Hector POV

It had been a sniper on the roof of a neighbouring tower block that had executed Alpha Marc.

When the window smashed and I could hear gunshots in the distance, my immediate thought was that Kaia was the target.novelbin

This time, they had come for Marc. I have no doubt it was the White Moon pack.

Once the chaos had calmed down and the council soldiers had declared the area safe again, alphas demanded certainly of the future of the council, of an investigation of how it had become corrupted. My name was nominated to take on Alpha Clay's seat temporarily, and with an unanimous vote within the room...I was somehow declared a newly appointed member on the board of councillors.

I just wanted to get out of that room, get Kaia back to the Dark Phantom pack.

At least as a member of the council, information on the community would hit me first and although I will do anything in my power to stop information on Kaia being leaked...I know it is only a matter of time. If I am within the council, I can keep her as safe as she can be. Cut off threats before they reach her ears. Therefore I accepted the position.

As we pass the gates of the Dark Phantom pack, I can already feel the excitement of the pack members coming out to meet us. They can feel Kaia's link to them has completed..that she has marked me.

It's as I expected...as we both exit the vehicle outside the alpha house, the majority of the pack have congregated as they did when she returnd to them with her amnesia.

Their necks are tilted in a sign of respect to their Alpha and Luna, but it is the smiles upon their faces that causes Kaia to feel emotional through the bond. I can feel every part of her now, feel every emotion. Every intention...

We still need a ceremony, that celebration of her becoming my Luna and our mate bond completing.

But as the marking is complete...perhaps a different kind of ceremony would be more in-tune with our recent developments...

There was one person I wanted to make amends with, one person I wanted to check up on before I did anything else...Rosa.

She had been so appalled by my marking Kaia without her consent, that she thought I had taken advantage of my mate. Forced myself upon her.

I need her to see the mark upon my neck...I need her to see that Kaia has in turn, marked me. That there has been no forcing, no abuse.

Heading towards the hospital I ask for Kaia to stay behind. She was keen to see Rosa as much as me, but this I needed to do myself, to do alone.

I needed to give Rosa my full attention, I needed to hush the excitement of the pack bond, of their voices sending me congratulations through the mind-link, I needed to put my block up.

As I enter Rosa's hospital room, I am shocked to find her no longer lying on the bed but sitting on the chair, in fact sitting in Orpheus' lap.

Her head resting against his chest as he reads a book to her.

As soon as I enter both of their faces turn to watch me....Orpheus' body stiffening as he prepares for her reaction.

Yes perhaps this was a mistake, I was clearly a trigger for her but she was still my pack member...still my responsibility. In truth, I hadn't expected Orpheus to make such progress with her and as I interrupt their private moment, I'm wishing I had spoken to the doctor first. Am I about to undo all of Orpheus' efforts...

"Alpha Hector, you are back." She croaks out, a lot more subdued than the last time I was in this room.

"Rosa...how are you feeling?" I keep my voice low, my wolf back and my aura small. I am not a threat to her.

Her eyes roam the length of me, her body tensing as Orpheus continues to draw circles with his thumb on her shoulder.

She seems to relax slightly before her eyes focus in on my neck. On my mark.

"She marked you..." She sits upright, her body angling towards me.

"Yes."

"Yes, I felt it through the pack bond. Is she here too?" She looks around me, to see if Kaia is behind me. Her body slumps back into her mate's lap when she realises her Luna hasn't come. "She is mad at me..." She sighs out with disappointment.

"No, none of us are mad at you Rosa."

My eyes glance to Orpheus who is watching our interaction carefully. I have no doubt he would fight me to keep Rosa safe, and that is the kind of mate she needs.

Whereas I know Kaia finds my possessiveness hard to deal with at times, Rosa needs that reminder...she needs to be shown what a mate bond should be like.

"You are protective of your Luna, that's what I expect from my pack members." I offer out, a small smile entering onto Rosa's lips before she tilts her neck in a sign of respect.