A Luna Chained

Chapter 6 - Lost and Found (Rhys POV)

I couldn’t get that girl’s scent out of my mind. It was strong and intoxicating. I wanted to meet the woman - the wolf - behind it. Unless she really was human? It would explain why her wolf didn’t draw her to him that night. She didn’t have one.

A wolf having a human mate was rare, but not unheard of, especially if a pack’s territory overlapped where humans lived. There was a small university town in the far corner of North Star Pack lands, but we mostly ignored it.

Never in pack history had an Alpha or Luna had a human mate, though. A pack leader needs a strong mate with a strong wolf so that together, they can protect and care for their people. An Alpha to lead the warriors and a Luna to defend the families. They were the heart and soul of a pack.

A human? What would a human know about the needs of a wolf pack? Of the constant threat of rogue wolves, and power-hungry usurpers? Of the compassion needed to support young wolves through their first shifts? Of the sacred teachings of the Moon Goddess and her most holy days?

There was a knock on the door.

“Alpha? I found something!” Dylan poked his head through the door. “Are you busy?”

“No no, come on in. I was actually just thinking about her.”

“When are you NOT thinking about her?” I couldn’t tell if he was being cheerfully sarcastic or accusatory. For the last few months, I’d been struggling with my usual pack duties because I was preoccupied with finding my mate.

Of course, the pack leadership understood, and as a result, Beta Dylan and my father, former Alpha Bennet, had taken on some of my workload. I still felt guilty about it, though.

“I know, I’m sorry…” I lowered my head into my hand and squeezed my throbbing temples.

“Rhys, geez. I didn’t mean it like that!” Dylan was immediately contrite. He’d been working so hard to make up for my recent shortcomings as well as organising the investigation into finding my elusive mate. I really did appreciate him.

He sat down across from me and placed a folder on my desk. There was a name written on it: BIRCH, LIVIA. Ragnar’s ears pricked up, and I could feel his excitement swelling in my mind.

“Our mole in the university finally got us something!” He continued. “And the private investigator was able to get a few photos of her around campus, then track her back to her home. I’m pretty sure I have all the necessary info here.” He gestured to the folder.

I was afraid to open it. “And is she….?”

“Human? Yes.”

My heart dropped. My love for her was still running fast and deep, but I wasn’t sure if I could take the risk of exposing a human mate to my pack.

“Fuck.” I muttered, defeated.

I don’t care who she is. We love her. We need her. Find her, Rhys.

“Do you need a moment to look this over?” Dylan asked. His wolf, Dakota, could sense my turmoil.

“No. Stay.” I pleaded. “I may need you to answer some questions. And discuss how this might affect the pack.”

“As your Beta? Or as your best friend?”

“Both? I don’t know. I just need you here to help me through this. BEFORE I bring this to my parents.”

Dylan nodded and sat back. “I’ll do everything I can.”

I took a deep steadying breath and opened the folder. On the first page was a photograph. Ragnar jumped for joy at the sight of her. She was the most beautiful creature I”d ever seen. Shapely and feminine, with a huge bright smile. Her smile was so joyful that it made me smile down at the photo.

I flipped to the next photo. It was her in front of the same building where her scent was the strongest the night I first saw her.

“She’s a student there at the university. Latin and archaeology, senior year.” Dylan narrated.

I continued to review the photos, relishing every angle of her. I wanted to touch her and hold her; to breathe in her delicious scent. Until suddenly, I came upon a photo of her with a redheaded man. They were holding hands, and she had her head on his shoulder.

Ragnar’s angry growl was so intense that it burst from my own throat.

“Who is that?” I said through gritted teeth. My mind spun as my wolf’s rage started to rise in me and take over.

How dare he put his hands on our mate!

Dylan stood and put up his hands in a gesture of appeasement. “Easy, Big Man…” he said carefully. “... it looks like they’re only casually dating, but my sources say that she doesn’t seem very invested. There’s no sense in worrying about a guy who is not worthy of being your rival.”

He is a weak man. He is not strong enough for our Luna. She will see. Ragnar backed down and let me regain my composure.

I studied her expression in the photo. She seemed content, but not truly happy. I tossed the photo into the paper shredder next to my desk. I never wanted to see my future Luna with another man again.

There were a couple more photos of what looked like her family and her home. Then a birth certificate and some other official documents.

“Were you able to find anything in her bloodline that would point to a known pack? Anything that would indicate wolf ancestry?” I knew I was grasping at straws, but I had to hold out hope that she was not human. Or at least not entirely.

“Not yet. We don’t have all the information about her mother’s family yet. But it’s not looking likely. I think it’s safe to assume at this point that she’s fully human.” Dylan didn’t like seeing his Alpha in pain, but he didn’t want to lie either.

“Do you think the Pack would accept a human Luna?” It was a terrifying notion. I’d heard tales of packs being ripped apart by a human-wolf mating, some accepting of the bond, and not some not.

Dylan knew the same stories. “I think it would be safe to keep this quiet for the time being.” He said, speaking slowly and deliberately. “But you should definitely tell your folks. They’re just as invested in the safety of the pack as you are.”

I sighed. I was afraid of this.