The Elvish Luna

Chapter Three

[Elijah P.O.V]

The morning rays of the sun as it was rising lay onto my face as I groan in frustration at being woken up. I graduated from high school a few years ago, and my college education was ending within the next few months. I had been eager to pursue my legal degree, managing to finish schooling and passing the bar within five years of graduating high school, which was only possible with a grueling education regimen.

I pulled the pillow over my head to try to get more sleep as my alarm went off. “Elijah!” My father yelled. “Get up! We have visiting Alpha’s coming to visit, and as the future Alpha of this pack I require you presentable!” He pounded on my door, although it felt like he was pounding on my skull with how loud the knocks were. He said nothing else, and I heard his footsteps leaving my door, and his loud voice meeting the soft soothing voice of my mother.

Being the eldest son of an Alpha was difficult, yet enjoyable as I loved the pack and everyone in it. I considered myself lucky to be part of it.

“Elijah, sweetheart… it is almost noon. I need you to get up.” My mother’s voice lilts through the door, and before I can even reply her footsteps are carrying her away from the door and onto the next door where my little brother sleeps. I figured she was going to wake up the entire family so we could be a presented front to the visiting Alpha’s of the other packs.

Groaning again, I threw the pillow away from my head as my wolf sniffed the air as he did every morning wanting to find his mate, and once again, we came up empty. My long-time girlfriend, Mara, slept next to me, her twentieth birthday having come recently, finding no mate of her own so we stayed together, an agreement between the two of us had been reached that if we hadn’t found mates but both of our twenty-fifth birthdays then we would take each other as our chosen mates, and I couldn’t wait for that day to come. There were still two years for me, and five years for her, so ultimately, it would be another five before I would take her as my mate and mark her beautifully pale yet flawless neck.

“Good morning beautiful.” I whispered to her as I kissed her forehead.

The beautiful creature before me smiled, her chestnut hair strewn out around her in a halo as I traced the freckles across her nose. “Elijah, you know I am ticklish… stop that!” She giggled though she didn’t try to move my hand from her features. “You have to go, my darling.”

Her full lips met mine and I loved how she felt pressing her body against mine. “I know.” I told her, my voice having taken on a husky tone as she and I lingered in bed. I wanted to take her here and not, but there was not the time for the way that I wanted to have my fun with her.

Reluctantly, I got up and headed to the shower. Mara simply staying in bed until I heard a loud voice call out to her. She let out a frustrated groan herself before getting up, coming to join me in the bathroom though instead of joining me in the shower, she drew herself a bath.

Only an hour later, the two of us were dressed to meet the visiting Alpha’s. I had dressed in jeans and a button-down gray shirt while Mara had curled her hair, and her assets were on display in an A-Line dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Together we made a formidable pair, and although Mara was not of Alpha blood, my father agreed with my choice of chosen mate, if I did not find my fated mate.

Mara was quickly whisked away by my father as he began to quiz her about all the visiting alpha’s, a task in which she was quite skilled at her and I listened to her list off their names, their lunas, if they had one, and any ranked members they were bringing. She also listed which rooms they would be given for their overnight stay. She was the perfect luna, and a natural at leading the pack.

My mother grabbed my arm and led me towards the kitchen. “Come, it is good for you to see what goes into throwing a party. Mara is lovely, but she will need your support if she is to throw parties for future visiting guests.” My mother was determined to teach me about being a luna as well.

“Mom, I already know how to do this, why are you so insistent on teaching me this as well as Mara. Mara is the one who needs this education.” My voice easily came, and my mother made a tsking sound as she rolled her eyes.

“Fine, but keep me company, would you?” This conversation about parties was not over, and perhaps she had more on her mind but at that moment she drifted into the kitchen to the warm welcome of the entire staff.

“What is that smell?” My wolf, Atticus, perked up. I sniffed the air to indulge him, and I could feel Atticus trying to take over as the heavenly smell of the honeysuckles, and spring water filled my senses. It smells divine.

“We have been to the kitchen before, why haven’t we picked up on this scent before?” I asked, knowing full and well that we had found our mate.

