Apprehensively I returned to the office everyone had already arrived. I eyed the over turned couch knowing it's cause.
Trigon, Cal, Loki and a few others I'd seen around the estate stood around the desk giving both Ki and the overturned couch a wide birth. As I approached the group I could feel the tension in the air as Ki refused to look at me.
Loki grabbed my hand squeezing it as he pulled me closer to stand beside him As they continued.
"As I was saying we can't just kill Tharon the council will hold the blue moon pack responsible."
One of the wolves I didn't know voiced.
"But he made the first move by sending the bounty hunter after our alpha isn't that enough of a reason?"
Another I didn't know countered.
"But there's no proof of Tharon's transgression."
"We have the bounty hunter make him talk."
Ki sighed.
"We've tried he won't name Tharon as his client. We have to be smart about this it's not like the forest lakes pack. Here Tharon can't just attempt an outright attack but he can weaken us through other means."
"And what's to stop him from sending another assassin?"
Cal argued.
"He wouldn't risk involving another while this one won't talk the next one might."
"So what do you suggest we do son?"
Trigon who had stayed silent til now asked.
"We start with the council it's no secret that there are council members that fear Tharon's ever rising power. We need to know which ones are against Tharon and which ones are under his thumb."
Ki took a breath before he continued.
"We also need intel we need to know what his plans are and what his next move is."
Here he turned to Loki.
"I know your not apart of this pack but considering the circumstances..."
Ki's eyes darted to me then back to Loki.
"I figured as an ex bounty hunter you could help."
The implications of what he was asking dawned on me. It would mean Loki would have to leave I couldn't let that happen the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
"He can't!"
All eyes snapped to me as Loki shot a warning look my way silencing me instantly. I looked to the floor avoiding Ki's suspicious eyes.
"Problem?"
"Not at all I would request however that Raven accompany me."
Ki instantly growled.
"No! It's too dangerous she stays here."
"With all do respect Ki but she is not apart of your pack and is free to leave any time and I would feel much better if she remained with me."
Ki stood his mood darkening even more as his eyes glowed in anger.
"She is under the protection the blue moon pack the safest place for her is here. I question the fact that you want to take her closer to the reason she needs protecting in the first place. That is unless you know something the rest of us don't."
"Of corse not call it merely the worry of an over protective father. Very well I will do as you ask."
"Good. nicali, ward you will go with Loki."
"Yes alpha."
"Trigon reach out to the other alphas find out who's with Tharon and who's against him."
Turning to me his eyes bore into mine as he continued.
"Cal stay with Raven if she tries to leave lock her up."
"What?!"
Loki held out a hand stopping me from protesting further.
"Do you really think that's necessary where would she go?"
Kis eyebrows raised.
"You tell me?"
Loki remained silent as they stared each other down. Once Ki realised Loki would not answer he dismissed everyone from the room. I turned to leave when Ki grabbed my arm. Loki squeezed my shoulder before he headed out. Cal who now was to be my shadow awkwardly pointed to the door.
"I'll just wait outside."
Ki waited for him to close the door before he turned to me. He didn't say a word as his eyes took in my face. The dark cloud of tension that had been fragmenting the air since I walked in slowly dissipated.
"Now I understand."
My eyebrows knit in confusion.
"Understand what?"
"Why you've been pushing me away."
"I don't know what your talking about."
I made to leave but he pulled me back trapping my hands in his.
"Did you really think I wouldn't realise what your plan is?"
"Let me go Ki."
I tried to pull away hating how his touch sent tingles down my spine.
"Why because your heart is starting to race."
I turned away from him.
"Please Ki I don't want to keep hurting you."
"Yet you'll go on a suicide mission to kill Tharon?."
I snapped my head back, so he did know.
His anger returned.
"So it's true?"
I started to deny his words but he cut me off.
"I can see it in your eyes Raven. How could you just throw away your life like that?! Don't you realise how much you mean to me?!"
He turned away visibly trying to rein in his wolf.
I should've known I wouldn't be able to hide it from him. What was I going to do now? Now that he knew he would never let me out of his sights. I had to make him see that it was the only way to stop this war.
"Ki you have to let me go."
