Tessa watched on in silence as Derek tried to convince his father why letting Kieran into the pack was a bad idea still. Honestly she understood where he was coming. She could hear the uncertainty and fear in his voice. For some reason, he feels threatened by Kieran. It's just been a day since they set him free and Derek was getting more worked up and angry, angry at the fact that no one was listening to him. "Do you even hear what I am saying Tessa?" His voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away and shifting her attention to him. "Sorry, I spaced out for a bit"
"It is full moon tonight and we all know the dangers that comes with it, especially since we know nothing about him. He's an Omega who has been without a pack. How do we know he can control his wolf during a full moon? How do we know he's not going to go on a killing spree once the moon is fully out and he loses control?" Derek questioned, hoping one of them comes to their senses and listen to him. He was getting more pissed at how much attention Tessa had been giving him and how hard she's been defending him.
"He's right" Beta Maynard adjusted on his seat, sorting the books on his desk. Honestly he wished they could go figure that out themselves. He had a bigger picture to look at. He was getting angry at the fact that his son couldn't see it too.
"I will watch him through the night to make sure that doesn't happen" Tessa suggested
"What? You're going to babysit him now?....We are supposed to spend the night together and besides what if he does lose control and hurt someone before you can stop him? Am I the only one thinking about all that could go wrong or all that might already be wrong. For all we know he might just be with the enemy, this Black Lotus, he might just be a spy for them"
"Now you're being paranoid" Tessa said to him as she began tying her hair up into a bun.
"To be on the safe side tonight, it'll be best to get him away from the rest of the pack. Just till we know he has absolute control over his wolf" The Beta stated
"Thank you" Derek uttered with a relieved look.
"So you'll take him to your father's cabin in the woods close to the pack border and watch him throughout the night..."
"WHAT?!" Derek's eyes shot wide open with shock at his father's statement
"That way everyone will be safe"
"Yeah except her. There's no way I am letting her go with him alone"
"I am not a child. I can handle myself and besides like you said, he's just an Omega. If I can't handle one Omega then how can I call myself the Alpha's daughter" She explained with a determined look.
"She needs experiences like this if she's going to be the Alpha one day and besides I am going to send some Betas along to keep watch from a distance just in case. Now I think that settles that. I need to get back to work" He concluded, nodding at Tessa who smiled and walked out of the office with a fulfilled smile.
Derek was brewing with anger. Angry at his Father for going along with this, angry at the Alpha for approving the white-haired's stay and angry at Tessa who had become fully invested. He was about to storm out of the office too when his father's voice stopped him in his tracks. "You shouldn't let the little things blind you from seeing the bigger picture. Let your head be invested more than your heart. You aren't just aiming to be with her but to prove your worthy to be a ruler who can lead the pack too. Which means you shouldn't focus on winning her heart alone but also the Alpha's too. And this Omega just provided an opportunity for us to do that. You just have to trust that I have a plan for every decision I take."
"But she's shifting all attention to him"
"Not for long. With this move we can determine if he's a spy or not and also set him on a path where he can serve our cause if he isn't. Killing two birds with one stone. Trust me and roll with whatever decision I make. Just focus on appearing perfect" Beta Maynard concluded with a devious smile.
Derek bobbed his head, putting his trust in his father's ambition once again even if he didn't agree with the whole method. As much as he would hate to admit it, he was getting jealous of the attention she was giving to this Omega. He nodded with understanding and then left the office.
***
Stepping into the pack house, Tessa's eyes fell immediately on Kieran who was seated in the main room, leg crossed, a wide smile on his face as he was surrounded by what she'll classify as thirsty she wolves. A frown had immediately taken over her expression. She had left them as she went to attend to the call of her father's right hand. Now seeing him there having fun and chatting away with those unmated she-wolves stirred something in her.
She stormed toward their direction, maintaining the frown on her face. As soon as the she wolves spotted her, they swiftly backed away as respect for their future Alpha. "Hey! You're back!" Kieran called
She remained mute, got to where he was, grabbed his hand and pulled him up, dragging him out of the pack house. "Slow down you're gonna rip my hand off" He called after her but it fell on deaf ears. She led him to her car, forced him into the front seat before going around to get into the driver's seat. Kieran kept his gaze on her as she sank into the seat heaving a deep sigh. "Are you okay? You seem like..."
"I am trying so hard, fighting for you and you're busy having fun with those thirsty she-wolves, flirting with them" She blurted out, cutting him off.
"Ermmm...i wasn't flirting with them. Merely having a conversation with them to avoid being bored" He explained, giving her a quizzical look. "You're fighting for me how?" He inquired
"It doesn't matter" She replied swiftly. She realized she blurted that part out without realizing. She didn't want him to know he was free to leave at anytime yet. Not until she convinces him to join her pack. Though she didn't know why she was acting that way and wanting for it to happen, but it felt right, like the right to do. It was the most certain she had been about something. "Next time you should just wait for me"
"Well I wouldn't be bored if you hadn't left me there alone. And besides the ladies were the ones who took interest in me and approached me first" He explained
"Of course, they were" She rolled her eyes as she ignited the engine. She wasn't surprised about that. His look was divine. With his build, height, face and white hair, he was like a demi-god. There was no way he wasn't going to stand out wherever he was.
"Where are we headed to now?" His voice snapped her out of her objectifying thoughts.
