A Packless Luna

CHAPTER 3 – THE ALPHA'S OFFER

I expected a cell.

Instead, Alpha Kael Draven offered me a crown.

I stood at the entrance of his temporary camp, staring at the large black tent in front of me.

Two warriors stood on either side.

Neither spoke.

Neither looked friendly.

I glanced at Kael.

He was already walking inside.

“Are you coming?”

I didn't move.

“You said you wanted answers.”

“I do.”

“Then come in.”

I folded my arms.

“And if I don't?”

Kael looked over his shoulder.

“Then you'll stand there until you change your mind.”

I narrowed my eyes.

He really was impossible.

I stepped inside.

The tent was larger than I expected. A table stood in the center with maps spread across it. A lantern burned beside a stack of documents.

Kael pointed to a chair.

“Sit.”

“I'd rather stand.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“Of course you would.”

I stayed where I was.

He didn't argue.

Instead, he walked toward the table and studied one of the maps.

“You asked what I want from you.”

“Yes.”

“I'll tell you.”

I waited.

Kael touched the map.

“This is Ironfang.”

I glanced at it.

“And?”

“My pack is divided.”

“That sounds like an Alpha's problem.”

“It is.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Because I need a Luna.”

I stared at him.

For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood.

“A what?”

“A Luna.”

“I heard you.”

“Good.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You dragged me out of the Barrens to tell me you need a wife?”

“Not a wife.”

“Then what?”

“My Luna.”

I shook my head.

“You're joking.”

“I don't joke about matters like this.”

“Then you're insane.”

Kael's mouth twitched.

“I've been called worse.”

I stepped closer to the table.

“Why me?”

“That is what makes this complicated.”

“No. That's what makes it ridiculous.”

Kael looked at me.

“The Elder Council is pressuring me to choose a Luna.”

“Choose one of their women.”

“Yes.”

“Someone from an approved bloodline.”

His expression hardened.

“Yes.”

I understood immediately.

“They want control over you.”

“They want influence.”

“Same thing.”

Kael said nothing.

I studied him.

“So you refuse them, and your solution is to pick a random rogue?”

“Not random.”

My eyes narrowed.

“What makes me special?”

He held my gaze.

“I haven't figured that out yet.”

I didn't like that answer.

“Then why me?”

“Because no one at the Council expects you.”

I laughed.

“So I'm useful because I'm inconvenient.”

“Partly.”

“That's insulting.”

“It's honest.”

I stared at him.

At least he didn't pretend.

Kael moved around the table.

“The Council believes my Luna should come from one of the old bloodlines. If I accept their choice, they gain a foothold inside my pack.”

“And if you refuse?”

“They'll use my refusal against me.”

“How?”

“They can challenge my authority. Encourage the factions already turning against me. Make my pack believe I'm too stubborn to lead.”

I frowned.

“So you need someone beside you to make you look stronger.”

“I need someone beside me whom they cannot control.”

“And you think that's me?”

“I know you can't be controlled easily.”

I almost smiled.

“You've known me for less than a day.”

“I've seen enough.”

I looked toward the tent entrance.

“And what happens to me after this?”

“You return to the Barrens?”

“I didn't say that.”

“You don't have anywhere else to go.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

I looked away.

Kael noticed.

But, surprisingly, he didn't push.

Instead, he said, “I can offer you something better.”

“Such as?”

“Protection.”

I looked at him again.

“From the hunters?”

“From the hunters. From rogue gangs. From anyone who believes your status gives them the right to hunt you.”

My throat tightened.

I hated that he knew exactly what to offer me.

“What else?”

“Food.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Food?”

“You've been surviving on whatever you can find.”

“That doesn't mean I'm starving.”

“You nearly collapsed after the hunt.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“I was tired.”

“You were bleeding.”

I glared at him.

He didn't look away.

“What else?” I asked.

“Shelter. A room at Moonfall Fortress. Clothing. Medical treatment.”

I remained silent.

“And status,” he added.

“Status?”

“As my Luna, no pack hunter can touch you without answering to me.”

That caught my attention.

I hated needing protection.

But I hated being hunted even more.

“And freedom?”

Kael nodded.

“You'll have freedom inside Ironfang.”

“Inside?”

