16. Welcome
997 Words
= Mikael =
I did nothing but look at her.
It wasn’t shock exactly—more like recalibration. Of all the answers I’d prepared myself to hear, of all the hesitations and careful deflections, this one hadn’t even crossed my mind. My thoughts stalled and before I could school my expression into something neutral, a slow, entertained smirk tugged at my mouth.
“You surprise me,” I said at last, my voice lighter than I felt. “Most people would ask for time.” A pause. “Or reassurance.”
She lifted one shoulder in a small, careless shrug, as if the weight of the decision didn’t sit heavy in her chest. “I’m tired,” she replied simply. “Tired of going in circles and running from the same choice over and over.” Her gaze didn’t waver. “If I’m going to do this, then I want to do it properly.”
Something dark unfurled in my chest at her words—approval edged with something far more dangerous. Respect, maybe. Or hunger. The kind that recognized resolve and wanted to test how deep it truly ran.
“Very well,” I said, my tone shifting, the air between us subtly tightening. “Then you should understand what happens next.”
She tipped her head slightly, an unspoken challenge in the gesture, silently inviting me to continue.
“There’s a gathering approaching,” I told her. “Five days from now. Every member of the pack will be there.” I let the weight of it settle before adding, “The elders included.”
Her brows drew together. “A gathering,” she echoed. “For what?”
“It’s a quarter gathering of the pack. And I’ll use that chance to also bring up the announcement,” I said.
Her frown deepened, curiosity sharpening into something cautious. “An announcement.”
I met her eyes and held them, offering no room for retreat. “I’ll announce that I’ve chosen you as my Luna,” I said evenly. “In front of everyone. Publicly.”
Her breath caught—just a fraction, but enough for me to notice.
“By then,” I went on, keeping my voice steady, “you’ll already be living here. With me.”
Her eyes widened, the surprise impossible to hide. “With you?”
“Yes,” I said, calm and unapologetic. “It’s tradition.”
A ripple of tension passed through her, subtle but unmistakable. Something flashed in her eyes—uncertainty, maybe fear—before she carefully smoothed it away. I didn’t comment on it.
“For those five days,” I continued, “you’ll immerse yourself in the Veyrath Pack. You’ll learn our culture—our customs, our laws, and the standards we hold our Luna to.” I paused, making sure she was still with me. “You’ll sit in on council discussions, witness our rituals, and observe how this pack truly operates.”
“That’s… a lot,” she murmured, her voice softer now.
“It has to be,” I replied without hesitation. “When I stand before the pack and name you as my Luna, there can’t be even a hint of doubt. No cracks. No weakness for anyone to exploit.”
She nodded slowly, visibly processing every word, every implication.
“And there’s one more thing,” I added.
Her gaze lifted to mine, attentive, wary.
“Once I make that announcement,” I said, lowering my voice, letting the weight of it settle between us, “there’s no turning back. The pack will see you as mine. From that moment on, every challenge, every threat, every political maneuver—they won’t just be mine anymore.”
Her eyes never left mine. Not even for a heartbeat.
“I can handle it,” she said evenly. “I prepared myself for this.”
But the words betrayed her. They tasted sharp and bitter in the air, heavy with a memory neither of us needed to name. We both knew what she had prepared for—what she had lost.
She had been ready to stand as the Luna of the Gravemire Pack. Instead, fate had twisted cruelly, and she now stood before me as the Luna of its enemy.
A soft chuckle slipped from my throat, low and unreadable. “We’ll see.”
I stepped closer, invading the space between us until the distance vanished entirely. The tension was immediate, alive—humming like a live wire stretched too tight. It was unspoken, undeniable, and thick enough to taste.
“Welcome to the Veyrath Pack, Amara,” I said quietly. “Let’s hope you’re ready for everything that comes with the title of Luna.”
She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she slowly nodded, as if she needed a moment to process the weight of my words—to absorb the reality settling onto her shoulders.
“If you have any questions, you’re free to ask me,” I continued. “My beta will assist you with anything you need and teach you our ways.”
Another nod. Small. Controlled. Guarded.
“Come with me.”
I turned and walked out of the room without waiting for her answer. After a brief pause, I heard her footsteps fall in behind mine—soft, deliberate.
Lorne was already outside, standing where I knew he would be. The doctors and nurses hovered nearby, waiting for instruction. One glance was all it took. Lorne understood immediately.
He dismissed the medics without a word as Amara and I stepped out of the cabin.
The moment we crossed the threshold, I sensed them. My gammas lingered nearby, their presence sharp and alert. It seemed they hadn’t dispersed after my sudden order earlier—the command to find the woman who had been following me.
Now, they watched her openly.
The future Luna of Veyrath.
And nothing about this union was going to be simple.
- Writer
