The Alpha Wants Everything Book 1 The King's Queen
Chapter 40: Just pictures!

Kane walked into his office, Johnny and Damon were sitting in the chairs in front of his desk, while Kenneth and Marco had his laptop on the table in front of the couch. Marco was typing furiously across the keyboard and Kenneth was barking at someone on the other end of his phone.

“What’s going on?” Kane asked.

“Until they can pull all the photos of her, which is what Kenneth is trying to get done, Marco is encrypting them with viruses, so if someone were to click on an image they would crash their device” Johnny explained, then looked over at Marco to make sure he got it right. Marco looked up for a brief second and nodded.

“He said if he had his own equipment this would go faster, but your laptop is nice. I would make fun of him for being a geek, but I watched him shake a man’s arm clean off his body, so we’re good. He swears a lot in Italian though.” Damon added leaning back in his chair with a grin. Kenneth released a growl at whoever he was talking to, and before anyone could say anything Marco picked up the laptop as Kenneth slammed his fist down on the table shattering it into pieces.

“Apparently we can’t have nice things” Johnny huffed,

“Cazzo! Ne abbiamo passate otto! (We’ve gone through eight)” Marco said, glaring at Kenneth then looking at Johnny, he motioned towards the coffee table. “Eight!”

“Coffee tables?” Damon asked, looking at him.

“Tutto quanto! Every….thing!” Marco replied with a sigh, Kane was trying to contain his laughter, but lost control at that comment. Kenneth thrust his phone at Marco.

“Stupido idiota del cazzo! Talk to that idiot. I’m going to snap his neck when we get back” Marco took the phone, placed the laptop on the couch and walked out of the office. Kenneth rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck.

“Mi dispiace per questo. Sorry!” He gestured towards the table.

“It’s just a table” Kane waved it off,

“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one that has to replace it” Johnny argued,

“Talk to Marco, he has the number for someone who’ll give you a good deal” Kenneth offered, the whole room erupted into laughter except Johnny.

“Care to explain your….outburst” Kane asked, leaning back in his chair.

“Stupido idiota” Kenneth started, but before he could say anything else, Marco came back carrying three more laptops and a wireless bluetooth keyboard.

“È il compagno di tua sorella! (He is your sister’s mate!)” Marco reminded him,

“She’s mated to an idiota, who’s outlived his usefulness” Kenneth snapped back, cursing a bit more under his breath.

“Lo prometti a tua sorella! (Promise your sister!)” Marco countered, as he directed two others to place the coffee table he took from the living room in front of the couch.

“Are you rearranging my house, and stealing laptops?” Kane asked, referring to the items he acquired

“Prendendo in prestito! Ho promesso loro Netflix gratis! Free….Netflix!” Marco stated,

“You can do that?” Damon asked, interest piqued,

“Sì!” Marco replied,

“Well fuck! Hook a brother up” Damon grinned,

“What are you doing?” Kane pointed at the laptops.

“What he does best!” Kenneth replied. Marco’s phone went off, he typed something on to the screen then the laptops came to life.

“Sì! Le immagini sono là fuori!” Marco said motioning towards the laptops.

“He is going to track them all down and either destroy or bury them so deep no one will be able to replace them.” Kenneth translated,

“Le persone li hanno scaricati. Devono essere cancellati dai loro sistemi!” Marco looked at them, then looked towards Kenneth

“He’s going to replace them and erase their systems” Again Kenneth made the translation. “The third is to replace the original uploaders and destroy their files as well but if they’re smart they have them backed up on keys, so he’ll need the physical addresses.” Kenneth added before Marco could say anything

“Quelli sono abbastanza facili da ottenere.” Kenneth looked up at the others in the room.

“That fucker know English?” Damon asked, causing Johnny to turn away to hide his laughter.

“Italian is easier for him” Kenneth replied,

“Not easy on the rest of us when we have no idea what the fuck he’s saying” Damon countered,

“He is also trying to replace the owner of the website, and to take it down,” Kenneth said, turning his attention to Kane

“How long will this take?” Johnny asked,

“Carl possedeva il sito web” Marco said, looking at Damon a small smile gracing his face. “Ora lo facciamo, tutti i nuovi visitatori verranno mandati via. Sembrano essere le stesse persone che frequentano il sito. Sono stati taggati e hanno ancora permesso l’ingresso, non appena lo fanno richiedi il permesso per vedere altre foto e avrò accesso ai loro sistemi. Posso quindi distruggere tutte le foto che hanno scaricato. Due di loro sono gli uploader originali. Non appena mi occupo di ciò, posso chiudere il sito e seppellire le immagini” Damon and Johnny staring blankly at Marco then looked to Kenneth.

