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Tears trail down my cheeks, my arms wrapped around my knees as I sit on the cot with my back to the wall. I'm trying to regulate my breathing, but I hiccup sobs, my nose sniffling as I can't believe what Alpha Keir has done.

He force marked me.

Regardless of him being my mate, that doesn't give him the right...

It hits me then, my knuckles turning white as I grip harder. He did it so I can't reject him, not without bearing the brunt of the consequence of doing so.

How dare he, but I guess I can't expect much from a pack that's claimed his dominance over the rest, their harsh nature reflecting their true colors. It hurts my chest, feeling this way, as I hardly believe it's any better than how Silos planned to treat me.

I'm lost.

"Luna Mother," I can hear Knox speaking at the entrance to the holding cells, my eyes remaining transfixed on the spot I've been staring at. Footsteps draw closer, knowing they've stopped outside of the bars to my cell because I can feel her presence.

Omega.

Her voice is gentle as she asks, "Luna Laura?"

My gaze slowly lifts to see an older woman with auburn hair slowly turning white from age. Her eyes hold mine, confusion filling her features as she looks over me. She tells me gently, "I've heard a lot about you growing up." I look over her, the silence remaining between us. After a few moments, she introduces herself, "I'm Ashling Wood...what happened?"

My eyes widen at her name, father having spoken many times about an omega who became a Luna, the mate of Alpha Rakkon...

...though nothing compares to the story told of how Alpha Keir had killed an adult male hybrid, the one who'd killed his father.

I guess I'm still lost in thought because she asks me, "Keir said he found his mate, I ju-"

"Your son force marked me," I seethe with anger.

"Keir..." her features shift, and she lowers her gaze.

"She's here, isn't she?" Alpha Keir's voice sparks an argument at the entrance to the holding cells, though a second later, he orders, "Diccan...move."

Luna Mother...Ashling, a title fit for her...she glances down the hall which she'd come down, hearing footsteps approaching.

Alpha Keir comes into my field of view and I immediately glance away from him, not wanting to see him after what had happened. He turns to his mother and asks, "Mom?"

"Did you really do this?" Ashling's voice holds emotion I've not heard since setting foot in the Nightshade Prowlers Pack territory.

"M-"

"Keir," her voice cuts through and I'm in awe at the way she commands her son. Regardless of him being the Alpha...as I lift my gaze slowly to see the two of them...it's obvious the respect he holds for her. Ashling's eyes shift to me for a second when she states, "You don't know what's happened or where people come from...only what's been said about them," she turns back to Alpha Keir and reminds him, "you're better than this...I can't see any good reason as to why you've done this...why you've treated not only your mate this way...but jeopardizing our relationship with the Imperial Stars Pack for whatever reason is beyond me..."

Alpha Keir's features shift as he calls for her, "Mom...I..."

Though Ashling turns her gaze on me and says, "I'm deeply sorry, this is not our way. On behalf of the Nightshade Prowlers Pack...I extend our sincerest apologies."

Ashling turns and walks around the side of her son, Alpha Keir staring off at her while begging her, "Mom...please, I-"

"I'm disappointed in you, Keir," is all she says as she fades out of my field of view. The door opens and closes in the distance, silence returning to the hall and the holding cell room. His gaze remains on the end of the hall, vulnerability remaining on his features...

...he covets his mother's approval and opinion.

Ashling's right...

I slowly release the hold I have around my legs, standing to my bare feet. Alpha Keir's attention immediately shifts to me as I walk closer to the bars. His eyes search mine, my voice shaky at first as I tell him, "I'm truly sorry...for what happened to your father, for you having to fill his position...I admired you, for how you lead...but it's obvious his death has affected you in a way you're not letting others see and projecting onto me," I pause a moment, his brows furrowing while he remains silent, his eyes holding mine, "you don't know me, just the shell of what you see that's been left behind after both of my parents have left me behind..."

Alpha Keir continues to hold my gaze, not saying a single word. It puts me on edge because I'm not sure what he's thinking...but I need to speak my peace.

"To find out after all the years you've lived, that the only reason your pack was aggressively stalked and attacked by another were because of your existence...because of your parents..." his features shift at my words, taking a step closer to the bars. Tears are in my eyes as I tell him, "My mom started a pack war with the Primordial Snare Pack, cheating on my father with Alpha Brennon. I don't know why she did, I never got the chance to ask because she died giving birth to me and my father wouldn't mare her name..."

Fresh tears form in my eyes, my voice watery. Alpha Keir's vulnerability isn't open like with Ashling, but a small opening is there.

