Chapter 257: Kylee


    All the other pack Alphas and Lunas had left and preparations for Theo’s and A’s Alpha and Luna


    ceremony were well underway. Luckily, there wouldn’t need to be many changes for the Moonstone


    ritual, but there were a few things that needed to be handled. I had nervously approached Luna Grace


    to see if there was anything jobs she would like me to do. I was relieved when she had me help


    organize the decorations.


    I had felt like such an outsider since I hade home. It wasn’t a


    surprise, really. I still understood that I had lost the ce I had before in the pack. But Amy’s betrayal


    hadn’t helped. Many people avoided me or gave me dirty looks whenever I walked by. I’m not saying I


    didn’ t deserve it but it was still hard. Especially after what happened on the day of the executions. If it


    weren’t for A and Mina, I probably would have just gone back to Blue Fang territory.


    But A wanted me here. And after all of the struggles she went through to keep me happy growing


    up, I knew this was the least I could do. And at least someone was noticing my efforts. Even Annabelle


    and Maggie were surprisingly kind and supportive toward me. I know it was for A’s benefit, but I


    wasn’t going to argue with it.


    More than anything, I needed to stay busy. Just like Ma said. She was doing the same. Although, I


    thinking back had been easier for her. Which I was grateful for. I had been worried that if this


    transition was too hard on her, she’d rpse. However, she seemed to be doing quite well. She had


    already joined a local AA group and was volunteering at the recovery center not far from the hospital.


    Seeing her starting to thrive here at home was a big push for me. If she could do it, I could too.


    Besides, staying busy helped me avoid certain people. Well, one in particr. He had been at the


    packhouse every day since the ritual was agreed upon. He would have a lot to do to help get the


    packhouse secured and ready for all the visitors we would be having. He had tried to speak with me a


    couple of times, but something pulled one of us away before we could talk.


    That was fine with me. I wasn’t ready to face that right now. I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do.


    The nicest thing would be to…


    “Hello… Yoohoo,” A’s voice broke through my thoughts, waving one of the ribbons we were working


    with in front of my face. “Earth to Kylee.”


    “I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I was distracted. What’s up?”


    “Yeah, I could see that,” A replied. “You alright, kiddo?”


    I smiled at hearing her old nickname for me. It had been a while since


    she had called me that. We were working on some decoration items and the past few hours had


    actually felt a little like the old days. So it felt nice to hear from her.


    “Yeah, I’m good,” I lied. She raised an eyebrow, seeing right through me. “It’s just been a bigger


    transitioning home than I thought it would be. But I’m fine. Really.”


    A sighed. “I know it’s not easy, Kylee,” she said, brushing a stray hair away from my face. “Just give


    it time and keep doing what you’re doing. People will move past it eventually.”


    “I suppose,” I said absently. “I’m not even sure they should.”


    “What are you talking about?” A said, setting a finished vase aside.


    “I know you say you’ve forgiven me, but a lot of others haven’t. And I’m not sure they should,” I said


    with a shrug. “I don’t deserve it. I’m still too selfish and vain. I have no idea what I’m going to do with


    my life from here because my delusional fantasies had me ending up in a very different ce than this.


    That in itself should make anyone run for the hills, whether I deserved to have someone or not. So, the


    idea of any of them epting me into the pack let alone as anything more…”


    “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” A rushed, stopping the word vomit that was flowing from my mouth. “Where is


    thising from? We’ve talked about this. We all make mistakes when we’re young. Yeah, you’ve still


    got some growing to do, but so does everyone else your age. And a lot who are older. Including me.


    I’ve seen the work you’ve been putting in, Kylee. You do deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be a


    member of this pack.”


    “Yeah, I know,” I sulked. “I guess I’m just having a pity party. Which I know, I know, I shouldn’t be. I’m in


    this position because of my own actions and I should do a better job living with the consequences. It


    just takes a minute when a new one inevitablyes to bite me in the as s.”


    “What new consequence?” A asked. “Are you sure there isn’t something else going on?”


    “It’s not a big deal,” I insisted. “I really am fine. I’m just working out how to handle it, that’s all. You


    know, coping tools and such.”


    “You sure?”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    I smiled at her. “Yeah, I’m sure.”


    That part was true, at least. I was just trying to figure out how to cope with what all had happened. But I


    knew it was only a matter of time before I would have to tell her what it was that was bothering me the


    most. I just didn’t know how I was going to tell her that I found my


    mate.