Mikkeli, Alpha of Black Moon

Kyle POV

When pack doctor Gideon put my son in my arms, I felt Skylar's joy and happiness but somehow had problems with finding my own. Everybody was congratulating me; Mikkeli and Hannah, Hayden and twins, Rose and others. I was trying to smile. I really tried, but it was difficult because I felt empty.

But I must admit that when my son started to wriggle, at least a felt a need to protect and a need to care. He was just an innocent baby who I had decided to bring to this world so my wolf could live, he might be the product of rape, but at least he's been Skylar's lifesaver. Maybe I will never love him, but at least I will try, and I make sure he is safe and happy.

When Hannah asked me about a name, I have no problems coming up with one at once. Carson, after my mother. She was once the only thing I had, and now Carson will be the only thing I have because my mate... sharp pain in my chest makes me almost howl. My mate will reject me the moment he will have another occasion.

I may not know why, but that wasn't just disappointment because of me having a baby or being an omega. That was pure hatred and disgust for whatever reason he hates me; that much is certain. Maybe not enough to let me die; after all, he took me to the infirmary and didn't proceed with his rejection, so maybe? No, I can't keep fooling myself and Skylar with false hope. It will only leave us more broken. He is from Full Moon Pack because I'd never seen him before, his name is Rob, and he is a warrior recommended by Hank. I should ask Hank about him. He owes me; after all, I helped him when he was poisoned with Red Venom and almost died.

Carson stops sucking my breast, so I have to stop my pointless wondering about "what if". There is no "what if"; the sooner I accept it, the better. I hold him closer to me to burp and later put him in his bed, and he has already slept. Thank Goddess, since he isn't a good sleeper.

Then I go to the guest rooms as Mikkeli mindlinked that he needed some help. And there, my legs become jelly. Rob is there; his divine smell makes my wolf howl in excitement as I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. He ignores me, and I pretend that it doesn't hurt, that it doesn't make me sad.

I force myself to stop looking at him and focus on our "guests". The girl, probably in her early twenties, I haven't seen her before, but something in her eyes and the way she hugs the little girl reminded me of my mother.

The children, a small girl, and a boy, also look scared, but thankfully Hannah is here.

"Welcome to my home Celia. I know how tough this is for you, but I assure you we won't hurt you. If you need any medical help," she says.

"We are fine," the girl Celia says, but her voice is shaking.

"That bruise on your face looks really nasty; let me at least take care of that."

There is total silence when we help them settle. Hannah is taking care of Celia as I take my time to study the little girl. She looks really adorable with her long dark curls and chocolate eyes, she sends a tiny smile in my direction, and I smile back at her.

"I know how you feel, I really do," Hannah stops the silence. "Half of the year ago, I was also dragged here with my siblings against my will."

"They are not my siblings," Celia says and takes a deep breath as if she was surprised she said anything.

"This is my mommy, and Danny is the son of mommy's friend," the little girl says.

"Really" Hannah smiles. "And what is your name, little one?"

"Kathy and I'm six," she smiles back.

"Well, Kathy, what would you like to eat?"

"Spaghetti with tomato and lots of cheese?"

"Ok, I think my grandma can make it for you, and you can take a shower, and Kyle will bring you some fresh clothes."

I nod and go. They shower and change. Kathy feels quite cheerful and starts talking a lot; Celia and Danny are quiet. She's so tensed that she jumps at each, even very faint sound; he flinches every time someone makes a move. Hannah and I just exchange looks but don't comment. I know what an abused child looks like, and that is what Danny is. I took a glimpse of his back when he left the shower, the cuts from the belt don't look fresh, but they are still there.

The scent of my mate faded away. He left some time ago. Maybe it's better that way? When Rose brings their food, she tells me that I can go and check on my son, she will stay and help Hannah, and I do as she says.

But when I get closer to my room, I also start to panic; I can smell him; he is in my room. I almost barge into and immediately run towards Carson's bassinet; thankfully, Rob is standing on the opposite side of the room.

"You think I would hurt your child?" he says coldly.

"I have no idea what you would do. Why are you here?"

"I have something to finish, and I thought I could do this now, but I've changed my mind," he smirks and starts getting closer to me.

