•

Quinn?

The back of my head rests against the far wall of the holding cell, not sure if it's been a couple hours that have passed by, but it feels like a while. After the anger had subsided, my thoughts became clear. Alpha Keir was right...not an hour prior to Silos sending Quinn and me out to eliminate the rogues; I hadn't given a damn about what I'd been left behind by my father.

Even Silos had pointed out my flaws...

There's a slight sound that comes from the door leading to the holding cells, the man who's been left to guard should I somehow manage to escape...because Alpha Keir believes I'm capable of that...the man whispers something to another.

Not two seconds later, I hear footsteps and the man calling a little louder, "Fern! Don't!"

"Let it be, Knox," she hushes him back, walking further until I see her pass into my frame of view. She stands a few feet away, her eyes searching over me. It's the woman who was informal with Alpha Keir...

...though I can see by her mark that she's claimed.

"Hello," Fern edges closer to the bars, though I remain wary of her approach. With my response silent, I watch the way she moves closer, withdrawing something from under her jacket. She outstretches her arm, her hand just a few inches from the bars as she says, "I brought you cheese bread."

"Fern!" The man called Knox hisses at her, walking close to her side.

She rolls her eyes and retorts, "Bugger off...she's-"

"Alpha Keir's prisoner," Knox finishes for her.

"No...she's a Luna-" Fern is cut off a second later by Knox.

"No-"

"Shu-"

They both turn to growl at one another, their differences clear. Fern releases a deep exhale and calmly tells him, "If you want to go snitch to Keir, do it."

My voice is soft as I ask, "Can you please tell me if Quinn is okay?"

Fern's eyes are soft as she tells me, "I haven't seen her since..." her voice holds an edge to it, but Knox has no issues filling in.

"Until we came to get you," he crosses his arms and decides to walk back to the door, leaving Fern behind with me.

Fern releases a small sigh as I rise to my feet. I'm grateful to her, reaching out and taking the bread from her. A smile appears on her lips, telling me, "I'm sorry. Keir's father dealt a lot with the Imperial Stars Pack and their tie to your pack...but no one from our pack has ever actually met anyone from yours..." her voice trails off as I take a small piece of the bread, stopping for a second. She finishes, "Until now...that is," she furrows her brows and asks, "Is something wrong?"

"You didn't poison this, did you?" I arch a brow, remembering all too well the stories that have been told about the renowned and deadly Nightshade Prowlers Pack.

Fern's face turns red from embarrassment for a second as she says, "Of course not," she waves her hands in front of her face, but then a hint of playfulness fills her tone, "besides, you wouldn't know until it's too late anyway and would you trust my word alone?"

"In that case," I outstretch my arm, "you eat it first."

Fern giggles before taking the piece of bread I'd offered her, immediately popping it into her mouth before she states, "See?" It eases me when she lowers herself to the floor, sitting cross-legged in front of me as she says, "Is what you say true...I mean, about what's happening on your territory?"

Nodding my head slightly, I tell her, "It doesn't matter though, because Alpha Keir has already painted a very accurate picture of me."

"Hey, don't say that..." Fern furrows her brows and scoots a little closer, trying to shift the conversation as she pulls from under her jacket a simple shirt and pair of shorts.

While she picks at the ground, I change into the fresh set of clothes, grateful for them.

We both sit silently across from one another for a while, my gaze lifting to meet with hers as I ask, "Can I ask you something?"

Fern nods and replies, "Sure."

"Why are you informal with your Alpha?" The moment I ask this, her gaze averts from mine, a soft sigh releasing from her lips.

"Keir and I..." the way she says his name, I don't know why I expected any differently when she confirms, "...when we were younger, we had small flings. We were on and off, whenever one of us felt like needing...just to feel something," her eyes meet mine as she asks, "do you know what I mean?"

"No," my response is short, anger and jealousy spiking within me and causing my blood to boil. It's clear he's told no one outside of Narkissa and Coen that I'm his mate, otherwise I don't believe Fern would be completely open with the way she speaks. Or perhaps, it's just in her nature.

"Oh," she looks a bit confused with my answer, though she continues with, "when Alpha Rakkon was killed, Keir shouldered responsibilities he wasn't entirely trained or prepared for. He did the best he could at such a young again, especially with the Luna Mother also...there was just a part of him that would shut off to allow himself to fulfill the role that was expected of him." She releases a sigh before stating, "So that's what I mean...I just wanted him to not lose himself completely."

I'm not going to blame her, and I understand some of the reasoning...but I can still be angry that here he was spouting about my flaws...when he couldn't even save himself for his mate...me.

Fern clears her throat with a happier note and explains, "It turns out, my mate was right here all along. Younger than me, as age was the factor in our pull until just a couple years ago."

"Alpha Keir?" I ask while arching a brow, finishing the bread she'd brought me.

"He's still one of my best friends, but that's it," a soft smile is on her lips as she says this. The silence grows between us, where a few minutes later, Fern places her hands in her thighs and says, "It's getting late..."

Nodding my head, I thank her, "Thank you for being kind to me."

"Regardless of whatever is going on, you're a Luna and I respect the title," Fern offers me one last smile as she rises to her feet. When she turns to go, she says, "If it'll help, I'll see if I can find out how your friend is doing."

"Quinn," my voice is quiet.

Fern nods and replies, "Quinn."

Fern waves me goodbye before she's out of sight, hearing the door open and close to the holding cells. I'm left in quiet, recalling thoughts and times before all of this...father told me stories of mother often. I often wished I'd received her oracle abilities, but I hardly could guess how tomorrow would play out, let alone visions of the near and far-off future.