Eager to meet her, I leaned into the kitchen until I could pinpoint where the scent was coming from. The scent was coming from a rather short young woman, who couldn’t be older an eighteen. She wasn’t someone I had seen in the kitchen before with her red-auburn hair pulled up in a loose ponytail that still came down to her middle back despite being pulled out of the way. Her pale skin put Mara’s beautiful complexion to shame, though she lacked the freckles that I so dearly loved to trace. Her figure had been covered up by that horrible apron, and I struggled to keep myself where I was. While my mother continued down the line, it was clear she could sense me as well though I was beginning to get concerned that she hadn’t had the urge to look up until I kept my eyes glued to her.

“She isn’t a werewolf.” Atticus finally said, realizing that while I did, and as we did, her eyes met mine. I was caught off guard by the warm gray eyes that she possessed. I couldn’t deny that she was beautiful, and a sight to behold. However, something was very wrong as I wasn’t attracted to her romantically or sexually at all.

I hurried away from her, instead of towards her like mates should although something about the motion felt right. I felt compelled to reject her, and my wolf wasn’t arguing with me either.

I must talk to her. I thought to myself as I began to pace the hallway while I waited for my mother.

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My mother took her sweet time coming out of the kitchen, though I know she made sure everything was prepared perfectly.

“Elijah, sweetheart, you look like you have seen a ghost?!” My mother exclaimed as she rushed over to me and took my face in her hands despite being much shorter than I was. “Tell me everything, sweetheart.” Her luna aura was in check, but years of watching her every move let me know she was worried about what had caused me such dread.

I took a shaky breath before speaking. “I found my mate.” I told her, and as I was taking a breath to tell her who and why I felt compelled to reject her. My mother squealed with glee.

“Ohm that is wonderful, Elijah! Who is it? Is it Nessa? She is the only one new one here. Oh, it has to be Nessa. Isn’t she beautiful?” She gushed, already beginning to play matchmaker and I could practically see the wedding bells going off in her head already.

“Mother! Let me finish speaking please.” I begged her, my voice quiet. “Keep your voice down.”

She looked alarmed at my request, unsure why I didn’t want to go see and meet the beautiful mate I had, Nessa her name was. “Atticus and I feel compelled to reject her. I have no doubt she is beautiful, but I am not attracted to her like you always described mates to be.” I explained, trying to convey with my eyes to her why I felt this need.

Her brow furrowed, looking confused as she begins thinking as she looks back and forth between the kitchen and me. “That is peculiar, but if you think it is what the moon goddess wishes for you, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t. Mates should hardly be able to keep their hands off of each other, that is how your father, and I were when we first me-.”

“Mother!” I yelled, not needing to know about her and my father’s escapades.

“Sorry sweetheart. Regardless, it makes sense that you are compelled to reject her in this instance based off your behavior. Be sure to let her down gently, my sweet son. She has been longing for her mate for years, and I do enjoy her baking. Don’t make me lose my favorite baker!” Her tone was teasing, so I knew she had accepted that my wolf and I knew what was best for her.

I could see she cares for this young omega, so I nodded my agreement. “Would you fetch her for me, please mother?” I asked, gesturing to the end of the hallway. “I think I will do it here and now.”

Her eyes filled with sympathy, but she simply turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

It was a while before anyone emerged, but soon the beautiful omega that my mother said was Nessa came around the corner as she wiped the flour across her apron.

“Luna Nayeli said you wanted to see me Alpha Elijah.” She said politely, and I smiled feeling a hint of sadness in how polite this woman is and how I was about to break her heart.

“Did she tell you why I wanted to see you?”

She shook her head, looking confused.

“I am your mate, and I feel compelled to reject you.” I told her softly. I watched her eyes widen though she said nothing.

Her figure had become rigid, but she nodded her sad acceptance. “I, Elijah Monroe, reject you, Nessa-“ I paused as I realized I didn’t know her last name.

“Hope.” Her voice was small, but she told her last name with such confidence and pride, not showing her fear.

“I, Elijah Monroe, reject you, Nessa Hope, as my fated mate.” I spoke the words, and the two of us staggered gasping in combined pain as the bond broke.

“You have done what you came here to do, please leave me alone now.” Nessa spoke first, her voice strong showing little fear or pain in her words as she leaned her hand against the wall as she staggered back into the kitchen to finish her duties for my mother.

It took me only a moment later to turn on my heel and head to where my family awaited.

“We did the right thing. She was never meant to be ours…” Atticus tried to soothe me, but I couldn’t help but feel like I did the wrong thing by rejecting her. It was something I could never take back…