The Forbidden Child - Alpha’s Lost Luna

Chapter 4

***Kai***

When we arrived at Roads End the parking lot was already filling up, but there just so happened to be a spot right next to Jane's Mustang Shelby. I pulled my black Porsche into the spot to the left of her car and found El sitting on the hood. She jumped off as I turned the engine off and made her way to the back of the car as I popped the trunk. Jeff and Melanie and I piled out of the car and met El at the back. El was reaching into the trunk to pull out a bag when I reached for her arm to pull her aside and talk to her.

“Why are you up here? Is she okay? Shouldn’t you be keeping an eye on her?” I asked frantically. I could feel Ghost pacing back and forth in my mind, whining. He was worried too.

“Relax Alpha. She’s fine. She hasn’t shown any symptoms of concussion in more than an hour. She’s taking it easy and just soaking up some sun on the beach. In fact, I think she may have fallen asleep. I went for a walk earlier and when I came back, she was as quiet as a mouse. The reason I’m up here is because I got a text from Melanie that you guys would be here in a few and I thought you could use some help.” El explained.

“You left her alone while she was sleeping! What if someone tries to hurt her while she is out! You shouldn't have left her!” I was getting angry. I couldn’t find my mate just to lose her before I even got to know her. Usually my anger directed at someone in my pack would have them whimpering before me with my Alpha aura overcoming them. But El was not only not technically part of my pack, but she wasn’t a shifter either.

Her sister was though, as she had been turned into a werewolf shortly after finding her mate Jeff. She had the option as a human mated to a shifter to be turned into one of us, and she took it. And she and Jeff were currently bowing their heads to me and shaking from the power of my aura. I reigned in my power and forced myself to calm down.

El turned to Jeff and Melanie and asked “What’s his problem?”

“He just found his mate, guess who.” Jeff answered.

El’s eyes turned as big as a full moon and stared at me. “No! It can’t be! But she doesn’t even know anything about your world! Why would she be your mate! You must be wrong.”

“I’m not wrong, all the signs are there, and Ghost already called her his mate. Why do you seem so against this?” I asked.

“Because she’s been through enough already. Can’t you find some other mate?” El pleaded with me.

“What do you mean she’s already been through enough?” Has my mate had a troubled past?

“Well, I don’t actually know that much. Jane is pretty tight-lipped about her personal life. But I have heard a few things from her guardian. I think something happened to her when she was a kid, and whatever it was, really messed her up. Amy said she never really had any friends back where they lived before and she was hoping she might make some new ones here. You know, new place, fresh start and all. I’ve been trying to let her open up at her own pace, and not scare her off. You know my history, I could use a friend too.” El said while looking down at her feet.

I felt bad for the kid. The girls' mom died when they were little and their dad was a deadbeat drunk. El never had many friends because the other kids looked down on her for her situation. It’s why she was always hanging out with her sister, and welcomed onto pack grounds anytime she needed. But with Melanie and Jeff being mated, she practically lost her only friend the day they first met.

Melanie looked at her little sister with sadness. “Oh El, you know you could come live with us right. Alpha Kai already approved it.” She looked at me for confirmation.

“She’s right El, you are always welcome in my pack, anytime. Just say the word and I’ll have a room made up for you.”

She sighed and looked away. “I know, but I don’t want to leave dad all alone. And the rez clinic is closer to home than Boulder Creek. Besides, I’d feel like an outsider there. You're all shifters while I'm not. It would be just another palace I wouldn’t fit in. But I feel like with Jane I am building a place, and like we fit. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I like her and don’t want to lose her friendship. I’m not sure how she would take the knowledge of this world, it might scare her off. So please, if it is possible, could you just not be her mate?” She begged me.

“El, I’m sure you know from your sister that we don’t choose our fated mates. The goddess Selene does. But I would never dream of taking a friend away from my mate, or from you. But I will not refuse my mate based on your fears she may be scared off. If the goddess has seen fit to pair us there must be a reason, and I’m going to trust in it. Besides, you don’t know what rejecting her would do to her, or to me for that matter. So for now, how about we just go down to the beach and join her.”

I don’t think I have ever seen El ask for something like this before. She must really care about Jane. That and I think the emotional damage done by her childhood is worse than I realized. I might need to talk to Melanie about it later.

“Okay, but can you maybe not talk to her about your shifter side just yet? Just get to know her a little first. Take your time?” She looked at me hopeful. I would have done that anyway. Seeing as how she was human and knew nothing of our world. I wouldn’t want to scare her off before I even had a chance to say hello.

“Of course Eliana. Now, everyone grab a bag and let's head down. Since it seems she may still be sleeping. Let’s set up the volleyball net a little ways away to not bother her and play a game while we wait for her to wake up.”

“Sounds good to me Kai. Want to grab the cooler and food too? Or leave it here.” Jeff asked.

“Bring it all. Just make sure not to wake Jane when you put it by our spot.”

We all walked down the pathway together with El leading the way. But it wasn’t long before I found myself in front of her with my pace quickening in anticipation of seeing Jane again. The pull to be near her was stronger than before. Soon I found myself standing a few feet away from her and inhaling the delicious vanilla brown sugar and woodsy scent. I looked upon my beautiful mate, laying there soaking up the sun. Her pink tropical flower bikini in full view on her toned body. I had to hold my breath and calm Ghost down as he kept jumping at the bit to mark her now. Mate! Mate! Must mark mate! Take her now and mark her! “Not the time Ghost! You want to scare her off?” But we need to protect her with our mark! “What do you mean protect her? What does she need protection from?” But Ghost went silent after that.

