Embrace My Rogue Luna

Chapter III

Fae's POV

It was already awful. Rica was great, but wow, this many people talking was horrible. I had been introduced to a few of the people at the table, but to be honest, several of the names hadn’t stuck. The Alpha was, of course, Alec. He was at the head of the table and his wife, Jessica, was to his right.

I knew that the big man at the opposite end of the table was the Beta, Bennet I think, and the woman, Erica, to his right was his mate. The gamma, Mitch, was across the table from me and he had a woman his age to his right and another woman closer to my age on his left. I couldn’t remember either of their names.

There were a few men scattered around the table. One was Phelan, Rica’s brother, who had found us. There were two other’s whose names I had missed in the commotion but, I had gathered they were two more of the Alpha and Luna’s children.

There was an empty seat to the Alpha’s right, I assumed it was his oldest son’s seat. The Alpha to be. What a joy. Ugh, I wish I could just leave. This is way too much time around pack leaders.

When we first sat, Alec and Bennet had grilled me on everything I could tell them about the hunters. Where they were and which way they had run. They sent scouts to find the hunting gear that had been left and I offered to help if they had a tough time finding it.

“So, I didn’t get what exactly you were doing in the forest that close to our land.” The woman my age commented in the most annoyingly high-pitched voice I had ever heard.

“Lucinda, she was enjoying the full moon and she wasn’t even on our land, so who cares.” Jessica responded much to my gratitude.

“Close enough if you ask me.”

“Well, nobody asked you.”

“Rica!”

“Sorry, mom.” Rica quickly apologized but still stuck her tongue out at Lucinda.

“Rica.”

“Sorry, dad.”

I was starting to relax a little when the doors opened, and the most amazing smell entered the dining room. I turned to see what it was when I heard:

“MATE!!”

Everyone froze in shock. I slowly stood, Adeline jumping around in my head like crazy.

We found him! We found him!

“Mate” I whispered. “Well fuck.”

Next thing I knew the stranger had raced across the room and was pulling me into his arms.

“Finally!” He exclaimed.

A part of me wanted to pull away but he smelled like the forest. That wonderful smell first thing in the morning when everything is covered in a layer of dew. I couldn’t help myself. I needed a deep breath of that comforting smell.

I had forgotten I was in a room with more than ten strangers until Rica’s voice broke through the haze.

“Oh my god Fae! You’re my brother’s mate!! We’re going to be sisters! I finally get a sister! YES!!”

I turned to look at the table; at least a few people didn’t look as thrilled as Rica did. Great. I quickly realized I would have to worry about that later. Because right now, my mate was taking my face in his hands, turning me so he could look at my face.

He was tall, probably a foot taller than my 5’4”, and all muscle. He had black hair that was cut into a crew cut. His eyes were the most incredible green I had ever seen. They were beautiful, like the water at Paradise Forks, a lagoon I had seen a couple of years ago when I was passing through Arizona. I felt like I could swim in them.

Lycus

“What’s your name gorgeous?” She was incredible. Her hair was long, curly, and tangled. A beautiful mess. Her clothes were old and worn. I was very curious as to why, but none of that mattered right now. I can’t believe I was stressing over whether to choose a mate and then she shows up right in my own dining room.

“Fae.” She whispered.

“Hi Fae. I’m Lycus. Where did you come from?”

“Oh…ugh…” It wasn’t meant to be a tough question.

I looked down at her curiously.

Our mate is so adorable!

Yes, she is!

“What is it beautiful?”

“Well, umm, you see.”

“She’s a rogue!”

I looked up in surprise to see who had spoken. I had completely forgotten we were in the dining room with all these other people. Most everyone was standing at this point watching the drama unfold. I quickly realized the gamma’s daughter, Lucinda, was the person who had spoken. That figures. Growing up, she had assumed we would be mates. I think a few people had hoped for that, but when her wolf came around there was no mate bond. She still seemed hopeful that the need for a Luna would override my desire for a true mate.

“A rogue?” I looked down at the most beautiful woman I had ever seen for confirmation.

“I’m sorry.” She nodded. "I am"

“A rogue can never be the Luna!” Lucinda yelled. I saw her mother nodding. Baron growled, much to their shock. I quickly tried to calm him down, but he was pissed anyone would insult our mate.

“Hey back off!” My mother jumped to the rescue. “I was a human!” She walked around the table, my father following her.

She walked straight up to Fae and pulled her into her arms. “I’m so glad you are here. You saved my daughter’s life and now you are my son’s mate! I couldn’t be happier.”

