The Moon's Choice

Perfect

The move to Kilian's cabin doesn't take long. I only have a few t-shirts and shorts. His cabin is bigger than mine and closer to the center of the camp. He has a bed for starters and a few other things that are useful in the middle of the forest. Jars, cups, cutlery. I haven't been in here before, since it was locked, so I couldn't clean it. I turn to him, "Where'd you get this?"

He shrugs. "Here and there."

I'm giddy with anticipation. I don't know what living with him will be like, but I'm willing to commit. It's so weird. I never thought my feelings towards him would change so drastically. I couldn't stand him before, I couldn't even hear his voice, but once I let him in I couldn't find a way to shut him out. It's like he pulled me apart at the seams and wriggled his way inside. Now he's a part of me.

"Where's Ty?" I ask him.

"He's with Claire. I asked her to make him something to eat." He explains. I'm so glad he isn't with Sarah. I want her out of my life. I don't want anything to do with her ever again.

"She'll scare him off," I joke.

"Sylvia raised me, along with my uncle. She isn't the warmest person, but she never harmed me in any way. I have always felt safe beside her. After my parents were killed, she took their place. And she did her job well." He says this with a strange gleam to his eyes. It's like he's about to tear up, but he blinks and it disappears.

I set my things down and I start pulling on my work clothes. I've chosen the rattiest pair of shorts and the torn shirt as a uniform. It smells vile, but I'd rather soil one outfit than have everything else smell like this.

Kilian winces. "Why do you smell like that?"

"This is what I use to clean," I explain sheepishly. I don't want him thinking this rancid smell is coming from me.

"Clean?" He frowns.

"It's the Alpha's orders. I clean all the cabins in the encampment. I have been doing so since you left." I add matter-of-factly.

His expression darkens. "Take those off and give them to me."

"But—"

"Do it, Ryn." His voice lowers an octave and I do as he says. I ball the smelly articles in a ball and I hand it to him. He tells me to dress in something else and I do. I don't know what he plans to do, but I don't need any more trouble.

I follow him outside and we get to Xathan's cabin in no time. It's only two cabins away. He doesn't knock, he just barges in. Xathan is inside with his Beta. I want to stay outside and not intervene, but I don't think that will be appropriate.

"Kilian, you're back?" He says. "When did you arrive?"

"Last night."

"And you've only come to see me now?" He frowns. He eyes me standing behind him and his eyes darken. "I see."

"Why was Ryn made a maid to you and your pack?" Kilian asks through gritted teeth. "I told you to keep an eye on her."

"That was me keeping an eye on her," he says dryly. "She was too occupied to cause any trouble, and I didn't have to punish her for anything. Boredom is the enemy of progress."

"That's now how I see it, Xathan." Fury emanates from him in thick waves. Everyone in the room can feel it. Bailey isn't around, and I wonder what she's up to. No, I have more important things to focus on now than her whereabouts.

Xathan stands. "Are you displeased with my decision, nephew?"

"Displeased is an understatement."

"You dare say these things to me, in front of my Beta?" Xathan asks and moves to Kilian with aggression that shocks me.

"Tell him to leave, then. This is a family concern."

"You will watch your tongue when you speak to me, boy!" Xathan booms. "Remember your place!"

"And you should remember yours," Kilian hisses. "I could rip you apart and mount your head on a stake if I wanted to. You know that as well as I do."

Justin shifts uncomfortably and Xathan turns to him. "Leave. We'll discuss this later."

Justin leaves and shuts the door behind him. Xathan sighs and makes his way to the table. He sits down. "What do you want, Kilian? I thought you would be content that I gave her something to do."

"You know I wouldn't agree to this." He gestures to the ball of clothes in his fist. "She is my mate, uncle. Don't forget that." He moves to the fireplace and throws the clothes in. I watch them sizzle and burn, and a horrible smell fills the room. I cover my nose with my hand. The two of them don't openly show their discomfort.

"So you've decided, then?"

"I didn't decide anything. The Moon chose her for me."

Xathan rolls his eyes. "The Moon. Of course. How could I have forgotten?"

I make a mental note to ask him about this later when we're alone. I want to understand this. I don't think I've grasped the concept of mates and the Moon.

Xathan asks, "When will the mating ceremony be?"

"In a month."

"Well, then," he says after a beat. "I guess all that's left to do is welcome my new future niece to the family." He looks at me. "Welcome, Ryn."

I don't respond, and Kilian grabs my hand. His warmth is soothing and reassuring. I lean into him. "Make the necessary preparations."

We leave his cabin and stop by Claire's . I can tell he's still angry about it all, so I squeeze his hand. He looks down at me. "I keep failing you, Ryn."

