Page 15 of Bond To The Alpha (Fated Bond #1)

LIANA

‘Don't get too attached to him,’ I’d said.

But it hasn't been quite that simple.

Ever since that power outage incident, Kane and Lina have been growing closer in a way that's starting to worry me. It's like watching two magnets slowly inching toward each other, and I'm the invisible force trying to keep them apart. I also can’t help the prick of guilt I feel every time I see them together. At the same time, I remember everything I've been through and everything I've sacrificed to keep her safe and happy.

A mother's instinct to protect can be a selfish thing, I suppose, but it's all I've got to hold on to right now.

It's not just even about keeping them apart anymore. It’s also the fact their closeness makes me cross paths with Kane more often than I'd like.

The other day, Lina had skinned her knee playing outside, and Kane was there in an instant to comfort her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

People around have started noticing it too.

When they ask me, I give some kind of flimsy excuse or another that I can come up with on the spot. Sometimes I just laugh it off. But never will I say she’s his.

The market is alive today, as always, with a quiet rowdiness, which is a symphony that's become as familiar to me as my own heartbeat. The clinking of coins; the clunk of food items being dropped in baskets; and the sounds of customers and vendors haggling.

"Liana, dear! I've got those rolls you like!”

Mrs. Lawson waves me over. She would neither stop giving me generous discounts nor quit slipping extra pastries into my bag. This was ever since I let them stay at the tavern for free a year ago when they lost their old house and belongings to a fire.

And there’s been others who’ve just been really nice.

Not everyone's so welcoming, of course. There are plenty of indifferent faces in the crowd; folks who barely spare me a glance as they go about their business.

It's a mix that feels right, somehow. I don't need to be the center of attention; I'm just grateful to have found a place where I can blend in with Lina and have a shot at a somewhat normal life.

This doesn’t mean I don’t get bothered when people say stuff like, “That's the tavern owner. Pretty little thing, isn't she? No wonder half the men in town find excuses to stop by for a drink,” which I can literally hear now, as I’m passing by.

I finish loading the last of my supplies into the truck, dusting off my hands with a sense of satisfaction. The young boy who's been helping me haul some other items stands nearby as I dig into my pocket and pull out a few extra coins, pressing them into his hand.

"Thanks for your help.”

He beams at me and pockets the tip with a quick, "Thank you,” before darting off into the crowd.

I close up the back of the truck, double-checking that everything's secure before making my way to the driver's side.

I open the driver’s door and hoist myself up into the seat, settling in and reaching for the key in my pocket.

My heart, almost immediately, nearly leaps into my throat when I notice Jimmy lounging in the passenger seat. Although I'm not about to let Jimmy see how much he's rattled me.

I exhale slowly and let my shoulders relax as I lean back in my seat.

"What do you want, Jimmy?"

The question comes out more tired than annoyed.

How did he even know I was here?

"Ask Kane to leave."

"Excuse me?" I turn to face him now, with raised eyebrows.

He shrugs like he's just asked me to pass the salt.

"Did I say something out of this world?"

"Why on earth do you think I would listen to you?" I ask, irritated.

Way beyond his bravado, Jimmy has been putting up recently, it’s clear as day that Kane's presence has completely overshadowed him in this investigation—one of his biggest chances to prove himself worthy to Sam and the people of the pack. He can't stand it nor bear the thought of someone else galloping into his supposed forefront.

I already wish Kane would leave as soon as possible, but the safety of Moonlight Pack has to come first, and deep down, I know Kane's our best and only shot at solving this rogue problem.

I continue, "This isn't about you or Kane. It's about protecting the pack."

He scoffs.

"Rich coming from you. You're such a hypocrite, Liana. You left your own pack, made a home here, and now you have the audacity to bring the alpha of the place that rejected you to disrupt our plans?"

I clench my jaw, fighting to keep my composure. "If you're looking for someone to get Kane out of the way of solving a serious matter as this, you've come to the wrong person."

"I want what's best for my pack," Jimmy insists. "I'll do anything to get rid of unnecessities."

"You're being ridiculous.”

Jimmy's eyes flash dangerously. "Am I? Let me make something crystal clear, Liana. You're not of the pack. You're barely tolerated here. And when I'm Alpha, you'll be the first one I send packing.”

How many times has it been now, that he has said that to me? Countless.

I turn to face forward, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Get out of my truck, Jimmy.”

“Your time here is running out," he says as he yanks the door open and jumps out.

The slam of the door echoes in the sudden quiet.

I hope Jimmy never becomes alpha. He’s not capable of becoming one but I still worry thinking about the possibility of him scheming something stupid to make good on his threats.

