The Alpha's Powerful Luna

Chapter 16

**Jade’s POV**

This was the most happy and relaxed I’d ever been in my entire life. I couldn’t even believe where i was! I was sipping wine, listening to beautiful music in the mountains and not in fear of a ranked wolf bursting in and hitting or screaming at me. I couldn’t imagine how Krista could be such a b***h all the time if this was the luxury she was accustomed to. If this had been my life, I would’ve been in the best mood literally all the time.

I could smell Elliott’s mouthwatering scent from here, which only increased the urge to pinch myself for at least the hundredth time today. I also couldn’t believe how much I already missed him when he was only a room away.

“I just want to kiss him again.” Astrid chirped.

“I do too, I’m just worried about it progressing to more this early on.” I confessed. Astrid didn’t respond, just made a frustrated grunt and seemed to put up a block so I couldn’t link her right away.

As Elliott made his way out of the bathroom with only a towel dangling dangerously low on his hips, I found myself grateful my wolf was too frustrated to make any further comments because I was beginning to forget all of my principles about waiting until I was ready. I wanted to jump this sexy man right now. I could feel wetness between my legs as I tried subtly to check out the contours of his muscular chest and his chiseled biceps. I’d never seen that many muscles on anyone in real life, i didn’t even know it was possible to look like him. I realized too late that I was involuntarily licking my lip as Elliott turned to make eye contact with me. My cheeks immediately burned as I realized he’d caught me red handed gawking at him.

Elliott just smiled at me, probably too nice to tell me exactly how creepy and weird I was being. I closed my eyes hard and tried my best to focus on something else. The smell of pine enveloping all the air around me was not helping the situation at all.

“We’ve still got some time before dinner. I know we’ve been talking for hours on the road trip and this can be a lot to take in. How does a movie sound?” Elliott asked me as he appeared in the French doors with only some dark wash jeans on. Where was this man’s shirt? Why was he doing this to me?

“That-that sounds great.” GET IT TOGETHER JADE! Elliott nodded before throwing a long sleeve tshirt on. Thank goddess.

“Do you have any movies you’d always wanted to see?” Elliott looked at me kindly and I could tell he already knew based on everything I’d said that I’d never been allowed to watch tv. I was grateful he didn’t make me say it. “Or if you want, i can list some of the types of movies I’ve got and maybe that’ll help you decide?”

“Yes, I’d love to hear what types of movies!” I said a bit too eagerly.

If Elliott noticed my absolute weirdness the past 5 minutes, he certainly didn’t show it. Bless him. “Okay, I’ve got comedies, romantic comedies, action movies, and a whole bunch of horror movies” he chuckled, as if he expected some sort of bad reaction.

“I always heard the teenagers in the pack saying how fun it was to watch scary movies in the fall! Maybe we could try one of those?”

“Are you sure?” Elliott looked shocked.

“Yeah, I mean nothing too crazy but I think it’d be cool to see what all the hype is about!” I smiled pleasantly at him.

“Hmmmmm, okay! I’ve got one you’ll probably like.”

Elliott typed in “the conjuring’ in the search bar on his tv and selected one of the first choices to pop up. He walked behind his big bar just below the tv and grabbed himself a beer before making his way back toward me, setting his beer on the table, and quickly scooping me up in his arms before flopping back down in the chair with me on his lap.

“If you get too scared, let me know and I’ll turn it off!” He smiled at me and I could swear my heart stopped. At this point, i was more scared of the pressure once again building up in my core than I’d ever be of the movie. I did my best to think about something else, hoping with all my might that he wouldn’t notice.

The movie was really interesting, I was completely glued to the screen! I was so excited when Elliott told me it was the first of a whole series of movies we could watch. The anxiety I felt watching the movie was not only kind of thrilling, but it distracted me from Elliott and his ripped muscles and at least I knew if I really couldn’t help the stupid feelings I was having, I could at least watch a scary movie to distract myself.

Too soon, Elliott slowly got up from the chair and set me down gently onto my feet. “We have about a half an hour before dinner now, do you want to go see the omega rooms now?” I was touched he’d remembered that I wanted to see them and was planning ahead so we’d have time. I nodded eagerly at him, butterflies swarming all around my stomach as he laid a quick, soft kiss on my lips before guiding me out of the room.

The omega rooms were absolutely stunning! I was even more surprised when Elliott told me that only the omegas who elect to room with a friend or mate have to share, each person got their own room with a connected kitchenette, table, sitting area, and en suite bathroom. I thought back to the cramped quarters at River Bed and the old, broken down and falling apart shed Emma and I were forced to live in as punishment and it made me burn with a new anger I’d never felt before. What an injustice River Bed was doing to so many members of their pack, and the leadership didn’t even care. And to add insult to injury, they not only stuffed us into the oldest and smallest rooms in the entire house, they actively tried to make us as miserable and beaten down as possible— probably so we wouldn’t have the courage or even the strength to fight back. I was newly disgusted and a desire for vengeance consumed me.

Elliott also showed me the omega only amenities on their floor, including a gym, a pool, a game room, and a party space for birthdays or gatherings. He said the omegas are welcome to the other facilities as well, but he’d decided to add the extra spaces because not only is the pack pretty large but he felt like the omegas deserved a space that was just theirs as a thank you for all they did for the pack, and so they could cut loose and have fun without worrying about being disrespectful to ranked members. I was absolutely floored at all he was saying to me. I could feel my heart flutter with amazement at my thoughtful, kind, SEXY mate. I felt so grateful to the moon goddess that I was given someone as good as Elliott. I could only hope that I would be able to someday learn to be good enough in return.