"It's full moon tonight so I have been ordered to take you to our personal cabin to ride it out in case you have no control. So you wouldn't be a danger to anyone else. Do you have any control?" She asked, stealing a glance at him.
"Nope" He shook his head and looked away from her
"Seriously? You've been a wolf for years and still have no control?" Tessa wasn't expecting that to be his reply. It dawned on her how stressful and hard the night could be and how it could turn out anyway. "We are going to make a stop and get back up. Beta's orders, not mine"
"Whatever you say. As long as you're coming with me, I don't care who else is tagging along" He stated whilst still staring out the window.
Tessa couldn't help but smile at what he said. It made her feel some type of way. "It's mid noon already. We should pick up the pace, it'll be dark soon"
***
Kieran stared out the cabin window into the woods, watching the Betas that came with them, patrolling the woods and standing guard. He looked up at the sky and the moon was almost fully out, just a little hidden by the clouds. He heard footsteps come into the room. He turned to see Tessa standing there by the door, her hair freely hanging down. Somehow she looked even prettier just standing there. He stood in awe admiring her beauty.
His hands ached to cup her pretty small face. He was still taking in her beauty when his eyes fell on the thick, strong and new chain she was holding. His expression immediately changed into disbelief, his eyes screaming 'Heck NO!' He looked from the chains to her face and then back to the chain. "There is no way I am having that on me" He shook his head with disapproval.
"Why not?"
"Why the hell would I do something that barbaric to myself?"
"This is just for precaution. Its just till the full moon passes" She explained.
He began walking towards her whilst still staring at the chain in her hands with furrowed brows. "And where is yours?"
"I don't have one. I don't need one, I can control my wolf on a full moon" She replied
"I can control mine too" He pointed out, stopping in front of her.
"But you told me you couldn't on our way here" Tessa stated with a confused look
"I never said I couldn't control my wolf, that wasn't what I meant and you never said anything about controlling my wolf"
"Then what did you mean?"
"I can't control my emotions on a full moon" He replied, bringing his right palm up and placing it on her face. Swiping his thumb across her cheek. Tessa's eyes widened and she immediately felt frozen to the floor with the chain still in her hands. "My emotions are heightened and all over the place during the full moon and I can barely control it" He explained just before the full moon came out fully and filled the room with its light. The full moon fell on her, reflecting in her eyes, making it shine brighter. This pulled him to her more as he leaned closer, his hand now under her chin as he pressed his lips lightly on hers.
As soon as his lips touched hers, the chain slipped from her hands and landed between them on the floor. Kieran pulled back, breaking the kiss, but his eyes were fixed on hers. She looked up at him with those beautiful innocent eyes of hers. She touched her lower lip with her fingertip before proceeding to say what she was thinking at that moment. "You said you wouldn't do that anymore.....unless I asked you to" She spoke ever so softly.
Kieran looked back and out the window at the full moon before turning to face her. "The full moon is out. I can't fully control my emotions. They are all heightened tonight, my feelings for you, the cravings and all" He paused, staring at her still frame and her conflicted eyes "Do you want me to try and control it?"
"No!" She replied almost immediately as her expression turned from conflicted to shy. "No, not tonight" She added softly, moving closer to him, closing the little distance between them.
Kieran nodded slowly with understanding, reaching out and cupping her face. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead before picking her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. He carried her to the empty bed in the room and laid her softly on it. Tessa felt her heart beating heavily against her chest, threatening to rip out. She was definitely not feeling in control of her body or desires. That was definitely unlike her, but it was for that same reason she was giving in to her feelings and desires, letting it take control of her and see where it would lead her to.
Kieran pulled back, staring down at her on the bed "Are you sure?" He asked softly
"NO..." She whispered in reply and then ran her fingers through his hair before pulling him back down to her, sealing his lips with a deep, passionate kiss. She proceeded to removing his jacket whilst still engaged in their kiss. The jacket came off in seconds, she reached for his white tee just before they felt multiple presences and a fast shadow approaching.
Kieran turned toward the direction just in time to see a set of claws heading toward Tessa. He swiftly grabbed her and rolled her away, protecting her from the claws which ended up clawing his eyes. They both fell to the floor with him still holding her on top of him. Tessa looked down at him and her eyes widened with shock as she saw him bleeding from the claw marks that went across his eyes, blinding him.
The room immediately darkened. She looked up to see someone sitting by the window, blocking the moonlight. Her eyes went to the other by the door and that's when she realized they were surrounded. She stood up, helping Kieran to his feet. "What's happening? I can't see" on standing up with Tessa holding his hand.
"Being blind will do that to you" The mystery person sitting on the window spoke up.
Tessa looked around the room and counted five of them, each positioned around them. The five of them had the same robe on with a hood covering their heads and a mask on, hiding their faces and she immediately recognized them. It was just as the Omega from her pack had described them. He was right, they had such a strong and intimidating presence. "You are the Black Lotus" She pointed out.
"What?" Kieran who couldn't see anything anymore uttered.
The one standing by the door, stepped forward, removing his hood but leaving his mask on. He had a short black hair. "You're right. We are the Black Lotus" He said with a slightly deep voice just before all their eyes began glowing red through the cut out holes in their mask.
'This is bad' Tessa thought to herself, squeezing Kieran's hand in hers.