Genesis: (Book One of the True Luna Series)

by Texie D. Freeman

  Clark had the box open and was placing one of the buds in his ear. In a distasteful tone, he asked, “Why do you still hang out with her, Maggie? She’s mean.”

  Not for the first time, Marigold was reminded that her friends weren’t fans of each other. Still, she had hope that they would eventually grow on the other. It would be easier to hang out with both of them rather than having to split her time in half. On the few occasions that they had all been together, though, someone always ends up crying.

  “I think Lena’s just lonely,” she remarked, thinking of her life back in Ashby. Ever since her brother had become alpha, he hadn’t had time for her anymore. Being the alpha’s sister made it exceptionally hard to make friends. “Do you know where she is or not?”

  “That doesn’t excuse her attitude,” Clark grumbled. At her pointed look, he sighed, and caved, “I think I saw her go the restroom.

  Marigold forced a smile as she slid out of the booth and patted Clark on the shoulder. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  At the women’s room, she pushed on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. This wasn’t the first time Lena had locked herself in the café washroom. Marigold sighed as the sound of faint crying hit her ears. She knocked twice, calling out, “Lena, it’s me. Can I come in?”

  The lock was disengaged from the other side and the door opened. A hand grabbed hers, pulling her into the small room. Pulling back, Marigold assessed her red eyed friend. Lena was usually very prim and proper but today her hair was pulled up in a sloppy bun and black streaks of mascara stained her face. Her figure was drowning in an oversized sweater and baggy jeans.

  “Oh, Lena,” Marigold sighed. “What happened? Is it your parents again?”

  “My dad called me this morning,” she sobbed, “he’s kicking me out because my cousin told him I was bi.”

  Marigold had heard a lot about Lena’s father, and to her, the guy was the definition of a scumbag. He was a preacher, but he was far from being kind and forgiving. Her friend was often on his bad side for stupid reasons like getting an average grade on an essay or when she forgot to call home every few days.

  And now this.

  Lena threw herself forward without warning and clutched Marigold like a lifeline, making her animal side bristled. These days, Lena rarely tried to hide her attraction which made being around her extremely hard. It so bad it made Marigold wanted to scream that she was waiting for her soulmate just to get Lena off her back.

  “I’m sorry,” Marigold said, awkwardly patting Lena’s back. “I can go to the housing office with you. We’ll tell them that you need to stay in the dorms over summer break. You can get a campus job and save up for an apartment or something.”

  Lena sniffed and pulled back, craning her neck to meet Marigold’s eyes. “Actually, I was hoping I could go home with you. You’re always talking about how great your brother is. He shouldn’t mind taking me in, right?”

  Goddess knows she would’ve loved to have Lena visit as that would make summer break bearable. Unfortunately, even the alpha family had to follow the rules. No human could live in Ashby unless they were someone’s mate, or a prisoner. Lena was neither.

  “No.”

  Lena dropped her arms and stepped back. Her face was free of expression. “No? Why the hell not? Is this because of Clark? Did he say something about me?”

  Marigold balked at her friend’s tone. “What? No. He has nothing to do with this. I can’t bring just anyone home.”

  “Just anyone? I’m your best friend,” Lena spat.

  “I know that,” she tried. “I just...can’t. Please don’t ask why.”

  “It’s because I’m bi, huh? I’ve seen how you look at me, Marigold, I know you’re not straight.”

  Lena wasn’t wrong but her words come across as an insult, making Marigold feel like someone had plunged a silver knife in her chest. “My decision is final.”

  “Then I’ll change your mind,” Lena stated.

  Before Marigold could guess what that meant, Lena was pushing her against the wall by her shoulders. There was nowhere to run as the other girl blocked her with her body. A millisecond later, Lena was forcefully kissing her. Marigold’s blood turned to ice as she tried to push her off, but it was like Lena had suddenly gained the strength of a shifter and wouldn’t budge. She didn’t even care that Marigold wasn’t responding and moaned.

  It felt like an eternity had passed when she moved away, smiling sultrily. “Now can I come stay with you?”