"So, when my father was on his deathbed, he told me this secret that has been kept for years. He accepted me as his daughter, even with repeated attacks because my mother wanted me raised by her mate, not by anyone else. He loved me, never treated me otherwise..." my voice trails off as I shake my head, my hands grasping the metal bars as I tell him, "...but you know, it's hard not to form resentment that they didn't think it was worthwhile me knowing the truth...not until the end because regret is easier to deal with when you don't have to reflect on the consequences of your decisions. I love my father, but I can't help wondering about everything."

My thumb brushes the bars, noticing the way Alpha Keir closes his hands on the bars above mine.

"Yes...you're right. Everything you presume about me is true...for the past year I've struggled with believing whether or not I truly can or should lead the Silent Stars Pack. I've doubted and questioned myself and who I am..." as my voice trails off, he brings his forehead closer to the bars, his eyes holding mine as I state, "...though, through all of that...at least I found better outlets than fucking someone to make myself feel better."

Alpha Keir's grip intensifies on the bars.

My vision is blurry from the tears, but the anger I hold comes through as I state, "At least I saved myself for my mate...you...a courtesy that should have extended both ways," when I pause, breathing in and out rapidly, my heart skips a beat at how his eyes widen slightly. I tell him, "So, the next time you want to act like I'm the only one who has faults... remember that, because at least I can accept mine, learn and be guided...but you can never take back what you've done."

The bars are almost breaking under the pressure he puts on them, my eyes falling away from his. I release the bars, turning around to walk back to the cot...

...though I pause for a moment, turning to look him straight in the eye as I say, "Also, it's not my fault you interpreted wrongly of the way I reacted to being your mate," it hurts, the honest truth to the both of us as I state, "Like I said, I admired you and couldn't believe what fate had dealt me...in a good way...but, force marking me?"

I narrow my eyes at him, shaking my head, "Did you think I was going to reject you? What did you hope to gain by not giving me a choice? When you do something for others, you shouldn't expect anything in return. Just because you decided to get me off and help with my heat, you regard me as selfish for not wanting you to mark me right then in return...for a favor, I never asked for? Really?"

While I walk back to the cot, sitting on the edge of it, I feel Alpha Keir's eyes on me. He's quiet for a few more minutes, though I'm surprised me when tells me, "You're right. I'm sorry..." though his voice trails off, I hear the genuine surprise in his voice as he mutters, "...I didn't even know you were a virgin...I acted out my feelings of doubt and my insecurities onto you. I shouldn't have...I'm so sorry."

I don't get a chance to say anything, because when I look back to him, he's gone. His footsteps end when the door opens and closes to the holding cells room. Emotions flood me, another wave of tears wash over me as I cry...I cry harder than I have in a long time as everything lifts off my chest.

I'm in and out of sleep the rest of the night, waking to hearing the door to the cell being scraped open. When I blink my eyelids open, rubbing the residue from the tears out of my eyes, I look up from lying on my side to see Alpha Keir, Fern, Knox, and another man.

The look Fern gives me...its regret and pity, not wanting to meet my gaze as her eyes avert to the ground. Alpha Keir kneels down next to the cot, his eyes searching over me as he says, "You're free to leave."

My eyes search his, slowly lifting from my side while he keeps his eyes on me. I'm confused as I ask, "What?"

"You're free to leave my territory..." Alpha Keir has a pang of hardness in is voice, almost like it's taking everything from within him to allow me my choice...because he then says, "...or you can stay and I'll help your pack once we better understand the situation they're in."

My eyes widen at his words, looking from him to the others standing around him.

"If you stay..." his voice captures me again, my gaze falling back to meet with his, "...I'll introduce you to the pack formally during dinner later tonight."

"What ab-"

I'm cut off a second later as my heart nearly beats out of my chest, Quinn rounding the corner and grinning from ear to ear at the cell door, "Laura!" She yells, exclaiming with happiness.

A wave of relief washes over me...

...she's safe and well.

Tears form in my eyes as she giggles, "Oh...so, I kind of...my mate is here..."

That man...Coen?

I'd kept him from trying to ease her pain in a way only a mate can.

Internally, I hang my head with shame and defeat for what I'd done, but Quinn says, "We should stay. There's nothing we can do on our own against Silos and..." she eyes Alpha Keir, pointing and grinning at him like she's met a celebrity.

Alpha Keir's ego rises without me having to even look at him. Though...even if I stay, I need to feel safe and trust...that I can place my life in his hands without doubt or question.

I nod slightly and say, "We'll stay."

Alpha Keir nods and says, "I'll prove to you that I'm sorry...because I know words can hold empty promises. I've given you no reason to trust me, for what I've done, I don't know if it's repairable...though, if you allow me," his hand touches my shoulder as he says, "I'll spend the rest of my life proving you wrong and showing you who I am."