#5 When the New Moon Falls
Chapter 22

Leo

We made it to the packhouse in goodtime. Austyn wanted to go home to freshen up and relax for a little while I took care of business. I gave her a peck on the lips at the door as I said goodbye and was rewarded with her wide eyes and a pink blush on her cheeks. I smiled at her expression and left her standing in the doorway.

The first thing I did was stay true to my word, I summoned Madeline to my office. I knew this wasn’t going to be pretty.

“Oh, Alpha, I’m so glad you finally called on me.” Madeline struts into my office like she owns the place. I held out my hand, refusing to let her touch me. She pouted, looking offended.

“Have a seat, Madeline.” I sighed, motioning towards the couch. She huffed and plopped down.

“Madeline, I found my mate and Luna, she’s moved into the pack and I am completely committed to her. You and I can no longer happen.” I said without emotion. Madeline, on the other hand, began to cry.

“But, Alpha! What am I supposed to do now?” she sobbed.

“Get a boyfriend?” I shrugged.

“Just because you have a mate doesn’t mean you and I still can’t be together. Plenty of Alpha’s take mistresses. I’m okay with hiding and being your little secret.” Madeline switched tactics, drying her tears and giving me her best seductive smile. I started wondering what I ever saw in her in the first place.

“No, Madeline, I don’t want a mistress. I’m perfectly happy with my mate. This is finished. Leave and don’t return.” I kept my voice level, calm. Madeline wanted a reaction out of me and I wasn’t going to give her one.

“You’ll come crawling back to me, you’ll see!” She shouted at me, throwing her dignity on the floor as she stomped out of the office. I sighed, but before I had the opportunity to relax, I had to put out another fire.

“Kayden is in the dungeon, Alpha, what now?” Nick mindlined me.

“I’m coming. Just let me call Alpha Victor first.” I replied.

I cursed Kayden and his pettines, forcing me to deal with him instead of being with my mate. I picked up my cell phone and punched in Alpha Victor’s number.

“Hello?” He answered with a grunt.

“It’s Alpha Leo.” I replied.

“What can I do for you?” His tone was bored.

“Do you know what your son has been up to?” I asked.

“I’m not his keeper.” He snapped.

“Maybe you should be. He attacked my mate. Twice.” Silence.

“He’s in my dungeon.” More silence.

“Do you have nothing to say for your future Alpha?” I growled impatiently.

“He’s not the future Alpha.” Alpha Victor’s words stunned me,

“Excuse me?”

“After his disgrace at the duel and his failure to obtain a proper Luna, I strippd him of his title. I’ll be choosing another man to take over for me when I retire.” Shit.

“That’s….unexpected.” This meant that not only was Kayden reeling from a rejection and losing his mate, and losing a duel to another Alpha, but now he was simply an omega with no title. He had nothing to lose.

“Kayden made his own choices. Do what you’d like with him. Oh, and could you tell him that he’s no longer welcome at Dark Moon? He’s been exiled.” With that, Alpha Victor ended the call. I stared at the phone in shock. And I thought my father was bad.

“Alpha?” Hank mindlinked me from Austyn’s cabin.

“What’s wrong?” I was instantly on alert.

“Nothing, Alpha, the Luna just wants to speak with you.”

“I’ll be there in a second.”

I left my office and ran towards the cabin, eager to assist my mate with whatever she needed. She was waiting for me on the porch, sitting in the swing with her bare feet dangling off the ground. She looked so damn adorable, I had to stop and admire her before joining her on the swing.

“That was fast.” She laughed at me.

“You call, I come.” I stated.

“I was just thinking….what are you going to do with Kayden?” She asked sweetly.

“I just got off the phone with his father,” Austyn winced at the mention of Alpha Victor but said nothing. I wanted to rip his head off, too,

“He said that he strippd Kayden of his rank. He’s no longer the future Alpha. He doesn’t care what happens to him. He just exiled Kayden from Dark Moon.” Austyn was staring at me with bugged eyes and an open mouth,

“Seriously?” She gasped.

“Yeah, I hardly believed it myself.”

“What now?” She asked.

“Well, honestly, I’m not sure. What do you want to happen? His offense was against you.” I turned to face Austyn, suddenly curious about what she was thinking. She scrunched her face up, like she was focusing really hard. I stifled a laugh at her precious face.

“I think you should exile him from New Moon and ban him from the territories. He’ll be forced to live as a rogue.” She replied thoughtfully.

“You sure I can’t just kill him? What if he tries to come back for you?” I asked.

“Then you can kill him.” She offered a compromise.

“If this is what you want, love, then I’ll do it for you.” I fell at her feet. She grinned, knowing that she had total control over me and Quinn.

“Thank you, Alpha.” She purred my title and I swear, it was the sexiest thing I had ever heard. I never knew the word Alpha could sound so good. I could feel Quinn pushing against my mind for control again as my will power slipped.

“You’re going to be the death of me.” I mumbled, taking her face in my hands and pressing her lips to mine. After a pretty intense make out session, we both broke away, breathless. I leaned my forehead against hers,

“I need to go deal with Kayden.” I growled, frustrated that he was ruining this moment.

“I’ll be here, waiting for you.” She promised and I couldn’t believe how amazingly perfect this weekend had turned out.

“Promise?” I whispered.

“Obviously.” She rolled her eyes but a playfully smile pulled at her lips.

“Oh, by the way, I talked to Madeline.” I said as I stood from the swing.

“Good. Now, don’t say her name ever again.” Austyn actually growled and I had to resist the urge to smile at her jealousy.

“Yes, my Luna.” I gave her a quick kiss before slipping off her porch and running back towards the packhouse.