Her Unexpected Luna

Chapter 8

Thalia

Thalia's eyes fluttered open to stare at the ceiling. Her hand immediately went up to her neck, her fingers tracing the two small holes on her marking spot that refused to heal. Tears burned in her eyes once more as she remembered what happened. She sat up to look around the room that was torn apart in a rage before she decided to push herself up and out of bed to peer through the curtains outside. The car was still gone and it was dark outside.

At this point, part of Thalia didn't want Jasper to come back. The other part of her was worried about him and hoped he would return soon.

All of a sudden something felt very wrong. Her arms were covered in goosebumps and she could feel her inner wolf trying to communicate with her. For the first time in a long time, Thalia removed the mental block she had up against her wolf.

"RUN!" Her wolf bellowed In her mind, making Thalia jump and stumble back a little bit. Reaching up to feel for the pendant Lauren gave her, it was gone. She frantically began tearing apart the room even more desperately trying to find it. It was nowhere to be found. Thalia froze in fear when she heard someone right outside the door. The familiar scent of the hunter that had attacked them before flooded her nose causing her to look around in panic, trying to figure a way out.

Thalia darted into the bathroom as the front door was kicked in and the hunter began firing arrows. She locked the door and looked around, trying to find something to defend herself. It would put her at risk if she shifted now, she would end up dead this time. Thalia reached over to pull the shower curtains to the side revealing a small window. Relief flooded Thalia as she climbed in the tub quietly to get to the window.

"Come on wolf! I don't have all night! Don't make me break down this door too. I promise I'll make this as painless as possible" The hunter said through the door as he banged on it.

Thalia used her strength to pry the old window open and hoist herself up and through it with her feet first. As soon as the bathroom door was busted open she locked eyes with the hunter as she hung halfway out the window. It's a good thing they were on the ground floor. The hunter aimed his crossbow directly at her and fired just as she let herself drop onto the ground. As soon as her feet hit the ground she shifted into her wolf faster than she ever had before and took off down the road as he continued to fire arrows through the window. There was a sudden searing pain that shot through her body making her drop and hit the ground as she let out a cry. She forced herself up to her paws quickly and continued to run, not looking back.

Tasia

Tasia had to admit, even though she was getting sick and tired of being referred to as Marcus's Luna, she learned a lot about other packs and the laws between the different territories. She downed her glass of champagne and set it on a tray that was held by a waiter who offered her a new one. Taking it with a smile of gratitude she took another sip as she looked over to see Marcus staring at her with hungry eyes as he took a drink of his glass of champagne.

After a long day of Council members introducing themselves and talking nonstop for hours, they allowed everyone to freshen up and take a break to get ready for tonight's formal ball which was held outside this time. The area was surrounded by very old and very big trees that towered over everyone. Their branches grew into each other intertwining and forming a dome-like cover over them where you could barely see the moonlight and stars through them.

They dressed the trees in lights and hung lanterns from the branches that lit up the area beautifully. There were all kinds of decorations that hung from the tree branches alongside the lanterns that seemed to resemble all of the generations of Acacia Moon pack members. Ribbons, scarves, crocheted items, and even bells and chimes filled the braches. Some of them showed their age compared to others. Marcus was right about this packs living style. She had never seen anything like it yet she was so intrigued by it.

Tasia closed her eyes as a nice breeze came in, rustling the branches making the bells and chimes sing. She may have had a few glasses of champagne in her tonight, but this was the first time since she arrived she felt calm. There was something about this place she was drawn to. She couldn't quite figure it out.

She opened her eyes as she felt Marcus reach out to gently place his hand on her lower forearm to pull her in closer to him. His eyes had little flecks of black dancing around as he drank her up like a fine glass of wine.

Tasia might have overdone it with the floor-length black dress with a low diving v-neckline that almost reached her belly button with thigh-high slits on both sides that showed her curves and leg tattoos very nicely.

Her thick long black hair was styled over her shoulder in a tight slick braid that reached down to her midsection. She was feeling good and was determined to look just as good, if not better. By several people's reactions, she was getting a lot of attention by doing so.

"I feel like maybe this is a punishment from earlier," he said with a smirk as he rubbed his thumb in slow circles on her elbow. Tasia smiled slowly as she studied him, taking another drink of her champagne.

"You might be right, you've also never seen me all dolled up neither. Probably has something to do with my lost party invites" she teased as she raised an accusing eyebrow at him.

"I think I've learned my lesson, and a lot of others have as well," Marcus said as he moved closer.

