CHAPTER 24

Alec stayed in the room where I was resting until Felix and Shiena came back to check on me.

I saw Shiena roll her eyes at Alec, but he just shook his head and smiled. He excused himself, saying he had other things to attend to.

When Shiena and I were alone, she immediately asked what had happened after she and Felix left.

She said Felix had dragged her all the way down the stairs, and if she hadn't screamed for help, he wouldn't have been swarmed by the three female Omegas who were in the kitchen.

I couldn't help but laugh at her story. I felt much better now; it wasn't the same feeling I had when Allison first visited.

There was something different about how I felt, and I knew Alec was the reason.

Shiena took care of me for the rest of the afternoon. While she was away handling some business in her office.

A gentle warmth settled over me as I re-entered the familiar, hushed halls of the library.

It was the same library where Alec and I had talked for so long, surrounded by the quiet hum of forgotten stories.

We had shared our dreams, and he had opened up to me, recounting his life's journey from a lone bachelor to the leader of the Dark Moon Pack.

He had said something else after that, a final thought that slipped my mind like a half-remembered dream.

I simply shook my head, the thought dissolving as I reached for the book I hadn't finished.

As I stepped out of Alpha Alec's house, a soft breeze rustled through the trees, a welcome coolness against my skin.

I scanned the grounds, searching for a peaceful nook to lose myself in the pages of my book.

Shiena's stern warning echoed in my ears, her voice a sharp reminder not to push myself, not after the rest I'd just had. She'd threatened to withhold her help if I fainted again, a harsh statement that held a surprising amount of care.

Despite her bluntness, I was grateful for her presence, for the way she looked after me.

Unable to find a solitary spot, I found myself drawn to the infectious laughter of the children playing in front of Alec's house.

Their joyful energy pulled me along, and as I followed them, I truly saw my surroundings for the first time.

The world around me was a vibrant tapestry of lush greens and blooming colors. A deep sense of ease washed over me, a tranquility I hadn't known was possible.

It was a feeling of profound security, and a genuine smile touched my lips as I realized what Alec had created—a safe and beautiful home for his people.

This was a peace I had never experienced before, my life having been confined to a small, isolated existence.
Life as an Omega had been a brutal, soul-crushing experience.

The constant ridicule, the stinging words that branded me as worthless, a gay and rare Omega who would never amount to anything.

The bullying was relentless, a daily assault on my spirit. Yet, I never fought back, never let their cruelty turn me into something I wasn't. I knew, with a painful certainty, that no one would come to my aid.

Each night, as I lay in the dark, I'd close my eyes and pray it was all a nightmare, that I would wake up to a different reality. But the nightmare was my reality.

Even in that profound darkness, a single flicker of hope remained—my mother's last words.

She had spoken of a territory to the east, a place that held the promise of a life changed forever. It was a fragile hope, but it was all I had.

Tears welled in my eyes, unbidden memories of a life I wanted to forget flooding my mind.

Yet, what could I do? I wanted to thank Alec for accepting me into his territory, even though I knew they didn't typically welcome Omegas like me.

I wanted to thank him for giving me the chance to experience a life I never thought possible, a life so different from my own.

I couldn't shake the feeling that my mother had prayed to the Moon Goddess every day until her last breath. I was suddenly overwhelmed with a pang of guilt, realizing I hadn't been able to visit her grave.

Lost in thought, I was jolted back to reality when someone ran into me from behind. I looked down and saw a group of children, their laughter echoing as they chased each other.

A genuine smile formed on my lips as they ran away, their carefree joy infectious.

"Hi?" a woman's voice greeted me, and I turned to see her walking toward me, a sleeping child cradled in her arms.

I faced her fully, my eyes taking in the tranquil scene before me. "Oh? You're new here, right?" she asked with a warm smile.

"Yes, my name is Ken," I said, extending my hand.

She seemed surprised by my gesture, and I was, too, quickly pulling my hand back. "U-uhm... sorry..."

"No! It's fine! You don't have to be sorry. My hands are a little dirty because of Kianna, the girl who bumped into you earlier?" she replied, her words making me furrow my brows in confusion.

I turned my attention back to the children playing on the lawn and spotted the girl she was talking about. "You mean the kid with two pigtails?" I asked without looking at her, mesmerized by their joyful laughter.

They looked so free.

"Yes. She's my daughter, by the way," she said. As I turned to face her, she held the sleeping baby closer. "And this is my second child, my son Avidius."

A small, genuine smile touched my lips. "They have beautiful names," I said.

She laughed softly, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well... I'm the one who chose them. Anyway, my name is Valeria, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ken."

After our introduction, I walked with her and we sat on a vacant bench in the park where she had been sitting before. She had needed to clean Kianna's hands earlier, so she hadn't been able to shake mine.

"You have a beautiful family, Valeria," I said, my gaze still fixed on the children's joyful play.

She turned to me, a radiant, contented smile gracing her lips. "Yes, Ken. I'm so happy and content with the life I have now. I honestly want to thank Alpha Alec for all the help and support he gives to his people."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth at her words. "He is a good Alpha. He's already done what he promised us when Alpha Reynaldo, his father, made him the new Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. To be honest, we're all wondering why he hasn't introduced a Luna to us yet, even though he's at the right age to start a family."

I stared at Valeria for a moment, surprised. "He hasn't introduced anyone?"

She shook her head. "No. Many she-wolves from our pack and from other packs are interested in him, but no one has captured the Alpha's heart."

"Not even a girlfriend?" I asked, wondering.

"As for a girlfriend, that's the Alpha's personal decision to share or not. But in my opinion, a good-hearted Luna is what Alpha Alec deserves because he has a good heart himself." She smiled warmly, looking at me.

I smiled back and looked up at the blue sky, watching as the light faded and twilight consumed the evening.

Soon, Valeria said her goodbyes. A pack warrior, her husband and fated mate, had come to pick her up and their daughter. I said goodbye to her daughter, Kianna, and was left alone on the bench, with only a few other people scattered throughout the park.

My mind replayed Valeria's words. I never expected to have a conversation like this.

A Luna for Alpha Alec?

I found myself wondering why the thought of Alec needing his Luna stirred such an unexplainable feeling within me. Was he so consumed by his responsibilities that he hadn't even had the chance to find her?

Why?

I lost track of time, only to be brought back to reality by a pair of feet standing in front of me. I looked up and felt my throat go dry as his serious eyes stared back at me—his glowing gray eyes.

Alec's eyes...

"Shit! I've been looking for you all over the house, Ken! W-what are you doing here? And why are you staring at me like that?"