You Wouldn't Dare (Khaos Trilogy Book 1), page 22
I had known my mother was borderline insane when I lived with her. She prioritised everything completely wrong and really was a vain, narcissistic, nasty excuse for a Luna. But I never realised just how deep this went. I guess I spent so much time avoiding her company that she always managed to hide the worst of herself. How my dad had put up with her all these years was a mystery.
One good thing did come out of that phone call. I was now more decided than ever that I would be leaving with Khaos. I could not go back to my mother's pack so it was either stay with him forever or be in his good books long enough to request a transfer to an allied pack - not that that was likely to happen when I was pregnant with the Alpha's firstborn.
I packed my bags again, thinking over my mother's last words. The pack bond would shatter if I were to mate with Khaos, so she knew that this had not happened yet.
For some reason that I couldn't quite put my finger on, this made me incredibly nervous. I knew her well enough to know there was something she was hiding. She herself had said there was a lot of drama happening at the moment. Something much bigger was happening, I just wish I knew what.
Khaos
I didn’t go far once Violet threw me out. I simply sank against the wall opposite her room and, with my knees bent up, my elbows resting on them, I stayed there. Outside her room. Pining for her like a lovesick puppy.
No doubt she would have laughed in my face if she had left the room and seen my pathetic actions, much the same as Jasmine did as she walked past to go to her room - although she was wise enough to keep her tongue still and not say a word.
Violet might think she was a mug and being walked over, but she had no idea how much respect she was earning from the pack with the way that she always stood up to me and managed to get me to bend to her will.
I sent a mind-link to my Beta, asking him to pack a suitcase for me to last a month, and two Omegas had already filled my car with all the supplies we could need. I heard them giggling as they planned a romantic gesture on my behalf. They wanted me to use a trail of Lilies they had packed for me, the flower of our Moon Goddess, to win Violet over. The trail would lead to the bedroom where no doubt they would inform me to sprinkle them over the bed, surrounded by dozens of candles. They read too many romance books; I already knew that would go down like a lead balloon. That was one piece of advice I wouldn’t be taking.
After a few hours, I heard Violet on the phone to her mother. I tried to strain my ears so I could listen to her mother’s replies, but it seemed my wolf was also in a mood with me as he refused to cooperate, blocking off my heightened senses, so all I got was a one-sided conversation.
I’ll admit, my heart skipped a beat when I heard Violet say she would be leaving with me, but I quickly squashed that foolish glimmer of hope. After the intel I had gathered on the Atlantis Pack, I was hardly surprised she didn’t want to return there.
I really was the best of a bad bunch.
It was quiet for a few hours afterwards, the only noise I could pick up was the sound of the shower running before it disappeared into complete silence. I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard the click to indicate the door was opening.
“Why the fuck are you sitting outside my door like a naughty dog that’s been banished from its owner’s room?”
I jumped to my feet, stretching out my stiff limbs as I answered. “Many a true word spoken in jest. How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” she muttered back, her posture stiff and awkward. I didn’t know how to deal with sullen, quiet Violet. Give me her screams and rants any day. At least I had an idea of how she was feeling. I was lost with the miserable girl in front of me, other than knowing the obvious.
“Did you decide?” She gestured to the suitcase behind her. “I’ll get that then, shall I?”
“If you please.”
“Violet, I know I fucked up, but you’ve got to work with me here and meet me halfway.”
“I don’t have to do anything. Do you think I care that this is unpleasant and uncomfortable for you? That I’m even the slightest bit bothered that this is awkward and out of your comfort zone? No. Don’t delude yourself. I’m doing this for the baby and that’s it.” She stomped down the hall towards the main entrance of the packhouse, leaving me to trail after her.
This was going to be a long month.
Atlantis Pack
Amanda
I had been on the phone for the past hour with my new acquaintance, telling her everything I knew - from the moment Khaos stormed into our pack, to the phone call from Violet last night.
“Honestly, Nyx, I know you hand no hand in raising that boy, but I am ashamed for you! To drag Violet away for a month against her will is unforgivable. I could tell she was putting a brave spin on things, but it’s utterly appalling.”
“I know, Amanda, I know. However, as much as your daughter means to you, that is the least of his crimes, I assure you. I’m sure you’ve heard about his adoptive parents, but did you know that he’s now turned his attention to his father and me? As if his upbringing was any fault of our own! We may have put him up for adoption but believe me when I say it was for the best. Khaos’ real dad is the worst of the worst. Pray to our Goddess you never cross paths with him. I myself narrowly escaped with my life still intact. I couldn’t raise a baby on my own, and so I selflessly handed him over to a childless couple, an Alpha couple no less! I trusted them wholeheartedly when they told me they would raise him as their own, and how does Khaos repay me? By plotting my death!”
“So, what do you suggest we do?”
“I’m glad you asked, but you’re not going to like it…”
Chapter 21
Violet
The drive to the cabin was tense, to say the least. Every so often Khaos would glance my way and catch me staring at him, and vice versa.
With how quiet and sullen we were both being, it reminded me of my first car journey with him.
