The Runt novel Chapter 27

"I'm going to leave now Luna; I'm going to the fight – hah... some fight. It is going to be a slaughter and nothing more because Kace can't shift – Phoenix has grown weak since your rejection – they're so disconnected... I'm not kidding when I say Kace is going to die tonight because he is. His piece of shit old man is going to destroy him – he's challenging him for the position of Alpha and he's going to kill him." I look into her eyes studiously for any sign of recognition or response but get nothing back, my pleas have fallen on non-listening ears. Her eyes continue to stare unblinkingly at the ceiling as machines force her body to hydrate and nourish against her will, compelling her body to continue functioning.

"I understand Luna, I do... but Goddess I wish I was getting through to you," I whisper before turning away to leave. I can't believe we've come to this – I'm leaving the hospital where the woman who should be our Luna lies in a vegetative state to watch my best friend and Alpha die. I can't even blame everything on Kace's old man because Kace needs to own his share of this shit pile too.

Opening the door for what I know is the last time – I won't be coming to see her again – why would I? She will be Alpha Michael's... mistress? He won't claim her as his Luna but keep her as a lover which means-

"AJ?" The voice is soft, scarcely a hoarse whisper but I hear it all the same. I immediately release the door's handle and turn back into the room, back to the source of the sound. Her eyes are blinking rapidly as she turns her head from side to side, taking in the room. When her gaze lands on me, I know that somehow, some way I got through to her – and I'll always be grateful to the Goddess for hearing my prayers. She looks at me steadily, a furrow in her brow and fire in her eyes.

"Take me to Alpha Kace."

PENELOPE, RISING UP

Through the fuzzy, cottony clouds of darkness that were holding me down, I crawled back into the forefront of my life and took back control. Nova is present but silent, unwilling to get her hopes up for any sort of outcome that doesn't involve us with Alpha Michael. Whether we have a future with Alpha Kace and Phoenix or not remains to be seen but we certainly won't if he dies tonight so we need to prevent that from happening, if we can. Whatever is within our limited abilities, we have to do.

Even if it means taking back my rejection.