“You won't be a prisoner.”

I studied him carefully.

“There must be a catch.”

“There is.”

I knew it.

“What?”

“You become my Luna publicly.”

I laughed.

“That is the catch?”

“You stand beside me at official gatherings. You appear loyal to me. You allow the pack to believe our relationship is real.”

“And privately?”

“Privately, we make our own rules.”

My eyes narrowed.

“What kind of rules?”

“No expectations.”

I waited.

“No demands.”

He paused.

“And no love.”

I blinked.

“That part won't be difficult.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

“Good.”

I crossed my arms.

“You don't want a mate.”

“I didn't say that.”

“You don't want love.”

“I don't have time for it.”

“You want a woman to stand beside you while you fight your political battles.”

“Yes.”

“At least you're honest.”

“I told you I would be.”

I walked slowly around the table.

“And what do I get besides food and a room?”

“Protection.”

“You already said that.”

“Status.”

“You said that too.”

I stopped in front of him.

“I want freedom to leave whenever I choose.”

Kael's expression changed.

“If you leave, the protection ends.”

“I understand.”

“And you won't use my name to threaten people.”

“I don't need your name to threaten anyone.”

His eyes held mine.

“I noticed.”

I continued.

“I want my own room.”

“Agreed.”

“I choose who I speak to.”

“Within reason.”

“No.”

His brow furrowed.

“I won't accept conditions you can change whenever you want.”

Kael stared at me.

Then he nodded.

“Fine.”

“I also don't want you controlling where I go unless my safety is involved.”

“That can be arranged.”

“And you will never force yourself on me.”

Silence filled the tent.

Kael's face became completely serious.

“You will never have to fear that from me.”

I believed him.

At least for the moment.

“And one more thing.”

He waited.

“If this arrangement ends, I leave with everything that belongs to me. No one hunts me. No one claims ownership over me because I was your Luna.”

Kael's gaze sharpened.

“Agreed.”

I studied him.

“You're accepting everything.”

“You're negotiating well.”

“I'm protecting myself.”

“I know.”

There was something different in his voice.

Respect.

It unsettled me more than anger would have.

I looked at the map again.

“How long?”

“Six months.”

“Six months?”

“We remain publicly bound for six months.”

“And after that?”

“We decide whether to continue.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

Kael frowned.

“You don't want six months?”

“I don't want a deadline deciding my life.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“We end it when either of us decides the arrangement is no longer useful.”

He considered it.

“That gives you an easy way out.”

“That's the point.”

A slow silence passed between us.

Then Kael nodded.

“Agreed.”

I couldn't believe it.

The most powerful man I'd ever met was actually listening to me.

But that only made me more suspicious.

“You still haven't told me what you really want.”

Kael's eyes darkened.

“I told you.”

“No. You told me what you need.”

“And you think there's something else?”

“I know there is.”

He stepped closer.

“The moment you become my Luna, you will stand against the Elder Council.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why?”

“Because they will see you as a threat.”

“Because I'm a rogue?”

“Because I chose you.”

His voice was low.

“And the Council does not forgive Alphas who refuse to obey them.”

I looked at the map.

Then at him.

“You're asking me to walk into a war.”

“I am.”

“And if I say no?”

“You walk back into the Barrens.”

I looked toward the tent entrance.

The Ash Barrens waited beyond it.

Hunters.

Hunger.

Cold nights.

A life where nobody knew my name.

Then I looked at Kael.

He wasn't promising love.

He wasn't pretending to save me.

He was offering a deal.

A dangerous one.

But perhaps danger was the only thing I had ever been good at surviving.

I took a slow breath.

“Fine.”

Kael's eyes remained on mine.

“Fine?”

“I'll do it.”

“You'll become my Luna?”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand what you're agreeing to?”

“I understand enough.”

He held out his hand.

I looked at it.

Then I looked back at him.

I didn't take it.

“I don't trust you.”

“I didn't ask you to.”

That answer surprised me.

I finally turned toward the entrance.

“When do we leave for Ironfang?”

Kael's voice came from behind me.

“Now.”

I froze.

I slowly turned around.

“Now?”

He nodded.

“Moonfall Fortress is waiting.”

And suddenly, I realized my old life had already ended.