“Good night, Shade,” I managed, my voice strained as I fumbled with the doorknob.
“Good night, Caelan,” she whispered. ***
Early the next afternoon, I sat in my office staring at a very official-looking letter carrying the black seal of Dark Moon.
They wouldn’t.
I opened it, rage filling me as I scanned the contents. My fist slammed down on my desk, the wood cracking beneath it.
“Dillon, my office. Now!”I called over the mind-link.
Moments later, the door burst open, and my beta hurried inside.
“Caelan, what’s going on?” he asked warily when he saw the look on my face.
“Read,” I grunted, shoving the letter in his direction.
He grabbed the paper, scanning the contents quickly before looking up at me in confusion.
“Is this for real?” he queried.
“It would appear so,” I growled.
“Why would they do this?” he wondered.
“Because Alpha Huxley wants Shade for himself,” I spat in disgust. “He knows about her powers, and he’s determined to have her for his own so he can use her. Whether she wants it or not.”
“Seems awfully risky on his part,” he sighed. “This could start a war with Harvest Moon.”
“That’s what he wants,” I snarled. “He knows he could never take us on directly, but if he defeats me in a challenge, he becomes the pack leader. If he gets his rotten paws on her, he’ll be able to utilize his alpha command to make her use her abilities.”
“You knew this was a possibility,” Dillon murmured, tossing the letter aside. “Her father was a surprise, but we expected Huxley to try something. You’ll just have to remind him of his place. Gonna have a hell of a fight on your hands between the two of them.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I growled. “I won’t let him have her. I won’t let either of them have her.”
“Are you going to tell Shade?” Dillon asked, giving me a calculating look.
“Yes. She’ll be there,” I sighed. “I don’t want her finding out last minute. That will only make things worse.”
“Well, she’ll probably be upset and worried,” he said as he turned to leave. “I’ll give Taffy a heads up.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
He left me alone with my thoughts, but I knew the longer I sat and stewed, the more furious I would get. Huxley’s challenge needed to be answered immediately, and the wheels set in motion. I had to get in front of this before it all came to a head.
“Shade, are you in your room?”I called through her newly formed mind-link.
“Yes. Do you need me for something?”she replied.
“Just stay there. I’ll come to you.”
I huffed in irritation, taking one final look at the letter on my desk before I stormed out of my office. I tried to calm myself as I climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, but I was still fuming by the time I reached her door.
Shade was sitting on the couch, her legs delicately draped across its arm when I entered. She placed her bookmark between the pages of an old book before closing it and setting it down on the table.
She looked so content that I almost hated myself for having to ruin her good mood.
“What is it, Caelan? What’s going on?” she pressed, clearly sensing my unease.
