The Other Luna

Day 1

I looked at my dress and smiled. This would have the Alpha crying for me. I was wearing a cute short sundress, nothing too revealing, but enough to make anyone jealous. I had gone with natural makeup and pinned my hair up like I usually did. I was getting ready for the ceremony joining me to the Red Valley Pack. I knew that the Alpha would be there. Come to think of it, I still didn't know his name.

My stomach was doing flips, but I tried to ignore it. As I walked towards the stage people moved out of the way, so I could pass. My parents were already standing on the stage, the look on their face told me I would be scolded for making the Alpha wait and being late.

I moved my eyes over to my mate and the fake Luna; his eyes were wide, and he was clenching and unclenching his hands as he looked at me. Something told me, that he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off me forever and that when he broke, I would be there to pick up the pieces. A few steps away from the Alpha was the beta and an unfamiliar face. He had many similar features to my mate, so I assumed they were brothers.

I watched as both my parents made a cut in their hand with a small blade, following the Alpha's instructions and shook hands with him, making their blood mix. When they finished I was called upon to walk forward. This would be the first time we touched, and it would be in front of all these people. I walked slowly towards him, keeping my eyes fixed on his. I could hear the fake Luna growling at our prolonged eye contact. I crept up to him and cut a line down my palm mimicking my parents’ then I stuck my hand out to him. When our hands made contact my breath hitched in my throat and tingles shot up my arm, it was like I had pins and needles but in a good way and I never wanted to let go.

Suddenly all I wanted to hang my head down and start crying. This was what I was supposed to feel, this what I was supposed to be doing, holding my mate’s hand, not trying to find a way to make him love me. He should already love me.

Not wanting break my strong girl façade, I ripped my hand out of his hand. I was shocked to find that he was gripping it in a way that I couldn't let go. Once again, I heard his mate growl behind me, I wonder how much he told her. The one thing I hated about her was the fact that she seemed perfect, there wasn't a reason for me to not like her and that made me despise her even more. She was very modest, she got along well with the other pack members, everyone loved her, and she was nice. Just plain nice. I was finding it hard to find a real reason to dislike her other than the fact that she was with my mate.

"I, Alpha Aiden, accept Mia, Joseph and Mary Hems to the Red Valley Pact." So his name was Aidan. I liked it.

There were a few accusing looks toward me at my name since usually the adults were stated first since they were more important but since I was his mate, he had no choice but to state my name first. Aiden leaned down to speak in my ear,

"I need to speak to you later" I didn't respond and looked away. He let go of my arm and stalked off.

"Hi" I looked up to see Cora, the girl I had spoken to yesterday,

"Hey" My eyes travelled to Aiden's brother. He and his brother were talking to each other using a lot of hand gestures, they both seemed to be aggravated. Suddenly my eyes caught onto Aiden's brother's eyes and we stared at each other for a moment.

"He's something else, isn't he?" I heard Cora say looking into the same direction I was "His name is Mason and he hasn't found his mate yet. He's the Alpha's brother."

"I figured" Cora talked a little while more, me only giving half assed responses as I wasn’t fully listening and eventually she left.

I watched as Mason put a hand up at his brother signaling that he would be leaving and looked back at me as he walked in my direction. He had his hands in his pockets and his hair was slicked back. As he walked, he grabbed a glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray.

"You sure are playing a number on my brother"

"What do you mean?"

"He's very confused at the moment, and for some reason your name keeps being brought up." I didn't answer.

We stood in silence for a minute as we watched my mate dance with his faux mate.

"Do you guys always throw parties for new comers?"

"Only when special people join the pack"

"What's so special about my family?"

"Why, you're the real Luna!" I scoffed covering my surprise about him knowing. Hadn’t the Alpha wanted to keep us a secret? This event would only arouse questions.

"Care to dance?"

He stood in front of me with his hand extended in my direction. I grabbed onto it. It was so easy with Mason. I had only known him for a few minutes, but it was nice that someone knew the truth and seemed to be on my side.

He put his arms around my waist and I put my arms around his neck.

"To tell you the truth I don't like Olivia"

"Olivia’s the Luna, I assume"

"The other Luna" The edge of my lip quirks up a bit.

"And why's that?"

"She tries too hard. Nobody seems to notice it, but I do. She tries really really hard to get people to like her. Nobody really likes the fact that she isn't the Alpha's real mate, but she has everyone in the pack and Aidan wrapped around her finger." He leaned his head closer. "I intend to make the Alpha so jealous that he'll come running back to you. Don't look now but he's glaring at us from over her shoulder." I smiled and gave a little giggle, he beamed at me. "Keep that up and he'll have to leave early to contain himself." After that neither of us said anything. Mason pulled me closer to him and I rested my head on his shoulder. He was so good. Why couldn't he be my mate?

That night I was heading up to the pack house when I remembered that Aiden had wanted to talk to me. As I neared his house, I could hear voices inside.

"Are you feeling okay, you've been acting weird all night"

"I'm fine, babe." My jaw clenched at my mates voice.

"Is there something that I could do to help?"

"No"

"Really what about this?" I cringed thinking about what she could be doing. Suddenly I heard a moan. Thank god no pack members were around to see me throw up in the garbage can. Tears welled in my eyes and I wanted to cry, to give up but I reminded myself that we were only on the first day and we still had a month to go. I was still hurting though so instead I dug my nails into my skin. I didn't dig my nails hard enough to draw blood, only to feel the pain. I slowly backed away from his house and towards the pack house when I remembered the reason I was there in the first place.

I brought my hand up to the door and made three clear knocks. All noises in the house silenced. A minute later the door opened, and I came face to face with the faux Luna.

"What are you doing here?" She raised a perfect eyebrow at me.

"The Alpha wanted to see me."

"No, he didn't"

"I'm pretty sure I know what he asked"

"Listen, I'm sure you misheard. Aiden would never want to speak with you. Now if you don't mind, I've got some business to attend to"

"Like what"

"You are under no position to be asking me that"

"Are you going back to hooking up with him?" Her face paled

"I am under no obligation to tell you my business" With that she closed the door on me. I stared agape. She was the Luna! She couldn't just close the door on me! I squinted my eyes, he was mine. I would get him if I wanted to. He loved me, he just didn't know it yet. I decided that moment that I would make their relationship as ugly as possible. I know I had wanted to steal my guy back in a more graceful way, but if she was going to play dirty, so was I. And so I called out

"Oh, Mr. Alpha!!! You told me you wanted to speak to me!!!" The front door opened again, and I found myself looking at my mate. My insides flipped, and I became giddy.

"If I whispered it in your ear, it meant it was supposed to be a secret" he growled.

"Sorry but your b***h of a mate, was being annoying" I heard a cough from inside and Aiden opened the door more so that I could see that Olivia was standing nearby.

"You will not speak that way about my mate" The words seemed forced.

"But she's not your mate" I knew if I kept prodding him, I would only get hurt, but I wanted to get a reaction out of Olivia. She didn’t move a muscle.

"But she is your Luna"

"Aren't you going to slap her or something" I heard Olivia calling form inside. I narrowed my eyes at him. He wouldn't dare. I was his mate. Suddenly a fist flew out and I flinched away from it waiting for the blow, but it never came. Aiden held his fist three inches away from my face.

"I can't"

"Why not?" Olivia asked

"I can't hit a girl"

"Since when does it matter, if you protect your mate?"

"Mia is different" For the second time that night, the door was closed on me but this time, I didn't care. I had gotten the results I had wanted.