Chapter 148: Chapter 148
Kane POV
I yawn lazily as I walk to the kitchen. Axel and I took turns caring for the babies last night, while Mason and Elara slept. Especially Elara. That potion really took a toll on her.
I enter the kitchen to get coffee, and Mason is already in there brewing some. Of course, he is. I know we agreed to accept him into our group, but man, he irks me. It drains all my energy to bite my tongue and not snap at him all the time.
I reach for the pot and pour myself a cup, feeling Mason’s eyes on me.
“How’s Elara doing?” Mason asks stiffly, and I instinctively know he is jealous. He must think we spent the night together, and a little devil on my shoulder encourages me to rub it in. But we came to an agreement, and I intend to stick with it, because I am not ready to give up on the twins.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “Mom cared for her last night, but I can update you on the twins, if you like?”
“I already checked in on them,” Mason replies. “I saw Axel sleep on the couch, but not you.”
“I slept in the bathtub,” I grimace. “You were snoring like a trucker.”
“I was not,” he protests, his eyes flashing and nostrils flaring, ready to fight me.
“Okay,” I shrug nonchalantly.
“Fine,” he sighs, shaking his head. “I was, but I was tired, and ...”
“And it’s normal, Mason,” I cut him off, smiling. “If it makes you feel any better, Elara snored too last night.”
“After the day she had, I don’t blame her,” Mason sighs. “It was intense.”
“Tell me about it,” I look at him intensely. “Please. I want to know.”
“For starters, seeing her as a man was ... weird,” he snorts, before telling me everything. “And she said something about vampires killing alphas. I don’t know if it’s a new thing or a reference to Orion’s death. But I think we should make some enquiries.”
“Wow,” I mutter, amazed at what Elara did. “She’s extraordinary, isn’t she?”
“That, she is,” Mason grins sourly. “She would’ve been the perfect Luna.”
I look at the mug in my hand as my entire body freezes when his words register in my mind.
Would have been.
Even though the three of us share the alpha title, Mason is the firstborn and technically first in line to rule. But Elara is our mate, and not his. She will be the perfect Luna, but because of me and Axel, she will never be one.
Mason POV
I have not known Kane for long, but I know he is not an idiot. He knows exactly what I mean. Elara has so much potential, and they are keeping her back. She is not going to get everything she deserves, and I blame them.
“If you truly love her,” I break the silence. “You’ll let her go. Set her free so she can love me, and I will make her the Luna.”
“Or,” Kane growls, his eyes blazing into mine. “You can walk away. Leave things the way they used to be. Me, Axel and Elara, together and ruling the pack.”
“I’m the true alpha,” I growl, clenching my fist and fighting my wolf. After everything, after seeing me receiving the alpha powers, he still wants to take them from me. He still wants everything. “Don’t think I can’t see through your attempt to manipulate me.”
“Manipulation,” he raises his eyebrows, and chuckles humourlessly. “Opposed to emotional blackmail?”
“You’re too emotionally stunted for that,” I snap.
“Fine, fuck it,” Kane shrugs, putting his mug down. “Keep your precious alpha title. See if I give a fuck. I love Elara, that’s all there is to it. And if you think Elara will pick status over love, you don’t know her at all. She’s not like Alice.”
“Motherfucker,” I yell, jumping up and grabbing him by the shirt. “Don’t you talk about Alice. You didn’t know her like I did.”
“You’re right,” he nods, not at the least phased that I have my hands on him. “You loved a different Alice than we did. But don’t pretend that Alice didn’t pick us for anything other than the title.”
With a grunt, I shove him aside and push my fingers through my hair. I know he is right, and I hate it. I hate it even more that I am the emotional idiot in this scenario and not him. I need to get my shit together if I want to win over Elara.
“So much for our truce,” I say, trying to defuse the situation.
“Yeah,” Kane snorts.
“Look, I’m sorry,” I sigh. I need to make things right before he reports to Elara. “It’s been a rough couple of days, and I guess I still have some pent-up energy, or something.”
“If you say so,” Kane replies nonchalantly and turns around to walk away.
“Kane, I want this to work,” I say quickly, and he turns back again. “You and I, well, I don’t know if we’ll ever truly get along, but ... can we try? Please? For Elara and the twins.”
We stare at each other, sizing up each other for what feels like an eternity. An eternity in which I must fight my wolf not to kill Kane. Not to snatch up the twins and Elara and leave.
“I’ve already been doing that,” Kane finally says. “So has Axel, and so has Elara. You’re the only one fighting the peace. But sure, we can start again.”
“Thank you,” I smile, holding out my hand.
Kane looks at it for a second before he accepts it, and we shake on it. My fingers cramp around his, but he does not wince or back down. I finally let go and took a step back. I can easily stand here for the rest of the day, squeezing his hand until it turns to dust. But I need him with his guard down. I need him to trust me, so that I can take what is mine.
Isaac starts crying, and I push past Kane.
“Excuse me,” I mumble. “My son needs me.”