Goddess that seemed like a lifetime ago now. How could I have possibly anticipated this was the way things would turn out? I had no idea that I would defy the odds to get pregnant during my first heat, and to a man whose company I could not be in for more than a half-hour before we threw insults at each other.
The question was, would I change anything if I had a second chance?
That was something I was struggling to find an answer for.
Khaos broke the silence, jolting me back into the present. “The cabin is coming up on the left. Look through the trees and you’ll catch a glimpse of it.”
My breath caught in my throat as I followed his instructions and saw the most beautiful cabin.
To call it a cabin was a disservice. The front looked like any other cabin - a simple, single-storied building complete with wooden steps and a porch. However, as we drove down the path, I saw that the house extended on either side with long, rectangular buildings. The porch of the cabin had a white picket fence that came off it, making way for little square flower beds as it joined up with building extensions on the side.
Khaos opened my door for me and I saw little details that I had missed earlier, such as the gorgeous wind chimes hanging from the porch roof, the wolf shaped door knocker, even the flowerpots on the windowsill were little ceramic wolves, their backs hollowed out to fit in the little flowers.
Walking through the door I saw that the front of the cabin came with all of its original features - wooden beams, log burner fire, everything to give it a homely, warm touch. However, the extensions had been modernised, both of them having wall to ceiling windows that looked out onto the courtyard out the back. A huge wooden fence joined together the two buildings, impossible for anyone to climb or look over without some serious climbing equipment - not that there was anything to worry about, there wasn’t another house around for miles!
“Do you like it?” Khaos asked hopefully. “I know it’s all a bit... thrown together but--”
“No, I love it! It works well, and to be honest, I don’t fancy cooking in the kitchen that would have been here originally, can you? Let’s not even mention the plumbing and bathroom! Modern definitely has its uses in a cabin like this.” I gave him a soft smile and followed his lead as he gave me the tour around the place, taking great pains to emphasise how safe the backyard was and show me all the security locks on the windows.
“Remember above all else, do not open the front door unless you’ve checked the peephole first. The door is firm enough that no wolf should be able to barge through it easily, but still... what was that for?”
“I had a tickle in my throat, all better now," I replied innocently.
“The hell you did! What are you scoffing for?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Check the peephole, Khaos? Really? I’m not sticking my eye that close! If there’s a serial killer outside, how difficult would it be to jam a knife through the peephole and straight into me?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He laughed, shaking his head at me.
“You don’t think about stuff like that?”
“Yes, Violet, I often think of being stabbed in the eye as I’m answering the door.”
I folded my arms and frowned at him. “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you know.”
“I do know. I also know that you have much bigger issues than the serial killer outside...” He muttered ominously, looking around the room with suddenly wide eyes, “Violet… Come here,” he demanded, and I flew to his side.
“What?” I hissed, lowering my voice before continuing. “what is it?”
He turned round to look at me, his face dark and hidden in shadows, “Isn’t it obvious, Violet? The serial killer inside the house is always scarier than the one outside, especially when he’s hungry...”
He grabbed hold of me, swinging me up into his arms as he tickled me, carrying me straight into the kitchen. My fists pounded at his back as I squealed with laughter, demanding that he put me down and then regretting it the moment he did.
“Make me food, woman,” he ordered playfully.
I stood on my tiptoes and looked him straight in the eye. “Who’s going to make me?”
He grabbed my waist, pulling me closer, and my mouth instantly dried up. I swallowed hard as I saw the lust blaze in his eyes, sending a dart of longing through me. My tongue shot out to wet my lips nervously, and his eyes followed my every move, his fingers digging into my sides. We locked gazes once more, and we both knew what was going to happen. He lowered his head to mine as I strained further on my toes to meet him.
Before his lips could lock to mine, he shook his head, breaking free from the spell and gently, but firmly, pushed me away from him.
“I err... I…-sorry.” I stuttered, my face burning with embarrassment.
“Nothing happened. Listen, you go rest your feet and I’ll rustle us up something for tonight, what do you feel like having?”
“You,” my wolf howled. I mentally kicked her. “Anything will be fine.”
“Great, nice and easy, just how I like them,” he winked. “I’ll just go wash up.”
The moment he left the kitchen, I sagged against the counter, letting out the breath I hadn’t even realised I’d been holding. This was going to be a long, frustrating month.
Chapter 22
Amanda’s Diary
This daughter of mine will be the death of me! If it wasn’t bad enough that I had to deal with the insane gossip of her and her mate, or Logan’s grieving parents, now I have Khaos’ insane mother to deal with! She’s not easy, let me tell you!
Can you imagine, she rings here, my own home! Goddess knows how she got this number! But anyway, she rings and asks for me by name! “Can I speak to Amanda, please?”
No Luna, nothing!
To say I was shocked was an understatement. As far as I was aware, Khaos had been searching for his mother for years and she’d always managed to elude him. Yet there she was, completely out of the blue, ringing my packhouse.
