“Were they not in love?” I ask.
Taya shakes her head. “No, not at all. It was more casual than anything. I think they were just comfortable with each other—they grew up together, all three of us did. Add in good timing. Alaina wanted to stay here, and Caleb wanted to take over for his father.”
“What’s the queen like?” I ask.
Sam chimes in with a mouthful. “Royal pain in the ass.”
“Hey!” Taya chuckles, playfully hitting Sam.
Sam smiles. “I’m just kidding. No, she’s stubborn but fair. Alaina’s not one to take crap from anyone. She doesn’t trust easily, so it’s hard to get past her walls at first, but once you do, she’s loyal and a good friend to have on your side. Even before she became the all-powerful, fire-powered hybrid. She’s strong, has really grown into her role as queen. Especially since the whole Colin ordeal.”
Hearing Sam speak so highly and lovingly of Queen Alaina in the same breath as the disgust at Colin’s name, doesn’t sit right with me.
Shekilledhim.
I wasn’t there for Colin’s final battle. It was something I always regretted. But I vowed not to fight more battles that aren’t my own after killing Alpha Jack. Colin might still be here if I had only been there.
I knew he could be... unstable at times, but he was always kind. Fair, even. He hated that rogues and outcasts feeling left out. He took care of us. What did Colin do to deserve such a fate?
“I know it’s a sensitive topic but”—I ponder the best way to ask this—“what happened between Alaina and Colin? Why does everyone hate him so much?”
Taya and Sam exchange glances, deciding whether to speak on it, as well as who should first.
“I’m going to... go help with the tiny pup’s group. Later, baby.” Sam kisses Taya on her temple and leaves.
He seemed uncomfortable and disturbed by my question.
Part of me regrets asking, but only a little—I need to know.
“Well,” Taya starts, “it’s not my place to speak on some of the things that happened between Colin and Alaina. But what I can tell you is that he killed Dax ordered the death of his sister, Olivia, killed Alaina, attacked the Bloodhound pack and held me prisoner, starving me. I was used as leverage against Alaina to force her hand to bond to Colin.”
All of that sounds terrible—because it is. I believe Taya. Colin was ruthless if he wanted something. But his sister had it coming.
“But one good thing did come of it,” Taya continues. “It’s how I met Sam.” She smiles, reminiscing. “He rescued me from Colin’s dungeon. It wasn’t long after that we marked each other.”
I’m happy for them. How nice it must be to accept a love you’re meant to have.
“Alaina was pissed.” Taya chuckles.
“Why would she be mad?”If they’re friends, shouldn’t Queen Alaina be happy for her?
“You might’ve noticed that Sam got a little uncomfortable when you asked about what happened to Alaina. They have this brother-sister bond. They endured a lot of loss together when they lost Dax. It was the equivalent of her brother banging her best friend. In all fairness, Sam does not have the best track record for being committed in a relationship. I don’t think she knew we were fated mates. She just got scared. I think the idea that someone might take advantage of someone she cares about was triggering for her. She was doing the best she could and trying to look out for me, but she’sveryhappy for us now. Sam is like an uncle to Evan.”
“Who’s Evan?”
“Alaina and Dax’s son. The little hybrid prince.”
Our conversation is disrupted by Sam a few paces away.
“Oh nooooo,” Sam says dramatically.
Taya smiles watching Sam theatrically fall to the grass. A swarm of pups tackles him in their human forms, giggling as they climb on top of him.
Sam laughs. “Ha-ha, I got ya!” he says, snatching the youngest pup and hoisting him up high.
The pup giggles, suspended in the air like an airplane.
“Uh oh! Air jail! What’re you going to do now, huh?” he teases playfully.
