Moon God Mates 2

Chapter 8

Lukes POV:

I sit in the back of a black limousine, Kimberly at my side, Declan in the passenger seat while another pack member drives.

This is going to be my first time coming face to face with the Moon Pack since being held captive. My first time coming face to face with Mason… and Iris.

Everyone must have thought I was dead. With the fight I had with my father and the Blue Bloods by the river, I should be dead. There was no way I should have survived their attack, but I did. And here I am, more ripped apart inside now than I was physically then.

I look over at Kimberly, who leans against the window, taking in the views. She wears a royal blue gown with a white cover, probably to hide the bruising her asshole brother caused her. I don’t get why they insist on keeping her at my side all the time.

“Why are we going to the ball, Kimberly?” I ask, my voice lacking hope. She’s a quiet girl; I don’t expect much from her.

She doesn’t look away from the window. “To find the girls. To bring them back,” she answers just above a whisper. I scoot closer to her, looking up to see Declan and the driver deep in conversation.

“What girls?” She looks over to make sure her brother is distracted before meeting my eyes. She looks at me for a while before speaking up. “A few months ago, two members escaped. Sisters. They were of Blood to the pack. Declan is on a vendetta to bring them back. He found one, but… it was too late.” She glances at her brother again, who is still deep in conversation. “No one of blood leaves the pack.”

She picks at the skin around her nails while her hands lay in her lap. Then she looks me in the eyes again. “Our blood heritage ties us to the Blue Bloods. Whether we like it or not.”

“What does that even mean?”

Kimberly's eyes fill with tears, and she turns to look out the window. “Please, Kimberly. I won’t hurt you. I need to know what you mean.”

“I really shouldn’t…” she stutters. I try to hold my patience with her; she’s seconds away from breaking. But I wasn’t born a patient person. “Tell me!”

She flinches before checking her brother is still preoccupied. “Decades ago, our pack was cursed. Whatever bloodline was in the pack when we were cursed is the only bloodline that can make us strong.” She fidgets in her seat before continuing, “Declan tries to take in rogues to grow our numbers, but we’re only as strong as the original blood that runs through the pack.”

“And that’s why he needs me in the pack. But why Alpha?” I ask in a whisper.

“Wh-When we were cursed, your grandpa was Alpha. The way he ran the pack was savage. He was the reason we were cursed to each other in the first place.” I scoff at that. Isn’t it still savage? “Worse.” She looks at me, and my gut sinks. Great, so I come from monsters.

“Your direct bloodline is the only line that can take on the Alpha role. Without you, the last male of your line, we have no Alpha. We have no pack.”

“So you’re saying if I was gone, there would be no pack. You would all be forced into rogue. Free of each other…”

She looks away as guilt covers her face. Even fragile Kimberly thinks it would be better if I were dead. If only she knew the truth… I’m not the last male of my bloodline. Now I really can’t die because then the Alpha curse would fall on James.

“The elders wouldn’t let that happen,” she whispers, looking away from me.

“But there’s still one problem.” She looks back at me as I ask, “Madoc. He was Alpha for years. How did he do that without being of direct blood to my line?”

“Well… Ma-Madoc was your uncle.”

“We’re here!” Declan shouts from the front seat before he exits. I’m not ready to get out of the car. I’m not ready for any of this f*****g s**t.

Declan opens the door.

Move it.

He mind-links. I run my hands through my hair and push back the news I just got. I can’t think of that and face the Moon Pack at the same time.

Do they even know I’m alive? Did they even look for me?

“Out, Alpha.” He demands again, and Kimberly puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. When I look her way, she retracts her hand and looks down.

I step out of the car and follow Declan to the double doors that lead inside.

Kimberly is at my side, and for a moment I wonder why she is even allowed to come with us. But maybe, given the chance, she would run away like the others, and it is smart to keep her close.

The second we enter the ball, I smell her. My mate is here. That delicate rose smell feels so warming, comforting, and familiar. It almost knocks me off my feet. She can’t be here. Not now. On top of everything else I have to handle, I can’t handle meeting her. Not like this. Whoever she may be.

“Son, don’t back out now!” My father pushes behind me. I didn’t realize I had stopped walking as he and two other Blue Bloods walk up behind us.

I continue further into the room despite the smell that pulls me in the other direction.

“Search the room for the traitors,” Declan orders before taking a glass of champagne and downing it. “Let’s mingle, Alpha. I’m sure someone will greet us soon enough.” With that, he walks off, leaving me standing there. Kimberly shakes at my side. I take a glass of champagne off the tray a waiter carries around and hand it to her. She looks up at me like I’m crazy. “It will help calm your nerves.” She hesitantly grabs the glass and sips on it. Good.

I look around the room again. My nerves are on edge. My body is shaking. I know my mate is near. I also know I can’t claim her, especially now. My whole life is in shambles. I can’t even claim my own son, for f**k's sake. But maybe I can just get a peek at her face. Do I at least deserve that?

Before I can even think about it, a blonde in a forest green dress twirls on the dance floor in front of me. The rose smell makes my feet move involuntarily. Blondes are never my type, so that shocks me at first. But her smell, I can’t mistake that sweet f*****g smell. It is no doubt my mate's.

I grab her shoulder, turning her to me. She is a beautiful woman, but her eyes are dull, too dull to belong to my mate. And her smell isn’t a natural rose. It is an imitation. A second later, I’m shoved away, almost falling on my ass. “Don’t f*****g put your hands on her.” I look up to be greeted by Cole's angry scowl, which turns into a surprised one. I guess that’s proof they didn’t know I was alive. “Luke?” he asks breathlessly, like he can’t believe he is seeing me himself. The blonde runs away, and Cole watches her leave before turning back to me. For a moment, I think he has found his mate, but if she was his, he would have definitely gone after her.

“What the hell are you doing here? How are you alive?” he asks, but the smell is invading my mind again. It is twirling around me, making me go mad. I can’t think unless I’m able to pinpoint that smell!

I look around frantically until I’m hit with the most beautiful flash of red.

My favorite color. Just a few feet away, she twirls in another man's arms. My whole body goes rigid. Can she not f*****g sense me here? Does she have no f*****g morals? She is mine!

My wolf is taking over as I stalk up behind her, fighting for control. I should rip him to f*****g shreds for putting his hands on someone who belongs to me!

I stop in my tracks just inches behind her, looking up and down at her perfect curves. I can smell her body reacting to me. It’s like she knows I’m here. She knows her mate is close, but she doesn’t react to it. It looks like she is trying to ignore the feeling or something is blocking its full effect.

What the hell am I doing? I can’t claim her. She could never be mine. Then what the hell am I doing?

My lips are moving before I can even stop myself. “It’s my turn for a dance.”