Tasia could not deny the tension between them that could have been cut with a knife. She was getting ready to speak before she felt an unnecessary presence next to them.

"Well, well, well" a deep annoying voice cut in. "The rumors are true.. Alpha Marcus shows up with a mate. I of course had to see this for myself considering there was no news of this a few days ago" the man cackled as he stared at Tasia in disbelief.

Tasia's blood boiled at the sound of his voice but she knew this was no place to make a scene. Especially if she did not want to be exposed just yet. Marcus pulled her close to him as he wrapped his arm around her to firmly hold her in. She could tell he wasn't doing it like most possessive Alphas over their Lunas. He was doing it to keep her from lashing out at the Southern Pack council member.

"And here I am staring at Tasia Romano. You expect me to believe that this is a legitimate union?" He asks.

"What's there not to believe about it?" Marcus spoke before Tasia could.

"We may not be fated but it's not uncommon for Alphas to marry outside of their fated mate, Alpha Johnson" Marcus reasoned in a calm tone and bowed his head to him respectfully.

All the council members were referred to as Alphas still, even if they were no longer Alphas of their pack. It's a title that never goes away and is addressed out of respect. Alpha Johnson scoffed at his words as he glanced at Marcus for a moment and then back to Tasia.

"You are right. It is common to marry outside of your fated mate." He repeated as he took a drink of his wine as he smoothed down his sleek but thinning white hair. "However, when such a union as that happens, is usually to gain power and riches. I can see how this would benefit her. But not you Marcus. If anything, she just dampens your reputation" he said through a wicked grin.

Tasia gritted her teeth as her eyes flashed black. Her body attempted to move on its own as Marcus tightened his grip quickly around her arm.

"I know you've struggled to find your fated mate Marcus. But someone as weak and naive as her is not the solution." He said coldly. "To think you turned down my offer to accept hers is almost offensive," he said through a forced laugh.

Offer? What offer? Nevermind that. Tasia pushed that out of her mind as she pulled her arm away from Marcus and took a few slow but calm steps towards Alpha Johnson as she reached over to set down her empty glass on a waiter tray that happened to appear right next to him as she grabbed another full glass.

" Alpha Johnson, with all due respect. As a wolf that was once mated to a human. You know what's it's like for humans to get tumors. Tumors that start off small. So small they didn't know they were there. Tumors that continue to grow.. and grow.. and grow.." Tasia trailed off as she inched closer and closer to him as she spoke. Her gaze was intense as his demeanor began to falter at her words. "Until it's so big that it's too late to do anything about it. And it kills them." She said. Pain flashes in Alpha Johnson's eyes as Tasia described the death of his late wife. "I am your Tumor. And I will be the death of your reputation if you don't acknowledge me as the one and only Alpha of Fiorire Moon. No luna, no mate, just. Me." She said.

Tasia could feel eyes on them and could hear faint gasps from the eavesdroppers around them. Johnson's eyes were soon filled with black as he stared directly into Tasia's jet black eyes. Before anyone else could speak there was a commotion at the other end of the crowd. Several warriors took off towards the disturbance. The music stopped and Alpha Johnson turned immediately and made his way over to see what was going on. Tasia and Marcus followed behind him until they were met with Alpha Ryan and Luna Lauren both huddled around a girl who seemed to have collapsed onto the ground.

Suddenly a sweet ginger smell sent a satisfying shiver down Tasia's spine and made her skin tingle, sending goosebumps up her arms. Tasia's eyes widened as she followed the smell and realized it was the scent of the girl. She Inched closer to get a better look at her as Luna Lauren was crouched in front of her and wrapping the girl in a blanket who was completely naked and had an arrow sticking out of her upper thigh. She had Pale porcelain skin with dark scarlet wavy hair and freckles that painted all over her skin. She was the most gorgeous woman she had ever laid eyes on. Tasia stared at her intently as the girl's head leaned back and turned to face in Tasia's direction. Her eyes opened slowly to reveal the deepest sea-green eyes that widened at the sight of Tasia, causing her to let out a low breath she didn't realize she was holding. Luna Lauren was frantically trying to talk to her and calling for their pack doctors. Alpha Ryan got up to push people away to let the doctors in. Tasia held the girl's gaze as she noticed the girl was trying to speak words as if she was speaking to only Tasia.

"Mmm....aa...tt" was all she was able to get out before she passed out.

"Mate" whispered Tasia to herself. Those words escaped her lips before she could stop herself knowing that wasn't her speaking.

It was her wolf.