His Missing Luna

CHAPTER 71

AMERIE/JESSICA

THE BELLE OF THE BALL

Nathan turns to me, his eyes softening as he looks down at me. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

I smile up at him. “You did what you had to do. Thank you for standing up for me.”

He pulls me into his arms, holding me close, and sniffing my hair. “I will always stand up for you, my Luna.”

“And I will always be by your side, my Alpha.”

His chest rumbles as we stand there for a moment. His touch makes me feel like I am the most important person in his life.

“What did she say?”

I press my head further into his chest, sniffing his unknown scent. “What you expect she will say.”

He scoffs gently. “Well, you’re not running away this time.”

“I will never run away. I know she wants you and hates me for being your mate. And since you don’t want her, she will do everything in her power to make me doubt you. Which I can never do.”

Sasha didn’t hide her hatred for me and my position in Nathan’s life. The way she glared at me in envy reminded me of the girls who looked at me whenever Saul guarded me at my former pack. They had eyes for him and hated that he wasn’t interested in them.

“Thank you, flower. You don’t know how much that means to me,” he moves back, casting his eyes on me. “You’re so perfect.”

“Only perfect for you, my Alpha,” his body tenses and a deep rumble rushes through his chest.

“Flower,” he whispers softly, touching our foreheads together. His green eyes are soft and full of love that my heart melts ten times over.

I reach for his face, cupping his cheeks in my hands. “You saved me from that terrible place, it’s only fair that I tell you how much you mean to me,” my eyes move from one sparkling green eye to the other.

“If you hadn’t come that day, I would be mated and marked by Saul. Probably pregnant with his seed.”

Nathan growls ferociously, tightening his arms around me. “Only I will put my seed in you!”

I bite my lip, giving a light chuckle before giggling. “Only you, my Alpha. No one else.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his chest.

We remain like that, soaking in each other’s presence. His heartbeat is steady and soft, the same rhythm as mine. This is what peace feels like. What being home should feel like. The home I have yearned for all my life.

“We should go inside. Cara and Mom are waiting to help you dress for the Ball,” Nathan says., moving back to peer down at me. “I can’t wait to see how beautiful you will look in your dress.”

My cheeks redden.

“Even if you didn’t let me see it,” he says with a little pout before pulling me along with him.

“There you are, finally,” the Luna says when we arrive upstairs at his room. “We don’t have much time. Let her go, Nate.”

Maids moved about in and out of the place. My dress, still in its cover, laid on the bed. My shoes sit beside it, the stones shining brightly.

“See you later, flower,” Nate plants a soft kiss on my lips, deepening it as he crushes me to him.

“We don’t have all day, both of you!” she scolds us, dragging me away from him. Our mouths are still connected as she does so. “Stop eating each other’s faces.”

We break apart with a loud smacking sound. My giggles mixing with his laughter. The maids drop their eyes, giggling.

“Now, leave this room, Alpha,” she says playfully.

Nathan blows me a kiss before leaving which I reply with my own.

“Now we can begin,” she says just as the door opens and Cara enters, holding a bag.

“What are you still doing here?” she asks him. “Go!”

“You two are such bullies,” he pouts before leaving.

General laughter breaks all over the place when he does.

“My son has never acted this way. It’s all you, Jessica,” the Luna says. “And let’s get you ready for tonight. You must look the belle of the Ball.”

For the first time in my life, I am pampered like a princess. The bath is filled with scented flowers, their different fragrances filling the bathroom. The water is warm and the maids help me to bathe, while Nathan’s mum and Cara wait in the room.

They wrap me in a big, thick towel, but not wiping the water off me.

“Luna wants the fragrances to remain on your skin,” one of the maids explains to me. “Alpha Nathan has never taken any woman other than his mother to the Ball.”

The other maid adds, as she helps me into my slippers. “The Thunderstorm Pack’s Luna must look and smell good.”

Both smile and giggle as they guide me out.

His mother takes a deep breath, sniffing the air. “Divine!” she remarks, getting to her feet and approaching me. “Just what I want.”

They lead me towards the wardrobe and leave me behind one of the doors to wear my undies. When I am done, I come out.

The Luna says with excitement. “So beautiful!” yet there’s a wistful look in her eyes. “My son is so lucky. Come child.”

She guides me to the middle of the room and they start to help me dress. Once done, Cara sits me down before the mirror which she has cleared. I wonder where all of Nathan’s stuff are. She stands behind me, looking at my face.

“Do you trust me?” she asks.

“I trust you,” I trust everyone in the room and the pack. “I trust you all.”

They all nod at me through the mirror.

“Let’s start.”