"Your son!" She looked shocked.

“Wait? You saved Rica?” I looked down at this tiny scrap of a girl. “What have I missed?”

“A lot!” yelled Rica, who I saw was standing on her chair trying to see above everyone.

Fae’s POV

An Alpha's son! NO!

Then I remembered the empty chair. He wasn't just the Alpha's son. He was the oldest. He was the next Alpha.

Shit!

I can’t take this anymore. This was all too overwhelming. For someone who hadn’t had so much as a conversation with another person in weeks, this was a lot to take in. I started backing away from the crowd, trying to catch my breath. “I…I’m sorry. I need some air.” I grabbed my bag and ran for the door.

“Wait! Fae!” Lycus was right on my heels. I made it to the front door and was just pulling it open when his arm shot out above me and he pushed it shut, trapping me between the door and his solid body. “Please. I’m sorry.” He ran one of his hands down my bare arm, causing me to shiver. He smiled at my reaction. “I’m sure that was a lot, but just, please don’t leave.”

His eyes were so sincere it looked like he would be completely heartbroken if I walked through that door. I slowly nodded and Lycus’ whole body relaxed.

“Can we at least go somewhere alone to talk? Instead of in front of all these people.”

Lycus looked back and realized his whole family was fighting for position to see from the dining room doors.

“Uhh...yeah,” he rubbed his neck awkwardly. Damn he was sexy when he did that. “That’s probably a good idea.”

Lycus grabbed my hand, and we started up the stairs.

Ugh...what was I thinking?! I never should have come here. Why did I let Alpha Alec talk me into this?

What are you talking about?! We found our mate!

Yeah. And he’s a future Alpha. He’s just going to be an entitled ass who thinks he can have whatever he wants, lording over a bunch of pack members who don’t have a single opinion among the lot of them.

You don’t know that!

My inner argument was interrupted by Lycus stopping in front of a door. He opened it, stepped to the side and placed his hand on the small of my back to guide me through. His hand made me all tingly. Adeline was going nuts for her mate. I shook my head trying to focus as I walked through the door and found myself standing in a bedroom.

What the f**k!

I looked at him like he was insane. “Is this your bedroom?” I asked, indicating the giant bed in the middle of the room that was all male. It was full of dark woods and deep greens.

“Yeah.” He replied, shrugging like it was no big deal. Then he noticed my arms crossed. I was not amused. “No! No! That’s not what I’m doing!”

“Then what, exactly, are you doing?” I felt one eyebrow go up in suspicion.

No way does he think he’s just going to jump me right this second.

Why not?!

Ugh! Stop helping Adeline.

“I just thought we could sit on the couch over here and have a conversation.” He pointed to the other side of the room where there was a couch, coffee table, an overflowing bookcase and a TV.

“Uh huh.” I turned and walked straight to the sitting area but instead of going to the couch I walked over to the bookcase, setting my bag down, and glancing through the titles.

“See anything you like?”

“Several actually, but that’s not exactly the point.” I continued perusing the shelves. He had an impressive collection. He had most of the classics; Homer, Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, even some Jane Austen. He also had some more recent stories. The whole Harry Potter series which made me smile. Cassandra Clare was a pleasant surprise.

“Well, what is the point?” He sounded genuinely curious.

“You can tell a lot about a person by their books.” I replied, reaching up to pull down City of Bones, flipping through it before returning it to the shelf.

“Oh?” He sounded very interested. “What can you tell about me?”

“These spines are worn,” I reached out, pointing to the damage. “They have clearly been read many times, however” I pulled down a particularly well-read book, Call of the Wild “You don’t dog ear them.”

“I would never do that.”

I smiled at his response. “You have a wide collection.”

“Not big enough.”

I couldn’t help giggling at that.

“What’s funny?”

“I think every book lover in the world feels the same way.”

“I’ve never known a well-read rogue.”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “Have you known many rogues?”

“Ugh…well I mean I guess not really.”

“So, then you really wouldn’t know, would you?”

“No, I suppose not. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Just maybe don’t assume things about me just yet if you don’t mind.” I was choosing not to hold his thoughts on rogues against him just yet.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I can do that. So, what’s your favorite book?”

I looked up at him, trying to decide if I should tell the truth or give a safe answer. He is my mate though. Maybe I should give him a chance.

“Well, I’m sure you know that’s never an easy answer.” He nodded. “But if you mean the book I draw the most meaning from and go back to again and again.” I reached up just above my head to the book I had seen on his shelf. Pulling it down, I turned and handed it to him.