Comfort on the small cot in the holding cell is lackluster, finding it difficult to get to sleep. When I do close my eyes, it's only to replay the moments leading up to my father's passing and what I thought I knew turned my world upside down.

I wake only to grip the edge of the cot with one hand while my other arm is wrapped around my waist. I hold it tightly, my skin hot while my clothes are damp from sweat. My muscles are on fire as everything tears at my abdomen again, taking long, deep breaths. My exhales are labored over the period of what seems like an hour, unable to fight tears that gather in my eyes. I'm focusing on a small spot on the ground, any type of centering I attempt for my body is futile this time.

Narkissa was right.

I'm approaching the peak of this over the next day or so and all I want to do is scream.

I don't though, a small cry finally surpassing my lips as a delayed sob follows. If I didn't already understand this cycle, I'd think my skin was going to melt off from how hot it is.

There are small sounds that come from the bars to the cell and I slowly lift my head to see Knox standing there. His eyes are on me, though it's the same in every unmated male's...

...so, I snarl at him, threatening when I see his hand shift to the lock, "Se-Set foot in h-here and I'll r-rip you a-part."

Knox's face becomes pale at my threat because he's smart enough to know I'm capable of it. Though with my threat hanging overhead, it doesn't stop my pain and I cry out again, curling into a ball on my side as my grip on the edge of the cot causing it to splinter.

My eyelids snap shut as the tears fall down my cheeks, the movement of Knox's steps a distant background noise. It seems like forever to me, but I can't even focus when I hear him come back again. As another wave crashes through my body, the door unlocks, and I hear his steps near me.

I'm growling lowly as I tear myself from the cot and lunge at Knox, yelling at him, "F-Fuck of-f!"

Though...

...when I blink my eyelids open wide, my back hitting the floor, I stare up with complete shock into Alpha Keir's eyes.

I think I've unintentionally hurt his pride again...

...that look in his eyes, it's the same when I'd reacted to being his mate.

He's pinned me down, my arms up near the top of my head while he straddles my hips. His scent envelops me, the close proximity to him dulling out the way I'd thought about everything earlier.

Right now...

Regardless of how he feels, I can see it's driving him mad...the scent of my heat.

A sharp exhale leaves my lips when he releases my wrists, lifting my shirt up almost past my breasts. The second his hand touches my abdomen; a soft moan visibly arouses him. His fingers caress my flesh, replacing the fire of my heat with an enticing warmth.

Alpha Keir's nose is inches from mine, his scent surrounding me as I breathe in. His eyes search mine, my chin lifting as I exhale again, his fingers tracing just above the hem of the shorts I wear. His lips lower slightly, mine lifting as my hips rises slightly.

The next time I breathe, his lips claim mine, a dominant passion rippling through my body. I'm lost also, kissing him back with the same fire. He draws my lower lip between his teeth, sucking on it hard while I moan louder. I match him equally, my teeth scraping his upper lip as a growl and groan mixes with pleasure at the back of his throat. When we release each other, he doesn't let up, his tongue invading my mouth when I breathe.

Fingers grip the hem of my shorts before they slip down between the fabric of my underwear and skin. Alpha Keir's tongue twists around mine, trying to lock his dominance...but I don't let him, my tongue following his back and into his mouth, tasting him as my clit throbs with need. Heat builds, my body burning with need, a need for him, one I want to fight, but fail miserably at this moment.

When I draw his lower lip between my teeth, trying to take control over him, he pulls back slightly. I exhale sharply when the back of my head presses against the floor, his hand holding over my forehead while his nose traces down my neck. I breathe hard, hearing him inhale my scent deeply, two of his fingers parting my wet folds and rubbing up my slit.

I cry out, "Please," my hips bucking upward to meet his touch. His teeth scrape the flesh which meets my shoulder and neck, loud moans filling the cell as he sucks the flesh into his mouth. My moans string together when his two fingers press past my entrance, a loud gasp causing his hardening cock to further be restricted by his pants.

My teeth bite down on my lower lip, unsure of how I could ever possibly feel this way. The way his fingers cause my walls to constrict around them, his pace even while he doesn't penetrate too deep.

Alpha Keir's lips are at my ear, his voice deep and husky, my walls clenching at his words, "You're so tight...Laura," his teeth scrap my earlobe and I cry out, his thumb rubbing my clit harder. I feel myself shaking slightly beneath him, his voice causing a pleasurable shiver to run down my spine as he states, "I'm going to mark you. You are mine, Laura Tomes."

"I-"

I'm rendered breathless as he pumps his fingers faster, his tongue licking feverishly over the spot he's selected. My abdomen becomes tight, my walls tightening around his fingers while I moan, my head tilting back and allowing him easier access to what he wants.

But...I...

My hands reach up and grasp his shoulders, pressing against him as I shake my head saying, "I don't wan-"

I'm not stronger than him...not like this and it shows as I press harder against his shoulders...but his teeth entrap my flesh. When they do, they're animalistic, his wolf's, and I cry out softly when his teeth bite into my flesh.

It's like a rush pulling through my soul and being, bringing me closer before I realize it...

...his teeth release my flesh, his eyes staring down into mine with mixed emotions on his features while I quiver beneath him.

Alpha Keir's voice is low when he tells me, "It's not always about you or what you want...only thinking of yourself..." a golden glint flashes across his irises as he releases my forehead. His fingers withdraw from within me while he rises to his feet, a disgruntled sigh as he reaffirms, "Selfish."