Fate’s Design

Direction

Kelsey POV

Adrian and Seth looked at me like I had sprouted a second head. I waited for a few tense moments as they processed what I had said.

Finally, Beta Adrian spoke up. “So you’re saying instead of focusing on getting our Alpha through this, we should focus on getting you through this?” He asked, in a slightly accusing tone. So much for the whole ‘respect your Luna’ mini lecture he had just given Seth. I guess that went out the window if he thought I was advocating for just letting Mason die… which made sense.

“No! I’m not saying to just forget about Mason. Let Dr. Porter do her job, do everything she can to help Mason. But the rest of us, we can’t do much to help him. Sitting around sulking sure won’t help. But figuring out what the hell those psychos did to wake my wolf up two years early just might help us get Mason back.”

Adrian and Seth both relaxed when they realized I wasn’t trying to take Mason’s place as the primary patient.

“You really think your wolf can help if we get her back?” Seth asked skeptically.

“Dr. Porter said that the best thing for Mason right now was to have his mate by his side. Even if you don’t believe a word I said, or even if I’m wrong, it’s still the best thing we can do for Mason right now. Caspian needs his mate as much as Mason does.” I replied.

“You said you don’t know what they did. How do you propose we find out?” Adrian asked.

“That’s where I need your help.” I admitted reluctantly. “I don’t have a clue. I have some really foggy memories. But there had to be a reason they took me specifically— not my brother, not Durian. Me. They knew something about my wolf and we need to find out what.”

“You don’t think being able to command Alphas was reason enough?” Seth asked.

Adrian shook his head. “Even if that was all they were after, it still doesn’t explain how they knew.” He said.

I nodded. “Exactly. They knew to target me. Which means they knew my wolf was worth targeting even before I came of age. Which tells me some dusty scroll somewhere has something to say about wolves like mine, and I’d bet my life that Black Claw has, or at least had, access to that scroll.”

Adrian nodded. “That stands to reason.” He agreed. “I’ll send a couple of guys out to Black Claw to ask for historical exchange.”

“No.” I said firmly. “I know things are peaceful right now between Black Claw and Harvest Moon, but ‘peaceful’ isn’t the same as ‘allies’. It’s too risky.”

“Kelsey,—”

“Adrian, they’ve already killed an Alpha, a Beta and Beta female, and kidnapped a Beta’s child over this. What do you think they’ll do when they realize that the powerful wolf they clearly have some knowledge of how to manipulate is vulnerable, and in a pack that is in a very precarious position, with an interim Alpha, in a coma, and a pack that doesn’t even know her, or even realize she’s been made Luna since her wolf is also in a coma and can’t connect to the pack link?”

The Beta was silent for a for moment, then he sighed. “Fine. You’re right. It’s too risky. I’m just not used to thinking in those terms. Harvest Moon has historically been at peace with her neighbors. It’s hard to imagine having to watch our backs like that.”

“Welcome to my life.” I said with a shrug.

Seth looked at me like he didn’t like whatever he was thinking. “I can’t imagine living like that.” He finally said. “That sounds miserable. And so much pressure from such a young age. I guess I can understand why you kinda went off the deep end.”

I looked down at my hands. “I’m not proud of what I did. But I also don’t think anyone else would have done any better. Those psychos messed me up. And then getting away from them messed me up some more. And then I came home and knew that nobody would be able to understand what I had been through, so I didn’t tell them. I went from the popular kid with cool parents to the weird, semi-exiled, rough orphan that adults didn’t know how to handle and other kids didn’t want anything to do with, just like that. The only person other than my brother and Durian that didn’t avoid me was Alex. Even the other guys… they got what they wanted and were gone. Alex… stuck around, no matter what. In our own twisted way, we were friends.”

The guys were quiet, absorbing what I had just told them. Adrian spoke first, his voice quiet, but firm. “Luna… it takes a lot of strength to get through that. We honor your story.”

Seth POV

Dang. I wasn’t expecting to feel bad for Kelsey… really ever, but certainly not while my best friend was fighting for his life because of her. But she was right. How could we judge her, when anyone would have done something equally damaging in her position? We all knew people who just gave up on life under far less pressure and trauma. Kelsey kept going. She chose to keep living. To be a fighter. To tell the whole world to kick rocks. That had to be worth something. Maybe Mason’s mate wasn’t the lost cause we all thought.

“So? What do we do, then? We can’t ask to see the records, and we obviously can’t just attack and demand them.”

“We call Durian.” Kelsey said. “He’ll help us infiltrate Black Claw and get what we need.”

My dad ran a hand over his face. “Luna, this is not Alpha Durian’s fight.” He said wearily, clearly not liking any of this— but then, none of us were.

She shook her head. “It has been his fight since he became Alpha. Maybe… maybe this will help him finally end it. He’ll help us. I know he will. If for no other reason, because we are family.”

Dad nodded. “As you wish, Luna. I’ll go myself to speak with him.”

“No. We need you here.“ Dad and I both raised an eyebrow.

Kelsey POV

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as Adrian protested.

“Luna, we need discretion in this, as you mentioned. I can hardly send someone else.” Was he really going to make me say it out loud?

“Mason is in a coma and Alpha Max is barely functional. The pack won’t recognize me as Luna until Tanya connects to the link. I need you here. Send Seth.” I said.

Adrian and Seth looked at each other for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes, Luna.” They both said.