“Non sto cazzo di Google translate! He said we now own the site and any new visitors will be turned away. Two people are the original uploaders. As soon as he gets access to their systems he can bury the images and take down the site.” Kenneth said to them “Fottuto inglese Marco!”

“È fottutamente facile per te! (It’s fucking easy for you!)” Marco fired back,

“Sarebbe facile anche per te, piccolo merda, se ti eserciterai come dovresti! (It would be easy for you too, little shit, if you practice like you should!) Kenneth countered,

“Farti fottere Kenneth! (Fuck you Kenneth!)” Marco huffed,

“Now they’re going to swear at each other” Damon said

“Well then, I think it’s time for lunch” Johnny stood up.

“Great I’m fucking starving” Damon agreed, getting to his feet.

As he said, Kane made it back to her room in the medical ward before she woke up.

“This is not how I planned to spend my time,” Lacey pouted the second he entered the room. “I wanted to talk about baby shopping and nursery decor.” Kane just nodded. Knew this was coming! Ky huffed. She is my sister! Kane countered. Our mate is more important! Ky fired back. You think the same thing so don’t even try and argue! Ky had him on that one. The worst part was Kane didn’t even feel ashamed about it.

“How are you? I should have asked sooner” He realized since everything happened he never did ask Lacey how she was feeling or congratulate her for that matter.

“Don’t worry about it. You’ve had other things on your mind.” She waved him off, pretending it didn’t bother her, but she didn’t hide it very well. He saw the little flash of anger when he finally asked how she was doing.

“I am doing good, I want to smack Johnny though, he won’t let me do anything. I’m surprised he let me walk down here by myself….the first time.” She added,

“A little protective is he?” Kane said brushing off her anger,

“A little? That man gives me a twenty minute lecture about all the things I can’t do every time he sees me. If he keeps it up, you’re gonna be looking for a new Beta” Lacey exaggerated. I smell bullshit! Ky grumbled in his head.

“He’ll calm down, and so will you. If he wasn’t that protective you’d be complaining about that so….” Kane trailed off there after he caught the death look from Lacey.

“Don’t you defend him, you would be worse if it was her….” Lacey shut her mouth as soon as she realized what she just said. Though she couldn’t help the tinge of joy she felt when she saw the hurt cross her brother’s face briefly “Sorry, Johnny told me”

“It’s ok! It’s just not our time yet, and you’re probably right I would be, Ky more so” Kane mused,

“He’s scary! I can see why you kept him hidden from me and I would be ok if I never saw him again” Lacey shivered at the memory of him in the loft.

“It was never my intention, to keep him hidden from you, but when our parents died, and the years I spent trying to replace my mate, the year I gave him control, it just never seemed like the right time.” Kane looked at his hands. No time is a good time to meet this bitch! Truthfully Kane did keep Ky from Lacey, he has more than made his position on her very clear. To say Ky was not a fan of Lacey would be a huge understatement.

“How does she deal with him?” Lacey asked, looking over at the pathetic little imp lying in the bed.

“She’s not afraid of him, trusts that he would never hurt her, and truthfully he listens to her better than he does to me” Lacey gave him a questioning look. I like her better! Fuck you mutt! I would never hurt her! Me either! Bitch would though! Kane didn’t reply to that, as much as he wanted to say Lacey wouldn’t he wasn’t so sure.

“On Monday, I brought her in for her ribs, she had a CT Scan and she was in pain. I felt myself losing control of him in the booth when she started singing to him. It allowed me to regain my control” Kane explained.

“Wow! What song did she sing?” Lacey asked.

“Little Red Riding Hood, apparently he likes that song” Lacey started laughing.

“Nothing like a little Dr. Hook to soothe the savage beast” she chuckled out, causing Kane to laugh as well. Lacey stood to leave and as she was walking out the door, Kane called to her.

“Hey Lace!”

“Yeah?” She looked back at him.

“Congratulations, I really am happy for you and Johnny” she made a small smile at him and closed the door behind her when she left.