I shake my head. "Don't say that you couldn't have known."

"If he had made you work beside Sarah, I wouldn't have minded as much." He stares at the ground. "But to make you clean after the pack? That's the most degrading task. It's reserved for hooligans and thieves. How could he give you such a task?"

I nod. "It wasn't easy. I won't lie to you."

His grip on my hand tightens. "You know, sometimes..." He looks up at the sky and shakes his head as if the thought that crossed his head was tremendously ridiculous.

"Sometimes what?"

The door to Claire's cabin opens and Ty emerges. He's young, he can't be older than seven, and his face is dirty and his clothes are torn. His eyes are dark and inquisitive, and his hair is long and tangled. I pity him. All alone in this world at such a young age? The world is brutal, even to a werewolf.

"Ryn, this is Ty. He'll be living with us." I don't have much experience with children, but I'm willing to learn. I was abandoned once, and it was a terrible time for me. I want to care for him in a way no one cared for me. I pat his head. He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't recoil from my touch either. That's a good sign.

We walk back to the cabin and I offer to bathe him. He seriously needs one. He smells of the streets. I need to find clothes for him, so I go out looking for Jada. Thankfully, she has some extra clothes her son Sam has outgrown. When I get back he's sitting outside naked. I fill the bucket and I start scrubbing him with the bit of soap I still have left. He needs it more than I do at this point. He's quiet and compliant and I have no complaints so far. I untangle his hair with my fingers, and then I make a small bed for him out of my old blankets at the foot of our bed. He lies down and falls asleep in a flash. I stand over him and watch him until Kilian returns. He reminds me of the younger me. I feel his hands on my shoulders.

"What is it?"

"I like him."

"I couldn't just leave him. I know Xathan has no use for children, but he might be of some use to us. He'll grow at some point, and we'll have a loyal companion."

He starts touching me, but I stop him. "He's sleeping right here."

Kilian doesn't spare him a glance. "He doesn't look like he'll wake anytime soon."

The bed creaks beneath us and when we're done, I'm spent and exhausted. I snuggle next to him and he wraps an arm around me. Ty is still asleep, and I seriously hope he was asleep the entire time. Kilian isn't worried. He says this is normal in his world, that it isn't kept a secret. Some do it outside in front of everyone. I think it's barbaric, but he insists it isn't.

"What's a mate?" I ask him.

"A mate is someone you choose to spend the rest of your life with. Much like in the human world, but here it's more complicated than that."

I frown. "How so?"

"Our ritual is performed under the full moon, so we have the Moon's blessing. And after we promise the Moon, the male bites the female or another male. It makes no difference. Then, the bond is complete and unbreakable."

"What would break the bond?"

"Death."

I sit up. "And you chose me?"

"The Moon chose you for me." He sits up. "I confess that before you, I was going to take Sarah as a mate."

Her name is a stab to my chest. "Don't mention it."

His eyes soften and he smiles. "I saw your face in the Moon, Ryn , and she whispered your name in my ear. Xathan doesn't believe it, and I haven't found a wolf who does. Our kind believes the Moon has abandoned us long ago. I used to think so too before you came along."

"So we'll be bonded under the Moon?"

"We already are, in a way," he informs me. "That's why I can feel your emotions and your pain and your anguish. I feel it all as if it were my own."

"But how?" I ask, confused. "Is it because you bit me already?"

"No. That was something different. I turned you. I couldn't mate with you until you become a wolf. Our story is different. You're my true mate. A true mate is chosen by the Moon, but this hasn't happened in a thousand years."

I stare at my lap. "A thousand?"

"Yes. Well, we have no record of it."

"So why now? Why us?"

He looks at the thatched roof. "I don't know, Ryn. I don't have all the answers. This is all new to me, just as it is to you. I'm compelled to protect you, and not let any harm come your way. I loved you even before I knew you. The second I heard Her whisper your name, I was madly in love."

I look into his eyes. "And I hated you for it."

"Any person in your position would. It was my fault. I didn't explain it to you."

"You tried," I assure him. "I never wanted to listen."

"You were in shock and you wanted to return to your old life." Something jumps in his jaw. "I felt your anguish every second of every day."

I scowl. "I never felt your emotions before."

"I control them. Every wolf needs to learn some form of control over their emotions. They can be used against you in our world. It's dangerous to leave emotions exposed. I'll teach you."

"It sounds complicated."

"It isn't." He smiles and kisses me. That ends our discussion and I spend the day in his arms. I feel his heartbeat under my palm, slow and steady. I bury my head in his chest.

I have to admit, this place is starting to feel like home.