Page 45 of Violet Moon
“What?”Sera sputtered in disbelief.“When?How?”
“He made his intentions clear early, but he made it official during the full moon.He made sure to remind me while we were there.I’m taking care of it.I’ve been preparing.”
“I know you can handle everything but, Pari, we’re all here for you.And if you can’t trust everyone else, then at least trust that I am here for you.”
Parisa glanced away and crossed her arms, holding herself tight.“A duel must be faced alone.”
“Sure, when you’re in the middle of it.But now?In the weeks before?Why would you pull away?You know we’re all stronger together.”
“This is different.You know it is.I need to prepare alone.Stop trying to convince both of us otherwise.”
“The health, safety, and reputation of the pack comes before all else,” Sera repeated Parisa’s favorite rule, her tongue sharp as she said it.
“What do you think I’m doing if not that?”
“I know that’s what you’re doing, but what should the rest of us be doing?Are we supposed to do nothing?Are we supposed to be there for one another, but not you?”
“A duel is different.”
“A duel is just another obstacle that we take on as a pack.”
“How have you forgotten what it was like when every Alpha male thought he could take my tiny pack from me?”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Sera replied, knowing Parisa was partially right.She could recall the time right after she came back from being lost to the wolf, but it was with the same foggy recollection that she remembered her family.All she knew well was what they had now.
“I face it alone.”Parisa’s tone chilled Sera to the bone and shut her lips tight.“This pack rests on my shoulders more than anyone else’s and I bear that weight proudly.Everything I do is for all of you.I’ve made plans.I’m ready.”
“Plans?”
“If I lose —”
“Don’t.”
“If I lose, those who choose not to remain with him I would hope would follow you, with Wilma as your Beta.”
“You won’t lose.He’s new.He’s nothing.”
“He’s becoming unhinged.He respects Clyde enough to keep it tamed.The moment he’s around me, though, everything changes.The wolf can claim him whenever it wants.He’ll allow it.There’s no telling what he is capable of.”
“You won’t lose.”Sera repeated, voice shaking as her body trembled.
“I don’t plan on losing, but I’ve prepared for every eventuality.You are a part of that.”
“I’m not an Alpha.I can’t lead us!”Tears stung the back of Sera’s eyes.
Parisa pressed a warm hand to her chin and gently lifted her head.“You are an Alpha in everything but status.How have you not seen it all these years?”
“A pack needs an Alpha, a real Alpha.”
“Your years of being lost to the wolf.Does that not make you think of anything?Have you never considered that the Alpha form chose you then?Your years of struggling.You won in the end.”
Sera was thrown back in time to her first moments of clarity after she was turned.The wolf was so strong and terrifying then.It had taken her years to tame it.She was weak.She had lost to the wolf.There was no way.She whispered, “I’m not an Alpha.”
“I think you could’ve been.I think you still are in some ways.When an Alpha forms and the human side fails to tame it, every wolf knows it’s assured death by one means or another.But you?You’re here.”
“I’m not an Alpha.”
“And you can cling to that if you need to, but I know in my heart that you’ve considered this, too.Your eyes tell me everything I need to know.And if that wasn’t enough, your racing pulse tells me the rest.”
