The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 122: Ayla

“Kingston,” I said, trying to pull my hand away, but he held it tight. “What are you saying? Have you been hunting…”

“Waar Pak members?” he interrupted. “Of course. The bastards thought they could come back. They thought they could come into my territory and work under my nose. But he got careless. I caught his scent.”

“Who, Kingston?” I asked, getting more nervous. “Who got careless?”

“Grogan,” he said. “Arthur Grogan. The asshole was supposed to be dead. I saw your father kill him myself. But he must have survived and escaped.”

“Who is Grogan?”

“He’s one of the Waar Pak leaders,” Kingston clarified. “But it’s okay. He won’t get away this time. I’m closing in.” He tugged me against him. “And he led me to you. So I know we’ll prevail. It couldn’t mean anything else. My goddess came to me.”

Did he mean me? Was he talking about the tale?

“What goddess, Kingston? How did Grogan lead you to me?” I asked, trying to step away from him.

“The night we met,” I said. “I was following his scent when you came around that bend. That’s why I was in the road. But I wouldn’t have caught him. I wasn’t ready. I needed the goddess’s support. I needed you.”

I managed to push away from him. “So you did know about the

Blessed One,” I said, hurt filling my gut. “You did believe I was her from the start. And you didn’t tell me.”

“Ayla, you had to have known,” Kingston said, trying to reach for me again.

“How could I have known?” I yelled, dodging his embrace. “Did you know what would happen when we went to the Gathering? Did you know they would figure it out?”

Kingston froze, guilt filling his eyes before he looked away.

“Oh, my goddess,” I murmured. “You did. You bastard, you did.”

“I didn’t know Conner would act like that,” he insisted. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt, Ayla.”

to use me as bait. You knew they would try to come for me. You used

“They need to be destroyed. That’s the only way we can bring our pack back. It’s the only way we

He was going to use me to reinstate the Onyxcrown

guaranteed. “The Onyxcrown Pack is dead. I won’t bring it back.

to go,” he growled. “You came to me. You came to me because we are the last Onyxcrown ranking members. The Alpha

said. “I’m not your mate. I belong with

the mistake I had made. I started backing away toward the

I’m just going to go, okay? You‘ re not yourself right

won’t leave me again, Ayla,” Kingston growled.

my head. “No, Kingston, it’s

for the door, but Kingston was too fast. He grabbed my arm hard and spun me around. His mouth was on mine before I knew what was happening.

“Kingston…”

trick you into choosing him,” Kingston

was hurting. He reached and started pulling my hair back. When he grabbed my chin, turning my head

going to mark me.

through me and tears formed in my eyes. I

do this. I

for the strength I

“Stop,” I commanded.

was enough to make him pause. I yanked my arm free, punching up against his jaw. I didn’t get enough leverage to break it but it did knock him back a

me,” I followed.

and realization of what just happened

“Ayla, I’m sor…”

follow me, Kingston. Leave me

out of the apartment, Kingston calling after me, and through the packhouse. I tore off the property and drove in the direction of home.

was too shaken to call anyone. I just needed to get out of

was almost at my mother’s house before I finally allowed myself to stop and collect myself. I took some deep breaths as I picked

number. Praying he

sounded. “Please, goddess, tell me this is you, baby.”

Theo, it’s me,” I rushed.