Fated to the Alpha

Luna, After All

The silence is hanging heavy in the air as I stand stunned by what just happened. As I glance toward Kyle, his face exhibits a shocked expression as his hand remains frozen in mid-air, still reaching towards me.

Shiloh is pacing in my head, urging me toward the Alpha. As I take a step toward Alpha Finnick, I hear low rumbling growls all around me. Kyle, Lucas, and most surprisingly, my father. Upon hearing the collection of protesting growls, Alpha Finnick immediately stands up tall and takes on his Alpha tone.

“Enough!” he bellows, “Everyone OUT!” Most of the bodies in the room move quickly to leave, as an Alpha’s command is one to be followed immediately. The only stragglers are Kyle, Lucas, my father, and my mother.

My father’s eyes are fixed on his Alpha, a mixture of anger, confusion, and betrayal brewing behind his hard gaze.

“Micah,” my mother says gently as she puts a hand on his arm. My father’s look turns to pure defeat as he turned to follow my mother out.

Lucas looks from our departing father to Kyle and back again, unsure of what to do. Kyle stands his ground, glaring hard at his father. Alpha Finnick’s tone turns dangerously low. “Kyle, get out. Now.”

Kyle turns and storms out of the room. Lucas throws me one more worried glance before following Kyle out. Surprisingly, I feel an instant wave of calm wash over me as soon as I am alone with Finnick. I take advantage of the calm and walk to the window and try to make sense of what happened.

“What are you doing?” Shiloh howls in my head, “We found our mate! Go to him!”

“I need a minute,” I think firmly, “In the last two minutes, my entire world has shifted. Alpha Finnick? He’s eighteen years older than me!”

“That doesn’t matter,” comes Shiloh’s response, “We both feel the pull. He is our mate.”

“I know that!” I snap inwardly. Even with my back to him I can feel his eyes on me, and it brings a smoldering heat to every inch of my skin. It’s a feeling that both excites and confuses me. “I’ve just never looked at him that way before.”

“Time to start.” Shiloh’s reply comes with her inwardly urging me to turn and look at him.

I turn slowly and take a moment to study him. He has dark hair, a strong jaw, and piercing blue eyes. I inwardly thank the Goddess that Kyle took after his mother. It would be all too awkward to be looking at an aged version of my boyfriend.

“EX-boyfriend,” Shiloh whispers, “because you know that has to be over now.”

I nod, and Finnick laughs nervously. “My wolf is trying to talk me down, too,” he says softly, “This isn’t exactly how I expected this day to go.” I have never heard him speak so gently. His tone had always been full of steady confidence and authority, and now it’s wrought with uncertainty.

“It isn’t at all what I expected, either. So what now?” I ask softly.

Finnick moves slowly towards me, and softly touches my cheek with his fingertips. I close my eyes as his warm touch sends a current of electricity straight down to my toes. I hear him whisper softly, “The choice is yours. The pull I feel for you is strong, but I understand if this is too much for you. I will respect whatever you choose.”

“This is what the Goddess has chosen for us,” Shiloh’s voice is desperately pleading, “Please accept this. He is for us.”

“Everyone is really upset about this,” I reply to her in my mind, “I mean, did you see the look on our father’s face? How will they ever accept this?”

“They will have to,” she says, “We are their Luna, after all.”

My eyes snap open at the realization that Shiloh is right. I was born to be Luna, raised to lead beside the Alpha, and that it has actually come to pass. I look deep into Finnick’s eyes and smile. “If the Goddess has fated us to be mated, who am I to question it?” I am surprised at the confidence in my own voice.

Finnick heaves a sigh of relief and returns my smile. “We probably should let our family back in,” he says hesitantly.

“I suppose we have to face it at some point,” I agree.

My heartbeat kicks up a notch and my stomach does a flip as my mate closes his eyes to mind-link his Beta.