luke?” I whisper to the stranger in the glass.

“I thought you’d clean up better.” Declan’s voice slithers in from the doorway.

I turn, glaring at him.

He tosses me my phone. I catch it out of reflex. “Next time, ask. Don’t get my sister in more trouble than she’s already in.”

His sister? Of course. Same brown waves, same orange eyes. Only softer on her. Kinder.

“Make your call. But don’t try anything stupid.” His eyes harden. “Or you know who pays down in the dungeons. Be quick—we have a ball to crash.”

Then he’s gone.

I sit on the edge of the bed, phone heavy in my palm, and take a deep breath. About to call the only man left on this earth I’d trust with my life. The one man I never thought I’d come to respect this much.