I sighed internally after that and went to set up the volleyball net. As much as I hated walking away from my mate laying there so peacefully, I also didn’t want to wake her, yet anyway. So a game of volleyball was as good of a distraction as anything else.

I watched as Jeff took the cooler and the bags from the girls and stealthily put them over by Jane. She didn’t even flinch. I smiled at that. Jeff was also one of the most sneaky wolves in the pack. Deadly silent even. I thought about playing girls against boys, but the girls thought we would have an unfair advantage. I mean they're not wrong. So the couple were paired up together while El and I took the other side.

We played for probably half an hour when I noticed a change in Jane's breathing. I didn't even realize I had been paying close enough attention to her that I would notice such a subtle change, but I did. I almost missed a pass by El when Jane started to sit up. And then I did miss my turn and Jeff and Melanie got a point because of it. I looked over at El and she had an annoyed look on her face. Ooops.

“Sorry El, looks like Jane is up, maybe you two want to switch?” I asked hopefully. El rolled her eyes at me.

“One more turn then I’ll think about it. But make it a good turn.” She said while looking pointedly at me.

“Alright, deal.”

The other team served and we volleyed the ball back and forth for a while. I could feel Jane's eyes on me and it distracted me enough that I almost missed the ball and had to dive to keep it from making a point. El bounced it back in the air and I jumped up really quick and was able to spike the ball down to the other side of the net. El got all excited and came over to high five me. “Alright, you win. I’ll go get her.” El said with resignation.

“Thank you.” I told her with a smile.

El turned to her sister and Jeff and called a time out. Then motioned to Jane to come over. I watched and Jane stood up from her towel and met El halfway between us. El wrapped her arm in Janes and guided her the rest of the way towards us. Even though they were still a fair distance from us, I could hear every word they said like they were right next to me. . .

“Hey sleepy head, I want you to come meet my friends!” El said.

“Was I asleep long?”

“Nah, maybe an hour or so. You are looking a little red though.” El looked Jane over. “You might want to put some more sunscreen on that.” Hmmmm, maybe I could offer to do that for her.

“I have more sunblock in my bag. I’ll go use it in a bit.”

“Good, well, let me introduce you to everyone. Hey guys! Come here!” She yelled at the group. Jeff, Melanie and I walked over closer to where El and Jane were to meet up with her.

“Jane, this is my sister Melanie, and her ma. . um boyfriend Jeff.” Well that was close. And here she was asking me not to share about my world. She might blow it before I do.

“And this is Ikaika.” Jane turned to me and the most beautiful smile spread across her face. I thought my heart would stop. Then she reached her hand out to me. I held her hand in mine and the sparks felt stronger than they did earlier this morning. Her touch sent a feeling in me of being home. She was my home. I heard a small gasp come from her lips when our skin touched. Could she be feeling the bond? I didn't think humans could feel it like we did. I’ll have to talk to Melanie about that later too. I have a feeling it’s going to be rather helpful having my betas mate be a former human.

“It’s nice to meet you, officially. Please, call me Kai.” I smiled at her and could hear her heartbeat pick up a pace.

“Jane,” She replied. I grudgingly let go of her hand and took a step away from her, and could tell her heart rate had returned to a normal pace. Interesting.

“El, did you still want to take a break? Maybe Jane here would like to take your place in the game?” I nudged El. Take the hint girl.

Jane's head whipped over to look at El quicker than I would have thought possible. She then grabbed El and walked a little way from us, probably thinking we wouldn’t be able to hear what she said from that distance.

“El, no! I’m not very good! I’ll just make your friends mad.” She was worried about making us mad? I don’t think I could ever be mad at her.

“Oh I’m sure you're not that bad. Besides, I thought Amy said you were into sports?”

“Well yea, but like swimming, track and field. Not something where I actually have to work with other people!” Jane complained. She was a swimmer, I could work with that. I could also help her with working with other people.

El burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard that she was bent over and holding her sides. I didn’t see what was so funny about it. “Hilarious, I know. Fine, I’ll go play for you. But you're going to regret it. Just wait, you might still have to take someone to see Amy, only it won't be me.”

“I think Kai can take it, no one can push him around. And you’ll be fine! Besides, Amy said you needed to make friends, so here is your opportunity!” That’s right, Jane can push me all she wants, and I’ll be her best friend.

“Are you kidding me? She said that!” El nodded her head. I guess Jane didn’t like that.

“Yea, well see about that. No one has survived the Jane train yet.” She muttered under her breath. Jeff snickered at that. Trying to hold back his laughter. I mind linked him.

“Shut up Jeff! She seems to be self-conscious enough already. Take it easy on her.”

“Yes Alpha. But come on, the Jane train?!?!?! That was golden!!!”

“Ugggg, FINE! Go rest your pretty self and watch the train wreck that is about to happen. Hope you enjoy the show!” Jane yelled at El as she jogged over to us. She came to my side of the net and picked up the volleyball. “So, looks like you have a new player! Whose turn is it to serve?” She asked as she tossed the ball from one hand to the other.

“You can serve if you like. It’s just a friendly game, we can take it easy on you.” I said. She seemed to freeze for a moment as I smiled at her.

“I think you might need to worry more about yourself handsome. I might just run that pretty face of yours into the ground.” She thinks I’m handsome huh. I like that.

“You might try gorgeous, but don’t worry, I’ll never let you fall.” In fact, I might try to trip her up again just to get my arms around her once more. But she’ll never get hurt when she’s with me.

She walked over to the corner and got in position to serve. Tossing the ball up in the air, she made her first shot. I must say, this game just got a lot more interesting.