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.”

me. You used me to flush out whatever Waar Pak members you could. That’s why you’re hunting them down.”

I wanted to draw them out,” he spat. “They need to be destroyed. That’s the only way

his plan all along. He was going to use me to reinstate the Onyxcrown Pack. To become

happen,” I guaranteed. “The Onyxcrown Pack is dead. I won’t bring it

me because we are the last Onyxcrown

“I’m not

Kingston’s expression, quickly followed by rage. And I realized the mistake I had made. I started backing away toward the

I said calmly, “calm down. I’m just going to go, okay? You‘

Ayla,” Kingston growled. “This

my head. “No,

fast. He grabbed my arm hard and spun me around. His mouth was on mine before

“Kingston…”

Kingston rumbled. “I’ll show

reached and started pulling my hair back. When he grabbed my chin, turning my

going to

through me and tears formed in my eyes. I fought

do this. I couldn’t let him do this.

strength

“Stop,” I commanded.

up against his jaw. I didn’t get enough leverage to break it but

touch me,” I followed.

realization of what

“Ayla, I’m sor…”

me, Kingston. Leave me and Theo

out of the apartment, Kingston calling after me, and through the packhouse.

anyone. I

deep breaths as I picked up the phone I had just purchased. I was still

Theo’s number. Praying he would pick up.

voice sounded. “Please, goddess, tell me this is

it’s me,”