The Little Luna

Alpha Talk

Vespian POV:

After I heard Luna click the lock in place, I jogged towards the woods. I looked around carefully before undressing and once more tying my clothes to my ankle and letting Eli take over. As we ran through the forest, our paws flying across the ground, I kept thinking over the events of the day. I’d found my mate.

Every-time I thought those words my heart stuttered a beat. I mean, true I hadn’t had to wait for long, but I had found her, and she was every bit as amazingly perfect as I had hoped she’d be.

“I told you she would be. I hate to say I told you so…”. Eli trailed off, letting the words linger between us as I chuckled in response. “But, I did. Tell you so, that is. Over, and over and over.”

“Alright Eli, I get it, you were right and I was worried for nothing.”

“Vespian, the intruder, at Jade River this afternoon. I don’t like it.” Eli’s voice was more somber now as he brought up something that worried me as well.

“I know, it feels like we were being lead away. Someone was leaving us a trail to follow. But that isn’t what worries me most about this situation.”

“Agreed, it’s the lack of information. Whoever or whatever the intruder is, it had no scent, it made no noise and it left no visible trail.” Mumbled Eli. None of this information was good news for us. Whatever this being was, it moved like a ghost and blocked out every one of the senses that werewolves relied on to track and hunt. Without them, there was no way we could keep Luna safe.

“And it’s after our Luna.” I stated. Nothing about Luna made sense. Her upbringing, her abilities, her wolf, even her stalkers apparently. How were we supposed to fight what we couldn’t see, hear or smell?

“She needs a body guard at all times and guards outside her house, in the woods so they can’t be seen. Preferably on rotating shifts so each one is fresh and no ones falling asleep.”

“We can’t just demand the Alpha move guards to protect a girl who isn’t even in his pack.” Though what Eli said made complete sense and if I was honest, it would help put my mind at ease. I couldn’t stay the night with her until after her eighteenth birthday or I would risk mating her and marking her, both things that are forbidden before a wolf is of age. “Besides, who in the Blood Moon pack could we trust to protect a Luna who is not their own.”

“This is true. I think you have a solution though?” Inquired Eli, already suspecting what I was going to do.

“You know I do Elijah.” I schemed as Eli took us back to the Blood Moon pack house as fast as our legs would carry us.

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Before long Eli had us at the border of the clearing encircling the main living grounds of Blood Moon. Elijah handed over the reigns and I shifted and changed once again not bothering to button my shirt since I only intended to go straight to my room. The back door was locked, so I slipped in and shut the door softly behind me, though why I was sneaking was beyond reason. It was a house full of werewolves, they caught my scent the moment I stepped on the back porch and heard my foot steps before I left the woods. Add on the fact that I was a visiting leader and not an errant teenager and my sneaking in would be comical if it weren’t so idiotic.

My right foot was on the first stair when I heard a door open to my left click open, I tried hurrying up the stairs but got up two more before I heard clicking heels and a feminine throat clearing. “Vespian, are you not joining us for dinner?”

I turned to look at Roselyn, her arms crossed over her chest and a single eyebrow raised in question. Why did I feel like a 5 year old who just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar?

“Actually I’m not hungry-“ before the sentence fully left my mouth my traitorous stomach let out an ear rattling growl. ‘Damn.’ I thought. “What I meant was, I’d prefer a plate brought to my room tonight please, it’s been a long day and I need to call my father and discuss a few things.”

“Would one of those things be Luna Slade?” Roselyn’s voice held a hint of jealousy and if her tone hadn’t told me, the purse of her lips would have.

“Actually, yes, she will be one of the main things we discuss.” I felt my lips pull up into a tight smile that did not meet my eyes. I turned and stepped off the few steps I had gone down and walked towards Roselyn, stopping just a few away and crossing my own arms across my half bare chest. “Why do you ask?”

“Why did you run out of the cafeteria after her Vespian? Is she your mate? She isn’t even a wolf much-less of Alpha blood. She’s a nobody.” The way Roselyn was talking about Luna had me on edge. She already suspected Luna was my mate, and yet she was acting upset, lashing out.

I could tell by the fear in her eyes that she knew she had upset me. If I had to guess Eli was pissed as well and my eyes were flowing again. In any other situation I would tell him to calm down and apologize, but this little girl was playing with an Alpha who cherished his Luna more then she could imagine.

“I followed her because she is my mate.” Roselyns eyes grew wide, and even though I saw the fear still there, it was joined by anger and jealousy now. “Luna Slade is my mate and I don’t give a damn what you think on the matter. You are not my mate, you are not my girlfriend, we aren’t even friends because I’ve known you less then seventy-two hours.” I took a step towards her, my height making her look up as she stumbled back a step. “All you are to me is the daughter of one of a friend of my father. The daughter of an Alpha who is hoping to make a treaty deal that will bind our packs together.” I took another step forward causing her to stumbled back again, her hand came out behind her catching herself on the wall before she fell. “We can be friends Roselyn, or we can be enemies. How you treat my Luna will determine the outcome.”

