Tish POV
I am standing at the top of a tall ladder, trying not to look down. Raven is directing me on how to hang the pack colors in the entryway of the new pack house. It is the final touch before pack members begin to move back in. I want everything to be perfect. It is my first unofficial act as Luna.
"Just hang the damn colors," Kai groans at the bottom of the ladder.
I glare down at him, "Do you want to do this?"
"I mean," he stutters. "I would. It is just very high."
"Then shut your pie hole," I snap back.
"Is that any way to speak to your mate?"
The sound of her voice makes me freeze. I always knew there was a chance she would return, but I had secretly hoped she would stay gone forever.
The ladder shakes, and I look down to see that Kai is no longer holding it. Quickly, I hang the colors and climb down.
I met Raven's gaze, and she is frowning, holding her large belly protectively. Her jaw is tight as she looks in the direction of the door.
Kai has his arms wrapped around his mother. She is hugging him back tightly. There is a very smug look on her face.
I look her up and down. She is dirty, and her clothes are torn. She definitely looks as if she was held captive, but why is she so cheerful? And where is Alpha Fred?
"Luna Scarlett," I plaster a fake smile on my face. "We have been so concerned."
She lets go of Kai and wanders around the entryway of the pack house. Her nose is wrinkled in disgust.
"It is so modern," she finally says. "White and black are such an odd choice of colors."
"Luna Tish worked really hard on designing everything," Raven stands up for me.
"Luna?" Luna Scarlett scoffs. "I see no mark on her neck."
I pull my hair off my neck and show her the healing mark on my skin. Her eyes widen, and she steps in front of me.
"Which one marked you?" She snarls.
"It is my mark," Kai says proudly.
Luna Scarlett smiles in her son's direction. "I am so happy for you."
"I knew you would be," Kai smiles. "Let me show you to your room. I am sure you need some rest."
"Wait," Raven stops them. "Where is Alpha Fed?"
Fake tears spring to her eyes. Raven and I are not fooled, but Kai wraps her in his arms.
"This can wait," Kai snaps. "I am sure my mother has been through a lot."
"Of course," Raven replies. "I am concerned for your father. Are you not?"
Suddenly, the front door flies open and Kaden rushes through the door. He walks past me and straight to his mother. Fake tears are rolling down her cheeks as she embraces Kaden.
"Mom," he sobs into her neck. "How did you escape? Where is Dad?"
I can't help but smirk. She cannot avoid the question, not now that her son has asked it.
"We were separated," Luna Scarlett says. "I do not know where your father is?"
"How did you manage to get away?" Kaden asks, but I can hear the skepticism in his voice. He doubts his mother's story.
Luna Scarlett looks at the ground and wipes tears from her cheeks. "I did things I am not proud of."
Kai tightens his arm around his mother and glares at the three of us." Can't you see she is suffering?"
Luna Scarlett hides her face in Kai's shoulder, and he leads her up the stairs. I watch helplessly as Kai walks away with the woman who poisoned him; I can only take solace in the fact that I know there is no Belladonna in the packhouse.
Kaden is standing with his hands on his hips, looking around the entryway. My breath is caught in my throat as I wait for his approval. It is the first he has seen it. I hope his reaction will be better than his mother's.
"I am going to lie down," Raven says, breaking the awkward silence.
She climbs the stairs to the guest quarters, and I see Oliver and Leo waiting for her at the top. They both have stupid grins on their faces. They love her so much. I find myself feeling jealous of her pregnant belly and doting mates. I wonder if it will ever be that way for the twins and me.
As soon as she disappears, Kaden grabs me by the arm and dips me low. A giggle leaves my lips before he kisses me deeply. His tongue plunges into my mouth with a need I haven't felt from him in a long time. He has been so busy running the pack that Kai and I have been pushed to the wayside.
He tosses me over his shoulder and carries me up the stairs, slapping my ass with each step he takes.
"Kai may not want to fuck you," he mutters. "But I am going to."
"Thank God," I shout as we hit the top of the stairs.
He kicks in the door to our new suite and tosses me roughly on the bed. We both scramble to take off our clothes as quickly as we can. I am naked before he is, and he growls at himself as he struggles with his belt.
I slowly get off the bed and make my way to him. I drop to my knees in front of him and slowly undo his belt. His hands twist in the back of my hair, and I know as soon as his cock is free, he is going to shove it down my throat. My mouth waters at the thought, and I pull his pants down.
Grabbing the base of his cock, I begin to stroke it roughly before I put the tip in my mouth. He moans and thrusts into my mouth until my eyes are watering and tears are steaking down my cheeks.
I am loving every moment of tasting his cock, when the door swings open wildly. I look around Kaden and see Kai walking in with a strange look on his face. I know this look. He doesn't recognize me.
Panic washes over me, and I quickly get to my feet. I back away from Kaden and try to put as much distance between Kai and me as possible.
"I knew you had a slut on the side," Kai screams at his brother. "You are hurting Tish."
He stalks toward me with a wild look in his eyes, and I don't know what to do. Kaden is trying to hold him back, but he is failing.
"Kai," I whimper. "I am Tish."
"Liar!" Kai screams. "She said you would say that."
"Who said that?" Kaden demands to know.
"Mom," Kai growls in his brother's direction.
Kaden's eyes dart in my direction, and they widen when the realization finally hits him. "Kai, you can't listen to Mom," he tries to talk him down. "She is trying to get rid of Tish."
"Liar!" Kai screams. "You are just mad because you aren't the golden child anymore."
"Kai!" Kaden grabs him by the shoulders. "She is hurting you."
"No!" Kai smiles angrily. "She is hurting me."
He points in my direction, and I sob. "Kai, I love you."
But he is gone. The Kai I know is gone. He lunges at me from across the room, and his teeth sink into my flesh. I scream out in pain as I try to pull myself away from him, but the grip he has on me is too strong.
Finally, Kaden rips him off of me, and I scramble from the room. I can hear them fighting, but I know I have to get away. I dart down the hallway and into the guest wing. Banging my fists onto Raven's door, I beg to be let in.
The door opens, and I fall naked at Leo's feet. He pulls me inside and slams the door shut. Raven comes waddling from the back room with a bat in her hands. The sight would have made me laugh if I wasn't so terrified.
"She is doing it," I gasp for air. "Luna Scarlett is poisoning Kai."