Luna of Light

Mate

Dawson

I forced myself to lean casually against the brick wall of the hotel, watching her address the adoring crowd, though my body shook like a bomb about to detonate. She looked joyous, and carefree, commanding her people with ease.

She is going to be an incredible Luna. My wolf preened. I was filled with pride in my amazing little mate. She was already a Queen, and she didn’t even know yet that she was one, literally.

“We love you, Gaia!” Some human boys hollered. I bared my teeth and growled quietly.

Easy, D. Khason mind linked me, sipping from his Jack and Coke, looking, for all intents and purposes, the picture of leisure. They don’t mean anything by it. No need to wolf out.

I snarled at him and said nothing. He chuckled under his breath, infuriating as ever. I watched her, enraptured.

She looked absolutely breathtaking tonight. She was gilded from head to toe, like a goddess, her curls as wild as the wolf pack she would soon help me lead. Her emerald eyes and blood red lips were the only other color on her. Even her skin gleamed golden, reflecting the multi-colored lights of the party off of her shoulders, thighs, cheekbones, collarbones…

Alpha. Khason invaded my wandering thoughts. Subconsciously I had started moving forward, drawn to her. I clenched my jaw, returning to my position by the wall. This was torture.

Khason’s breathing shallowed and I glanced at him. His eyes had gone blank- someone was mind linking him. I waited until his brown eyes refocused on me.

“What is it?” I muttered, instantly distracted.

He frowned. “Gage says they scented some unfamiliar wolves on patrol. They tracked them, but their scents dipped back out of our territory to the South.”

I blinked. Who would dare cross my territory without my permission? I was Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, one of the largest and most powerful werewolf clans. For someone to step onto my lands without my permission, they either had a death wish, or were running from Death himself. “Any leads?”

He shook his head, already over it. He leaned against the wall again, draining his glass. “Whoever they are, they’re gone now. I’m getting another drink. Want anything?”

I shook my head, lost in thought. He shrugged and moved off through the crowd. I returned my eyes to where Gaia was. She was easy enough to track. Even if I couldn’t easily see the way the crowd buzzed around her wherever she went, it was like a magnet attracted me to her. She was like the sun itself. Everyone around her lit up as she came near, jockeying for her attention. She smiled easily and radiantly, drawing people in, making them smile too. She left joy in her wake, until the entire room undulated with happiness. She was incredible.

I could hold back no longer. With Khason distracted by the bar, I moved casually forwards, into the path she was making. I forced myself to slow, to keep from running to her side. I knew it wouldn’t take long.

As expected, within seconds, her gaze fell upon me, beautiful eyes sliding up my body until they met mine. I couldn’t help it. I smiled. She had the same effect on me that she did on everyone else. She smiled back, moving towards me, her head tilting back to look up at me as she approached.

“Gaia.” I murmured her name. She shivered slightly. I wondered if she was cold. She wasn’t wearing much, but it was a warm night.

“Mr. Vargas.” Her voice was breathy.

“Dawson.” I corrected, desperate to hear her say my name.

“Dawson.” She repeated obediently and I was rock hard in an instant, straining against the fabric of my black pants.

“Happy birthday.” I fished in my pocket and extended the velvet box to her. Her eyes darted down to it, her smile faltering in surprise.

“Oh, you didn’t have you get me anything, you don’t even know me!” Nevertheless, her fingers were already inching through the air, itching to take it from me. I grinned. She was so adorable. So charming. So, she liked presents? I will spend the rest of my life showering you with gifts, my Queen. I extended it further, meeting her eager fingers with the box.

“It’s your birthday. I’m simply following what cultural customs dictate.”

She giggled. “You have a way with words, sir.”

Sir. My c**k throbbed painfully.

She pulled the box open, gasping as she caught sight of the blood stone, our family heirloom, passed from Alpha to Luna, from Luna to her son, the next Alpha, and so on. She didn’t know the statement I was making by gifting it to her now, but her eyes were still alight with wonder. “But…this is yours! I saw you wearing it this morning!”

She was observant. I had been wearing the stone night and day since my mother had given it to me when I was just a child. My neck actually felt slightly bare without it now, but I didn’t miss it, knowing it would soon rest around the neck of my Luna. “I want you to have it.” I said simply.

“I…I couldn’t!” She exclaimed. Even as she protested though, she was lifting the necklace from the box, eyes locked on the stone, so deep red that it was practically black. I laughed.

“Clearly, you could.” I took the necklace from her and stepped around her body swiftly. I looped it around her neck and she helpfully lifted her hair so I could clasp it. I was struck by her intoxicating scent. My canines lengthened and I longed to just sink them into her neck and mark her as mine. She was just as gorgeous from the back, her short, tight dress showing off her juicy ass and thick thighs. I wanted to squeeze that ass, spank it, and throw those thighs over my shoulders. My d**k ached and I shifted my hips back, resisting the urge to press against her, show her the effect she had on me. With great difficulty, I managed to touch the warm, soft skin of her neck only barely as I fastened my necklace on her. Slowly, she turned to face me again, letting her curls fall back down. Her eyes met mine again, oblivious to the lecherous thoughts in my head, and yet they were filled with sultry fire as she gazed up at me though her thick lashes. I practically turned to lava.

“Thank you, Dawson.” She murmured, low and breathy. Mother above. Maybe I was having an effect on her. I held my breath, knowing if I did in fact scent arousal on her, I'd do something very stupid.

She was growing more comfortable with my name. It filled me with unbridled joy. “Of course.” Anything. My whole damn kingdom. The f*****g world. Name it, and it’s yours, my perfect Luna.

“Gaia!” She jumped as two human girls flanked her, squealing with excitement. “It’s almost midnight, come on!” They tugged her away, back towards the raised stage on the other side of the rooftop. My wolf snarled in annoyance, but I managed to control myself as my gorgeous queen shot me a sexy grin over her shoulder and let her friends drag her away.

I followed her with my eyes as the girls scrambled onto the stage and the one in the red dress grabbed the microphone.

“Okay everybody, it’s almost midnight! Help us count down the moment that Gaia, our cheer captain, prom queen, student body president, valedictorian and my best friend turns eighteen!” The crowd roared as Gaia grinned so hard she practically glowed. I was impressed by her accomplishments. Clearly ruling came naturally to her. That’s my girl.

“Here we go everyone! Ten! Nine! Eight!”

The crowed joined in and I felt rather than saw Khason return to my side.

Is that the blood stone she’s wearing? He said in my head.

Shut up. I snapped back, hearing him chuckle beside me. My heard pounded in my chest as I watched her. She was seconds away from eighteen. We were moments away from knowing if she was a wolf or not. I was moments away from the mate bond tying me to this girl for life. It took everything in me to keep my wolf from ripping loose.

“Four!”

“Three!”

I forgot how to breathe.

“Two!”

Come to me, my Luna.

“ONE!”

MATE.

Fireworks exploded into the sky above. The crowd roared louder than ever before. Bodies jostled into me as the music started up again and confetti cannons rained scraps of gold paper from above. But I could barely perceive any of that. Could not focus on anything but Gaia. She stiffened and I could hear her gasp from here. Her mouth parted in shock and her hands went to her chest. Confusion and unease filled her face, even while exultation filled my soul. I extended my thoughts towards my mate, my queen, my Luna, an invisible tether locking into place somewhere deep inside me and shooting across the space between us, as strong and bright as a cord of pure gold.

GAIA! I called. And from across the rooftop, her eyes snapped to mine.