Roselyn gulped and nodded her head before barring her neck in submission. I gave a court nod she wouldn’t see anyways and turned to leave, this time taking the stairs three at a time.

I walked into my room and took of my shirt throwing it in the hamper in the corner, soon after my pants joined and I walked into the bathroom ready for a nice hot shower.

When I came it of the bathroom with a towel wrapped low in my waist and another in my hands drying my hair I was so distracted with thoughts of my Luna I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone until I heard a faint gasp of surprise. Yanking the towel off of my head I turned towards the noise and came face to face with a young woman with mousing brown hair who was just setting a tray down on the small table in the corner of the room.

“I am s-s-s-so s-s-s-sorry Alpha! I was t-t-told t-to bring you a t-t-tray of dinner.” The young woman stuttered as she finished setting the tray down and threw her hand over her already tightly squeezed shut eyes. “Door was unlock. B-b-bye!”

“It’s fine! Sorry about-!” I didn’t get a chance to finish before the door was shut behind her. This time I walked over and bolted the lock, no more surprise today, please Goddess.

Hearing my stomach grumble again I rolled my eyes and walked to the small table, pulling out a chair and situating my self in-front of the tray. Pot roast with baby carrots and potatoes, with fresh rolls. It smelled divine and I immediately dove in. I was about halfway through my meal when I heard the room phone ring. Who the hell would be calling me on that number?

I got up and grabbed the phone, then sat back down at the table to finish eating. “Hello.” I said around a bite of baby carrots.

“Vespian Carter! I can not believe you have been avoiding your parents all day!” My mothers voice shouted at me through the phone. “Do you have any idea how worried I have been?! How worried your father has been!”

“Now now dear, I don’t think asking if he’d called you today was me being worried.” I heard my father say in the background.

“Do not start on me now! You know damn well you were worried!” This time my mother was muffled, as if she tried to it her hand over the receiver and mute her voice, it did not work.

“Of course dear, my bad my love.” My father said in the background once again. “Whatever you say sweetheart.”

My mother huffed as if she didn’t believe him and removed her hand from the receiver. “Now you better have a damn good reason for avoiding your parents all day young man!”

Before I could stop my self I was chuckling. “Well hello mother, so good to hear from you, I’m doing good how about your self?”

“Do not start that smart sassing at me boy! I want to know where you have been all day that you couldn’t answer your cell phone!”

“Well I went for a run this morning, then went to school, skipped school, found my Luna, fought some rouges, met the Jade River pack and came home for dinner. It’s been a busy day mom.” My quick response was met with silence from both of my parents and I grinned, wondering how long it would take for them to realize what I had said.

“Luna? You met your mate?!” Mom squealed so high pitched I swear she almost ruptured an eardrum.

I heard dad talking to him self in the background muttering “Skipping school, fighting Rouges, visiting other packs already, maybe sending my son to the backwoods of Florida wasn’t the smartest plan.”

“Oh hush dear, all of that lead our baby to his mate! What is she like sweetheart? Is she of age? Oh she must be if you know she’s your mate. I am so happy for you! I want to know everything! When can we meet her? Oh honey, how soon can we be in Florida? Can we leave tonight?” Goodness the women could say a lot without a breath.

Before I could answer even one question my father was talking. “We are not going to Florida, especially not tonight, just to meet our sons mate. Are you crazy woman? That trip is almost seven hours without stopping.”

“We could run it in three hours easy, unless you’re willing to admit that you aren’t as spry as you were in your youth.” My moms smug tone had me rolling my eyes, why did she insist on working father up.

“Excuse me? I could run it in two and leave you in the dust.” My father blustered, I could see him puffing up his chest and his cheeks turning red.

“Sure honey, sure. So Vespian! What is my future daughter in law like? Does Elijah like her wolf? Oh I bet her wolf is beautiful! Tell me she’s a white wolf? Wouldn’t a white wolf just look so gorgeous next to your beautiful midnight black Elijah? Oh I’m being presumptuous, I don’t even know if she’s a wolf or human. Son, tell me something!” I was now imagining her jumping up and down like a kid on Christmas morning.

“For goodness sakes Liliana, let the poor boy speak.” My fathers said gruffly.

I chuckled as I set my fork down and picked up the napkin to wipe my mouth. “Thanks dad. First, her name is Luna-“

“I’m sorry honey, it sounds like you said her name was Luna?” My mother cut in.