  “Why did you do that?” Marigold croaked, her eyes burning. Her heart ached fiercely for the kiss Lena had just stolen, the one she was saving for her mate. In all her life, she had never felt so dirty.

  Lena’s eyes went wide, and she laughed, “Was that your first kiss, Maggie?”

  A wave of heat flashed through Marigold at the use of the nickname Clark had gifted her. When he said it, it came from a special place. With Lena, it was as if she was making a joke. “Don’t call me that.”

  “Your being ridiculous,” Lena bitterly commented. “I know you loved it. Maybe even more than me.”

  “Clark was right,” Marigold swallowed. “You’re selfish and vile. You know I don’t like you like that and assaulted me.”

  “Wait a second—”

  “If you ever come near me again, I will report what happened to the dean,” she cut Lena off and turned on her heel, pushing the door open.

  As Marigold stormed out, she heard Lena’s voice over the café chatter, shouting, “You’ll regret rejecting me! I swear on my mother’s soul, this isn’t over! We’re not finished.”

  /CHAPTER TWENTY/

  June had only been back in her body for a second when she was being pulled into a warm chest. Her limbs felt heavy as she looked up. The eyes room, consisting of Dani, Lycos, Mira, and Donovan, were watching her.

  Déjà vu hit as she arched her neck to stare up at the man holding her. Throat dry, she asked, “Why are you here?”

  “I mind linked him when you passed out,” Dani answered, throwing a glare at the guide.

  Lycos ignored her to address June, “I apologize, Luna. It seems we over stimulated the nexus.”

  She sat up slowly and swayed when the room spun. She was stopped from falling over by Donovan. Ignoring his silent concern, she aired, “Well, whatever we did either worked or I just had the strangest dream.”

  “What did you see?” Lycos prompted.

  “I saw…I saw Marigold,” June replied, eyes off the guide to the alpha when he let out a choked sound. When he didn’t speak, she proceeded to relay her brief visit to the spirit realm and then the dream, or rather, Marigold’s memory. Finishing, she theorized out loud, “I think the reason you can’t find Clark is because of Lena. Marigold rejected her and because she couldn’t get to your sister in person, she imprisoned her, but that wasn’t enough. She wanted your sister to keep on suffering and must have done something to Clark, too.”

  A thousand emotions ran across on Donovan’s face. Finally, he settled on rage as his eyes began to glow. To Dani, he commanded, “I need you to take Lycos and Mira back to the temple. Under no circumstances will you tell anyone, not even Noah, that they were here, or what happened today. Understand?”

  Dani’s face was stoic as she nodded. “Yes, Alpha. C’mon, guys.”

  June waited until they were gone to move. She stood up once she was sure her legs wouldn’t give out. Donovan did the same as she asked, “Who did you mind link?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Your eyes glow brighter when you reach out to someone,” June commented. “Plus, you rushed Lycos and Mira out the door. I have a feeling that whoever you reached out to is either Thalia or Creed.”

  “Both, actually,” Donovan confirmed. The iridescence in his eyes may have been slowly fading back to blue but his body was tense.

  Unsure of what possessed her, June told him, “She’s okay, by the way. Pissed off, though. We’ll find a way to get her out.”

  “We?�
�� the alpha echoed.

  “You’ll figure out a way,” she corrected.

  “Right, sure,” Donovan scoffed. He ran a hand through his hair, looking anywhere except at her. “Me.”

  June stared at the man in disbelief from his tone. She knew it was far from the right time to start a fight, but he had a way of getting under her skin. Seething, she snapped, “What are you implying?”

  “I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take you to understand that this is your life now, June,” Donovan sharply retorted.

  “So people keep reminding me,” she fumed, throwing her arms out. “I’m sorry I can’t live up to your standards! I’m sorry that I’m human and barely understand what’s happening. I’m sorry for being such a fucking disappointment.”

  Donovan’s face was one of a man who sported a broken heart. He reached out for her but dropped his hand when June stepped away. Still, it didn’t stop him from saying, “I don’t think you’re a disappointment and I apologize if that’s the vibe you were getting from me.”

