Kirstin’s P. O. V

This was perfect.

Today’s session with her guys had been incredibly explicit. They’d all been present, bodies writhing over each other like a nest of snakes. And to make things better, all my work on making Derek, her favourite and most frequent partner, crack had started paying off. Beneath his flirtatious and promiscuous persona, he was incredibly bitter and straight up despised Brittany. Once he’d seen that I wasn’t exactly on her side, he became infinitely more vocal on how much he wanted to rip her heart out and why he felt that way.

Another screaming fit from Brittany brought me back to the current drama. The other members present were whispering amongst themselves, snide remarks and judgements flying through the air as the whole house seemed to focus on the meltdown. Trying not to grin at the chaos, I glanced at Kylie beside me.

She was petrified.

Poor Kylie looked more like a deer than a werewolf. Her face had gone ghost white and she was trembling so badly that I thought her legs might give out any second. I’d honestly pay good money to see the likely pandemonium inside her head right now. Maybe I’d pry it out of her with my gift later.

I almost felt bad for her.

“We didn’t sleep together! Please, Brittany, it was just a stupid mistake!” I heard Callum beg, followed by a hiss of pain, then a groan.

I turned to Kylie, suppressing my glee and plastering worry in its place, “Oh my gosh, Luna! What’s going on? Luna? Are you okay?”

Finally, she dragged her eyes to me.

Too late.

Brittany was upon her, her eyes flashing furiously as she swiped Kylie across the cheek. The smell of blood suddenly filled the air and another look at them confirmed that Brittany was a little way into a half shift and had used her resulting claws to slap and effectively tear Kylie’s cheek open.

Okay, maybe I felt a little bad for her. Just a smidge.

“How dare you?!” Brittany growled, pinning a sobbing Kylie in place with her glare, “I allowed your bottom feeding ass to date my brother, AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! BY SLEEPING WITH MY MAN?!”

Kylie’s quivering lips parted, I assumed in an effort to form an excuse or apologise, but another sob escaped them instead.

Brittany was not known for her patience, “Well, you bitch?! Did you have a reason for sleeping with my fucking mate - who also happens to be your goddamn relative by the way, you disgusting, incestuous pig?”

I didn’t know if I should intervene. What could I do to maximise the chaos while making sure none of the negativity was directed at me?

Putting a concerned face on, I whispered under my breath, quiet enough for only the two of them to hear at their proximity, “I can’t believe the Luna would do this to you, Brittany…” I paused, making sure they were listening, “But fighting another she-wolf over a man…? That’s so not a power move in this decade, even if he’s yours… I just think you’re worth so much more.”

That did the trick. Even though Brittany was still radiating wrath, she took a breath and exhaled.

“You’re not even worth the energy, traitor.” She sneered, then turned on her heel and strutted off.

She passed Callum at the base of the stairs. He tried to reach out and say something, but she just swatted his hand away and stalked off to her room. Briefly, he gave me a look before following her.

She definitely wouldn’t be letting him near her tonight, so I decided to go after Brittany. As I walked down the corridor, I passed Harry’s room and stopped, an idea striking me. I knocked and waited.

“Come in!” He called.

I opened his door and was hit with his scent again. Gracine released a low whimper but I forced myself to remain composed, when I just wanted to crawl into bed with him. He was on his play station, playing Fortnite with his headphones on. Probably why he didn’t come to the scene of the drama.

“Excuse me, Alpha,” I said, bowing my head, “Luna really needs you. She’s injured and bleeding and I’m sure she would want you with her right now.”

He sighed, apologising to his teammates through the microphone, and dropped the game. “Where is she?” He asked, not really sounding all that worried.

“She’s downstairs, Alpha.” I replied then took my leave, continuing to Brittany’s room.

Kylie definitely wouldn’t have calmed down enough to downplay the issue by the time he reached her, so the scandal with Callum would definitely come out. And I’d be safely inside Brittany’s room, condemning men and Kylie with her, before Harry pieced it together and came for Callum.

Callum was standing outside her door, pleading with all his might for her to hear him out. It was sad, cause the hypocrisy was poignant in this and their roles really should be reversed. But I was sure that, even when he found out about her escapades, she’d refuse to grovel for his forgiveness and they might just stay together.

“I think you should leave her alone now, Beta.” I told him gently.

Defeated, he nodded and retreated to his room. Seconds later, I heard faint sounds of his shower running.

“Brittany?” I called, opening her door apprehensively.

“How fucking dare they?! He is my mate! Does her pea brain not get that?!”

She was breathing heavily, standing in the midst of shredded papers. Not a single thing was out of place, though - nothing but utter insanity could drive her to dishevel her immaculate abode, and she hated her wolf, so shifting to comfort herself wasn’t an option. She usually coped by beating Avarielle till she was satisfied, but I guess tearing up papers from notebooks was the next best thing.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I listened, letting her rage and rant as she continued to shred papers. Outside her room, I could hear the sounds of Harry shouting at Callum, eventually blending into sounds of fists crunching bone, followed by the clamour of people trying to break up the fight. Through that, I sat, mhmm-ing and uh-huh-ing to Brittany’s gripes while she paced and tore more paper.

“They obviously don’t respect you…” I commented, shaking my head disapprovingly.

“Exactly!” She agreed.

“Just because he’s Beta and she’s Luna.” I continued.

“Ugh, right?! As if I’m not the fucking brains in this pack!”

I tutted, rolling my eyes, “You should get your own title, your own position. You’re so much better suited to be a leader in this pack…”

“I know my dad would recognise my talents if I were a guy!” She spat, angry again, “Harry doesn’t even care about putting in the work to be Alpha. I should be going to the work house! I should be allowed to take charge!”