Lycus POV

I don’t know what I had expected her to say. Maybe Harry Potter or maybe Pride and Prejudice. I did not expect to find myself holding a barely worn copy of George Orwell’s 1984.

“This is your favorite book?” I was shocked. “1984, a book about an oppressive government that rewrites its history when it is convenient to them, expects blind obedience and tortures its citizens into compliance.”

“Yeah. Kinda sounds like pack life, doesn’t it?” She used such a matter of fact tone.

Wow, is that really what she thinks? And I thought it was just packs that looked down on rogues. I didn’t realize rogues might look down on pack wolves.

“Is that what rogues think of packs?” I really wanted to understand her. I am going to be the Alpha, which means she is destined to be Luna, and yet she hates packs. f**k!

“That’s what I know.”

“How would you know? I mean no offense intended, but what do you know about pack life?”

“Oh,” She turned from the shelf to look me in the eyes. “I wasn’t always a rogue.”

“You weren’t?” I felt my brows knit together as I tried to understand her.

“Nope.” I couldn’t help smiling a little at the way she popped the p in nope.

“So, you were part of a pack?”

“Oh yeah.” She turned, seemingly to look at the bookshelf, but I had a feeling it was more so she didn’t have to face me while she spoke. “A Beta’s daughter. Living the easy life. Destined for great things. Raised to run a pack.”

“Wait!” I was frozen. “You’re a Beta’s daughter!”

She nodded her messy head.

“So, how did you end up out there?” I couldn’t understand. She had to have done something awful, right?

She turned and looked me in the eyes. “Let’s just say…history changed.”

“How long ago was this?”

“About five years.” She said it like it was no big deal, but I was shocked.

“How old are you?”

“I turned 21 in January.”

“So, wait. Let me get this straight. You’ve been by yourself out there since you were sixteen?” What could someone so young have done to be banished?

“Yep.” She nodded with a small shrug like it was no big deal.

“Were you banished?”

She gave a short laugh at that. “No. It was time to leave. The pack life isn’t for everyone.”

Shit

“I don’t understand. Did something happen?” What the hell were they supposed to do if she hated packs?! Maybe something happened to make her run from HER pack, but maybe she could be happy here.

“Oh Lycus.” Damn my name sounded good on her lips. “So much happened. What my future was going to be was…. unacceptable to me and I had no choice, so I chose freedom.”

“What? Did you not want to be a pack leader?”

Tears came to her eyes. “I loved my pack growing up. I couldn’t wait to be a member of its leadership.” She blinked the tears away. “Then things…changed. My pack was no longer mine and I was asking questions that were...unappreciated.”

Her face got hard. She was still angry. “But my home was gone. It had become a place that took away your choices. Forced mating as soon as a wolf came of age. Whether they were destined mates or not. That would NOT happen to me.”

“Forced mating! What? Where does that happen?!”

What was she talking about? No one forced mating! I mean wolves could get really excited when they found their mates. I have even heard of wolves mating and marking each other before they even knew each other’s names. But nothing was forced!

“In packs!” She snapped, moving to walk past me.

I reacted on instinct. I pulled her against me, taking her chin in my hand, forcing her to meet my eyes.

“Not all packs, Fae. Not all packs.” I wanted to kiss her so badly. She was so close, but I wouldn’t be what she seemed to fear so badly from packs. “No one here is mated without consent.”

She looked like she was trying to decide whether to believe me or not.

“Will you please do something for your mate, Fae?”

She smiled “That wasn’t fair.” She giggled a little.

“I promise when it comes to winning over my mate, I might not always be fair.”

She laughed at that. Yes! I made her laugh.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Give me a real chance. I will show you the entire pack. You can ask anyone anything you want. Please give me a chance to prove not all packs are straight out of an Orwell novel.”

She was obviously really considering my request. I was getting anxious waiting for her response but I refused to interrupt her thoughts.

“On one condition,” She finally said.

“Name it.” There is nothing I wouldn’t give her.

“Never lie to me.”

I smiled at her. “I will never lie to you.”

“We’ll see”. She clearly didn’t believe I could handle something as simple as honesty.

“Can I ask one more thing?”

She rolled her eyes. Which was actually really hot.

“What?”

“Can I please kiss my mate?”

In answer, her arms moved up to my shoulders and she rose to her toes.

YES!!

I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her against me, lowering my face to meet her and I finally got to taste her sweet lips.