His Luna or His Mate

Chapter 9

Paige's Point of View

My head was pounding, and I didn’t want to open my eyes. I was slumped at the bottom of the kitchen wall. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been there, but I’d definitely passed out. And I could smell my own blood. I needed to open my eyes and assess the damage.

A huge splash of ice-cold water hit me in the face and another was poured over the top of my head simultaneously. My eyes flew open, and I coughed with the shock from the attack. Were they trying to drown me now as well?

“There you are Daddy, I told you there was no need to panic.” I could tell by the relief in Kimberly's voice that she had thought I’d been seriously injured. “Gosh, imagine how silly it would have looked if we had called the Alpha like you suggested.”

I scanned the room. Both Lilia and Kimberly were standing facing me with small empty buckets in their hands. Behind them my Dad had his mobile in hand.

“Thank you darling, I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to waste his time.”

They weren’t worried about me, they couldn’t care less about that. They were worried about getting into trouble with the Alpha. And whilst Jacob didn’t love me, he certainly wouldn’t let anyone get away with harming me. The pack would expect the matter to be dealt with. So he wouldn’t be able to let it slide.

I shakily got to my feet.

“You hit me,” I said, my voice wobbling.

“You’re my daughter, and I’ll punish you how I see fit.”

‘Punish you? Paige, you have done nothing wrong’ Maddie huffed as she started to fix me.

“Besides, I only slapped you. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.”

I felt something trickle down the back of my neck. It was warm, unlike the water.

‘Head injury’ Maddie said, matter-of-factly.

I needed to get out of the house. There was no point in talking to my Dad about a divorce. His mind was made up. And besides, he’d already spoken to Jacob, it was obvious they’d concocted the ideal of an ‘open marriage’ together.

I took a deep breath and did what I had to.

“Of course, Dad. I understand.” I even gave him a smile.

His shoulders dropped by a millimeter. He had been worried I would make a scene.

“And there is to be no further talk of a divorce. Jacob has agreed to give you a pup so you can find love and happiness through your child.”

He knew about that? Somewhere between late last night and this morning he had spoken to my husband. I closed my eyes. Beta Kai would have mind linked Jacob immediately and he in turn would have contacted my father.

This had been thought out long before my arrival.

“He does care about you, I think.” My Dad said quietly. Kimberley scoffed as if the thought of my own husband being fond of me was an outrage to her.

I turned and headed towards the door.

“You’ll need a hat!” Kimberly called lazily. “Your hair is terribly matted. You’ll frighten the pups.”

Lydia offered me a white fur hat. It would look absolutely ridiculous, but I suspected that was the point. They would get away with hurting me and make me look like an i***t in the process. They really were vile individuals.

“Now don’t forget about arranging something for Kimmy. Perhaps Beta Kai? That makes sense.”

Not to Kai, it won’t.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Maybe an Alpha from another pack?” She called after me as I headed away from the house.

I didn’t answer, I was cold and wet and hungry and my head was killing me. I could feel my cheek throbbing, and I knew I had at least two loose teeth. But I was more worried about my vision, which was blurring around the edges.

‘There’s no permanent damage. But it is taking a while. Your cheek bone is going to have to wait.

It started to rain. I was already soaked through from the water-throwing incident and this was just adding to the misery. The wind whipped against my face, making my cheek sting, and when I started to cry, the salt from my tears made it even worse.

I wrapped my arms around myself to try and keep warm.

A few of our wolves passed me as I made my way home. They looked at me in utter alarm, but did nothing to help. Now that Aria had arrived, no one was on my side anymore.

Finally, I reached our house, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for support. I ditched the hat and wandered into the kitchen. Hot drink first and then a bath.

“How was the meeting with your father?” Jacob’s voice traveled in from our living room. I jumped out of my skin. I thought I’d been alone. s**t!

I heard him get up from the sofa.

“I thought I told you.”

He stopped in the middle of the doorway. I cut my eyes to the mirror so that I could see what he was seeing. I looked like I belonged in a horror movie. Maddie had healed the back of my head, but head wounds bled like hell, and I was absolutely saturated in my own blood.

My cheekbone had been fixed, but my lip was cut and there was a perfect hand print across my cheek.

“What the f**k?” he asked as he rushed towards me. I flinched as his hand came up. It hurt so badly I couldn’t bear for him to touch it.

“Who did this to you?” He choked out, apoplectic with rage.

I whimpered without responding.

“I need names Paige.” He barked. “Now.”

But I couldn’t talk. I just needed him to hold me. Fresh tears started to stream down my cheeks.

He pulled me towards him and cradled me in his arms. He was so warm, I could have held onto him forever.

“So help me, Goddess, I don’t care if it takes all day, you will give me a name,” he said softly, although there was no mistaking the venom in his voice. “I will hunt them down and I will kill them. NO ONE touches you, Paige, and lives to tell the tale!”

“Jacob, I’m ok-”

“Don’t you dare tell me you're fine, because it’s abundantly clear you are not. So if you don’t tell me right now, I will go out and burn everything to the ground until I find out who hurt you.”

A sob came from the back of my throat. Jacob’s face was murderous, but his eyes were soft. He brushed a tear from my good cheek with his thumb. I leaned into his hand and felt his warmth.

“Oh Jacob, it was horrible. I-”

Jacob’s shirt pocket started vibrating.

“One second, let me get rid of whoever this is—”

But when he checked the number, his eyes turned black. Lennox was very close to the surface. It didn’t take a genius to work out that the caller was Aria.

He turned away from me, and kept his voice low. His tone was soft and gentle and reassuring.

“I’m on my way,” he murmured. He was silent for a few seconds whilst Aria put up a half-hearted protest. “None of that matters. We’ll be there soon.”

Lennox was talking for the both of them.

The call ended. There was indecision written all over his face. He was unwilling to leave and yet unable to stay. Eventually he said, “Paige, I have to go. Aria needs us. But I’ll deal with this later. I promise.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Cold and alone, I thought about my Mom. She had left me, through no fault of her own. My dad had emotionally abandoned me from the day he married Lydia. I had battled with my stepsister and stepmother every day and had survived it all. I had escaped my loveless home and become Luna and I had fallen head over heels in love with my husband.

All I wanted was a sign that he loved me back.