THE ALPHA'S UNWANTED LUNA

CHAPTER FIVE — THE MARK OF POSSESSION

Aria

I woke up wrapped in warmth and the scent of cedar. For a blissful moment, I forgot where I was—until I realized the warmth was Dante's body curved around mine, his arm heavy across my waist, his breath stirring my hair."You're awake," he murmured against my neck, his voice still rough with sleep.Every nerve ending sparked to life. "You stayed all night.""You were hurt. Where else would I be?" His arm tightened possessively. "How's your shoulder?"The wound throbbed dully, but it wasn't unbearable. "Better.""Liar." His lips brushed the sensitive spot below my ear, making me shiver. "I can hear your heartbeat spike when you're in pain.""That's not why my heart is racing."The words slipped out before I could stop them. Dante went completely still behind me, then slowly rolled me onto my back, hovering over me with those devastating silver eyes."Careful, Aria." His voice dropped dangerously low. "I'm barely holding onto my control as it is.""What happens if you lose control?""I claim you right here. Right now. Instead of waiting for the ceremony." His hand slid up my ribs, stopping just below my breast. "And I don't think you're ready for that yet."Heat pooled low in my stomach. "How do you know what I'm ready for?"His eyes flashed. "Because you're trembling. Because you're human and fragile and I could break you so easily." His thumb stroked my side through the thin nightgown someone had changed me into. "Because you deserve romance and gentleness, not a desperate Alpha who wants to devour you."

"What if I want to be devoured?"The growl that rumbled through his chest was purely animal. "Don't say things like that unless you mean them.""I—" A sharp knock interrupted whatever reckless thing I was about to say.Dante's expression darkened. "This better be important.""Alpha, the Council is here," Kieran called through the door. "They've demanded an emergency meeting about your claim."Dante cursed under his breath. "Of course they have." He looked down at me, conflict warring in his eyes. "I have to deal with this. Stay in this room. Madison will bring you breakfast.""What's the Council?""Five Alphas who think they run the region." He climbed off the bed, already reaching for the shirt he'd discarded last night. "They're going to try to convince me that claiming a human is weakness. Political suicide.""Maybe they're right."He crossed back to me in two strides, gripping my chin firmly. "They're not. You're mine, Aria. I don't care if every Alpha in the country objects. I’ll be back soon. Don't leave this room."Then he was gone, leaving me dizzy and confused.---Madison arrived twenty minutes later with a tray of food and eyes full of questions. "So. Dante's mate. That's unexpected.""That's one word for it." I picked at the eggs, my stomach too knotted to eat. "Madison, I don't know what I'm doing. Yesterday I was supposed to be preparing for college. Now I'm apparently a Luna.""Do you feel the bond?" She sat cross-legged on the bed. "When he touches you, does it feel like electricity? Like nothing else matters?"I thought about Dante's hands on my skin, his body against mine, the way everything else faded when he was close. "Yes."Then it's real." She squeezed my hand. "I know this is scary. But Aria, I've never seen my brother like this. After Elena died, he was empty. Cold. Now he's—""Wait. Elena?" My chest tightened. "That was his mate's name?"Madison's expression turned sad. "She was murdered five years ago by a rival pack during a treaty meeting. Dante was supposed to protect her, but they ambushed them. He barely survived, and the guilt ate him alive." She paused. "He swore he'd never take another mate. That he wasn't worthy. But the bond doesn't care about our plans, does it?""What if I'm just a replacement? A way for him to stop feeling guilty?""The mate bond doesn't work like that. You can't force it or fake it." Madison's eyes were earnest. "It's fate, Aria. Destiny. And fighting it only makes it worse."Before I could respond, shouting erupted from somewhere in the pack house—loud, angry voices that made my blood run cold."That's coming from the Council chamber." Madison paled. "Stay here""No." I stood, ignoring the pull of my injured shoulder. "If they're fighting about me, I should be there.""Dante will kill me if I let you….""Then don't let me, I'm going anyway."I found the Council chamber by following the sound of Dante's furious voice. "—don't need your permission to claim my mate.""A human Luna is unprecedented!" another man shouted. "She'll make you vulnerable. Weak. Every pack in the region will see it as an opportunity to strike.""Let them try.""You're thinking with your wolf, not your head. After Elena—""Don't." Dante's voice went lethal. "Don't speak her name."I pushed open the heavy doors. Five older men sat around a table, all Alpha energy and disapproval. Dante stood at the head, power radiating from him like a storm, but he looked strained. Exhausted.Every eye turned to me."The human," one of the Alphas said with obvious disdain. "How convenient."

"Aria, get out," Dante growled. "Now.""No." I forced myself to walk forward despite my shaking legs. "If you're discussing my future, I have a right to be here.""You have no rights," the Alpha sneered. "You're human. Weak. Unworthy….""She's mine." Dante was suddenly beside me, his hand possessive on my lower back. "And I don't recall asking for your opinion on my choice of mate.""The region's stability requires strong alliances," another Alpha argued. "If you insist on this claim, at least consider taking a werewolf as your true Luna and keeping the human as—""Finish that sentence and I'll rip out your throat." Silver bled into Dante's eyes. "She is my true mate. My only mate. And in twenty-four hours, she'll be my marked Luna. Anyone who has a problem with that can challenge me for Alpha."Silence fell like a guillotine blade."You'd risk a challenge?" the first Alpha asked slowly. "Risk your pack's leadership? For a human?""Without hesitation.""Then you're more damaged than we thought." The Alpha stood. "The Council cannot support this claim. If you proceed with the marking ceremony, you'll stand alone. No alliances. No backup. And when your enemies come—and they will—we won't help you.""I don't need your help." Dante pulled me against his side. "The ceremony is tomorrow at moonrise. Attend or don't. I don't care."The Alphas filed out, leaving cold threats hanging in the air. When the door closed, Dante exhaled roughly, his forehead dropping to my shoulder."You shouldn't have come," he murmured."I know.""They're right. I'm risking everything for you.""I know that too."He lifted his head, his eyes tortured. "And I still can't let you go.""Then don't." The words left my lips before I could question them. "Tomorrow night. The ceremony. I'll do it."

"Aria….""I'm choosing this, Dante. I'm choosing you." My hand touched his jaw. "Because maybe I'm damaged too. Maybe we're both broken enough to fit."He kissed me then, deep and desperate, pouring everything he couldn't say into the press of his lips. When he finally pulled back, his voice was raw."Tomorrow, you become mine forever. There's no going back from the mark.""I don't want to go back."His smile was fierce and possessive. "Good. Because I was never letting you go anyway.”