THE BOUNTY HUNTER LUNA

CHAPTER 9 - EMMET'S POV

It had been two days since Aine lost her mother figure, Maggie, but she wasn't talking about it.

She'd cried the entire night, that first night, but after that, she hadn't shed a single tear.

I wanted to ask her about it, I was worried she was bottling it up, or perhaps she'd just cried it all out that night and was now healing, or perhaps it was her normal behavior, to grieve in the moment then move on, or perhaps it was an Elf thin?

I didn't know, and it was driving me crazy. I hated that I didn't know her well enough to figure it out, but I would pay attention from here on out, so I could get to know her and how she grieves, so I knew how to best help her.

On top of worrying about Aine, I was focusing on my recovery and today was the first day I'd woken up without any pain.

I left so light, I could dance!

"Careful," Aine warned as I started rushing around the room.

"You've only just fully recovered, if you keep prancing around like a child, you'll hurt yourself again."

I growled at her playfully and her eyes widened before I scooped her up and spun her around.

Aine laughed, the sound drifting on the wind around us, and making my heart flutter. How did one woman have this much power over my body?

"That's the second time you've called me a child." I pointed out, to distract myself.

"Aren't you?" She teased, smirking at me, "A big muscular kid, now put me down.

Thoughts of putting her down on the bed, and climbing over her sprang to mind, making me hard, so I quickly put her down.

"What were you doing before I came in?" I asked, and turned my back on her.

I pretended I was looking out the window, but in reality, I glanced down at the tent in my pants, willing it to go down before she noticed. She already thought I was a kid. I didn't need her to see that I didn't even have control over my own d.ick.

"Packing, you've recovered so we'll leave at dawn to your Temple," She answered, and I looked over my shoulder. She wasn't paying attention to me, she was on her knees packing a bag. "If I'm going to be part of this fight, I want to meet everyone and see if we even stand a chance."

"You doubt me?"

"I don't doubt your heart or will, but, and no offense, you've never been in a true battle," She pointed out, and she wasn't wrong, "And the only fight you were in, you got abducted."

"Am I ever going to live that down, with you?" I complained angrily. It was so embarrassing.

"Nope," She shrugged, but her tone was amused.

I glared at her smug expression before looking back out the window.

"What are you going to do with this cabin?"

Aine didn't answer for a long time, and I thought I'd overstepped, but then she said.

"I'll give it to whoever wants to stay, and the others can come with us."

I nodded, and looked down again, thankfully I was no longer showing, though I could feel that I wasn't completely soft yet.

I turned back to Aine but she was still focused on her bag.

"I'll give you a new home." I told her.

She froze for a second before continuing to pack.

"We'll see."

I frowned, and Chace whined.

"Mate still doesn't trust us."

"She's been through a lot, just give her time."

"I want to meet her, and we're strong enough to shift now."

"Alright." I answered, he started wagging his tail wildly.

"Mate, mate, mate!"

"Shut up." I ordered and cleared my throat, "Aine, Chace wants to meet you."

Aine turned and looked at me for the first time, before standing up.

"Okay, let him have control."

"No, he wants to meet you in his body."

"But we can't communicate."

I smiled and scratched the back of my head.

"You can if you swear loyalty to me as your Alpha." I pointed out.

Aine frowned, before exhaling, "Fine." She said, and closed the gap between us. She placed her hand on my chest, "I swear loyalty to Alpha Emmet of... What's your pack's name? Are you keeping the old one?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm renaming the capital pack to Etana. It means Enduring, long-lived, and strong."

Aine smiled and said, "I Aine, swear loyalty to Alpha Emmet of Etana."

Something clicked inside me, and a new connection formed, much like the ones I had with Alex, and the others of my small pack, only this one, felt stronger and warmer, most likely due to his being mate.

"Can you hear me?" I asked her, but she shook her head.

"No, sorry."

"Really?" I said in panic, ''But I can feel it, maybe because of your Lycan, you can..."

Before I could finish, Aine started to laugh and shoved me gently.

"I'm just messing with you. I heard you."

I smirked, "That's not funny."

"It was, you should have seen your adorable pouty expression."

I froze at the word adorable...

"Yeah, yeah, she thinks you're adorable, now back off and let me meet her!"

"Okay."

I stepped back, "Can you turn around?"

"Why?"

"So I can undress and shift."

Aine giggled, "We're mate, you are aware I'm allowed to see you naked," She pointed out, and just as I started to have thoughts of her also naked, her expression darkened, and she grabbed the front of my shirt, pulling us closer, "And for the record, I'll be the only woman seeing you naked, got it?!"

I smiled happily, "Got it, but the same goes for you."

"Fine," She said and released me, "I won't be naked in front of any other girls."

I laughed and leaned down. "You're not funny. I mean it. No one but me. You are mine."

"Okay," She held up her hand, "I swear, no woman... Or men, but you will see me naked. Now strip."

"Turn around."

"So shy." She mocked me but turned.

Shy? I wasn't shy, or maybe I was, but for the most part, I was just trying my utmost hardest to behave, and not throw her down on the bed, spread her legs and take her.

She was still grieving, and we were still getting to know each other, and I knew if I was naked in front of her, my control would snap.

I quickly removed my clothes and let Chace have control, feeling the familiar fall as he came forward.

"Mate," Chace linked Aine, who turned around.

"Wow, you're massive," She said as her eyes swept over Chace, who began wagging his tail again.

He liked that she'd praised his size.

"I've never seen such a big Alpha." She continued and reached out to run her fingers through his fur.

Chace started to get excited and licked Aine over her face, making her, drop her hand and step back, laughing.

"It's nice to meet you too," She said as she wiped her face.

"Mate! You smell so good," He told her, and rubbed his big head over her body.

"You smell good too," She responded and scratched his behind his ear.

Chace's tail started wagging again, knocking over a chair and a few portraits off the walls, but Aine didn't scold him for it, she just laughed.

"I see you're both big kids," She teased, as Chace laid down, and rolled over, so Aine could rub his belly.

We were so caught up in the moment that we didn't hear anyone approach the room until there was a knock on the door.

"Boss, lunch!" Anthony called out, before walking off.

Aine immediately stopped patting Chace. Food was always her priority.

"We'll continue this another time,"She told him before giving him a kiss on the head, "I'm hungry. Change back and join us."

And without another word, she walked away.

I pouted alongside Chace as I took control back.

"One day we'll be the most important, not even food will come before us." I vowed and laughed at the absurdity, at being jealous of food, before dressing, and heading down the stairs.