"Your turn," Arya said to Keith.
"For?"
"Tell me something about yourself, Keith of the Dark Howlers pack."
Keith told Arya about his work as Talia's guard, his protein-shake business, that he is a coach, a personal trainer, a Lieutenant, and that he helps his sister with the Shifters nightclub, and Arya's eyes widened with every next occupation.
"There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and only one you. How do you manage all that?" She asked.
Keith smirked proudly. "With a bit of planning and prioritizing, anything is possible."
"I should ask you to prioritize my work. I was just a general, yet my schedule was packed."
"How can you say, JUST a General?" Keith asked sternly. "That's a lot of work. You need to know military tactics, strategies, latest reports, and movements of enemies, make decisions on the fly, be responsible for your subordinates, and all that while training your mind and body to stay in top shape. Don't look down on yourself." Keith genuinely admired Arya's accomplishments. He had never heard that a person as young as Arya could be a general.
Arya loved how supportive he was. But she also feared that the only thing she had was her status as a General, yet she was leaving that behind to start from scratch. Literally. The only thing she got was a mate, but her budding love life aside, everything else was blank.
"What's spoiling your mood?" Keith asked, reminding her that he could sense her emotions.
"I just fear that once I leave, I won't have anything. I won't be a general anymore. And you didn't say that you would take me with you. Is it because I'm a nobody now?"
Keith couldn't believe this. "How can you think such things? We are mates. I will take you with me and take care of you. A job doesn't define you, Arya, but if you need one, I'm sure we can figure out something."
"Like, what? The only thing I know is how to fight."
"Alpha Damon is always looking for capable warriors. As a newbie, you will start from the bottom. With your abilities, I'm sure you will climb the ranks quickly." Keith thought of something else. "Why don't you consider being Luna Talia's personal guard?"
At the mention of Talia, Arya's mood dropped.
"I don't think she will take me."
"Nonsense. Talia is a wonderful person."
Arya frowned. How could he call another woman wonderful, and she also felt his admiration, and there was something else she didn't want to think about.
"You don't understand. I met your Luna Talia, and I fucked up."
Keith thought she was joking. Or could it be one of those female-only overthinking qualities? "Really? What did you do?"
Arya was not sure where to start. "We chatted a bit, and she asked me to be friends." Arya licked her lips and grimaced. "And… I kind of thought she was hitting on me."
Keith needed more information. "Hitting on you?" With Damon around? Not possible. "Why would you think that?"
Now that she thought about it, it was stupid, but at that time... "No one ever approached me without an agenda. I don't have a background or status. People who spoke to me outside army-related business would come and hit on me, so I assumed... I know it's bad. But I made it worse."
How could that possibly get worse?, Keith thought. "Go on."
"I said how I worked hard to reach where I was while she got everything on a silver plate because Alpha Damon marked her."
Keith stared at Arya in disbelief, and it took him a few long moments to speak. "That… that's not Talia, Arya. You have no idea what she went through."
Arya's temper flared when she sensed all the warm and fuzzy feelings Keith had for Talia. She couldn't stand the idea of Keith talking so gently about another female.
"Yeah? What did your precious Luna go through?" Arya snapped at Keith.
Keith didn't like Arya's rising hostility, but he kept his cool and answered.
"When Talia arrived at the Dark Howlers pack, she was so small and skinny that a gust of wind would topple her. She is an orphan who grew up in a hostile environment, yet she still carried a bright smile and worked hard while worrying about others. I ended up as her personal trainer, and I saw how much she struggled, but she didn't give up. She reminded me that kindness is important. She reminded me that I need to do my best if I don't want to have regrets."
"How does that translate into her earning the position of Alpha Damon's Luna?"
"It doesn't. It just speaks of her character. You see… Luna Talia doesn't need Alpha Damon to stand at the top because…" He leaned closer and spoke softly, only for Arya to hear. "Luna Talia of the Dark Howlers pack is Alpha Natalia of the Midnight Guardians pack."
Arya gaped at Keith. "You are kidding."
"Why would I joke about that? And before you think that she inherited that position, she didn't. Talia defeated previous Alphas and snatched it from them. I don't pity her. I admire her. You say you offended her, but she still saved you when you were in a pinch, and she came to visit you in the hospital. That is the real strength right there." Keith patted his chest, over his heart. "Talia has it."
Arya was not sure what to think about it. She was jealous because Keith had all those gentle emotions toward Talia, and she was remorseful for offending Talia in the first place, and she felt like shit for both of those because Keith was right. Even after all she's been through, Talia was kind and didn't lose herself to hatred or power. Talia had enough compassion to come to the rescue of Arya, who offended her only a few hours prior. Shame swelled within Arya, feeling she was not worthy of being compared to Talia.
"How can you address her casually?" Arya asked with bitterness in her voice.
Keith shrugged. "When we met, she was just Talia. I didn't know she was Alpha Damon's mate, and I didn't know about her Alpha bloodline. If I did, I wouldn't put her in a ridiculous outfit and ask her to be a team spirit for our soccer team for the whole pack to see." Keith chuckled. "At that time, we were just friends, and I hope we can continue that relationship. It is my honor that she doesn't request I use her title, but I still try to do it in front of strangers."
"You are not using her title now."
"That's because you are not a stranger," Keith said dreamily. "Arya, you are my mate. I promise that I wouldn't seek other women as long as you accept me as yours. I don't want you to think there is something between me and Talia or any other woman because there isn't. I mean, I admire Talia… no, I love her spirit and kindness, but not in a romantic way."
"Are you sure about it?"
"There was a time when I was confused, but now that I've met you, I can tell the difference. Don't you feel the same about Alpha Cristian?"
Arya's eyes widened to the point of hurting, and her face exploded in a fierce blush. She wore a hospital gown, and there was a blanket on top of her, yet Arya never felt so exposed.