Kane moved his chair closer to her bed, brushing the hair out of her face as he watched her while she slept. She seemed to be at peace, but who could tell the demons she was fighting behind her closed eyes. He was hoping she would not need to be sedated again, but after the bathroom he couldn’t take the chance of her not being able to calm down and causing more damage to herself. He looked at her bandaged hand, the skin was discoloured and starting to bruise, she hit the mirror hard. He was kinda impressed at the damage she did to it, his little warrior mouse. He sat back in his chair letting his fingers trail through her hair, he felt his eyes starting to close, he fought to keep them open, she would be waking up soon but he drifted off to sleep.

Dax laid there for a minute still feeling a little disoriented from being sedated again, she let her eyes adjust to the room. Her left eye was still blurry but it was getting better. She tried to sit up, but her body protested the movement, hissing in pain she fought through it and pushed herself up. She looked at her casted arm and saw a note from Lacey written on it.

You owe me!

She felt bad, they were supposed to have a fun morning, then she lost her shit in the bathroom when she saw herself. She wanted to hear all about what Lacey was planning for the nursery and make girl talk. I’m a bad friend! She thought. If they hadn’t met you! She wouldn’t have crashed into their world like a wrecking ball. If you said no to that commission for Johnny! None of them would have met and their lives would have been better for it. But what about yours! One life is not as important as the lives of many! But you’re in their world now! Yes I am! So what are you going to do? Learn to live in it! How are you going to do that? First I’m going to figure out how to get out of this damn bed by myself! It’s the little things! I stood on my own feet for three years! No you didn’t, you hid in a warehouse! You’re not helping! Just swing your leg over the bed! She looked over at Kane who was fast asleep sitting in the chair. He would be big mad if he knew what you were doing! Then let’s not tell him!

Slowly and carefully she swung one of her legs over the side of the bed followed by the other. Supporting her weight with her elbows, she started to ease herself down. DAMN IT!! She was still too short to reach the floor. You’re committed now! Ok, I just need something to put my foot on! She searched the bottom of the bed with her foot for something she could use. This would be so much easier if she could use her hands. No one told you to attack the mirror! Shut up, no one asked you! Finding a little ledge she hooked her toes around it and brought her weight done gently until she could put her foot on the floor. TOUCHDOWN!! Shhhh! She looked over at Kane again. Like he can hear me, you’re the one that needs to be quiet! Why do I talk to you? Cause I am you! Great, her subconscious is a sarcastic fortune cookie. She moved silently to the table by the bathroom and found a new toothbrush waiting for her. She grabbed it and her toothpaste and moved to the bathroom.

She stood with her eyes closed in front of the mirror. You have to face yourself! Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes and took in her features one more time. Stand and deal! Stand and deal! No hiding! No hiding! Don’t break the mirror! No more breaking mirrors. No, there’s a note that says don’t break the mirror! She picked it up and saw Johnny’s handwriting, she would have to apologize to him for breaking the first one. It felt good to brush her teeth, though a bit awkward, not being able to close her hand around her toothbrush properly, but at least her mouth felt clean. She slowly made her way out of the bathroom, picking up her slipper socks that Lacey brought down for her, she quietly and slowly made her way to the couch. She struggled getting the first one on and and had to take a minute before she attempted the second. Just gearing up for that battle when there was a light knock at the door. She looked at Kane, he was still sleeping, she got up and opened the door.

“Luna!” Kenneth was surprised to see her. She held a finger to her lips and pointed over her shoulder to where Kane was sleeping. She stepped aside for him to enter.

“Welcome to my living room” she whispered, gesturing for him to sit, he smiled at her and accepted the offer. She sat back on the couch curling her feet under her.

“Good to see you’re keeping your spirits up” Kenneth whispered back.

“Well, after the incident in the bathroom this morning, I better keep the rest of my crazy contained” she said,

“Incident in the bathroom?” Kenneth asked,

“I broke the mirror” she held up her left hand, Kenneth’s eyes went wide “I saw myself, and what he did and it all came flooding back” she explained.

“You haven’t had the easiest of lives, I think a little crazy is allowed” Kenneth assured her.

“No, it’s a whole lot of crazy. It hasn’t been making anyone’s life easy” she looked down at her hand. Kenneth looked at her and waited for her to continue. “I can’t help but think, you all would have been better off if….” she trailed off there looking over at Kane.

“Ah, capisco! It is easy to dwell on the negative, when that is the only side you have seen so far. A lot of positives have come from this as well.” She looked at him waiting for him to continue “The biggest one probably being, the effect you have on him and the beast that lives in him.”