I can't move and back away because it would let him get closer to Carson, and I can't have that.

He comes to me slowly; he looks at me not with disgust but with something else. My breath gets rapid as he stands so close to me; I don't look up; I stick my eyes at his perfect chest muscles, perfectly visible under his tight T-shirt.

He is so close I feel his hand on my cheek, sparks and tingles erupt, and Skyler is howling in my head in enjoyment. I try not to lean into his touch, but I know I am fighting a losing battle. His hot lips are on my ear, and moving down, he sucks and licks my neck and gently bites exposed flesh. I don't think I don't care any longer; I just want him to hold me close forever.

His hands caress my back, and it makes me shiver in delight. It's so good, so pleasant.  I bite my lips to surpass a moan as his hands go down to grip my ass.

"I will make sure to fuck you good," he whispers, and suddenly panic races through me.

We will make sure to fuck you good; you won't be able to stop moaning...

Their voices echo in my head as I shove Rob away from me so fast that he falls on the floor.

He looks at me, totally surprised and angry. In a moment, he holds me against himself with one arm and yanks my head up by my hair which forces me to look at him. His lips crush on mine; his tongue is in my mouth immediately. I start trashing in his grip. I was kissed forcefully before, and even though he is my mate and I can still feel sparks, it's far from pleasant.

Thanks, Goddess he lets go of me before I slip into a panic attack, and we both pant hard.

"Please leave my room," I whisper.

"You let my brother fuck you, and he wasn't your mate, but you don't want me to fuck you," he snarls.

"What are you talking about?"

"Four months ago, my brother died here because of you," he says. "Because you cried rape, you fucking bitch!"

And he leaves as I crush on the floor with uncontrollable sobbing. My mate's brother was among those who raped me and was killed for that by my brother. How much more fucked up can it get?

Hank POV

Since the merging of Blackwood and Full Moon into the Black Moon pack, I have been extremely busy, but I was ok with that. Mikkeli and I were spending lots of time together on training grounds and in his office. We were formal and civil with each other but far away from getting close. My former pack doesn't trust him yet; his former pack doesn't trust me yet, so it's tough. But I would've never thought that he would use his Alpha's voice on me so soon and that he would look at me with pity.

But the worst is shame; I feel shame because I know he will soon ask questions I don't want to answer and that I will have to plead and beg him. She is one of the hunters, no matter what connections she and I have, or rather had; Mikkeli has every right to kill her; the only thing that could protect her now I personally got rid of seven years ago.

The little one, her big chocolate eyes... My eyes were enough of the proof, but her scent was also unmistakable. My pup, my daughter, mine. My child and her mother, if I don't play this wisely, my child can have no mother tomorrow.

Mikkeli is sitting by his desk, tapping his fingers on it; he has that custom when he is in deep thought. Dalton is also here, Patrick the Gamma, who isn't very fond of me, and Hayden and, of course, Hannah; I wonder what she will say when she knows the truth.

Dalton finishes describing in detail how they all were brought to our land.

"How are they now?" Mikkeli. asks

"They're eating. They seem healthy, but that boy Danny was abused, and both he and Celia are totally frightened. Rose and two warriors are with them. Kathy seems alright, I presume her wolf is calmer around the pack and around her father," Hannah says, giving me a meaningful stare. "But still, her wolf surfacing at such a young age is uncommon. So, Hank, I know it is probably personal, but we really need some answers here."

I take a deep breath; here we go.

"I met her seven years ago during the attack on hunters' settlement; I was 18, so my wolf was able to smell and recognize her."

"Recognize?" Hayden asks.

"She was my mate," I say, and there is dead silence; all present look at me with total disbelief, a wolf mated with a hunter has never happened before.

"I knew there was no point in trying, and I had no doubts that this could ever happen, so I rejected her at once, but first... my wolf wanted her; you all know how strong the pull is when you meet your mate for the first time, so I let him, I let us have her."

"You raped her," Hannah says, not as a question but as a statement of facts. I almost feel her disappointment physically.

"The connection disappeared completely after some months; I stopped sensing her. But today, my wolf instantly recognized her scent. I didn't know she got pregnant."

"Well, she recognized you too, that's for certain."

