THE UN-KNOWN CRESCENT WEREWOLF

Chapter-3

Luscious knocked both Jeremy and Martinez down, beating the living daylights out of them. After ensuring they wouldn’t try anything further, he carried Ema back to the mansion and placed her on her bed. Meanwhile, Martinez and Jeremy returned to the mansion, battered and severely injured.

This incident did not go unnoticed by Hayley, who though didn't support the idea of Jeremy forcing himself on Ema also chastised Luscious for assaulting his younger brother so brutally. When Jaime returned home, he was far from pleased.

"You mean you beat up a Stevenson just to rescue a slave?" Jaime lamented, his voice filled with disappointment.

"She is not a slave," Luscious retorted. "She is a member of this pack. She is under our care and deserves to be protected."

His words sparked a heated argument between father and son.

"Listen here, boy!" Jaime snapped. "I decide who belongs to the Dark Moon Pack, who is a slave, and who deserves protection. You are not the Alpha here yet." His voice was sharp and commanding.

Luscious clenched his fists but said nothing.

"Now get out of my sight," Jaime ordered. "You went to Germany to learn combat, not how to be a savior of the weaks."

Jeremy, pleased with their father’s scolding of Luscious, shot his brother a smug grin as Luscious stormed upstairs to his quarters.

Ema, lying on her bed, felt horrible. Luscious was being punished because of her. Maybe I should have just stayed quiet and let them do what they wanted… she thought regretfully.

Luscious, however, was determined to assure her of his protection. But a thought lingered in his mind—were his feelings for her truly guided by the Moon Goddess, or was it just an illusion? She wasn’t yet of age to be recognized as a mate, yet he felt an undeniable bond with her.

Seeking answers, he approached his mother, Hayley, and inquired about any knowledgeable werewolf scholars in Attah. Hayley told him about Zeddicus of the Winter Moon Pack—a man who had lived for 120 years, dedicating his life to studying werewolf history.

Meanwhile, Ema felt compelled to thank Luscious for standing up for her. She took a risk and sneaked up to the fourth floor, but he wasn’t there—he had already left for the Mountain Pack.

Meeting Zeddicus

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Luscious rapped on the door of Zeddicus' inner chamber.

"Who is it?" came a gruff voice from within.

"I am Luscious Stevenson," he replied. "May I have a moment of your time?"

There was a pause. Then, Zeddicus spoke again, his tone filled with disdain.

"What does the son of an egotistical Alpha King want with me?"

Luscious hesitated but maintained his composure. "I am here for personal inquiry, not for pack business."

There was another pause, followed by the sound of the door unlocking.

"Come in," Zeddicus said. "But be quick about it. I am not a fan of the Stevensons."

Luscious entered, carefully closing the door behind him. Despite Zeddicus' hostility, he bowed respectfully.

Zeddicus observed him carefully. He's different from his father, the old man mused.

"Speak, boy. What do you seek?"

Luscious took a deep breath. "I recently met a girl with whom I share a deep wolf bond. Ordinarily, I would believe she is my mate, but she is not yet of age. Could my feelings be an illusion?"

A knowing smile spread across Zeddicus’ face. "Ah… You suspect a false bond?"

Luscious nodded.

"Most werewolves can only recognize their mates after turning eighteen," Zeddicus explained. "However, there are rare exceptions. Sometimes, a strong mate bond can be felt before maturity, but this only happens with highly unique wolves. If you are experiencing this, my boy, you are one of the luckiest werewolves in existence."

A wave of relief washed over Luscious. "Thank you, sir. You've put my mind at ease."

Zeddicus chuckled. "You are different, Luscious. I see it in you." He gestured toward a chessboard. "Now, honour an old man. Play a game with me before you go."

Luscious smiled, taking the chess set from the shelf. They played for hours, and by the time Luscious left, Zeddicus had grown fond of the boy.

"I would gladly bow to Luscious' reign," Zeddicus muttered to himself after Luscious was gone.

The Bond Grows

Luscious returned home and found Ema waiting at the gate, concern etched across her face. He had nearly forgotten about the wound from when he had burst through the window earlier.

Ema, unaware that an adult werewolf could heal quickly, frowned. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Luscious ran toward her and pulled her into an embrace.

Ema stiffened, unsure how to react. No one had ever held her this way. He was a Stevenson, and she was a slave—was this even allowed?

"Relax," Luscious whispered. "You don’t have to be afraid of me."

She hesitated before nodding. "Let's go inside," he said gently.

As they walked through the large living room and climbed the staircase, Luscious kept a respectful distance to avoid gossip among the domestic staff.

At his bedroom door, he invited Ema inside, but she declined with a smile. "Your father would hang me if he finds out."

That night, Luscious found himself unable to sleep. His thoughts were consumed by Ema. He imagined the day when she would finally be his mate, when they would marry, when they would have children together. The thought made his chest swell with anticipation.

"I cannot wait to spend forever with my special wolf mate," he whispered to himself before drifting into a dream-filled sleep.

Meanwhile, Ema lay awake in her bed, thinking about Luscious. She didn't understand why she felt so drawn to him. She had no one to teach her about werewolf bonds, no parents to guide her. But she knew one thing—she cared deeply for Luscious.

Still, she reminded herself that love between them was impossible. Luscious is a Stevenson. He is practically a god in the werewolf world… and I am just a worthless slave.

Tears welled in her eyes. If my parents hadn’t committed treason, maybe my life would have been different. Maybe I would have been able to get an education, to dream of a better future…

As she wept herself to sleep, she dreamed.

In her dream, she was a child again, standing on the Luciana Cuvon Altar as a woman cast a spell over her. She saw her mother’s joyful face after the spell was complete.

"She is healed," her mother had said. "She is a special child with remarkable abilities. She is the Crescent Wolf."

The memories flashed—the night her parents were taken away, the Supreme Troops led by Jaime, and the woman who had saved her.

---

The Next Morning

Luscious woke up earlier than usual. Before anyone else was awake, he helped Ema with the morning chores, even assisting her in cooking breakfast.

Hayley walked in and froze, horrified. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded.

Luscious simply smiled. "I am training myself to be a good Alpha."

"Your father won’t like this," she warned.

At that moment, Jaime entered the kitchen.

"I heard voices. What’s going on?" His sharp eyes landed on Ema, who instantly stiffened in fear.

Her breath caught in her throat. She knew that if she spoke, she would face severe punishment.