Chapter 2

Violet’s POV

Kincaid hated that I planned a day out in Darkmoon while he was on vacation. But given the timeline with my pregnancy and the upcoming divorce with Theo that would soon be breaking news, I couldn’t wait. My people needed me now.

And I needed to rekindle my people’s support before I went up against the crown.

As a compromise with Kincaid, I agreed to no press conferences or planned locations. Nothing that put me in the spotlight or made me too easy to find by the wrong people. Today would just be a day of reconnecting with the people of Darkmoon.

I started at our local soup kitchen, volunteering to hand out breakfast. I chatted with some of the homeless citizens, getting their take on what they needed to get a job so they could afford their own homes.

I also asked if any of them knew any rogues who needed help. Those who clearly did clammed up immediately. I reassured them that I wasn’t looking for information to find the rogues, as they probably feared that I would expel them from my territory. I only wanted to help them.

I passed out cards with the address for the rogue settlement outside Midnight, letting people know that they could get help there. I had had the cards made after getting Theo’s permission to send more rogues there last night.

After breakfast with the unhoused community, I visited one of the territory’s largest retirement homes. I participated in their exercise program that involved lifting pool noodles and balancing. We sang old songs together and worked on puzzles together.

I asked them what they felt were the best and worst things that the ruling Alphas of Darkmoon had done for them during their long lives. For the most part, they loved the preservation of tradition, though they sometimes felt it was at the expense of beneficial development. As a group, they felt the maintenance of infrastructure had recently plummeted.

I didn’t mention that that was thanks to Lucas’ reckless spending of territory money on frivolous “enhancements”.

The females in the retirement home, including the residents and the staff, mentioned to me that they’d like to see more opportunities for women.

After a lively lunch at the retirement home, I headed over to a school board meeting to see what the children of Darkmoon needed. It took an embarrassing amount of effort to keep my hand off my stomach as we talked about kids.

Beyond the funds for books and school lunches that I was expecting, the school board told me the children needed more play. They needed less school work and more parks, places to ride their bikes and the safety to play outside their homes in their neighborhoods.

I added it all to my growing list.

After the school board meeting, I went to a coffee shop downtown for my afternoon tea. I interrupted professionals and students, chatting them up and getting their takes on what Darkmoon needed.

“Can I just say?” said a college-aged woman with her three friends who I’d sat with. “You’re so kick-ass and cool.”

I laughed, thanking her.

“No, seriously. You keep getting rejected by these pigs, and it never slows you down. You keep coming back, ready to serve your territory.”

Her three friends echoed her sentiment of approval.

“And for the record,” she lowered her voice and all her friends leaned in to hear her, “it’s fucked up what that Twining River asshole did to you,” she said of Lucas. “But it’s even more fucked up that the king pardoned him. I know you’re asking us about what Darkmoon can do better and this is way out of your purview, but honestly this territory is one of the best in the country – the crown is where change needs to happen.”

I couldn’t tell her that I was working on that, too.

For dinner, I went to Martelli’s, who was an old friend from the Academy. He greeted me with open arms and the wide smile I remembered charming a lot of our classmates back in the day.

“Look who is gracing us with her presence this evening!” he bellowed. His wife poked her head out of the kitchen and came running over.

“Alpha Donovan!”

“Julia,” I chided playfully, “I ran naked across the quad with your husband. I think you can call me Violet.”

“Mmm,” she mused, “I think you’re the only woman my husband saw naked and didn’t sleep with!” She swatted him playfully and made her way back to the kitchen.

“And now,” he shrugged, speaking loudly enough for Julia to hear, “the only girls I see naked are my three precious daughters in the bath!”

Julia turned on her heel to glare at her husband in disbelief. “Is your memory so poor that you forgot that little strip tease I gave you just last night?”

I chuckled at their antics.

“Did you? I don’t remember a thing!” Martelli teased. “I suppose you’ll have to do it all again tonight.”

Then he smiled that wide grin and winked at his wife. She tried to hurry back into the kitchen before we noticed her blush, but she wasn’t quite fast enough.

“You’re shameless!” I laughed.

“After all the ass I got back in the day, I still can’t believe what a smokeshow I landed. Granted she’s all beauty and no brains.”

“I heard that!” Julia yelled from the kitchen.

“Honey!” he yelled back. “You do our taxes, you run our whole business, but you married me, so you can’t be that bright!”

A silent beat passed then. “You have a point, Marty!”

He and I both laughed. “So tell me,” he turned his attention to me, “what is the great Alpha of our territory doing in my restaurant? You’re a little early for dinner.”

“I want a favor,” I told him, and he raised his eyebrows in curiosity. “And I wanted to get here before any other patron because I’d like to cover all your customers’ bills tonight.” I handed him my personal credit card.

That wide grin again. “I’d accuse you of sucking up to the people of Darkmoon, but you used to do shit like this at the Academy when most people didn’t know who you were.”

“I don’t even need them to know it’s covered by me, but I do want to make it clear that it’s not their taxes paying for it.”

Martelli looked at me then with something like admiration. It wasn’t a look I’d seen on him a lot.

“Then maybe we could set me up at one of the big tables in the back? I’d like for everyone getting seated to be informed that they can come talk to me at any point during their meal, that I am available to listen to any concerns or suggestions they have for Darkmoon. But that it’s just an invitation, and they shouldn’t feel obligated if they just want to enjoy their meal in peace.”

Martelli nodded. “Of course, Alpha Donovan. Anything for you.”

I rolled my eyes at the formality as he led me through the modest dining space. Martelli always prided himself on practically over bells and whistles, on quality over appearance. His restaurant reflected as much.

The seating area was clean and comfortable but understated because all his money went into the kitchen and the ingredients. A restaurant like this attracted everyone from every tax bracket. It was the perfect place to visit a wide swatch of Darkmoon’s population.

Once Martelli got me all settled with a glass of wine at a table in the back, I took out my notebook and waited.