“Ky is not so bad, he needs to learn gentle, but he just needs love” she said,

“Forgive me Luna, but I will not cuddle him” this caused her to laugh, she had to cover her mouth.

“I am positive the effect I have on him is making him a neurotic mess” she said. They were quiet for a bit, before Kenneth broke the silence.

“I think you are being too hard on yourself. He’ll be fine. He needs you, you push him, challenge him, none dares to do so. In fact because of this he is looking to correct a wrong that was done seven years ago and if I hadn’t come here, I never would have figured out what I was missing” Kenneth said,

“What do you mean?” She tilted her head to the side.

“Damon or Squeaky as he is lovingly being called by Johnny now, should have been the third in command, not Charles. Kane is looking to correct that mistake, by sending Charles to New York, and promoting Damon to third in command” Kenneth explained to her.

“Truthfully I couldn’t remember his name, but I remembered the conversation we had. Don’t tell him though” she put her finger to her lips and laughed.

“He won’t hear it from me,” Kenneth chuckled,

“I thought you were in New York, are you stepping down?” She was curious.

“Stepping down no, maybe shifting locations” Kenneth had to admire her inquisitive nature.

“Would you be coming to Howlers Bay?” She arched her eyebrow at him.

“Perhaps!” He neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Hmm” she had a suspicion it would be, but didn’t push it, instead she said.

“Charles seems nice, and he’s good at his job but he doesn’t really fit with this band of wild brutes, he has a more New York suaveness to him. And his mates a real stuck up bitch” this caused Kenneth to stifle his laughter.

“Seems to be the consensus” he chuckled again.

They sat in silence for a bit, before he once again broke the silence.

“Are you ok Luna?” Concern laced Kenneth’s voice, there were so many ways to answer that. She looked over at Kane again before she looked back at Kenneth.

“It seems I get my feet under me, only for something to rip the ground out again. I was looking forward to today. It was to be our first official date, and my first date ever, and I was excited, stupid right?” He shook his head, but let her continue. “Instead, I am living in a hospital room that triples as my bedroom, living room and if I ever get to eat, my kitchen. So nope, not ok, but I will pick myself up and wait for the next thing to smack me down” she wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall. That didn’t sit right with Kenneth, but he couldn’t deny the truth, it is what seemed to be happening, she would get smacked down by something, pick herself up only to get smacked down by something else. The strongest person he knew was Kane, until he met her and heard her story and has witnessed everything she has gone through since. Weaker people would have crumbled and given up, yet she’s still standing, she’s still fighting.

“Yet you’re still fighting” Kenneth said, again she looked at Kane.

“Some things are worth fighting for.” The constant battering she faced, made it hard for her to stand for herself, but she was no longer alone, so she continued to stand for them, she continued to face it, to fight it so they could have a chance. Even if it meant she lost in the end.

“That’s what makes you the strongest person I know. You look tired Luna, you should get some rest” Kenneth stood up and moved towards the door.

“I’ll be alright, Kane left his tablet down here, I might watch something on Netflix, with no one around maybe I won’t talk through it” she picked it up off the table.

“Hey Kenneth!” He looked back at her before he opened the door.

“I hope you stay here. Your brand of crazy is wasted in New York” she offered a smile and opened the tablet turning on the screen.

“I hope so too” he turned to leave again,

“Um….Kenneth! What’s this?” She turned the tablet to show him. It was still open to the site with all her pictures.

“Alpha Kane was going to talk to you about that. Don’t click on any of the images, Marco encrypted them all with viruses so they can’t be downloaded.” He didn’t know what else to say.

“Guess I didn’t have to wait long.” She stared at the images on the screen.

“I’m so sorry Luna” she looked up at him as the first tear fell.

“Me too!” She whispered, he silently walked out of the room and left her staring at the screen.

Kane woke up a few hours later, his back was stiff and his neck was sore, that will teach him to sleep in a chair. He looked at her bed and a twinge of panic washed over him when she wasn’t in it. He heard her sniffling and when he looked towards the couch she had her back to him. Her body was tense but she shook slightly and her casted arm was wrapped around herself.

“Baby, what are you doing?” He asked, as he stretched out.

“Looking at pictures” she was fighting to control the emotion in her voice.

“Pictures? What pictures?” Kane got up from his chair and started walking over to her. What pictures would make her cry? Ky wondered.

“Just….pictures” when Kane saw what she was looking at, anger flooded through him.

“Baby, don’t look at that!” He took the tablet from her and put it on the coffee table.

“I’ve already seen them all” he crouched down in front of her, turning her to face him. She was on the verge of losing control right there, she was fighting it.

“We are tracking them, everyone that has been downloaded will be destroyed and Marco says he can bury them deep enough that no one will be able to replace them” he brushed the hair out of her face. She sucked in a deep shaky breath.

“Th-they saw them!” Her breath came in short gasps.

“Breathe baby, deep breaths” she closed her eyes and started counting.

“1…2…It’s just a dream, 3…4…it’s just a dream, 5…6…when I open my eyes it’ll be over. 7…8…It’s just a dream” the tears flowed down her cheeks as she repeated this. Kane assumed it was a coping strategy from her youth.

“It has to be a dream, it has to be” he held her waist “I don’t know how much more I can take” she wrapped her arms around his neck crying into his shoulder.

“I’m sorry baby, I’m so sorry” he pulled her into his lap holding her tight to him. He sat on the couch with her straddling his lap, her face buried in his neck. He ran his hand across her lower back, while his fingers trailed up and down her neck, he held her until her sobs turned into sniffles and ragged breaths.

He breathed deep, hoping she would copy his movements, when she did, he continued till her breathing returned to normal.

“What else do I need to know? What are you keeping from me? No more secrets” she whispered. He took a deep breath to calm his own nerves and he told her everything. He told her about the package they had been tracking, about Carl’s correspondence with someone named White that had been going on since she moved here. Why Carter was assigned to her. The P.O. Box. How they uncovered the photos. Everything they were doing with the photos. He told her everything, not wanting to hold nothing back he told her about New York.

“So the three years I have lived here, thinking I was safe was a lie. He found me anyway. No one moves to a small town to hide, that’s why I picked it, he never should have thought to look for me here, I’m so stupid!” she held tighter to him.

“No, you’re not! Don’t ever say that. You’re right, you should have been perfectly safe here, no one would think to look in a small town for someone, they would check the cities. We think whoever this White is knows him, from before his incarceration. Think baby, have you ever met anyone? Did he ever talk about anyone? Overhear him mention anyone? A phone conversation” she shook her head.

“No, I never met anyone, he never brought anyone there. The only things he would say to me were how I was a….waste of space, a no-nothing, and how it was my fault his wife left him” he held her tighter, kissing her forehead.

“His wife left him?” They were certain he killed her, she nodded, it was the cause of many of her beatings.

“I was 1 or 2, when she left. She took their son and never came back.” She sniffled into his neck.

“Son?” Kane moved away from her so he could see her face, there was no mention of a son in his background.

“He was 5 or 6 I think, I don’t remember his name.”

“Try to remember baby, did he ever get a phone call? A letter? Anything?” She shook her head.

“I don’t remember.” Her voice trembled.

“Yes you do, try.” He pushed her, she kept shaking her head, her eyes closed tight then she stopped and looked at him.

“He was on the phone, when they brought me back to him, it was after I went to replace the woman….” Her voice trailed off there.

“Good baby that’s good, focus on the phone call, what did he say, who was he talking to” Kane held her tighter, trying to get her to remember.

“He was angry, yelling into the phone, I didn’t want to stay there” her body shivered at the memory of the anger she felt from him that day.

“Who was he talking to?” She had to remember this was important.

“I….I….don’t” he heard the quiver enter her voice and knew she was losing the memory.

“Come on baby, yes you do, you remember” she shook her head, she was frustrated, her fear was growing, that day brought so much pain, she didn’t want to remember it.

“Ok, baby, ok, I’m sorry” he pulled her back to him, kissing her forehead “I’m sorry” if this wasn’t so important he wouldn’t push her, but he did and she shut down. He pulled out his phone, firing off a quick text to Johnny.

K: Carl has a son!

It didn’t take long for Johnny to get back to him

J: What?

K: He has a son!

J: ???

K: She said his wife left him and took their son with her. Can’t remember his name, but said he was 5 or 6 at the time

J: Ok, we’ll see what we can replace. Did she say anything else?

K: She remembered a phone call

J: Can she remember what it was about?

K: No, she shut down

J: Maybe the fate bond? You have lived her memories before

K: I don’t know how to control that, it just happens, something triggers them.

J: I’ll talk to Kenneth see what he says