Filed to story: Luna Graced Book by KristiferAnn Thorne
A hard knock sounded at the door.
You may enter.
Warrior Michael came in and grudgingly bowed his head.
Sit, Edward grumbled, pulling out a bottle of amber liquor and filling three glasses.
He scented his beta approaching the door.
Beta Jacob, you may enter.
The man entered, looking tense, and bowed his head.
Edward gestured toward the empty chair.
Jacob took the glass that Edward slid across the massive desk toward him.
Michael did the same.
Gentlemen… Edward took a sip of the fine liquor and leaned back in his chair.
I am in an impossible position.
He slammed his free hand down on the armrest.
Fucking pups! His men stayed quiet.
Edward took another sip of his drink, then sighed.
Carson is only getting stronger as his wolf gets antsier.
He wants to be with his mate for her heat, he wants to be with his unborn pup, and he yearns for the young ladytwo of us in this room had no idea he had feelings for.
Jacob turned red, but when he opened his mouth to speak, Michael leaned forward.
You both know as well as I do that a marked, mated, and now rejected future luna will eventually be shunned.
His voice was rough with emotion and fatigue.
Be rejected byall the packs.
Being deemed unworthy by her alpha mateit will taint her.
Jacob reached out and gripped Michaels forearm, a sign of respect.
I truly am sorry, brother, for your familys pain.
Too little, too late , Edward thought, shaking his head.
Exactly how long has this…~relationship~ been going on between Taylor and my son, Jacob? Hazel and I have never smelled anyone but Abby on him.
Many, many moons.
Not living with Abigail must have given him time to shower Taylors scent off him.
And why did you not come to me about this? Jacob drained his drink and placed the empty glass on the desk.
Carson said he planned to tell you after he and Taylor consummated their relationship.
I didnt want to overstep with the future alpha, but I told him if he didnt do it soon, Id force the issue.
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
Which is why he asked me to call all of us together this morning… Michaels eyes flashed.
Abby is in physical pain! Pain at the hands ofyour son, a pup I thought of as my own.
Shes the one suffering here.
Carson wont lose his titlehell have his pup and a woman who he loves.
But Abby will lose everything! Our own pack will instinctively shun her! Im sorry shes in painthats my fault.
I told him not to go near her because I wanted the situation to have some time to calm down.
Edward looked at his beta.
I assume you didnt know Taylor was with pup before today? I smelled the change in her scent this morning, and I believe the future alpha did as well.
My wolf is going to have a grandpup.
Jacobs chest puffed proudly.
I expect my daughter to be marked and officially mated.
She will not carry the shame.
Butmine shall? Michael jumped to his feet, livid.
My daughter is the one who has to carry your daughters shame! Abbys the only innocent in this, yet shes the one who will carry this for life! Howls rose over the pack lands, and Edward straightened.
Carson was out of control and breaking through his restraints, and the entire pack could feel the urgency of his need to escape.
Fuck! Edward felt his eyes flash as his wolf surged.
I need to deal with this.
Go protect Abby, Michael.
If Carson gets loose, hell head straight for her.
They all knew what would happen if Carson was able to reach his mate, and thered been enough destruction at the hands of his son already.
Edward could not allow there to be more.
I will not stand down if he comes for her.
Michaels eyes glowed, and a growl of his own power reverberated in the room.
I promise Ill do everything I can to keep him away from her, Michael.
And Jacob, Ive lost trust in you as my beta.
Well discuss this later.
*** After quickly shifting, Edward raced to the cell where Carson was being held.
His sons howls were changing into desperate, wailing shrieks.
And despite the sedative the pack doctor had given her, Edward could feel Abby clawing desperately at the walls of her cell on the other side of the pack.
Because of his superior strength, Carson had to be restrained with cuffs and chains, but he was getting so worked up, Edward doubted theyd hold him much longer.
When he arrived, most of the warriors guarding Carsons cell were in their wolf forms and pacing, their hackles raised.
His mate was there as well, shifted into her magnificent wolf form, and was snarling and pacing, swiping at the pack warriors who were keeping her from her pup.
Normally his warriors loyalty would extend to his son, their future alpha, and his mate, their luna.
So attacking Carsons wolfor Hazelswould be hard for them to bear.
But he knew theyd do it if it came down to it.
Hazels wolf was unhappy about Carson being locked upshed snapped at him several times todayso it came as no surprise she wanted to protect her pup, regardless of how old he was.
But Edward had to keep the whole pack in mind, not just his mate and pup.
So even though he was filled with pride at his amazing, fierce mate, he couldnt have her interfering with their sons imprisonment.
He shifted back.
I command you to go home, Luna!Now ! As he watched Hazels wolf run off, he felt a deep sadness, but he shook it off and turned back to his sons cell.
One of the guards in human form opened the door, and Edward watched his son fight against the bonds keeping him inside.
This is your punishment, Carson! he said as he walked closer.
Youve made grave mistakes, son, ones that youll atone for by the hand of the Moon Goddess.
My focus needs to be on the mate youll be rejecting, so I can help her the best I can.
Youve ruined her life with your selfishness, and youre not fit to be alpha.
Still fighting against his restraints, Carson shifted into his full wolf form and let out a level of alpha power Edward had never seen from his son before.
Pride and shame warred within his chest.
His son had behaved disgracefully, and there was no question he should be denied alpha status, but it was clear Carson was born for the role.
Not to mention, Edward had his own reasons for wanting to retire.
He sighed, trying to ignore the ache in his hip.
He had to make the best choice for the pack, no matter how much it wounded him personally.
If you dont control yourself, Ill keep you away from your pup until its born.
He shook his head in disgust.
Did you evenconsider the shame a marked and rejected future luna will carry for the rest of her life? Her entire life, Carson.
Shell be shunned by every pack.
Will be seen as worthless.
Her own mate, an alpha, didnt want her after marking her.
You have put her in a mateless hell, made her a nomad with no pack.
She could die because of you! CARSON Carsons wolf continued to fight him for control, but at his fathers words, he managed to shift back to his human form.
What? he cried, his voice painfully hoarse.
What do you mean, a nomad? Abby was trained to be a luna, mated to an alpha! his father shouted.
She is marked, mated…the only things left are the mates pact ceremony and the consummation.
You might as well have rejected her at the altar! Carson knew the final ceremony was necessary to complete the bond, so hed purposely pushed it off until the last possible minute.
Everyone had been asking why he and Abby werent living together… Everyone will deem her unworthy, just like you have.
Youve shunned one of your own pack members before you even had the title of alpha.
What do you think that shows me and this pack about the kind of leader youll be? Carson slumped in his restraints, his chest heaving, and let out a low moan.
His fathers lip curled.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?