The Alpha Luna's Veiled Emotions

TWO

The crowd around us was quiet. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, and when his eyes fell to my hand and he growled, I realized my hand was still clutching Eric's arm. He took a few quick steps up to the deck and grasped the top of my arm, roughly pulling me to his side. I didn't like the way he yanked me around, but my brain was mush. The wildfire tingles spread up my arm, and my wolf howled in delight, prancing around my head like a pup. I was in shock. I had played with the idea of finding my mate tonight, willed it even, but to have it actually happen? It truly was the Goddess' blessing.

My father growled softly, but corrected himself, clearing his throat with effort, "Alpha Copeland. It seems my daughter-"

"My mate," he corrected, his voice sickly sweet, so decadent it made my head spin.

"The next Alpha of Rising Sun," my father said firmly, "It seems we all have some things to talk about."

"What's there to talk about, she's my mate, she'll renounce the title and be my Luna," he said above me, his voice was unwavering.

This was enough to snap me out of my trance. I tugged, almost unwillingly, away from him, his eyes snapping to me. I refused to look into them though, as I knew I would just run back into his arms. I chose to take an aching step away from him, peering over the crowd. I held my head high, my smile warm and confident despite what I felt, and addressed my pack and our guests.

"Alpha and I will return to the study with our guest, I look forward to meeting all of you, but the Goddess has blessed us tonight, and I pity those who do not listen to her call," I said warmly, facing several smiles in the crowd, "Please continue to enjoy yourselves!"

I turned around, and my mother wrapped her hand around my wrist. She was the epitome of beauty. Long dark brown hair, straight like mine, and deep blue eyes that held warmth and trust for everyone she knew. She eyed me reassuringly and gave me a slight nod. I smiled and returned it. My mother was jumping for joy in some ways, that her daughter had found her mate, but I had noticed that she and my father, even some of the other Alphas in the crowd, had a slight look of concern on their faces.

I faced my father, and my mate extended his arm to me. When I met his icy, pale blue eyes, I turned molten inside and he smirked like he knew the effect he had on me.

"Come here, pet, let's get this over with, and then we can get better acquainted," he teased, winking at me, and the promise in his words made my knees buckle.

I quickly took his arm, and my father began to lead us away. I realized that Beta Eric and Andrew stood arguing off to the side, and I watched as Andrew sent me a concerned glance. I paused, wanting to go to him, to reassure my friend, but my mate tugged me along quickly, and Beta Eric soon joined us. He put on a better facade than my father.

"Alpha Copeland, thank you for coming to the celebrations tonight, it seems it brought more than one pack good fortune," he said with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Yes, it seems there was a blessing bestowed tonight indeed," the Alpha's honey-coated voice breathed.

When we arrived at the study, instead of the meeting hall, I knew my father meant business. He sat down behind the huge oak desk, the one I had sat on his lap behind, studied on, and argued over my whole life, yet he had never looked more menacing. He gestured to two chairs across the desk from him, and I assumed he meant for my mate and me to take them, but Eric quickly sat down in one.

Come stand next to me, Camilla, my father mind linked me.

I c****d my head. We so rarely used mind links in our human form, and for some wolves, it was even uncomfortable unless they were shifted, their minds unable to handle the pressure of an additional presence in their head. Still, I listened, moving to stand beside my father as Alpha Copeland plopped into the chair behind me, but I didn't get far before a hand grasped my wrist, and he pulled me back to sit on his lap, startling me. My father growled.

"It's fine, d-Alpha!' I said quickly, not understanding why my father was so against my mate.

Sure, he wanted me to take the Alpha title from him, but Alpha Miles Baldwin Verity of the Rising Sun pack had never stood between the Goddess and the mate bond before. Was it because I was his daughter?

"Yes, Alpha Verity, it's fine," he murmured, running his nose along my shoulder and eliciting a shiver from me, "You know how the mate bond is. I just want her near me."

"Well, if you are my daughter's mate, we can certainly drop the formalities," dad said gruffly.

I could feel my mate's breath ruffle my hair as he chuckled, and nodded I assume. My father cleared his throat.

"Great, we appreciate that Kane. Especially since we hope this will be a wonderful partnership between Rising Sun and Blood Moon," he breathed.

I tensed instantly.

The Goddess herself had blessed me of all people, with a mate from Blood Moon? And not just any mate but their Alpha. I swallowed hard, and I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. The Blood Moon pack was full of..criminals. I didn't even see them on the guestlist for tonight, which means they must have wormed their way in some other way. They were a newer pack, only about five years old, but growing in numbers daily. They started their pack when Kane Copeland had challenged the Alpha of Moon River, and their Alpha lost, but the exact details of that fateful day were hazy. Between the members, they came with, and those that they absorbed from Moon River, they were already decent in size. They also took in rogue wolves, even ones that had been previously banished for their crimes. Some even questioned Alpha Copeland's bloodline as well. Still, he assured people that he was never a rogue, just a traveler, and he either had enough credibility to prove as much or enough fear.

"What's wrong, pet?" he coaxed from behind me, nosing my shoulder again, "You can't believe everything you hear can you?

My head screamed at me to get off his lap, away from him, and reject him immediately, but my heart told me otherwise. He was my mate. Clearly, the Goddess wouldn't have given him to me for no reason! I was a good, respectable woman. I was intelligent, advanced in my studies, and not terrible to look at. I had a strong pedigree and the respect of my pack. I had the makings of a good leader. Kane couldn't be so bad to be my perfect match.

"Of course not," I said softly, letting myself relax into him slightly.