We spoke for around an hour the week before Violet went away, and she spun the tale of how she had raised Khaos with love until she just couldn’t do it anymore. I hardly believed that for a second! Men like Khaos didn’t hate the way he did for no good reason! I had been willing to sever all ties with the woman. Heaven forbid I give those wretched friends of mine even more reason to gossip and giggle as I walked past them!
Then Violet rang and said she wouldn’t be returning, in fact, she would be leaving with him for a month! A whole month!
Who knows what sort of nonsense he will plant into her head, given that sort of time alone with her? This overjoyed Nyx, hearing that they will be gone for an entire month and she told me not to worry.
It’s easy for her to say, she hates her son and though I might not always show it, my daughter is the love of my life. I’ve done nothing but try to give her the absolute best and stop her from being led astray. I cannot have her mated to that awful, murderous beast. She would never be able to walk into this pack with her head held high!
Her father is already receiving demands that we banish her should she not see the error of her ways. Things are done in a very particular way here and mating with someone like that is simply not good for the pack politics, it will threaten every single allegiance of ours.
My Violet is a very impressionable young woman - look how easily she was seduced by that no-good Beta offspring, Logan. His death is no great loss at all. Had he left well enough alone I may have found myself able to show a little compassion. Maybe even grieve for him. But I'm afraid he had plans way above his station. And to drag Violet into his schemes to work his way up the pack rank - That wouldn't do. My son is the next Alpha, Violet was always destined to leave this pack and join her Alpha mate elsewhere. If she had mated with Logan, the whole pack would have been thrown into disarray. What would be their place? Imagine, my Violet… no longer a Luna. The best she would have been able to hope for is to be the mate of a Beta! I'd rather see her dead!
Anyway, forgive my ramblings. As it turns out, I really can have my cake and eat it too. Nyx has come up with the most wonderful plan, it's almost a pity I didn't think of it myself! We have a whole month to enjoy ourselves and as the saying goes, whilst the cats away, the mice shall play...
Chapter 23
The First Two Weeks
Violet
The first two weeks flew by in an incredible whirlwind, with Khaos attending to my every need.
When I woke up with cravings, he drove me to the nearest store to find them, no matter the time. He introduced me to everyone as his wife, and surprisingly this didn’t bother me. It was nice to not know anyone, to pretend that we were just an ordinary couple and not the leaders of a fierce wolf pack. It even turned into a fun game for us, to see who was quicker off the mark with introductions that would set the scene for our characters.
Khaos definitely won this when he pretended we were cowboy outlaws, complete with a perfect cowboy accent and shouting, “howdy, partner!” to every passer-by on the street. People had crossed the road to avoid us, scared of Khaos and the ridiculous stories he had told. He could shoot the seeds off his father’s fingertips by the time he was five, he said. The poor shop owner had nearly fainted when Khaos had laughed, using his hand to imitate a gun, blowing on the tips of his fingers when he had finished. We really did have a lot of fun, and it allowed me to see more of Khaos’ playful side. The person he would have been had everyone not tried to destroy him as a young boy.
Even though he was trying to have fun with me, to make this getaway special, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I had taken Khaos away from his pack, and I knew that they needed him. He had tried to put my mind at ease, telling me he had never been selfish before, so he deserved it.
He had laughed when I raised my eyebrows at that and told me yes; he had been selfish, but only for his pack. He had taken from others to ensure that his pack could grow. But he had never been selfish for himself. He was going to spend the next month with me alone, no matter what. The pack had never had a serious attack before now and he doubted that him being away would mean that an attack was imminent. They had the best warriors, and he was confident they knew how to defend themselves. Was he not owed one measly, selfish month after nearly a decade of dedication without a break?
I could hardly say no.
When my morning sickness kicked in, he held my hair back and gently stroked my back. He distracted me with tales of his pack and even had me laughing at some parts of his childhood, which I didn’t think was possible. Hearing the story of a young Khaos trying to tame a stray dog had me riveted, my morning sickness forgotten. The dog had sensed there was something different in Khaos, almost as if it detected the Alpha inside him - he definitely knew Khaos was not completely human. Smelling the scent of its own kind on Khaos’ skin, it had stayed rooted to the spot, cocking its head to one side as it tried to figure him out. The moment Khaos had tried to pet it, the dog snapped, piercing the skin on Khaos’ hand and fleeing into the distance. Khaos had spent a week tracking this dog down, knowing that if he didn’t, it would die with no one else to protect it.
The two had become fast friends, with Khaos often sneaking some of his own pathetic rations out of the packhouse. My heart warmed at this. From what I knew, Khaos barely had enough food for himself back then, but hearing he was always so willing to help others comforted me. He would make a fantastic father.
The story of the dog ended abruptly and when I pushed for more, all he would say was, “Drake found out.”
I stopped pushing, and I left it to my imagination. There were no happily ever afters once Drake got involved.
Khaos also opened up to me about some of his regrets in life, things he had reflected on at Alpha Duke’s pack. He regretted that he had started his pack so early on, that he hadn’t given himself a chance to discover who he really was. He wouldn’t change his pack for the world, but he wished that he had waited so he could lead differently.