After Elliott gave me a tour of the omega floor and introduced me to a few pack members he thought I’d hit if off with, we made our way down to the kitchen for dinner and I was pleasantly surprised we weren’t headed to the dining hall that I could hear buzzing with many conversations and laughter. I was excited to see the types of wolves I would be living with, but the idea of meeting potentially hundreds of people tonight sounded a bit daunting. Elliott led me through the kitchen which was buzzing with cooking and conversation, every omega pausing to smile at Elliott and look curiously at me.

Finally, we made it to the dining area where I locked eyes with Emma, who also looked freshly showered and changed. I couldn’t help but run up to her and hug her. “You smell good!” Emma giggled.

“You do too!”

“Well, I’m glad you guys like your bath stuff. It’s so hard to pick for someone else, ya know?” A she wolf with long, jet black hair, tan skin, and striking blue eyes entered the room addressing Emma and I with a warm smile.

“Jade, Emma, this is Jasper’s mate and our beta female Cleo.” Elliott gestured to this beautiful girl and her smile grew wider. I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, she had such a vibrant energy about her.

“Thank you so much for all your effort and kindness toward us, Cleo. It’s so nice to meet you.” I smiled timidly back at her.

“Thank you for finally being found so I can have some girlfriends! You have no idea how tired I was of what a boys’ club it was as the only mate.” Cleo waved a hand, dismissing her amazing kindness with the gesture.

“Well, I can tell you the products you picked for me were amazing! I’ve never felt so pampered in my life! And the clothes you picked are beautiful and so comfortable!” Emma exclaimed, gesturing to the outfit she had on that was pretty similar to my own. It was clear Cleo picked out things for us that she herself would enjoy, she didn’t just choose anything and throw it in a cart. What was even more amazing was a ranked female choosing to do this for two omegas.

“I keep telling you—“ Astrid began

“I know, I know, we’re not omegas.”

“Well, neither is Emma.” Astrid said mysteriously.

“Wait, what?” I could tell everyone was staring at me, but I couldn’t draw myself away from a statement like that. “How do you know?”

Astrid sounded hesitant. “I can’t explain it, I think I need more time with our memories. I’m just not sure.”

I broke our link and noticed everyone had walked in and stopped talking to probably see if I was having a mental breakdown. “Sorry, my wolf and I are new to the whole ‘when’s an appropriate time to link’ thing….” I tried to explain myself.

“No need to apologize! Sometimes my wolf is the only one who gets me! Now, you and Emma have to sit by me so we can get to know each other. I’m just too excited!” Cleo excused me for everyone and managed to change the subject in one fluid statement. I was both grateful and extremely impressed. Everyone picked their conversations back up and began finding their seats.

“Thank you.” I mumbled so only Cleo could hear.

“No problem, Luna!” Cleo winked at me, and took a seat by Emma and across from me so I could still sit with Elliott. I could already tell I was really going to like her. Jasper took her small hand in his and kissed it, taking his seat dutifully on the other side of her. It was like seeing a whole different side to this huge, intimidating wolf with such an air of authority. I couldn’t help but smile at this completely oppositely paired couple. The moon goddess definitely knew what she was doing by pairing these two together, i had a feeling. Even though i barely knew him, I found myself strangely happy for Jasper that he’d found someone who was such a compliment to him.

The dinner conversation was animated, Cleo grilled Emma and I on our life growing up together as omegas, reacting much the same as everyone else when they heard it. She told us about meeting Jasper and finding out they were mates after knowing each other a few months before she turned 18. She said she’d always been drawn to him, which I thought was kind of a nice story. As werewolves, we don’t often get to meet and get to know each other before the mate pull so things usually escalate pretty quickly between couples. Cleo shared some funny stories about Jasper, Elliott, and especially Cameron. She said we’d never be bored here at all, and she even offered to help me redecorate my office when I feel ready to assume my role as luna, and she all but begged Emma to work with us instead of getting a job as an omega. I was so touched by not only Cleo’s friendliness and generosity, but by her treatment of my best friend like she was one of the ranked wolves along with us and not just kissing up to me and ignoring Emma like I could see someone like Amelia doing in the same situation. I was beginning to let go of my stigma towards all ranked females, hoping Cleo wasn’t just a one time anomaly since I still had to meet my future sister in law in a matter of days. Elliott’s parents just sat at the head of the table together, smiling at all the chit chat and looking like the proud matriarch and patriarch of the family.

“So,” Cameron started. “Sometimes when all of us have dinner together, we go for a run in wolf form after…. Would you girls want to join us?”

Emma’s eyes shot up at me, brimming with excitement. “Actually, I gained my wolf just a few months before Jade and we’ve been waiting to shift for the first time together…. So it would be nice to have more experienced wolves with us.” I nodded in agreement.

Elliott turned to me. “You’ve never shifted?”

“My wolf warned me not to at River Bed.” I said, my brows furrowing and newly wondering what she meant and if that rule extended here.

“We can shift here. It’s safe.” Astrid assured me.

“THEN WE NEED TO GO NOW LET’S DO THIS!” William surprised everyone by jumping up and shouting in excitement. Everyone laughed and agreed, taking our plates to the sink for the staff to wash and heading out the back door of the house connected to the kitchen.