Choosing My Mate, My King

2. Making a choice

“Do you smell something off,” I asked him, not reacting to his happy dance by just being on time.

Lucas froze and tried to find the scent I was talking about. “No, sorry, I just smell Jax and you,” he said, placing his hand on his side.

“f**k …” was all I could say before I saw Jax jump from behind me to tackle me.

Lucas laughed when he sat down on the floor. “Your funeral, Jax.”

I ducked under Jax and elbowed him in his lower abdomen. He grunted while he rolled over on the ground to a crouching position. I turned to face him and smiled. “Almost, Jax, almost.”

I waited if he would attack again or cut his losses. He jumped forward again with his claws out, I smiled and jumped over him and to the side while having my claws running through his side. Jax groaned and fell to the ground. Blood dripping through his clothing. He scampered up and nodded.

“I did surprise you, Luna?” he asked with a smile and his hand on his bleeding side.

“Yeah, you sure did, how did you change your scent?”

“Well, Kimberly wore this outfit yesterday. I knew you would recognize it, but her scent isn’t as strong as mine, I had to try,” he said standing proud.

“Thank you, Jax, it was a nice warm-up,” I said with a big smile on my face. “Go get cleaned up.”

“He is so big and still he can’t even last a minute, how is he your bodyguard again,” Lucas said with a smirk.

“I like his presence, if we are ever at war he will not be at the front lines,” I said laughing.

The rest of the warriors started gathering. This wasn’t the mandatory training that everyone has to participate in but only for the most skilled fighters. All the warriors bared their necks at me, showing their respect. But I knew not all respected me in a way they would do an Alpha.

“Good morning everyone, pair up in threes. Two attack one defends. And who wants to spar with me?” There were small whispers before three warriors stepped forward.

“I would like to train with you Luna,” Garret said while having both hands on his back.

Garret was one of our best. He was my first in command and he trained most of our warriors. He was older than me and his father was first in command when my parents were alive.

“I would be honored Garret,” I said with a grin on my face.

The other two warriors started stepping back.

“You two, don’t step back,” I pointed to the warriors. “Let’s start.”

Everybody got in their positions, I was up against Garret, Maya, and Gideon. “Can I join in?” Lucas said with a grin on his face.

“Maybe in a bit, I want to see how this turned out,” I said trying to focus.

“Who said I would stand with you,” he said laughing.

“Really four against one—Fine,” I said while getting into position.

The first to make a mistake was Gideon, he lacked skill and strength but was way too cocky to accept there was no Alpha. He lunged toward me and tried to punch me in my stomach. I stood my ground and waited for the last minute to turn so I could grab his wrist and pull him down before I elbowed him behind his neck. When he fell to the ground, I grabbed his shoulders and lifted him up, giving him a nice head bump before I tossed his unconscious ass to the side.

I looked to Garret. “So cocky.”

Garret laughed in response.

Next to try was Maya. I could feel she was nervous. She didn’t want to end like Gideon, so I let her spar a little bit, dodging everything she threw at me. I stayed calm.

I walked backward with every punch she tried to land. I started laughing and because of it, she broke her focus. She looked up at me and I saw her shock as I grinned back. I stopped walking back and diverted one last punch before I grabbed her and put her to my side so I could knee her in the stomach.

She fell to the ground I walked behind her grabbed her hair and lifted her head towards mine. “You have to work on your speed and confidence.”

“Yes, Luna,” she said with a grunt while I let her head go.

I turned to Lucas and Garret. “What are you waiting for? I thought it would be fun four against one.”

They looked at each other and nodded. Garret came from the front, and I could see that Lucas was trying to flank me.

“Finally,” I said.

I left my claws out and lunged toward Lucas. Yeah, I know Garret came from the front, but they wouldn’t expect me to lung into my flanked side. I caught Lucas by surprise. He tried to move out of the way and landed a punch in my side. I didn’t flinch and elbowed him straight in the face. We turned toward each other with Garret next to him. Lucas’s nose was already bleeding. Garret smirked and lunged again. I let him catch me. I knew he would think I stepped aside or under him. But I just took him completely.

I rolled backward with him between my arms. I tossed my legs around his waist and sank my claws into his back. In this position, Lucas couldn’t attack. I could hear Garret grunt while trying to break free. We rolled further until I was on top and started pounding on his face. I switched my legs and pinned his legs to the ground. He tried to dodge the punches, but I knew I was faster.

I maybe didn’t have the same strength as him, so I had to rely on my speed. He needed to strike back or let Lucas help him. He needed to stop holding back. Lucas tackled me from the side, making me release my grip on Garret. His mistake was that he tackled me and let go. He didn’t hold me in our tumble. I got up as fast as I could and lunged back at Lucas. He did his best dodging everything and tried to land some punches. Garret joined in.

His face was covert in blood but his eyes… proud.

We kept fighting. I dodged as much and tried to land a few. I had the most fun and I could feel everyone’s eyes on us.

We three gave it all. I landed a good punch in Lucas’s face again, his nose was already hurt but now, broken. He took a step back.

I gave him a smirk while trying to get Garret to back off. I stepped in closer, took his wrist, and turned so I could toss him over my shoulder. I held on to his wrist so I could turn his arm, now he had to submit. He tapped off on the ground and I released my grip.

I held out my hand to get him up. We were both covered in blood and scratches.

