His Luna

Fault

“It is noted, Al-”

Draken's eyes narrowed with a mix of suspicion and anger as he scanned the room, his gaze piercing through the chaos that surrounded him. The guard who had interrupted their conversation stood before him, his face pale with a tinge of fear. It was clear that the guard had failed in his duty to uphold the strict protocols set in place to safeguard the pack.

His voice laced with authority, Draken demanded answers, his words cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. "Who let this woman inside?" His tone brooked no opposition, his expectations clear to all who stood before him. Silence settled in the room as all eyes turned toward Kirsty, who stood at a distance, her presence now under scrutiny. The weight of Draken's gaze bore down on her, intensifying the air of tension that had gripped the kitchen. She felt a mix of trepidation and defiance bubbling within her, but she held her ground, refusing to cower under his scrutiny.

Kirsty's heart raced as she listened to Draken's interaction with the guard, realizing the weight of the situation unfolding before her. Her secret identity, carefully concealed until now, teetering on the edge of exposure. She knew the consequences of being in the spotlight, especially in the presence of the Alpha and the pack members. It was a risk she had desperately hoped to avoid.

As the guard stuttered in response to Draken's question, Kirsty's frustration grew. The man who had unknowingly been her ally, allowing her entry into the castle, had unwittingly drawn attention to her presence. She resented the Alpha's scrutinizing gaze and the power he wielded over the situation.

"I... I was the one-" Kirsty's words faltered, her voice barely above a whisper. She realized that confessing her involvement would only amplify the attention directed toward her. She couldn't afford to become the center of curiosity and suspicion within the pack.

“Have you checked the coin?” Draken asked the guard. He was scrutinizing the man, and his looks were intimidating enough for the guard to stutter in answering.

Draken's imposing figure loomed over the guard, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. The intensity of his scrutiny made it clear that he wasn't one to let anything slip by unnoticed. His question about the coin piqued Kirsty's interest, her curiosity momentarily eclipsing her frustration.

“I-” Before the guard was able to answer Draken, Kirsty interrupted them by standing up while putting her wounded hand at her back.

“He did.” Kirsty's words hung in the air, her voice laced with a mix of defiance and courage. She stood tall, her wounded hand concealed behind her back as she faced Draken head-on. The intensity of their gaze locked them in a silent battle of wills. While her heart still bore the scars of his abandonment, she refused to let him dictate her actions or emotions any longer.

Draken's face betrayed a flicker of surprise at Kirsty's bold response. Her unwavering defiance challenged his authority and pierced through his stoic demeanor. He had expected her to cower, to submit to his command, but instead, she met his words with unwavering strength.

The guard stood beside them, a witness to the tension that crackled in the air. He exchanged a quick glance with Kirsty, sensing the underlying animosity between her and Draken. It was a delicate situation, and he wisely chose to remain silent, allowing the confrontation to unfold.

As Kirsty braced herself for Draken's response, she felt a gentle pat on her back. She turned to see Delfa, the old woman who had shown her moments of kindness and understanding, her eyes filled with deep concern. Kirsty recognized the fear that gripped Delfa, but she brushed it off with a genuine smile, reassuring the woman that she was capable of handling the situation.

"I am okay," Kirsty assured Delfa, her voice soft yet determined. She was determined to assert her strength, to prove that she could navigate this treacherous territory on her own terms.

“Child…” It was like the old woman wanted to tell something but she suppressed herself.

Draken's gaze lingered on Kirsty, his eyes scanning her form from head to toe, his attention momentarily diverted by the wound on her hand. The intensity of his scrutiny betrayed a hidden curiosity, a desire to understand the woman standing before him. He sensed that something was amiss, not only with the guard's urgent message but also with Kirsty herself. There was a fire within her, a refusal to be subjugated, and he couldn't help but feel a strange admiration for her spirit.

At that moment, a conflict raged within Draken's mind. He was accustomed to using his power and authority to assert dominance, to bend others to his will. But with Kirsty, it was different. He didn't want her submission forced through fear or intimidation. He desired a connection that transcended the titles and roles that defined their positions within the pack.

As his thoughts drifted, he realized the depth of his longing to be known by her, to have her understand him beyond the boundaries of his position as the Alpha. Draken had always been shrouded in mystery, his true self concealed behind a veil of authority and responsibility. But with Kirsty, he yearned to let his guard down, to reveal the vulnerabilities hidden beneath his facade.

However, he knew that revealing his true identity would only complicate matters further. It would blur the lines between their tumultuous past and the potential future they could share. Draken was acutely aware of the consequences his position held, the weight of his duty to protect and lead the pack.

“The coin?” He asked, gazing intently into her pair of chocolate eyes.