He spun on me his eyes glowing.
"Let you go?!"
He growled as he grabbed my arm roughly.
"Why is it that you think your life is worth less then mine?"
I gritted my teeth against the pain.
"Because your an alpha you have a whole pack to take care of. There are wolves that count on you if I kill Tharon this war ends with him. No one needs to loose their life."
He squeezed tighter.
"No one except you, you mean. So you'll sacrifice your life to save the pack? That's bullshit Raven even if you managed to kill Tharon your sister will just take his place then what? you'll kill her too?"
"Yes!"
I ripped my arm from his grasp.
"If that's what it takes then yes!"
He grabbed my shoulders his grip just as tight.
"Stop lying to yourself and admit that your scared! Scared of your feelings for me scared to let anyone in!"
Tears escaped down my cheeks as his words hit me like a hammer. I was scared from the start I believed I would never be good enough for him, that one day he would realise what a huge mistake he made in making me his Luna.
"Be honest with yourself for once in your life!"
"Enough Ki!"
Ki's eyes snapped to the door as Cal watched the scene before him his eyes wide. Ki stepped back shock at what he was doing evident on his face.
"Rave.....I'm sorry-"
He started to reach for my face but I stepped away from him.
"Your right I am scared! Im scared that if I let you in if I open my heart to you and you die in this war I'll be left alone. I'll be left with the knowledge that I wasn't strong enough to save you to save those who look up to you and count on you. I would rather die then live with the knowledge that your death was my fault!"
Ki stared at me stunned into silence, wiping my eyes I turned to leave. Cal moved to block the door.
"Don't worry I'm just going to my room..."
I looked back at Ki before I continued.
"i don't need a shadow."
Ki nodded. Cal stepped aside as I slammed the door behind me.
Rushing into my room I closed the door behind me in a daze.
"Rave? Are you ok?"
Snapping my head up I wiped them to hide my feelings as I peered at Loki.
"Yes I'm fine."
He looked into my eyes I knew they were puffy from my tears but Loki didn't push me for answers.
"Well I just came to make sure you were ok and to say good bye since I'll be leaving tonight. Now I know its not the ideal situation but-"
"Don't worry Ki figured it out anyway there's no chance of me going through with it now."
Loki pulled me in for a hug.
"Well I can't say I'm not happy I didn't like the idea of you taking on Tharon by yourself away."
I pushed him away scowling.
"Then why did you agree?"
"Because I saw the look in your eyes if I didn't help you would've tried to do it on your own and that would have only gotten you killed."
I sighed as I sat on my bed Loki sitting beside me.
"Well it doesn't matter now Ki's not likely to let me out of his sights."
Loki wrapped his hand around my much smaller one.
"That doesn't mean I still can't teach you."
My eyes darted to his.
"Really?"
"Of corse we are starting a war after all having bounty hunter skills will only improve your chances in what's to come."
I wrapped my arms around him.
"Thank you Loki."
Loki stood as he smiled down at me.
"I'll see you when I come back kiddo try not to cause too much trouble while I'm gone."
He ruffled my hair as I swatted his hands away.
"Stay safe....dad."
His smile widened as he kissed my forehead.
"I'll come back I promise."
"If you don't I'll kill you myself."
He chuckled as he left shutting the door behind him.
Throwing myself back on the bed I stared at the ceiling. What was I going to do now?
I remembered the look on Ki's face as I was leaving. God why did I have say all that stuff? I tried so hard to keep my fears hidden. Now they were out and it made me look weaker for it. Not to mention now that it was out I couldn't stop my feelings for Ki from swelling. For the truth was I had already let Ki into my heart.
I lifted my hand to my neck his mark now healed still held the impressions of his canines. The mark even left his scent as sandalwood and musk brushed against my senses. Then there was the fact that Falc has called to Caryi. Her presence was so strong in that moment it felt as if a piece of me had finely been freed. It made me wonder what would happen if I completed the mate bond with Ki? Would it change anything and if it did would I then have the power to keep those I love safe? I shook my head how could it Tharon defeated an entire pack of wolves with powers like Loki described mine I was just one wolf.
Turning on my side I looked out the window the sun was starting to set mentally exhausted I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep