The Luna’s Choice (Theo and Ayla) by Kat Silver
Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Kingston

The pain in Ayla’s eyes told me everything.

She had a mate, and he was currently cheating on her.

Rage filled me. My wolf, Lennix, growled in my head, understanding the depth of the betrayal she was

experiencing. What kind of stupid bastard had the goddess paired her with?

I pushed my anger down as another attack caused Ayla to release a ragged groan. Her hands werefisting my shirt, her knuckles white as she fought the pain. I pulled her against me, wrapping her tightlyin my arms, wanting to give her whatever strength or relief I could. I held her until the pain subsided,stroking her hair as she fell asleep on my chest.

That was not how I imagined my first time doing that would be.

I gently laid her back onto the bed, trying not to wake her, brushing my knuckles along her cheek.Looking at her, seeing how beautiful she was. Knowing how strong and kind she was. How was thispossibly happening?

My initial rage came flooding back. Making sure she was comfortable, I stood from the bed and left theroom. I ran into Nicole in the hallway.

“If she wakes up before I’m back, you call me immediately. Understood?”

She nodded, her own worry showing in her expression. But I

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didn’t have the patience to deal with it. I stormed down the hall, rushing down the stairs and out of thefacility. Pierce, my Beta, had been waiting in the lobby for me and was close on my heels as I made myway into the trees that lined the backside of the hospital.

“Kingston,” Pierce called, trying to break through my rage- filled thoughts. “What happened?”

“She has a mate,” I growled.

Pierce sighed behind me. “I’m sorry, man.”

“He’s cheating on her. I just saw him tear her heart apart.”

“What?” Pierce spat. “You’re kidding me, right?”

I wished I was. I punched a nearby tree, sending splinters through the air as my knuckles split open.

I didn’t care. They’d be healed within hours.

Was that why Ayla didn’t have her wolf?

When I asked her why she couldn’t heal, I suspected that was the reason. Lennix wasn’t able to senseher even after she became conscious. But we couldn’t tell if she simply never had one or if she hadretreated into Ayla’s subconscious. I was starting to believe it was the latter. I had a strong suspicionthis mate was the cause of Ayla’s entire situation.

I would make it right. Even if I had to hunt the bastard down and kill him with my bare hands. Lennixvoiced his agreement. It told me something that he reacted to Ayla this way. He was growing fond ofher, too.

“Her scent is still changing. I don’t know if I’ll be able to bring

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Chapter 11 Kingston

her to the packhouse once she is released,” I told Pierce.

“I’ll make sure a room is ready for her at the lodge. You can stay with her there until you can convinceher to join the pack,” Pierce said.

He knew I had intended to have her join us the moment I sensed that she was a rogue. It was adecision that was reinforced when I found out who she actually was. However, I worried it would beharder to convince her to stay because I didn’t think SHE knew who she was. And now there was afated mate involved.

I needed to know what had happened to her, but she was so guarded I worried she would never openup to me. I could tell she was having trouble trusting me, and I was okay with that. But now, I worriedabout her safety.

When she thought she was still in Greytooth territory, she said “he” would replace her. I had tried to get herto tell me who that was, but she evaded the question. Now I knew it had to be her mate. She wasscared of him. I couldn’t let her go off on her own, rogue or not. But I couldn’t keep her here for long asa rogue. She would have to willingly join the pack.

“Are you going to tell her about her father?”

“That was always the plan,” I confirmed. “But I still want to wait until she is out of the hospital. I have afeeling it will be a lot for her to take in. I’d rather have that conversation somewhere private where shecan process everything.”

Pierce nodded. “Just don’t wait too long. It will go a long way to getting her to trust you.”

I completely agreed.

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Chapter 11: Kingston

286 Mouche’I

“She belonged to the Greytooth Pack. I want you to do some digging. See if you can replace out who thismate is. I want to ensure he has no plans of coming anywhere near Ayla.”

“I can do that,” Pierce said. He hesitated a little before asking his next question. “What do you plan ondoing with her after she joins?”

He had noticed my behavior toward Ayla was different. I knew he suspected my feelings for her werealready more than obligatory. It was time I let him know exactly what I now had planned.

“Her mate may be stupid enough to lose her, but I’m not.”

Pierce looked at me expectantly, still unsure where I was going with this.

“I’m going to make her my Luna.“