SAVING HIS LUNA

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO.

The dream came again, but this time, it wasn't a forest of bodies or smoke.

This time it was him. She has been seeing the face in her dreams recently, but she didn't have anyone to talk to, so she ignored the dream, pretending like it was nothing.

In each of her dreams, she stood across from him on the pack's training field, the full moon glowing above them. No blood. No death. Just... Silence, and weirdly enough, she felt comfortable in the silence.

Annalise sat upright on her bed, her heart beating so fast against her ribs. Her hands were shaking; the dream felt so real. Every time she saw him, it felt closer to a countdown.

"Why does it feel like he's coming?

She said under her breath, she stood up from her bed immediately and started her daily routine of arranging her room before leaving to start her chores.

By noon, whispers were flying through the castle like wildfire.

"Scarlet blood warriors are at the border," Annalise heard one of the guards whisper as she walked past him. She remembered her dream where she was standing among dead bodies, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Their alpha, Alpha Kane, their alpha has called for an impromptuuuuuuu meeting with our alpha, I wonder what he wants, he never gets involved with other packs".

Alpha Kane.

She had heard of him; everyone had.

He was a ruthless leader. The Scarlet blood pack always kept to themselves, and no one dared cross them.

So why was he here, and why did her stomach twist like she already knew?

Annalise walked out of the kitchen with a bucket in hand as she headed for her father's office.

She knew that was where the meeting was going to take place, so she had to rush in and clean it before he got to the office.

All of a sudden, she felt it, like a magnetic pulse slamming into her chest, her knees nearly gave out as she tried to hold onto the bucket,

Her breath caught. She raised her head slowly to see the source of the pull, and her eyes landed on him.

She faltered in shock, not expecting what she was seeing. He stood at the entrance of the grand Hall, flanked by two men on his side.

He stood there looking tall with his midnight Black hair styled to perfection; he didn't need to speak, his presence alone silenced the room.

And then his eyes found her, she saw a glimpse of something flick through his eyes before it went blank again.

Mate! Her wolf whispered in her head.

The bond slammed into her so fast and so violently, she had to finally drop the bucket. Water splashed across the stone floor, but no one moved.

She could feel just a glimpse of his power coursing through her, and she shivered. It was overwhelming; she didn't know anyone could possess that kind of power.

She was pulled out of the shock as her father grabbed her by the arm, yanking her backwards so roughly her head snapped.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed in her ear as he dragged her out of his sight.

"I.. I didn't know he was..." She tried to speak, but her words failed her.

"Shut up and go into your room, don't try to embarrass me in front of him, of all people," she could see the slight panic in her father's eyes and the way he trembled slightly.

She didn't bother talking; she knew her punishment would come after Alpha Kane had left.

He turned back and walked toward Alpha, “Forgive me, Alpha Kane," he said with a tight, forced smile. "My daughter doesn't know her place. Your visitation was impromptu, so I didn't have time to make sure everything was in order before your arrival."

Kane didn't reply. His eyes didn't leave the spot where Annalise was standing; she stood behind the walls peeping at them. She could still feel the connection from where she stood.

Finally, his eyes flicked back to her father, who was almost fidgeting but had to stand his ground and look confident.

She was sure he didn't want another alpha to see him as a weakling.

Annalise ran back to her room and curled up on her bed, her fingers trembling.

Mate. Mate. Mate. Her wolf kept on chanting, pushing her to go in search of Aloha Kane, but she pushed her wolf to the back of her mind.

She didn't need any more pressure; just the thought that her mate was the most powerful alpha she had ever thought of was enough pressure already.

Deep down, she knew her father would never allow it; they've been training their beta's daughter, Rhea, for a while now, hoping to give her off to some powerful alpha for their pack to get stronger.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Hissed a voice sharp with venom, cutting her train of thought.

She raised her head to see Rhea, “Speak of the Devil," she muttered under her breath.

She watched her golden hair fall over her shoulders. Sometimes Annalise wished she could be as perfect and as loved as Rhea. Everyone loved and admired her.

But Rhea was a b***h, and always found ways to make life harder for Annalise.

"You think just because you looked at him, you're special? Or he likes you?" Rhea scoffed, arms crossed over her chest. "You? Of all people? You must be crazier than I thought."

Annalise sat up but said nothing.

"I saw the way he looked at you. Pity. That's all it was, or irritation, yes, that's the word I meant to use. Do you think the alpha of the most powerful pack would want anything to do with a weakling like you?"

She stepped close, her eyes gleaming. "You're a cursed little mistake who killed your mother. I wonder why your father hasn't disposed of you yet."

The word hit too hard, but Annalise blinked back the burn in her eyes. She didn't need Rhea, knowing how much her words affected her.

Rhea laughed. "You'll never leave this place. No one will ever want you. And I will personally make sure Alpha Kane sees you for what you are, a pathetic little nothing."

"Maybe he saw something in me that no one else did," Annalise whispered, standing slowly. "Maybe you're scared because, for once, someone didn’t look at you."

Rhea's nostrils flared. "You little brat. You think just because you shared one look, you're his fated mate? You're dreaming. You're just a stain in this pack, and he will see that soon enough."

"Then let him see," Annalise said, voice trembling but firm. "Let him see everything."

Rhea laughed coldly. "Don't worry. He will. And when he does, he'll reject you in front of everyone. And I'll be there to watch."

Then she slammed the door behind her.

Annalise stood up, heart pounding. She needed to hear Kane's voice. To know what he was saying to her father.

What if he rejects me? she thought, trembling.

She slipped down the hallway, her feet silent against the stone floors, inching toward her father's office...

And what she heard next changed everything.

For the first time in her life, someone wants her.

"You can't hide her from me," came Kane's low growl from behind the closed door.

Annalise froze, breath caught.

"She is mine.”