My father frowned, but he nodded his head, tapping his desk as he stared into Alpha Copeland's eyes, "Well then, I will have to draft up a merger agreement but I think-"

"No need," Kane drawled slightly, and I began to pick up on his accent that reflected his pack's southern position, "You are a respectable man, surely you're not so eager to step down. Let her renounce that heavy title. She will make a Luna that I'm sure would rival even your own."

My father's eyes narrowed, and Kane ran his nose up my shoulder again, eliciting another shiver, and a handful of sparks, "She is the rightful heir to the Rising Sun pack. She won't just throw it away to join your pack. We have already prepared our pack for an upcoming merger if it was needed."

"Well, it isn't," Kane replied cooly.

The room was tense and unsettled, and Kane kept creating those devastating trails of sparks.

"I'd like to speak to my daughter, to let her decide," my father said, and I smiled softly.

My father was the most respectful, well-mannered man I knew. Seeing him so ruffled was upsetting, and I hated that it was my mate that had provoked it. I went to speak, to tell him that. To say to him that I was sure Kane would accept me, but before I could say a word, he huffed from behind me.

"Uhg, all this talk of business," he chided, "I just met my darling mate, and I would like to take a few moments to get to know her!"

In a few quick motions he had us up and on my feet, swaying just slightly in my heels. He released his hold on me but held out a hand, and those blue eyes looked right through me.

"Come now, pet, would you join me for a dance?" he drawled.

I shot a look at my father, who I could tell was conflicted, but he nodded sharply, and I beamed at him, "Thank you, dad. I promise I'll meet with you first thing."

Another sharp nod from him, and I dropped my hand into Kane's awaiting one, and he instantly pulled me to his chest. Our bodies were flush against each other, right in the middle of my father's study, as he looked down at me. He looked irresistible, like an absolute devil waiting to devour me. I couldn't help but smile.

"Well, here we go," he smirked.

After lacing our arms together, he led me back outside. Some of the younger pack members had gone to bed, along with some of the older members who were ready to retire. The party around us was bustling, busy, and lighthearted. Everyone was having such a good time, that it was easy to slip into the crowd. On the dancefloor, Kane pulled me back to his chest. He rested both hands on my hips, and my own fell onto his wiry shoulders as if we were old lovers. I could feel my heart racing in my chest at the proximity, every spot that I touched him sparking.

"You are beautiful, pet. I am quite blessed by the Goddess indeed," he said above the music, "I'm surprised no one has stolen you away as a chosen mate yet."

I giggled at his compliment, my cheeks darkening, "Same could be said to you. How old are you now? I'm surprised you were able to build your pack as such without a Luna."

His smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, "Yes, it's been...difficult. We sure could use a woman's touch."

I blushed again, and we swayed to the music for a few more moments. Every so often, a thumb would run over my hip suggestively, and my heart throbbed. This man had such power over me, and I loved it.

"Do you think you could do it? For me?" he asked, his voice almost a little sad.

My brow furrowed, and I realized my mate's face was crestfallen. He looked deeply saddened by something, and I could hear its echo in my own body.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly, one hand coming us to brush the hair over his forehead away.

He shrugged, "I can't imagine...I mean, I wasn't raised to be an Alpha, but I saw the brokenness that occurred at Moon River before I took over and I had to fix it. I know how hard it was for him to lose the title, even if it was better for his people. And here I am, asking you to renounce your claim to Rising Sun - a glorious pack I might add - to be a Luna to a mate you just met. I know-" he hesitated, closing his eyes for a brief moment, "I know that it would be almost impossible for me to give that up but you, you are strong, and you care so much about them already, I can tell. But my pack needs a Luna, not another Alpha."

My heart hurt for the man in front of me. The horrors he had seen, how hard he must have worked. I had heard the stories of Blood Moon, but how could this doting, courteous man above me be the same man they talked about? He didn't seem the type to house rapists, and murderers, he seemed like an Alpha that truly wanted what was best for his pack.

"I-I never considered giving up my title. My father never even made that an option..." he went to say something, but I pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him, "But maybe it could be. Maybe I can talk to him, I mean, he trusts me with this pack. Maybe a merger-"

"My pack cannot merge with Rising Sun" he interrupted with a solemn nod, "My people are half of Moon River's and I still fight for their trust daily. We can't afford to merge, to share resources, even if they would be shared back."

I frowned, and we swayed some more. There had to be some sort of solution...

"I understand that you may have to reject me..." he began.

I gasped, and practically lunged as I grabbed both sides of his face, making him look at me, "No! No! No, of course not! I would never. I may be an Alpha's daughter but I have always had faith in the Moon Goddess, and that doesn't change now, just because of a difficult situation!"

I shook my head, trying to clear the fuzz, trying to think of something, "Maybe...maybe I can convince my father to let me take a leave of absence. Temporarily postpone Alpha training, and the like so that I can focus on you and Blood Moon, and we can talk about a merger later."

He pulled me tighter to him, resting his forehead on mine, his eyes never leaving my own, "That's not a terrible idea...but you would need to fully renounce the title to become my Luna, as you know."

I nodded softly, and then beamed at him, "I know, but if it can make this work, then it's worth it."

"What an incredible, pet," he whispered, and then his lips were on mine.

I didn't expect my first kiss with my mate to be on a crowded dance floor, but as it happened, I realized I didn't care. The sparks I felt along my skin were brighter on my lips, almost painful as his lips molded to mine. He quickly requested access to the rest of my mouth, and I could feel the sparks spreading through my body as I drank him in, high on the pleasure he provided me with such a small action. I could hardly breathe, let alone think, but I didn't care.

I had found my mate.