UnWilling Luna

Chapter Two

My heart was beating in my ears when I walked out of the room, my blood pounding.

“Honey, are you okay?” my mother asked, touching my shoulder. I didn’t answer. “Charlie, answer me.”

I looked up at her, my face flushed red from anger. “The Alpha is throwing me a birthday dinner tomorrow night.”

My mother’s face lit up, and she clapped excitedly. “Oh baby, you’re nervous! It’ll be okay. I know it’s been awhile since we ate with the Alpha, but it’ll be good. I’m so glad.”

She kept praddling on. She thought that I was excited. I was angry. Could she really not tell the difference? Surely she could read my face. She was able to read everyone else like an open book. Why would I, her actual daughter, be an exception?

Of course not. Who would think their child would be mad that the Alpha wants to honor and praise them? My wolf scoffed. It’s the first time since I decided that I was leaving, almost a year ago, that she’s spoken to me.

Someone who knows their child dislikes the Alpha because he forces them to be in constant pain I snapped back, though I regretted it as soon as I did. I felt the wall between us again, and she didn’t respond.

“So! We’ll go shopping after lunch, okay?” Mom offered, making me look over at her.

“I’d rather wear something I have, but you can help me get ready,” I offered as a compromise.

Her face lit up, and I couldn’t help but smile. One more night wouldn’t hurt. It’s fine, and it would make my mom happy. When I decided to stay, I felt the mental wall between my wolf and I fall, but neither of us spoke.

“Okay, okay. Well, we’ll still make you look all dolled up. You never know! You might find your mate,” she clapped her hands together again, and I forced a smile. If my mate was in this Pack, I was screwed.

“It’s a small world but not that small, so I’m not going to get my hopes too high,” I said, wrapping my arms around my chest nervously.

Mom looked at my seriously, placing her hand on my cheek. “Honey, I know that you’ve never been into dating, but the mate bond is different. They’ll love you, no matter what, and it won’t be so hard because you’re meant for each other. There will be a connection, and even if you two didn’t have one before, the Goddess chose that person for you for a reason. It’ll all work out.”

I nodded, leaning into her touch. I missed her since she worked so much, so I didn’t want to tell her that I didn’t want my mate to be here. I didn’t want to explain to her that I wanted a mate more than anything, but I couldn’t keep living my life like I had been. She never knew all the pain I went through because I didn’t want to worry her, but sometimes I wished that I had. Maybe she would understand everything, especially why I wanted to leave, if I did.

Instead, I just nodded. “You’re right, Mama. I just hope that it’s someone who’s kind. I don’t want to be in love with a jerk.”

She laughed lightly before patting my face, letting go of me. “I’m sure they’ll be perfect, and hey! You have double the options,” she teased me.

*****

I sighed, staring at the clock. 12:06 am. I’m officially 18. Rolling over, I stare out the window, watching the wind move the trees. Was this all that I was meant for? To live in this Pack, healing these wolves, never doing anything for myself? I blinked tears from my eyes, finally closing them to give into sleep.

Suddenly, the most amazing scent filled my nose. It smelled like sandalwood and freshly cut grass, but with an intensity that would normally be overwhelming, and was, but in a good way. My entire body felt hot, on fire, so I carefully sat up.

Mate my wolf said simply, and I could feel excitement bubble up inside of her.

I waited for several minutes to see if they’d come to my room, but they didn’t. Finally, I creeped out of the bed and followed the scent to the kitchen. Was it an Omega prepping for tomorrow’s feast? I couldn’t think of why anyone else would be in there.

Pushing the door open, I saw a wolf hunched over, smashing food into his face from the wide open fridge. I scoffed, though the disgust was only monetarily. It was him. My mate. I swallowed hard before clearing my throat, hoping it was enough for him to turn around.

“Oh, sorry,” came the drunken, slurred voice of the Alpha’s son, Blake. “Are you hungry?”

I was frozen where I stood. He couldn’t tell I was his mate because he wasn’t 18 yet, but I could tell. How could the Moon Goddess do this to me? Of all the people, even all the people just in this Pack, why did she have to pick the person I despised only second to his father?

“No, I just wanted to see what all the noise was. It woke me up,” I gritted my teeth together, trying not to yell, and forcing myself to resist the mate urge.

“Sorry, sorry,” he said still slurred, though thanks to a wolf’s metabolism, it was already lessening. “I’ll try to keep it down. I’m just starving. I was trying to just get snacks because I didn’t want to wake anyone up.” He laughed heartily, and my chest clenched. How did I never notice what a beautiful laugh he had? My wolf was howling in my head, and I didn’t even notice that I was staring until he laughed again. “What? You’re looking at me like I’m your mate or something,” he laughed, dark brown eyes twinkling. I thought I was only quiet for a moment, but it must have been longer, because his dark eyes went wide. “Wait, wait, am I??”

I managed to laugh this time, shaking my head. “No, of course not! I was just flabbergasted that you even suggested that!”

A look flashed across his face, was it hurt?, as he nodded. “Right, no yeah, sorry. I was just joking anyways,” his voice wasn’t slurred anymore, and he shut the fridge door with a little too much force. “Sorry for waking you up. I’m going to go to bed.”

“W-wait, Young Alpha!” I blurted out, not wanting to be out of his presence.

He looked at me curiously, c*****g an eyebrow. “You never address me properly.”

That was true. I wasn’t constantly getting scolded for just calling him Blake, but the dumb mate bond made my mind fuzzy and I just wanted to get his attention. “Yeah, I know. Surprised you’ve never sicced your dad on me,” I laughed awkwardly, my brain hazy as I’m intoxicated by his scent. He scrunched up his face, and when he does, I noticed a scar on the underside of his chin. I never healed it, he did on his own, but it’s new. “How did that happen?” I asked, gesturing to his chin.

“I busted my chin,” he shrugged, leaning on the note closed fridge.

“Why didn’t you let me heal it?” I asked, taking a step towards him absent mindedly.

He put his hands up, stopping me in my tracks. “I didn’t need to bother the great healer with my problems. Don’t worry about it.”

Then, he left. Our shoulders nearly touched, nearly, but just the proximity made my body buzz. When he left, I fell to my knees, my body shaking uncontrollably. How was I supposed to get through a whole dinner sitting this close to him?! Not to mention that I had to find a way to reject him, or I’d never be able to move on, no matter how far away from him I got.