Hestia House Book One

Chapter Eleven

~Arynn's POV~

I masked my shock when Leo sat down without saying anything. I had placed Lilly next to him because she wouldn't take flack from anyone, but also wouldn't start a physical confrontation either. After a moment of silence at the table because of Leo's presence, I broke it by serving myself spaghetti then passing the bowl to Tom. Leo looked a little startled, but then helped himself to the salad and passed the bowl to me. I smiled at him, trying to encourage him to join in our relaxed atmosphere. Diego kept shooting daggers with his eyes until he realized I caught him, then he kept his head down, talking to the people nearest him.

Tom and Audrey, the sweetest little wolf cub I had met, were making jokes as they ate, to the pleasure of her parents. I couldn't imagine being rogues with a child, so this evening was starting better than I could have hoped. Good food, good company, and good conversation allowed me to relax, and Leo and I were able to make small talk without issue. By the time we made it to the cookies, I was ready to move into the living room to talk with Leo. Grabbing some cookies and coffee, we sat across from each other in the living room while the rest of my group cleaned up dinner. Leo’s blue eyes watched me as I tucked my legs up onto the couch and settled my hands in my lap. His first question wasn’t unexpected, but still startled me because he asked as someone who genuinely wanted to know, not as a domineering alpha.

“When do you want to come to our pack?”

"I turned in a one month notice to Sue Ann today. And before you fuss about that, I'm assistant manager, and head of recipes. So I need to train a replacement extensively in order to make sure Sue Ann doesn't lose the momentum she has in the bakery now. I also need to make sure I get all the paperwork for this place transferred to Diego, in case something comes up and I can't take care of it from a distance." Noticing the shocked look on his face, I tried to leave my next question open enough to figure out what he was thinking. "So, is there anything else you need to know?"

Shaking his head, his blue eyes looked into mine again, this time with admiration and respect. His voice held a slight tone of wonder I hadn't heard before from him. "No, well, yes, but just give me a moment. I don't know why I underestimated what you had here, but I obviously had, greatly. I had just assumed that this place belonged to Diego, you were just some regular worker, and you could just drop and leave when I wanted you to. But, why would you give this place to a rogue?"

I bit my tongue, literally, so I wouldn't yell at him. I forgot the prejudice against rogues that packs held since living as one and I just didn't have the energy to fight that greater battle tonight. "I wouldn't be just giving it to a rogue. Diego is a friend, defender, and the one who has taught me how to fight. I wanted and have made this place a sanctuary for outcasts, and Diego can keep that going. And if you refuse to use their names, I won't go back for another month."

I knew my threat was childish, but even knowing that didn't change my emotion behind it. Leo may have more years on me age-wise, but it didn't mean that he knew how to treat others with respect. And no matter how his pack was run, I wouldn't treat rogues any differently. The scowl on his face hadn't left a moment later, but had turned into more of a… introspective scowl? And this time, his question did catch me off guard.

"You said Diego was a defender. Does that mean you needed to be defended at some point while you have lived here?"

"Yes," my voice barely above a whisper. "Shortly after Diego moved here, another male wolf came. He was abrasive, overbearing, and tried to start pushing me around to take control. When it started to get bad, Diego stepped in and beat him to a pulp. Then, at my request, Diego started teaching me how to fight so it wouldn't happen again."

I felt Leo's anger rise, watching his hands curl into fists and uncurl as he tried to control his wolf. He kept his head lowered even as I stood and moved closer to him. Kneeling in front of him, I placed my hands on either side of his face and turned his eyes to me so I could see them. The dark hazel if his wolf kept shifting to his clear blue human side so often it looked like they were trying to merge. He tried to break away from my touch, but instead I pressed a small, sober kiss to his lips, startling him into calm. Blue eyes stared into mine as I broke the short kiss and whispered for his ears only.

"I am okay. You can protect me more in the future, but know that I can help protect myself now. I know that isn't usually something a Luna does anyway."

He kissed me again then, fiercely pulling me close and making our mate bond sing between us. His lips consumed mine, my mind quickly falling into the passion that erupted in us. My hands laced into his hair, and he pulled me to straddling his lap as his hands slid lower down my back, resting at the base of my hips. He broke off then, a low growl coming from his throat as he rested his forehead on mine. His voice was gruff as he spoke to me lowly, our breaths slightly ragged.

"I can't wait to get you to our home and make you fully mine. I know you aren't ready yet, and I don't think your housemates would be appreciative of my… enthusiasm." His mischievous smirk caused a blush to darken my cheeks and a smile to curve my lips. He continued, brushing his fingers over my cheek as he seemed to absorb my presence. "I do need to go back to the pack, but I'll be back in a week. Ten days tops. Then I can help you prepare everything you need. I can call our pack lawyer to draw up documents for you and Diego, so you are both co-owners of the property. I think it would be best that way. So if something comes up, he can take care of it. But also so you still have something that is yours."

Tears filled my eyes, as he addressed a worry I hadn't let rise to consciousness. I could still have a safe haven if I needed it, and I could still provide a refuge for rogues. I wrapped my arms around his neck in a firm hug so my tears wouldn't spill over, trying to send mental waves of gratitude since I couldn't speak. I was still extremely nervous about becoming Luna of Shadow Fang, but at least I wouldn't be walking that path alone.

~One Month Later~

As I sat in the passenger seat of Leo's slate gray truck, 1980's soft rock played over the radio while I waited on Leo to come out of the gas station with snacks and drinks for the next leg of our trip. Tom was driving a second truck with another warrior from Shadow Fang, the box trailer full of my possessions in their care. They had left yesterday since they couldn't drive as fast, but we would still need to stop tonight before reaching the pack lands.

I had just finished reading Sue Ann's farewell letter when Leo returned, an entire bag of snacks in one arm, and a bag with sodas and bottled water in the other. I laughed and shook my head, rolling my eyes at him when he gave me his cheeky grin. His excitement about us being together finally buzzed between us, and I could feel the nudges from our mental link now. Leo thought that since I had grown up in a pack that suppressed things such as mate bonds and mind links, I had inadvertently created tough mental blocks. Eventually they would relax and come down, and then we could communicate with each other even over a distance. Either way, I was becoming more attuned to his emotions, and it felt… great. I was happy with my mate bond, and as much as I could be, I was ready for our next step- becoming Luna of Shadow Fang.