  “I only have one other thing to say and then I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she said while gesturing between the two of them. “The goddess made a mistake and there’s no point in pretending anymore. We’re not good for each other. You want a savior for your people and someone who is complacent by your side, but that’s not me, Donovan.”

  “Then look me in the eyes and tell me that I mean nothing to you,” he commanded without hesitation. The alpha’s hands were clenched into fists and his eyes were overpouring with an emotion that couldn’t be named.

  June’s heart clenched at the demand. She could feel beads of sweat forming along her brow, as if her body was willing her to not say a word. She pushed past the feeling. “I wish we had never met because I’ve never felt less for a beast.”

  Donovan’s jaw clenched and he inhaled deeply. He turned away from her, facing the door, but June had witnessed to the hope fading from his eyes.

  Regret burned in her stomach like acid. She hadn’t expected his reaction to feel like her own. Swallowing, she tried, “I didn’t mean—”

  He cut her off, “Thalia and Creed are here.”

  Creed was the first one through the door. His dark eyes flickered from Donovan to June, and the back to the alpha. He let out a low whistle, “Who died?”

  Donovan ignored the gamma and waited to speak until Thalia was inside and the door was shut. “Lena Gonzalez is the dream walker.”

  Thalia’s face went white, and her voice shook as she asked, “Are you sure?”

  The alpha looked at June, who nodded. He held her gaze for a moment before turning to the beta. “June spoke to Marigold.”

  Thalia arched a brow, her next words laced with disbelief, “She talked to my mate who is currently unconscious?”

  June wasn’t sure if she should be surprised that Marigold was Thalia’s mate or offended that the beta didn’t believe Donovan. She didn’t have time to process either of those realizations as she stepped forward to say, “Apparently I can leave my body behind and go into the spirit realm. Marigold is trapped there, that’s why she can’t wake up.”

  “Okay, well…alright,” Creed drawled with subtle disbelief. “Is Clark there as well?”

  “No,” she answered. The strangeness of the conversation was giving June a headache and she wasn’t in the mood to defend her newfound abilities. Recalling her brief time in the spirit realm, she thought of the memory the alpha sister had showed her. “Marigold suspects that Lena has him. If we find her, we can save Donovan’s sister and Clark.”

  We, she thought grimly, there’s that word again.

  If the alpha picked up on her saying it, he ignored her, telling the two hybrids, “We’ll start by putting feelers out for Lena…discreetly. She might not be working alone, and we all know that dream walkers have friends in high places. We’ll plant a few lies along the way and say that we’re closing in on Clark. That should keep her aptly distracted.”

  “What friends?” June inquired. She didn’t like Donovan’s tone and it wasn’t hard to pick up that he was trying to avoid saying something specific.

  Creed and Thalia shared a look, their matching smirks making June nervous. It was a moment before Donovan answered, speaking just one word, “Hunters.”

  “Hunters?” The thought of Rachel or anyone at the complex teaming up with any supernatural being was laughable. However, given the alpha’s tight expression, she knew he wasn’t lying.

  “Since the dawn of the hunters beginning,” Creed aired. “It seems that that saying is true, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

  “I never knew,” June said, looking at Donovan as she thought of Marigold. She already felt bad for the sister and the additional guilt left a sour taste in her mouth. For some reason, she needed the alpha to know that she wasn’t involved with the dream walkers.

  “I figured as much, June,” Donovan acknowledged. “You didn’t even know what a dream walker was before I told you.”

  Her face flushed at her lapse of recollection. “Oh, right.”

  “That aside, are we sure we can trust her?” Thalia asked. Her eyes were hard but underneath the surface, desperation shined. She wanted to save Marigold more than anybody, maybe even more than Donovan. “She could be playing us. You said Lena could be working with hunters and here we are chatting it up with one. What makes us so sure that Lena hasn’t contacted her or that she won’t?”

  Donovan scowled. “You know why, Beta. June’s loyalties lie with us as the True Luna.”

