Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 9 – Let Me Help You

“Helping those in need is not charity, it’s humanity.“–Abhijit Naskar

Neron

“You want to split the trainees into teams?”

“Yes. Let them fight it out in a battle royale on the course.”

Kiya and I are discussing the obstacle course test for the pup trainees in my office. Separated by my desk, I watch my mate work her mind as her fingers flip through the progress reports of our newly shifted wolves. A concentrated look on her face told me the tale of her focus and critical thinking. She’s serious and calculated in her thoughts of my proposal, humming to herself.

“Wolves do like competition…” She muttered. As their chief trainer, it’s only fitting to run proposals and plans by her first before implementing them. Before my eyes, I’ve seen the young pups blossom extraordinarily from their early days of wolfhood. Many train together after hours with Kiya’s enthusiasm, pushing them to do their best. Strict, but fair. Serious, but compassionate. I’ve received comments and applause from the parents and families of the trainees remarking how strong their child or children have become under Kiya’s tutelage.

They shouldn’t direct their words of praise to me. It belongs to her. I could tell that she feels uncomfortable. by the admiration, often glossing it over as her duty as a Delta. It’ll only be a matter of time before the pups receive a new trainer after Kiya’s departure, and I can only hope he or she will keep up the same streak as my

mate.

There are glitters of hope shimmering in the eyes of my pack members as they spar

glances at Kiya whenever she walks by. Sometimes, I can’t help but stare at her too. She’s beautiful as she’s fearsome. Many have asked me when she’ll be ceremonially inducted as Zircon Moon’s Luna.

And it hurts to see those glitters fade as I reveal that she won’t be Luna. I understand their disappointment; my mate has the makings to be a mighty Luna wielding her hand on the side of justice. As my destined partner, that automatically makes her destiny to my Luna. The heart of the Alpha. She’s strong, determined, stubborn to a fault, and fantastic with children.

But that’s not the path she wants. Despite possessing all the markers of a fine leader, she chooses not to pursue it. I cannot ignore the dark past buried underneath the foundation of my land. Who, in their right mind, would want to rule over a pack that’s brutalized them for years? It’s not Kiya’s job to heal Zircon Moon when we, once, didn’t give a damn about her healing.

Goddamnit. It doesn’t make my dreams any less real. In a perfect world, we’d rule side by side. We’re married. We’d have pups. But that’s all it is. A wishful utopia. One that no one can force on her. We, as a pack, can continue to dream and hope for our future Luna, but we must face the facts sooner than later that it will not

happen.

And I don’t know what that means for future heirs. Yet, none of that takes precedence. I don’t care about that.

“Let’s do it.” Kiya perked up. “I like the competition route. It’ll make it more fun for the pups and the pack can witness the spectacle.”

I care about her.

1/4

“Perfect,” A smile made its way to my face. “We split the pups into two teams, and we’ll lead them.”

“We?” She arched an eyebrow. “You’re getting involved?”

potential candidates advance from pup trainee to a full trainee,” I shrugged my shoulders. “And it’ll give them more motivation to

want them to slack off, I guess with you around, it’ll make the competition that much meaningful.” She leans

they’re soft like pillows!”

Onyx!” Ignoring his boisterous laughter, I slammed down walls both for him and

trainees are impressionable. They want to impress their leader. They’ll fight to be on your team if it gets them noticed by you.”

chuckle amusingly.

by both of us will yield fifteen members on each team. And since this is a competition, there should

I suggested,

of money to hear that laugh for the rest of my life. “I’ll think of something

bad as leaming how to bake. It gets messy, I never came up with names for my past drawings for this exact

keep it simple: Team Alpha versus Team

the faraway look in her eyes. Something’s occupying her mind and it’s bothering her. From the tired expel of breath to the heavy exhaustion written on her cheeks. Her hand rubs the side of her neck absentmindedly, but I didn’t miss the

her neck and

with that distant look. I know she isn’t talking to Artemis; I’d see her eyes glazed over. I called her name out again and met no response.

can do. I poked her arm. And that brought her back from her brief trance, glaring

“What?”

okay?

expelled a sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s

9 Let Me Help You

you been sleeping?”

“Sort of.”

friends checked your

They found nothing.”

moved to another room if that’ll help

trouble yourself with that. I’m

been

you my

what a mother would do. Always checking in and fussing over their child. That’s not my goal at all; I’m

rubbing that one spot on

“Huh? What bruise?”

since. I never pulled it out until this day, but I know it’s safe in Kiya’s hands. Handing it to her, she opened it and checked her neck

rapid succession. Confusion. Sadness. Anger. Worry. Her nimble fingers delicately touched the red bruise like its tender, but Kiya doesn’t express pain. Either there is none, or she’s good at hiding it. Bruises don’t last on werewolf flesh; they heal within minutes. That redness has been ever- so–present since the beginning

shut the compact mirror delicately and handed it back. “I’m…not sure. I didn’t know it

face is palpable. She didn’t want me to touch her and judging by the glazed look

“Fine.

over to her and gently tilted her head to the side for a better look at the bruise. Electricity propelled through me like rockets from my fingers touching her skin from our mate bond. Kiya didn’t even flinch. Does she no longer feel the destined sparks? My heart jumped in fear at the thought because I don’t know what

painter flings their brush against their canvas. I gently pressed a finger

Me