Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 11 – Blind Love

“Love is not blind but it leads to blindness.“–Auliq Ice

Neron

Clink! Clank! Clank!

Metal against ceramic. These sounds made for a sour tune in the kitchen air as I sat alone at the island. Coming back from my early morning run, I watch as the golden sun steadily rises over the horizon. It’s a lovely view to eat cereal to. Frosted Flakes–Valerian and Kwame will never let me live it down if they see me eating this.

I can’t help it. They’re great!

Moments like this are scarce as Alpha. There’s hardly any time for peace and leisure because of the responsibilities of running a pack. Everything pulls at my attention; from the other Alphas‘ I’m in an alliance with, to the children who need their thirst for my attention quenched. Yesterday, with the obstacle course test, it was a fantastic day. The air of competitiveness and fun nicked at the cloud of tension hovering above me, the light of freedom making daybreak.

And I got to see Kiya in her prime. I didn’t miss the bout where she encouraged Isabella to finish despite her wishes to give up. The flames of determination and care burned brightly in those mocha–brown orbs, plunging me deep in a sea of love. She cares for the trainees like they’re her children.

No wonder the children of this pack speak highly of her. Not because she’s my mate, but because she is a genuine and loving person. And goddamnit, she’s an amazing competitor. Kiya can go toe–to–toe with me, yet she remains humble. She doesn’t boast about her strength or tenacity, but is in it for the fun.

Once again, we ended at a stalemate.

My mate has all the power in the world. Literally. Sometimes, I forget that she’s my moon goddess‘ avatar; given with abilities beyond my wildest comprehensions. Kiya’s a normal wolf to me.

But the looming words of my father reminded me she’s far from normal. She never was normal. With each.

office passing day, my father continues to fall deeper into the pit of madness. That day when he entered my reminded me just how far he’s from reach.

Flashback

“That girl has no respect for her superlors.” My father spat out as soon as Kiya left my office, telling him to kiss his ass. “If that girl has one thing, It’s the audacity.”

“Dad, she’s a woman, not a girl. Second, she shouldn’t have respect for anyone who condemned her to a life of suffering. I huffed, taking my seat behind the desk. My eyes are trained squarely on my father’s aging face, remarking the wrinkles and ridges as they crinkled with emotion.

“Yet, she respects you.”

“Toleration and respect are two separate entities. She’s far from respecting me, and I don’t blame her. Can’t hold it against her. Now, is there something you need?”

“Already getting back to business, I see.” He takes a seat in the chair that Kiya formally sat at. “Are you any closer to marking her? You two seemed pretty close when I came in.”

farthest thing from my mind. And she was going to tell me something important before Interrupted

you

his face. “You’re continuing to play the waiting game? What

a lot.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Alphas take what they want, leave no prisoners, blah blah blah. Given it’s a path I refuse to walk on, I’ve elected to

woman, so you say, is a powerful being. One–of–a–kind. She belongs to you. Yet, you allow her to parade on this land unmarked and unclaimed. You’re sending an obvious

easy–pickings. But she can handle herself. Kiya doesn’t need a knight–in–shining- armor to rescue her whenever a man gets too close. I’ll not hesitate to rip the throats out of those who

how many times I have to repeat myself for it to penetrate your

your mind, boy. You watch what you say to me. I’m no longer Alpha,

union,” I growl. “I don’t care about Kiya’s powers or that she’s the most powerful werewolf in existence. I love her for her. If you’d take off your rose–tinted glasses and see

step closer to our beloved Moon

first place?” Dad’s glare is powerful enough to incinerate me, but I won’t waver. “You’d always push this rhetoric that I needed to be powerful. Strong. Feared. Only when Mom died, you pushed harder. How do you think she’d feel if she sees you the

up from his seat, slamming his palms on my desk,

knew the potential you have. You’re a pureblood Alpha with the moon’s avatar as your mate! You’re throwing away a

now rising out of my seat. “Now, I know you’re

truly don’t know the history of your bloodline. I’d crack open books about the Prince and Johansen familles

my bloodline have to do with

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Chapter 11 E

close to the point our noses almost touch. “Do you want to be viewed as a weak Alpha? Too weak that he won’t claim what belongs to him? You think Kiya is your redemption ticket, but she’s your ticket to security and power. Thank Goddess the little wench Odessa found her mate; she’d be disastrous as our Luna. No poise or dignity. Your weakness to mark her saved you; because

the base of my fingertips, ready to slash my father’s face. He’s a lot of things, but I’ll be damned if he forces me to mark Kiya without her consent. Damn her to

Kiya is

selfish benefit. The warning Luna Lyra gave

it. Kiya deserves freedom of choice, even if it

like a puppy you don’t see the disaster in front of you! Be rational! You’ll put her silly grudge above

sigh. “I’m a fool, but a fool in love with Kiya just as you love Mom. I won’t cause

by my words, but recovered with a prominent scowl on his face. “You will regret this, Neron. I will not sit and watch you push this great pack on the path of destruction

word, he left my office in a

behind

End Flashback

Maybe things would have turned out different.” Sometimes I hated coming here. It’s painful. It’s debilitating. Occasionally peaceful. I’m sitting cross–legged on the ground, staring at a pair

with a bigger one. Pictures encased in a protective sphere stared back at me with their bright blue eyes and pearly white smiles. I avoid coming here, sometimes. But today, I feel as though I need to be here.

words on each tombstone read simple, yet important messages that made Onyx whimper

Celeste “Essie” Johansen–Prince

and