“Well done, Luna, well done,” Garret said proudly.

“Why did you have to break my nose? I like my nose,” Lucas said with a little whine.

I huffed at Lucas. “Baby.”

I could feel everybody’s respect for me rise. One that some had lost. I excused myself from training to go to the elders.

There were five elders, each with their own specialty. They all knew my parents and helped them as well. Three of the elders were witches. They helped us protect our pack and could sometimes look into the future for guidance. And that was what I needed today. I took my hair out of my high ponytail and let it loose. I could hear a small purr behind me, I looked over and saw Lucas checking me out.

“Seriously, can’t you just behave for once,” I said through gritted teeth.

“I behaved perfectly fine with training, I can’t help it now we’re alone,” he said with a smirk on his face.

I sigh. “Put your game face on, we’re almost there.” I eye-rolled at him.

“Yes, Luna,” he said with a sigh.

We came up to a beautiful house, with a little porch in the front. The whole house was surrounded by beautiful blooming flowers. It smelled amazing. We walked towards the front door, before we could knock Josephine opened it.

“Hello, Luna Aurora, we have been expecting you,” Josephine said. Josephine is one of the witch elders.

“I always find it a bit creepy when they do that,” Lucas said through the mind link.

“You know, even if you mind link, we can still hear you,” Josephine pointed out.

I let out a small laugh and walked inside. All the elders were already sitting at the dinner table waiting.

“There she is, our beautiful girl,” Ophelia said, standing up with her arms wide.

I walked over and hugged her. She was like a grandma to me. She helped me with the loss of my parents and stood by me whenever I needed it. I never had to ask; she always knew when to come.

“Hi, Ophelia,” I said while hugging her back.

“Henry go get the food,” Ophelia yelled at him. “Sorry, child, he is getting a bit deaf,” she said, smiling.

“No, I’m not, I can hear just fine. You just like bossing me around,” Henry said to Ophelia with his finger pointing angrily at her.

“Careful with that finger, Henry,” I told him with a smile. “She might just bite it off.”

I sat down next to Ophelia, and Lucas sat to my left. He was always a bit timid when we were here. He didn’t know how to act, and he knew the elders could see right through him.

“Relax, Lucas,” I told him while placing my hand on his leg. Lucas let out a breath and relaxed his shoulders.

Henry placed the food on the table. It smelled amazing. Lavender cookies and some cake. I waited for Henry to sit down so I could snatch some cookies. I didn’t have lunch yet.

“You don’t have to wait for Henry sweetheart, dig in,” Ophelia chuckled, watching me with kindness in her eyes.

After a couple of cookies and some small talk, I started with why I came to see them.

“I wanted your opinion on expanding our pack and merging with Jackson’s pack,” I said, my voice steady.

“I think you already know the answer child.” Henry’s lips curled into a smile while he tucked a stand of gray hair behind his ear.

“You don’t need us for something this small,” Ophelia said with a curious eye. “Is that all you needed guidance on?” Her eyes drifted to Lucas and I followed her gaze. “I can handle Lucas just fine, so you stand by my decision?”

“I think the pack will benefit by having a good battle,” Josephine pointed out. “It will be good for morale, and they will see that there is no need for an Alpha by your side.”

“That is what you wanted to hear?” Ophelia asked, tauntingly. “You are the best Luna they can have, and you will be victorious, in this battle and many after that.”

A weight lifted off my shoulders. I knew it was the right decision. But I needed reassurance. Lucas remained quiet, but I knew he approved of it as well.

We stayed a bit to talk about the pack and what I would do after the upcoming battle.

On the walk back to the packhouse, I mind linked Garret and told him he should send out three scouts over to Jackson’s pack tonight.

“Do you need me to ask for an audience with Alpha Jackson so that we can discuss what you want?” Lucas asked me.

“Ask for an audience,” I said, laughingly. “You can set up a meeting tomorrow at five in the afternoon.”

“I will.”

“Don’t schedule it until tomorrow. I don’t want his guard up.”

“What are we going to do tonight?” he asked.

“Please, not to a club. I’m staying in. You do you,” I said waving my hand up.

Lucas inched closer and placed his arm around me, “I’m not leaving your side, Aurora.”

His scent always calmed me, why couldn’t he be my mate. It would make things so much easier. I pulled him closer and enjoyed being this close to him. It wasn’t s****l. It was just comfort. I have to be strong and fierce all day. Show no weakness. But now I could just let go, just a little bit. I knew he felt the same way about me. I knew those other girls meant nothing. I didn’t mind, I wasn’t jealous. If I wanted to be with him I could, I just kept on holding on to something that maybe never came.

“When we are old and grey, and still haven’t found our mates …” he said, his brows pinched together and a slight hint of fear dancing in his gaze, fearing he might lose me.

“Who says I will be attracted to you when you’re old and grey?”

Lucas pulled me in closer. “Don’t be like that, I know you fancy me.” He c****d his eyebrow at me and kissed me gently on my forehead.

“I will always love you, Lucas, you know that. So, yes, when we are both old and grey and still alone. I would be honored to be your chosen mate.” I smiled back at him.

“I love you, too, Aurora.”

Our moment was broken when Garret’s voice filled my mind.

“The scouts have been sent Luna, I will have an update first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you, Garret, see you tomorrow.”