“So, why not do just that?” I prompted, “Why not go to the work house and show them what you can do? It’s a disservice to let a great mind like yours remain out of use.”

She turned to me with a superior look, “Damn right! Honestly, Kirstin, lately, it feels like you’re the only airhead around here with half a brain. I should’ve had you as my second, not that trick bitch, Kylie. I only even have her around cause her family has ties to the Royals.”

That was interesting. I knew her family was respected in the pack, but the reason was never really specified.

I raised a brow, “Really? She doesn’t seem like someone who could possibly be related to the Royal Werewolves, of all people.”

She rolled her eyes in agreement, “I know, right. Apparently, her dad is the nephew of the aunt who is the second cousin of the Queen Regent. Even if they’re not that closely related, everyone knows that the royal family is the most likely to have Gifted Werewolves among them. Defective dumbass Kylie isn’t, but her sister was.”

I remembered her sister, Leah. She used to play with us when we were younger but that was short lived since she was seven years older than we were. She’d ended up mating with Callum’s brother, Connor, and having a daughter. But they’d been attacked by a Rogue Pack two years ago and were killed. That left their daughter in the care of both the Howlings and the Adams.

Brittany continued, “Jessica’s definitely gonna be gifted, both her parents were. Unless she got whatever genes fucked Kylie up. Having gifted werewolves is a major plus for any pack’s standing, so she’s the only hope we’ve got for now in that regard.”

“La Luna should have made you the gifted one. You would put it to much better use.”

She flipped her hair, going on another self praise tirade.

I thought back to my dad’s reaction when I’d told him of my gift after discovering it at seven.

“A gift is such a special thing, Kirstin. But it should not be the only thing that makes you special in people’s eyes.”

“Why not?” I’d asked, seated on his lap, “Everyone likes Kylie cause all the grown ups say she’s gonna be gifted. And they all love Leah.”

He’d nodded, “Exactly my point. They all like Kylie and Leah because of their gifts. But real friends love you for who you are, with or without a gift.”

I’d thought for a moment, then asked, “So you don’t love me more because I have a gift?”

He’d laughed, shaking his head, “Oh, my dear. I love you to the moon and back. And I’d love you just the same if you didn’t have a gift.”

“I love you too, dad.”

He’d smiled so warmly, then hugged me.

“Dad,” I said after the hug, “I’m only gonna tell the people that love me to the moon and back.”

He’d nodded, “Such a brilliant idea.”

Later on, the idea had evolved into only telling my mate. But, perhaps his goal had just been to keep me quiet about it for the meantime so the pack wouldn’t use and parade me around. In a pack like this, it would certainly explain why he never went to Alpha Lightwood with the news himself.

“... alphas with gifts would have made us a powerhouse.” Brittany finished.

I nodded, “You’re so right. I can picture it now.”

She sighed wistfully, then shook her head, “It’s a shame. Anyway, you can go now. I need my beauty sleep after Callum and Kylie’s bullshit.”

I complied, getting up to leave, “Goodnight, Brittany.”

“Night, Kirstin.” She yawned, then wandered into her bathroom.

I left her room and closed the door behind me.

‘I think I’ve done pretty well today.’

‘Yes, today was pretty chaotic.’ Gracine agreed, ‘But how will getting Brittany into a position of leadership help? She’s conceited and self-centred, but still smart. Smart enough to actually help the pack progress.’

‘You’re not wrong. But the stuff we’re gathering on her will definitely come into play. Wouldn’t it be so much better if she’s in a high position when the dirt comes out?’

‘I see. So when everything comes out, it won’t just affect her.’

I grinned, ‘Exactly.’

The fight between Callum and Harry had ended some minutes ago, and Harry had redirected his anger at Kylie. He’d gone from yelling at her, to stone cold silence as she begged and pleaded for his forgiveness, to harsh grunts as he presumably angry-fucked her.

I guess you could never underestimate the power of make-up sex.

Rolling my eyes at one of her high-pitched moans, I forced myself to pass his door and continued down the hallway.

A few rooms down, Callum’s door was ajar and I couldn’t help but take a peek inside. I wished I hadn’t, so I wouldn’t feel so bad for him.

He’d apparently taken another shower after his scruff with Harry, but had only bothered to wrap a towel around himself. His face was tear stained and he seemed to be asleep on the floor, curled up and clutching a bloodied piece of grey cloth to his chest.

I sighed. Making sure no one was around, I slipped into his room and took his blanket and a pillow off his bed. I spread the blanket, covering him with it, then gently lifted his head to rest on the pillow.

He shifted slightly, his brow furrowing, “Natalia, I’m so sorry… don’t leave, please…”

I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t wake. Eventually, he just shifted again, a lone tear escaping one eye.

I didn’t breathe till I’d closed his door behind me with a soft click.

‘I know Avarielle told us to get dirt on him too,’ Gracine began in a pitying tone, ‘but I honestly don’t think we’ll find anything.’

I sighed.

She wasn’t wrong. If he was this shaken up from a single kiss with the wrong girl on a drunken night, I couldn’t imagine him hiding any secrets as dirty some others’ on this hallway. Granted, he was still grieving his supposedly dead mate, but he’d definitely told Brittany himself, cause Kylie surely kept it to herself. And no one devoid of remorse or with bigger secrets to worry about keeping would have ousted themselves like that.

‘It does seem like a futile effort, but Avarielle gave me a job to do. I’ll still have to look into him, if for no other reason than to be able to say that I did and found nothing. He’ll just go down to the last on the list.’ I decided.

With that settled, I went off to document and make copies of the day’s findings, feeling like a genius mastermind of the chaos.