Fate’s Design

Loyalties

Kelsey POV

I had been watching Mason battle with his wolf for control. It was clear this was affecting him. But I was still caught off guard when I heard that deep bass. That voice had to be his wolf’s. The eyes certainly were.

“You’re his wolf, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Yes, beautiful. Now give me their names. I will find them and I will peel the flesh from their bones.” He vowed.

“It’s not that simple.” I told him. I was normally nervous being around guys when their wolves took control like that… but for some reason, I wasn’t nervous now. I was comfortable with Mason’s wolf. I felt safe with him. I reached a hand tentatively to his cheek. “You’re gonna piss off Mason.” I said with a smirk.

He smirked back, clearly entertained by the thought. He pulled me onto his lap. “How about we piss him off some more, beautiful?” He suggested.

“Oh, yeah? What did you have in mind?” I asked. By way of an answer, his grip on my hips tightened and he started grinding me against him and turning me to straddle and face him. This I could definitely get behind. I tangled my hands in his hair as he moved.

“Mine.” He said in that deep low voice.

I closed my eyes and felt him growing against me. Suddenly, the layers of fabric between us seemed overly restrictive.

“We waited so long for you…” he said, nuzzling the spot where his mark was meant to be, while his hands found their way under my shirt and up to my chest. I couldn’t help a small moan at that, which he responded to with a deep rumble of satisfaction.

“You know… we could just blow off the party and just… get to know each other.” I suggested.

“Mmm… naughty girl. I like the way you think. But, unfortunately, I have to at least make a polite appearance. It wouldn’t look good for the Alpha of Harvest Moon to just not show up.”

I pouted up at him, but didn’t protest. I didn’t want him and his whole pack to look bad because of me. He set me gently off of his lap, but before I knew what was happening, he had laid me down on the stony bank and was covering every exposed inch of my body with kisses.

I gasped when he got up. “Why’d you stop?” I asked with a small whine.

When he spoke, his eyes had returned to their previous blue. “Because this isn’t how my mate deserves for things to be and because it would be disrespectful to Crystal Run and Alpha Durian for me to not be there. Caspian needs to learn a little self-control.” He said, offering me a hand up.

I frowned. “Well, you’re no fun.” I told him, pushing myself up on my own. He withdrew his hand, clearly hurt that I hadn’t taken it. Tanya wasn’t too happy with me, either. Oh, well. They’d get over the disappointment.

As we walked towards the packhouse, Mason said, “So, Kelsey James, I’m still waiting for an answer. Caspian was out of line to just take over like that, but he was right. We want names. You won’t ever have to deal with them again, whoever they are.” Mason said.

His dark tone sent a chill down my spine. I hated to think what happened to anyone who hurt the people he cared about.

“Like I said before… it’s not that simple.”

“How is it not simple?” He said, stopping to look at me. “Someone hurt my mate. Now they’re going get what they deserve, on my honor.”

Luckily, I didn’t have to think of a response. We were in the pack village now and everyone was clearly excited for the party. Even I had to admit that a new pup was worth celebrating. My plan had been to go for a run, come back, coo over my new baby cousin, annoy the crap out of my brother, throw back some drinks and go home with Alex. But, like everything else in my life… this evening just got complicated. I couldn’t put a dark cloud over the evening by rejecting my mate, all hell would surely break loose if he saw me with Alex, and who knows what Alex would do if I suddenly turned up with a mate. Other hookups were one thing, but a mate was a different thing entirely.

As we approached, a man I didn’t recognize visibly relaxed when he spotted us. He must be from Mason’s pack.

Seth POV

I was relieved when I saw Mason walking up the path from the woods. And he had someone with him. Presumably the crazy wolf that jumped in front of the car. My wolf, Hunter, growled slightly in my mind.

‘We can’t have a reckless Luna. This can’t be right.’ He said. ‘And Caspian deserves a good mate.’

‘That’s not up to us. ‘ I told him. Not that I disagreed.

“I take it this is her?” I asked.

Mason nodded. “This is Kelsey James, my mate.”

He didn’t look as proud or excited as I expected, considering he had been looking for his mate for a few years now. They also weren’t all over each other like newly mated couples usually were. Something wasn’t right.

“Luna, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Seth Dart, Mason’s best friend and soon-to-be Beta.” I said, offering my hand to shake.

“Woah, hold on.” She said, putting her hands up defensively. “I’m nobody’s Luna.”

I frowned and looked over at Mason. “Well, I suppose technically not yet. Not until the ceremony makes it official. Mason is acting Alpha of Harvest Moon, and will be the true Alpha when his father formally retires at the end of the summer. That makes his mate the Luna.”

“Only if he takes me back with him.” She replied. I was even more confused. Why wouldn’t Mason bring his mate home with us?

“Of course I’m taking you back to Harvest Moon. You’re my mate. You will come home with me, won’t you?” He asked, sounding uncertain.

“I feel like I’m missing something here. Why would that even be in question?” I asked them both. My stomach twisted when the answer walked right up to us.

A well-built man with jet black hair and a very punchable face walked up and took Kelsey’s arm. Mason growled, and the other man raised an eyebrow. “Who are your friends, beautiful?” He asked Kelsey, keeping his eyes on Mason.

“Alex…” She started, pulling her arm away gently. Alex looked confused, and Mason looked a little smug seeing that. “This is Mason and Seth. Mason is Alpha Mark’s son, from Harvest Moon.”

“I’m also her mate.” Mason added firmly, staring down the newcomer. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to let Caspian out and tear this guy limb from limb, but he didn’t seem surprised by him.

“Is that true, Kels? Is he really your mate?” He asked, turning to Kelsey.

She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head no. “I don’t have a mate.” She said.

The look on my best friend’s face cut me to my core. Who did this chick think she was to just deny the mate bond? And with Mason, of all people? She should have been thanking the heavens for having him as her mate, but here she was, saying he wasn’t her mate at all. Not even an actual rejection, just pretending it wasn’t happening at all!