Page 26 of Moon Cursed
“So, it’s true,” she said, her question directed at Kane.
He flexed his fist before his wound closed. He cleaned it with the towel, then resumed working on his other injuries that I had determined had been caused by Hunter weapons.
Where were they now? If they were so formidable, did Kane really subdue four other alphas and a bunch of Hunters?
That should have made me afraid of him, but I knew he meant his vow.
I wasn’t exactly in danger… but that didn’t mean it was safe to be around him.
He had a tendency to muddle my thoughts and feelings, which had led me to being chained up in a cave “to protect me.”
“Yes, the corruption has spread,” Kane confirmed, responding to Althea’s vague question.
“And it’s brought the Hunters,” she surmised, rubbing her forehead, then let her hand fall to her side. Her glittering crescent moon earrings glittered in the dim light, dangling as she tilted her head at me. “I wanted to personally apologize, Moon Guardian, for the restraints.” She glanced back at Kane. He had ordered her to do it, but I had a feeling that Althea wouldn’t have obeyed if she’d disagreed with it.
“Where are the Hunters now?” Kane asked.
Althea nodded, as if relieved he’d turned the conversation back to matters she could control. “They’re out of the way for now. The other packs arrived looking for their alphas, as you predicted, and chased the Hunters into the woods. The scouts couldn’t count them all since they hid in the trees, but it’s in the thousands.”
“Thousands,” Kane breathed. “I knew there were many, but my wolf took over when…” He glanced at me as if he didn’t want to continue that line of thought. “I can’t say that I remember everything.”
I began to pace as I wondered what kind of implications that meant for me.
If someone as powerful as Kane lost time when his wolf took control, what would my wolf do if I ever let her back in?
Because based on what I was learning so far, I needed her to get out of this.
“And what of the perimeter?” Kane asked.
“We’re currently under siege,” Althea responded with a slight tremor to her voice. “The other packs want their alphas, so half of them have stayed behind while the other half have pursued the Hunters.”
“Hmm.” Kane leaned against the wall and began putting away the medical supplies. His wounds weren’t completely healed, but he didn’t seem like he was in pain and the largest gashes had closed to slits. “Then we’ll do this. Gather all of the wolves with Hunter blood and have them prepare for negotiations. As for the other packs, I will deal with them.” He knelt in front of me, and this time I suppressed my urge to bite him.
Because now I understood why he’d restrained me. If I had run, thousands of Hunters would have gone after me.
Not to mention the alphas of the other packs.
I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“I’m going to release you, Kaitsja.” He curled his fingers around my neck and dug his touch into my fur.
The effect made me want to roll my eyes back, but I growled instead.
It came out more like a purr, though.
“Is that a good idea?” Althea asked, earning a snarling alpha instantly towering over her.
“Do you question me, Seer?”
I’d never heard him use that term for her.
She was his Seer.
And she clearly felt like she had enough authority and familiarity to question his decisions.
Jealousy rumbled in my chest. Did that mean they’d ever been intimate?
Wait, why do I care?
