CHAPTER 5

KAID

Six years since I lost the best part of my life. I never knew how important she was until she left.

Even though we'd only spent a night together due to our bond, I never stopped thinking about her. It had been the most beautiful and best night of my life but I'd ruined it due to fear and belief.

Growing up, I'd always thought I'd end up with Greta. My parents and the pack members never failed to drum it in my ears and as we started doing things together, we fell in love and decided the best thing would be to choose her as my mate and get married just like everyone including me wanted.

Even though I'd found my mate, there was no way I was going to end up with a wolfless omega who's literally seen as a slave. It didn't befit my status and I wasn't going to choose her over Greta.

I didn't realize how mistaken I was until I drove her out of the pack and ever since then, she wouldn't stop haunting me in my dreams.

I'd tried looking for her but all to no avail and when I finally met her as Mona, it felt like I'd been granted a chance again. She was more beautiful than ever, her auburn hair was now longer and she looked everything as elegant and sophisticated, just that she was no longer the same person from six years ago.

This time, she was my salvation. The pack's salvation and we have to do everything to get Mona and maybe Monique.

"Kaid," Rafe, my secretary and beta called as he rushed into the office.

My head shot up.

"Did you find everything?" I inquired and he bobbed his head.

"Yes, she's indeed Monique," he replied.

My face twisted into a frown.

"I can clearly see that. I need something useful."

"Right." He snapped his fingers before pulling out the seat in front of me.

"She's the CEO of Alaris. She's gotten so popular and her company is really thriving."

I leaned on the chair. "We know about that," I stated, my face hardening. We had done our research about Mona Grayson after finding out she had the cure to our problems, so I didn't need an unnecessary recap.

My voice grew lower. "Did you find anything we could use against her?"

It was clear Mona wasn't ready to do anything for us, she was still mad at me for what happened years ago. I would be mad at myself too. I mean I'd disgraced and rejected her and even went as far as throwing her out, and even though that turned out to be best thing for her future judging from how far she'd come, I'd committed the most horrible mistake and I still regret it to this day.

When she asked me to beg earlier, I could see it in her face that she only wanted the satisfaction, she really wasn't considering helping us so I'd refused and she'd left in annoyance. She didn't even talk to Davies whom I'd forced to take me along. She had become so fierce that she wasn't even bothered about losing a prospective investor.

Rafe shook his head. "She has a clean plate. We didn't find anything."

My shoulders slumped. I know it was low of me trying to find something to blackmail her with but we needed Mona. Without her, our pack might go into extinction and I had to do everything to protect everyone as the Alpha. I knew how displeased the pack members were and I'd heard about their plans to get me out of the way.

"But I found out she's now a member of the Willowbane pack. She lives there too."

"What!" My eyes widened in disbelief and Rafe gave a small nod.

Of all packs, it had to be Willowbane? Staying there would have made her hate us more. Her mind would have gotten poisoned against us and getting her to help us was becoming more of a hassle.

"We have to find her. We have to bring her back to us," Rafe's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and my brows raised.

"Did you forget we have to find your Luna? Your fated mate is the only one that can save you and the pack. We don't need Mona alone, we need Monique too," he reminded and a sigh escaped from my lips.

That had totally escaped my mind. I'd just been happy to see her earlier and talk about helping the pack, but then we needed her for something more than the cure. We have to bring my Luna back to the pack, or things go weary. Ever since she left, things had upturned and then the prophecy had come, at first, we didn't pay any attention to it until things started going worse year by year and now, we had to bring back the fated Luna or the red moon curse manifests.

"I need to talk to her," I pointed out and he bobbed his head.

"Should I set up a meeting or..."

I shook my head. "No, she'll never agree to it. We have to show up unexpected. We'll go to the Willowbane's pack."

His eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"We'll..." His fingers went between us. "There's no way we are going there. They won't even allow us in."

I clasped my hands together. " We have to forget our rivalry at this moment. We need Monique and the only way to do that is to go to the pack."

Rafe raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, we'll deal with it."

I nodded. "We'll go later in the evening. You should pick up a gift."

He rose to his feet. "What does she like? Flowers? Chocolates?"

"Comics."

His face scrunched up. " Comics?"

"Yeah. Get a comic book."

She'd mentioned how much she loved them that night. We talked about a lot of things, but I enjoyed her unexpected hobbies and her quirks.

"By the way, Greta is coming."

"Tell her I'm out," I replied sternly.

"But..."

"She shouldn't come here," I warned him and he nodded before hurrying out of the office.

Later in the evening, we set off to the neighbouring pack. Willowbane was our immediate neighbouring pack though it was at the other end but once upon a time, we had a great alliance until...

"You can't come in," the security guard stated firmly. It was clear nothing could make him open the gates for us, we would do the same too but we were in a desperate situation now.

"It'll only be for a moment. We just need to speak to Mona," Rafe explained but the guard only turned away without uttering a word.

Why the hell was he proving so difficult? Rafe and I shared a look before he turned back to the guard.

"You can't bribe me," he shouted, even before Rafe could offer him any money.

"The Alpha must not meet you. Please, take your leave," he warned before walking away.

I let out a sigh and got out of the car. No matter what, I'll meet Mona that evening.

"Your Alpha actually invited us for a peace treaty," I said. His face changed. There was a flicker of belief but before he could say anything, a voice came from behind me.

"I'm sure I didn't do that," that annoying voice spoke. I could recognise Archer's voice any day, even though it had been a while since we met and we don't see eye to eye again, I knew him.

I turned back swiftly and Archer's hard face greeted me but the face beside him was harder.

Monique.

She was standing too close to Archer and he was holding her waist possessively. My fists tightened.

"Why are you here, Kaid?" Archer asked through gritted teeth, but my eyes wouldn't stop going to his hand on Monique's waist.

"I need to speak with Monique." I turned to Monique who definitely didn't seem pleased to see me.

"If you're here to beg then I have to tell you there's no time for that again. You wasted the one chance I gave you," she stated, her glare boring into my head. " And Monique is in the past, if you need Mona then you'll have to make an appointment."

" Mona, you..."

Archer cut in. "You heard her clearly, if you want to meet her, make an appointment. Stop showing up at our pack house."

I glared at him, but he didn't seem fazed at all, instead, he took Mona's hand and she grinned at him. What the hell!

"Now, if you'll please excuse us, we have an engagement party to throw," Archer said and my face contorted.

"Engagement party?"

Mona smiled. "Yeah, we are engaged," she announced, lifting their interlocked hands and my eyes caught sight of the diamond ring glowing on her finger. And then I saw red.

She's engaged to Archer? Is he her second chance mate?