“Yes mom, her name is Luna.”

“What kind of werewolf names their daughter Luna?” Questioned my mom.

“One who thinks their daughter will never be a Luna I would assume.” My father stated with an air of sarcasm before adding on a more serious question. “Is she an omega, son?”

“No dad, she isn’t an omega. And a human parent might use that name mom.”

“Oh yes! True! So is she human then? That would be a surprise, but any mate is better then none at all.” My mom chattered along happily.

“I agree mom, but no, she isn’t human, her mother is though-“

“Oh a halfbreed! Perfectly acceptable dear! For her to be your mate she must have a high ranking father? Could her family be from another pack?” Mom interrupted me again, and once more went off in a tangent. This was going to take forever.

“So that is why you were over at Jade River. Makes sense now. Is she the Alphas sister? Jade Rivers Alpha is young, only 19 I believe, and his Beta isn’t much older.” Father said mater if factly. Yes, this was going to take forever.

“Stop, both of you, now.” I commanded. “If you want the details then both of you promise right now that you won’t say another word till I am done!”

“But-“ stuttered mother.

“No see here son-“ started father.

“No! I mean it. Promise.” I stood my ground waiting to hear nothing then say the words.

“Promise.” They said in unison.

“Jinx! You owe me a soda!” Giggled mom, sometimes the two of them acted like teenager.

“Alright, first, Luna us not human and she is not a half breed. Second, she was raised by a human mother with her two siblings, they are triplets.“

“Oh my!” Muttered mom.

“They’re father has never been in their life so they don’t know who he is, he got their mother pregnant and left on a mission to keep them safe and never returned.”

“Oh, how sad.” Whispered mom.

“Luna is 17 but her birthday is this weekend, and no I have not mated or marked her. I know the laws. We suspect she does have a wolf, but she only just manifested when she and I met for the first time earlier today. Seeing me brought her wolf out.”

“Oh that is interesting!” Said mom excitedly, “Do you suspect it’s because she is halfblooded?”

“I did at first, but during the rogue attack I was injured and Luna healed me. She shows remarkable strength and courage and gifts. She’s also so compassionate mom. He’s amazing. Her wolf has said she will shift this weekend on her eighteenth birthday.”

“What do you mean shift on her 18th birthday?” This time it was my father interrupting, and he seemed intrigued. Just wait dad, your mind is about to be blown old man.

“I mean that Luna can heal with her hands, has no scent, yet is faster and stronger then a human even without having turned. Her siblings show remarkable abilities as well.” I paused, not sure how to tell my parents our suspicions but needing his opinion. “Dad, we think they may be Lycans?”

I expected an onslaught of questions but instead both of my parents were silent. After a few moments I tapped my phone screen to make sure I hadn’t lost the connection, but no, it was still connected. “Mom? Dad? Are you there?”

“Umm yes, yes Vespian we’re still here.” Said my mom, she wasn’t her normal chipper self though. What was going on?

“Dad? I could really use your advice?” I asked, hesitantly. Something was off. I even felt Eli perk up in my mind even though he’d been so quite through the entire conversation.

“Yes son, of course. Why do y’all believe that they are Lycans? The species has been extinct for generations, it’s highly unlikely that one survived long enough to reproduce.” My mother was being abnormally quite. My father cleared his voice and when he spoke again he sounded closer to the phone, as if he’d taken it from my mother and brought it closer to his face. “What other signs are there?”

“Well the Lycan mate mark on her mother’s neck was convincing enough for Alpha Darius and Luna April to bow.” I knew my voice was laced with sarcasm but I didn’t understand why my father was being like this. “Oh, and Elijah was demanding I get on one knee before her as well.”

“Oh Goddess!” I heard my mother exclaim, though her voice was muffled as if she had her hand over her mouth.

“f*****g hell.” My dad muttered.

“What in the hell y’all? What’s going on?” I was worried at this point, what weren’t they telling me?

“The mark, was it a Royal Lycan mark?” My fathers voice came over the line again, completely serious.

“It had to be, why else would ALPHA wolfs be forced to bow before a human just because of a mark Gregory?” My mother muttered softly.

“I know Liliana. Vespian, what was their fathers name?” Before I could answer my dad was speaking again, shooting another question off at me. “Was his name Lucien Slade?”

“Yes, his name was Lucien Slade.” I paused as they made a few more muffled sounds, it sounded like my father was moving with the phone, the sound of heels clicking told me my mother was moving with him. “What’s going on? Where are you going?”

“We’ll be there in three hours, inform Alpha Darius and Luna April so they can be prepared.” With that the line clicked off and I was left with more questions then when the conversation had began.

What the hell had just happened? And why did I feel like my life had just gotten much, much more complicated?