"Still, it can be a total coincidence, but we have to take under consideration that it is some sort of trap, that she gave birth because her clan told her to for some twisted reasons. We annihilated Nightingale Clan, so those who survived are desperate," says Mikkeli. "Those three cannot move around the packhouse unsupervised."

"I can..." Hannah starts, but Alpha quickly interrupts:

"No, you can't be alone with her, especially not now, and you know that!" He says sternly, and to my surprise, she doesn't argue with him but seems concerned. What is happening?

"How is your wolf?" Mikkeli asks, looking at me.

"Difficult; he wants them both with him," I say.

"They should be in the dungeon. I'm not talking about your daughter, but the other two were raised and trained with hunters. It's not safe for the pack," Gamma says, and I growl lowly.

"We cannot separate the child and the mother," Hannah voices her opinion.

"I'll take the responsibility," I say. " I will watch them."

Before Hannah has a chance to protest, I know why; the rapist and his victim together in one room; I'm fully aware of how it sounds. Hayden decides to say something.

"Hannah, they can't be in the dungeon. I agree with that, but they also can't walk the pack's territory freely, not only for our protection but also for their protection. Some pack members, or rather most of the pack members, won't react well to their presence, and something drastic may happen. Plus, Hank's wolf is now at the edge. He won't tolerate any other wolves than himself around his newly found family."

"Ok," Mikkeli says, " Hank, you are in charge of them. Beta's apartment has an additional security system, so that's where they will stay. Dalton, I want additional warriors to move into the packhouse, just in case. Patrick, I know what you think, but I won't execute a woman and a kid unless I'm sure they pose a threat to the pack. Hank, your family problems are yours to settle, but I won't tolerate another rape or any sort of violence towards that girl, do you understand?"

I nod, squeezing my fists.

"All right, now I presume Hank, you want to come with me and question those two we still have in the dungeon. Hayden, make sure my beloved mate won't be alone with our guests till we come back. Patrick, Dalton, you have your duties."

So here we are, back in the dungeon, with both hunters tied by their hands to the ceiling. The older one doesn't look well, but Gideon assured us that his wounds are not life-threatening, well, at least not yet. 

"Name?" Mikkeli asks.

"David Nightingale," responds the older one; the other hunter keeps quiet. He may try to be cocky now, but when we finish with him, he won't be so cocky anymore.

"So, David, let's start with you then. Why were so close to our territory?"

"I got wounded when you destroyed us two months ago. I needed to get better before we would be able to move somewhere else. I only managed to get Danny away; many others weren't that lucky."

"You really want to go there, David?" Mikkeli says. "I have no doubt that you knew many who didn't deserve to die. Like my mother's mate didn't deserve to die along with many others in the previous war, and my mother didn't deserve to die because of grief. Like my warriors didn't deserve to die and never went back to their families. At this stage, this isn't about right and wrong but about keeping my people safe. I know I crushed your clan, so for sure you want revenge, but coming so close to us seems to be too desperate even for hunters".

"Tell me about Celia and her daughter," I say, coming closer.

"She has nothing to do with that. She wasn't even trained to be a hunter and left the clan many years ago!"

He is eager to answer, not because he's scared but because he wants to make sure we won't hurt them; I smirk, and that makes him glare at me.

"You know she was 15 when you raped her, you son of the bitch!"

I punch him in the stomach hard. Fuck I didn't know she was that young; my disgust towards myself only intensifies.

He pukes but composes himself. I snarl and get closer to him. My hand squeezes his neck.

"Tell me about Kathy," I say, and it's the first time he avoids my eyes. Why?

"When my father found out Celia was with child, he branded her traitor. I helped her leave and settle close to your territory. That city was a human city, so neither you nor we had any business there, but it was close enough to you, so any hunter or rogues should have happened to pass by; they would most likely focus on your pack. I don't know what Jeff wanted, but he is not my nor Celia's friend."

"Kathy?"

"I can't help you; I saw her first time two months ago. The contact I had with Celia after she left was minimal. We didn't have any twisted plans; Celia loves Kathy and would never use her."

I turn around to the second hunter. Mikkel nods and allows me to do as I please, so I do as I please. Before I finish, he is already very talkative, but the things he tells me make me see red.