For Jimmy to come to me, he must've been pushed to the wall, and I wonder what he might do next to try to get Kane out of the picture. God, I hope he doesn't do anything stupid and bring more trouble our way.

I pull up to the tavern.

Two of my workers rush out to start unloading the items, and while helping, I hear shouts coming from the children's play area at the back.

"Careful with that box, Sid. There are eggs in there,” I say to one of the girls whilst picking up on how those shouts are growing louder and more frantic.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I head in the direction of the commotion.

I'm met with a crowd of children screaming, laughing, and jumping around in a circle.

What’s got them so worked up? I muse in a bit of amusement, pushing through the buzz.

There are two children wrestling in a mud puddle, fists flying and hair pulling.

"Lina!" I gasp, recognizing one of them.

Lina freezes, her hand still tangled in the other girl's hair. She's covered head to toe in mud, but I'd know those eyes anywhere. As soon as she spots me, her demeanor changes and she quickly lets go of the girl.

I blink hard, wondering if I'm seeing things.

Is that really my Lina standing there, in the middle of a fight?

"Everyone, go home…now!"

The children immediately scatter and start to run in different directions.

"Except you," I point to the girl Lina was fighting. "And Lina, of course."

She clasps her hands together meekly.

"Lina, what is the meaning of this?"

Then I look between the two mud-covered girls.

“Who…or what started this?"

Lina juts out her chin. "We were playing with the pinata, and I decided to break it open. They got mad because I didn't ask first."

The other girl pipes up. "That's because it wasn't your turn! We all agreed on taking turns, and you just smashed it!"

"Someone had to break it eventually. Why does it matter who did it?" Lina argues defiantly, and as she does, I notice her thumb reflexively flicking against the inside of her index finger.

Why’s she doing that?

I've seen Kane do that same thing whenever he's upset or scheming.

My heart skips a beat out of worry, and I swallow hard. Lina isn't just picking up traits from Kane, she's acting like him. The stubbornness, the quick temper, the physical confidence.

My quiet and shy little girl has transformed in just a few weeks of her father being around.

"It matters because we were all supposed to have a chance! And when we told you it wasn't fair, you said we were stupid for caring about a dumb game!"

Lina crosses her arms. "And then you called me a weirdo with no friends!"

“You hit me first!”

“Because you called me a weirdo!” Liana snaps in return.

I take a deep breath as I start to feel a headache coming on.

"Okay, let's calm down.”

The girls keep quiet.

“Sarah, calling Lina names wasn't nice. And Lina, breaking the pinata without asking and insulting your friends wasn't okay either. Can you both apologize?"

The other girl wipes her nose with the back of her hand, hesitating for a bit. Then she nods and turns to Lina.

"I'm sorry for calling you names, Lina."

I look at Lina expectantly. "Lina?"

Lina just stares at the ground.

“Lina.”

"I did nothing wrong. Someone had to break the pinata anyway. Why did she have to call me a weirdo?" Lina argues.

“But she apologized,” I try calmly. “You should apologize too for upsetting Sarah…and your friends.”

“They’re not my friends,” Lina snaps again and then runs off towards the tavern.

She physically looks like me and everyone can see that. But I think I’m the only one who’ll be able to tell that that’s a miniature Kane scampering right off.

I sigh, turning back to the girl. “I'll get a new pinata for you all to play with, okay? Why don't you go wash up now?"

She nods and runs off to join the other children who've been watching from a safe distance.

As I straighten up from where I’ve been crouching, I spot Lina standing near the tavern's back door, watching me.

"Lina," I start. "We need to talk about what happened. You can't just hit people, sweetheart.”

She looks up at me stubbornly.

"She deserved it. I won't say sorry because I'm not sorry. She's not my friend, she said mean words to me.”

I take a second to rub my aching temples, also trying to think of how best to handle this.

“She’s wrong to have said mean words. But you can't hurt someone just because they said something mean about you. That's not how we solve problems. I'm going to get a new pinata for you and your friends. And tomorrow, you're going to apologize to Sarah and the others."

“If they can't take it, they shouldn't dish it out. That's just how the world works,” she says.

“What? Where did you—“

She runs away from me, into the tavern.

"Li— Lina!" I call, hurrying after her, not caring for all that mud that is being carried all over those floors that have just been scrubbed squeaky clean.

"Lina!"

I nearly bump into Kane as I rush up the staircase.

"I heard everything," he says. "I'll go talk to her."

"No, you won't," I retort.

"I'm her mother. I'll see to my child. Please don’t interfere."

Hurt is invisible, but I see it flash past his eyes in a way that makes my heart sting just as quickly.