  When he didn’t mention the bond, June shifted at the unexpected wave of heat that traveled through her chest.

  Resigned, Thalia grimly nodded, her shoulders sagging. “Fine. Creed and I will start contacting the other packs and search the national database for information on Lena. She can’t be that far from here given how obsessed she is with Marigold. We should assign more guards to the clinic.”

  “June will let us know if there’s any spike from the spirit realm as well,” Donovan decreed.

  When the beta and gamma looked at her for confirmation, she was tempted to tell them that the alpha was fibbing but ended up agreeing, “Sure, no problem.”

  Thalia held her gaze for longer than necessary before turning back to her leader. “Is that everything?”

  With that, the trio began to talk strategy. Names of people June didn’t know came into the conversation as well as the guard schedule. Sensing she wasn’t needed anymore, June moved towards the stairs. Donovan glanced her way but didn’t say anything as she left the room.

  Upstairs, she opened the door to the spare bedroom and collapsed on the bed. She was exhausted but her mind wouldn’t stop turning, hyper focused on the alpha one floor below.

  Seeing this side of Donovan was deadly. His plan had been thrown together in seconds and was better than anything June could’ve come up with. On average, it took the hunters four days to plan and then another three to get council approval. If it was rejected, the process began again.

  Thinking about the logistics of her life back at the complex, June closed her eyes. If she was there right now, she would be either training or waiting for a mission. Well, that is if she had been able to carry out Dani’s execution, which she wouldn’t have. So maybe instead she would be at the Grey Zone, fighting to stay alive and spending every free minute looking for Dale. Together, they would’ve planned an escape. Dale would’ve scoped out the camp while June gathered information about the guards…

  It was sometime later that her eyes snapped open, awareness hazy. She wasn’t sure what had woken her up until a knock vibrated the door. Shaking off the lingering sleep, she sat up, croaking, “Come in.”

  The door opened and Donovan come inside, holding a bowl in one hand. He looked at her and winced. “Were you resting?”

  “Turns out partying in the spirit realm is exhausting,” June forewarned. Her eyes went to the bowl. “Is that for me?”

  Donovan came over to the bed
and sat down, keeping a healthy distance between them. Passing over the bowl, he told her, “It’s parsley and chicken soup. The recipe has been in my family for years. It was the only thing my mom knew how to cook which she only did when my dad and her were mad at each other. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this is a peace offering. I shouldn’t have tried to force you into this. Therefore, I would like to offer you an ultimatum.”

  June stirred the soup, making the steam waft around the spoon. Inwardly, she knew she shouldn’t take the bait but this new tactic from the alpha was spiking her curiosity. “Which is what?”

  “I never gave you a choice,” he said, “but I will. In four days, I want you to meet the pack so that you can get a sense of what you’re meant to protect. Afterward, if you want to leave…I’ll let you go. All I ask is that when you return to the hunters, tell them that I was cruel, say I starved and abused you, do whatever you must to make sure they don’t hurt you. Because if they do, I will come running and I will burn the world to the ground and kill any man or woman that stands in my way of getting to you.”

  “Donovan—” June stared but stopped. She stared at the alpha with wide eyes, speechless.

  The alpha stood up from the bed and crossed the room. On his way out, he glanced over his shoulder and flashed her a ghost of a smile. “Enjoy the soup, June.”

  He was gone before she could tell him that she was no longer hungry.

  /CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE/

  June spent the next four days alone. The alpha was gone by the time she woke up and she was rarely awake when he came back. The few run ins they had were awkward as they avoided eye contact and made forced small talk. As much as she wanted to ask if he meant what he said about her room, her mind was too preoccupied with meeting his pack.

  She didn’t sleep much either.

  Every night, when June closed her eyes, she relived the light dying from Donovan’s eyes. Her brain then corresponded that with the nightmare gifted to her by the dream walker. Except this time, it wasn’t Bran tied to the post but the alpha. In every rendition, just as June reached him, the chains would miraculously fall away, and he would take a step towards her only to misstep and fall into the fire.