Born in Fire

Chapter Four

*Caspian*

            I left Kalama to her breakfast, hoping she would eat as much as she could. She was unhealthy thin but looked refreshed after her shower. I headed down the stairs to my office. John and Neal were already there waiting. They both stood as I came in. “Alpha, how is Luna doing?” asked John. John was third generation Beta. His father had been Beta to my father and his father to my grandfather. We had also grown up together as pups. John was large for a wolf. His dark brown hair was long and usually kept in a loose ponytail and his brown eyes were full of concern for his Luna. I gestured for them both to sit, as I walked behind my desk and sat.

            “Kalama is doing okay. She’s upstairs eating at the moment.” They both relaxed a little more.

            “So, what’s going on?” Neal asked. Neal was the youngest Gamma the Green Gove Pack has had, taking the position at just eighteen years old after the previous Gamma, his father, died. It’s only been two years since, but in those two years Neal had more then proven himself. Neal was smaller than me, at just 6 feet tall. He kept his blonde hair short and his cool grey eyes were always on the alert. He was two years younger then John and I, but he was always at our heels as pups, wanting to do everything we did. At first, it had been annoying, but after a while we let him tag along with us. I released a breath,

            “My mate has been hurt by another.” Deep growls erupted from their throats and I could see the anger for the responsible person in their eyes. This is what made them good second and third-in-commands. Despite that they hadn’t actually met Kalama, she was their Luna and they would protect her.

            “Do you know who?” asked John. I frowned,

            “I only know the first name, Evan. However, I have no doubt that we can track him down. Considering the condition Kalama is in, I don’t think she could have gone very far, so let’s start with packs that neighbor our lands.” They both nodded,

            “What do you want done once we find this Evan?” Neal asked, although a knowing gleam had sparked in his eye.

            “I want him brought back here…alive.”

            “So, we can rip him apart piece by piece.” Bay finished my thought. John and Neal simply nodded and stood, eager to begin their hunt.

            “Anything else, Alpha?”

            “Yes, John, I would like it if Julie could speak to Kalama. It may be nice for her talk to another female.” John smiled, his eyes glazing over as he mind-linked his mate. Julie came to us three years ago as an arranged marriage for myself, by the Alpha of Crescent Wolf Pack. She had just turned eighteen and came with a willingness to prove herself as a Luna. It had come as a complete shock to everyone, expect to me and Bay, when John raced forward announcing her as his mate. Her father had not been happy that his daughter went to a Beta instead of the Alpha she had been promised. However, no one can go against the mate bond set by the Moon Goddess, even an Alpha. John and Julie had been inseparable ever since and now have two little girls.

            “Julie would love to speak to our Luna.” I nodded my thanks, dismissing them. The door closed behind them and I let out a frustrated breath, hoping Julie would be able to get something out of Kalama.

            “Patience.” Bay whispered in my head. I growled,

            “How can I be patent? The faster I discover who this Evan is, the faster I can kill him.” My anger boiled over and suddenly, the overwhelming feeling of fear hit me, making me double over…Kalama.

*Kalama*

            I had just finished eating when I heard a knock on the bedroom door. My stomach tightened, was Caspian coming to punish me for last night? For not satisfying the needs he clearly had or perhaps for being an intruder on his land? Ash growled at me. I snarled back, if that was what he wanted to do, this time I would put up a fight. He would not break me like Evan did. I steeled my emotions, looking at the door. “Come in.” It came out as a squeak, as though I were a mouse. The knock came again. I cleared my throat, speaking clearer. “Come in.” The door slowly opened, revealing, to my surprise, a she-wolf and two pups. The she-wolf was tall and thin, but lean with muscle. Her long, light-brown hair framed her heart-shaped face and her caramel eyes shone with the smile on her full lips. The little girl in her arms smiled at me. She had the same light-brown hair as her mother, that was held back with a pink bow. Her dark eyes shone with her delight as she sucked on one of her fists. I peeked around the she-wolf’s leg, to which the other child was attached, another girl. She too, had her mother’s hair color and heart-shaped face. Her eyes however, reminded me of the intense, brown eyes of the large dark brown wolf I had encountered yesterday. I guessed her to be around two years old. The she-wolf came over, holding her free hand out for me to shake. I stood, hesitating for a moment, before taking it.

            “Hello, Luna. My name is Julie. I hope we didn’t interrupt your meal.” I shook my head.

            “No. It’s fine. Would you like to sit?” Julie smiled, taking the chair next to me and placing the baby on her lap. I looked at the older girl, who had placed herself on the other side of Julie, furthest away from me. I smiled at her. “And who might you be little one?” She did not say anything for a moment. Her dark eyes glazed over, no doubt talking to Julie through their mind-link. Her eyes unglazed as she said,

“Miley, Luna.” I smiled.

“What a pretty name, for such a pretty girl.” Miley grinned at me, settling herself at my feet and looked up at the television. The baby giggled, reaching her chubby little arms out to me. I smiled at her, looking at Julie. “May I?”

“Of course, Luna.” Julie said, handing me the baby, who smiled and bounced happily in my arms.

“Please, call me Kalama. And who might you be?” I asked the baby. Miley laughed,

“Grace can’t talk.” Miley’s laughter quickly quieted with a growl from Julie.

“Do not disrespect your Luna with that tone.” Julie looked at me, pain in her eyes. “I apologize Luna, do you wish her punished?” I looked at Julie, horrified. Punish a two-year-old? Ash spoke up,

“Even the youngest of pups need to know their place.”

“I suppose, but still…?” I said back. I looked back at Julie, who seemed on the verge of tears. I shook my head, looking at Miley. Tears slid down the girl’s cheeks. “No, there will be no punishment.” Julie let out a breath of relief, as I handed Grace back to her. I held my hands out to Miley, who climbed onto my lap, tears still rolling down her cheeks. I whipped her tears away, “It’s okay Miley, you are not in trouble. However, we must remember, respect is important.” Miley nodded, her tears drying, as I turned the television to a cartoon.

Julie and I spent much of the morning talking, while the girls snacked on the remaining fruit from my breakfast. Julie told me that she had been living here for the past three years. She was mated to the large brown wolf that tried to ambush me yesterday, the pack’s Beta, John. I also learned that the grey, smokey colored wolf had been the Gemma, Neal. Julie asked me several questions. Questions that I half answered or simply avoided.

We had been sitting in silence for a while when the anger hit me, but it wasn’t my own. It was his, Caspian’s. Oh, goddess. I have done something wrong. He’s going to hurt me. The thought brought the fear, hitting me in the face like a punch. My breath caught in my throat as heat climbed its way up from my belly. I felt as though I was choking on smoke. Julie grabbed Miley, pushing her behind her. They both looked at me with fear. Grace cried. They were afraid of me. “Look down.” Ash cried. I did confused and then scared. Both of my arms were in flames, from the tips of my fingers to my elbow.

“Oh goddess, Ash. It’s happening ag…” Before I could finish the bedroom door burst open. Caspian stood there, horror etched on his face. He grabbed for Julie and the girls, nearly throwing them out the open door. I heard him yell,

“Get everyone out.” I sprinted to the bathroom door, throwing it open with such force that it bounced off the wall, causing it to close behind me. I heard Caspian yell as he touched the super-heated doorknob. He cursed. Now he really is mad.

“What do I do, Ash?”

“Get in the shower with the cold water.”