Draken's mind buzzed with a mixture of frustration and anticipation. The search for Kirsty had consumed his thoughts for days. He had refrained from prying too deeply into Sam and Chloe's knowledge, sensing their growing skepticism and desire to protect Kirsty from his inquiries. Instead, he had discreetly gathered snippets of information, piecing together a fragmented picture of her life. The revelation that she had been working for Sam and Chloe, residing in the unused house, had sparked both relief and curiosity within him. The house, once dark and desolate, had come to life with Kirsty's presence. It explained the warm glow that had caught Draken's attention on that fateful night. He couldn't resist stealing glimpses of her from the shadows, watching her from a distance. However, as the days passed, he became acutely aware of the heightened security surrounding Sam's household. His own beta had grown increasingly curious about his mate, prodding him with questions that he evaded, not wanting to reveal the depths of his personal quest. Caught between his duty as Alpha and his longing for his mate, Draken struggled to find the balance. The looming threat of Wolfsbane compounded the complexity of his situation, leaving him with little time to formulate a proper plan. His responsibilities as Alpha demanded his attention, and the pressure to protect his pack mounted with each passing day. Yet, beneath it all, the desire to claim Kirsty as his own gnawed at his soul, fueling his determination to bring her into the fold of his pack. Draken knew that the time for Luna to stand beside him was drawing near. It was a time long-awaited by his pack, an opportunity to solidify their strength and fortify their defenses against the Wolfsbane. But even as the weight of his duty pressed upon him, his heart yearned for Kirsty. She held the key to his future, to their pack's destiny, and he couldn't ignore the magnetic pull that drew him towards her.

"Where did she acquire the coin?" Draken inquired, his voice laced with concern. He knew that Sam hadn't provided any such token to his employees. If Kirsty had somehow obtained the coin, it could mean she had trespassed into the castle, potentially putting herself in danger. But he couldn't deny the underlying hope that this meant she had come seeking him, even amidst her pain and resentment. Draken saw this as an opportunity to take her and be alone with her in the confines of his place to explain what happened that night, to let her know that he did not abandon her.

As the guard stood before Draken, a tense silence settled between them. Draken's piercing gaze bore into the guard, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of suspicion and authority. The coin system he had implemented was not to be taken lightly, and any breach in its protocols carried severe consequences.

Draken had meticulously outlined the rules of the coin system to the pack, emphasizing the importance of adhering to its regulations. It served as a measure to safeguard the castle and its inhabitants, ensuring that only trusted individuals gained access to its inner sanctum. Those who failed to present the required coin upon entering risked being labeled as trespassers, potentially implicating anyone associated with them.

As Draken's thoughts began to intertwine, he found himself connecting the dots. Kirsty's presence within the castle had not been sanctioned by Sam, the one responsible for providing coins to the workers involved in the preparations for the evening's event. It dawned on Draken that Kirsty might indeed be an unauthorized presence, potentially implicating others who had aided her in her tasks.

A flicker of concern passed over Draken's face as he contemplated the consequences of his findings. The delicate balance between loyalty and accountability loomed before him, presenting a tangled web of intricacies. He knew that the pack's security relied on upholding the rules he had established, but at the same time, he couldn't dismiss the undeniable pull of empathy he felt toward Kirsty. Their shared history and the pain she had endured tugged at his conscience, creating a conflict within him.

Deep in thought, Draken weighed his options. His duty as Alpha demanded that he maintain the integrity of the coin system and uphold the pack's security.

“I apologize, Al-”

Draken's hand rose, halting the guard's words mid-sentence. He had heard the apology on the tip of the man's tongue, but Draken chose not to dwell on it. There were more pressing matters at hand, and he couldn't afford to let personal emotions cloud his judgment.

"You were given the responsibility to uphold the rules and integrity of the pack." Draken's voice echoed throughout the room. People were avoiding making eye contact with him. The room itself was a suffocating place anyone wanted to leave as fast as they could but they were afraid to do as the Alpha was present inside, and constituting such would only disrespect him.

As much as Draken wanted to take her away from them, he followed his rational thinking so that his mate would not bear the scrutiny of others, and also, for his people to strictly abide by the established rules and systems for their own safety.

Draken listened attentively, his expression softening as Kirsty took responsibility for her actions. She had witnessed firsthand the consequences of her choices and was determined not to let innocent lives suffer the repercussions of her mistakes.

"It was my fault," Kirsty repeated, her voice steady and resolute. Her gaze met Draken's, and though her eyes reflected the weight of her experiences, there was also a glimmer of strength and determination. Draken's silence filled the room for a moment as he absorbed her words. He recognized the sincerity behind her apology, the depth of her regret. At that moment, he understood that there was more to Kirsty than met the eye. She possessed a sense of responsibility and compassion that resonated with the values he held dear.

"Your fault?"

"The castle guard is out of this." She said through greeted teeth, feeling the pain in her wound that started to escalate up her arms, making her feel the numbness in her own flesh.