One Week Luna

Chapter 3

Mate isn’t what I expected. Jason’s wolf lamented.

I know, Seth.

Jason glanced back at the girl sitting in the back seat. She seemed to be off in her own world staring out the window at nothing, as they drove through the dark desert. Her dark auburn hair hung down a little past her shoulders. Her frame was small and she looked thin. Well, at least she has that going for her, Jason thought.

Jason had made it no secret that he never wanted a mate, but he had secretly hoped that if he did find one she would be the supermodel goddess he had in his mind. A strong she-wolf from another strong pack. One that could help him grow his pack into an empire. They could rule the whole southwest region together. A true power couple. Jason glanced back at Allison again. She seemed older than him and so weak.

Where is our strong she-wolf, Seth? Why would the goddess give us her instead of the fierce Luna we deserve? Jason asked.

Seth paced in his head. He was just as confused as Jason was. He felt the pull of the mate bond, he could see the beauty in Allison. When she briefly touched his arm in the house, he had felt the sparks shoot up his arm and warm his whole body. Yet he couldn’t make the dream Luna in his mind and the reality sitting near him match up.

What if…Seth started slowly…she isn’t the strong Luna we’ve been waiting for? Jason’s eyebrows pinched together as he tried to follow Seth’s reasoning. What if she’s just our first mate? The one that will help our pack get recognised by the royal family. And our second mate is the one that will rule by our side.

Second-chance mates were rare but not unheard of. If something happens to your first mate, such as death, or if they rejected you, then the moon goddess may bless you with a second chance mate.

Jason perked up at the thought. Our true Luna will be our second chance mate. The strong she-wolf we’ve always wanted! Seth pounced around in his mind as Jason smiled internally.

Now, to decide the best course of action. We have a couple of hours before we reach the packhouse, Seth. Just because I found a mate. Doesn’t mean I have to keep her.



Alli awoke as the car pulled to a stop. She lifted her head from the window she had fallen asleep against and looked outside. The car was parked in a circular paved driveway. Out of her window she saw little lamp posts lining the drive and a large round fountain in the center of the rounded pavement. She sat in her seat staring at the door, unsure if she should open it or wait. Paul had stepped out of the driver's seat and opened her door for her. She gave him a small, polite smile as she stood from the car.

Jason stood at the front of the SUV and motioned for her to come to him.

“Let’s show you to your room so you can rest for the night.” He held out his hand for her. She looked down at his hand and froze. He wants me to hold his hand? I don’t even know this guy. I don’t know where he’s even taking me. Are we going to his room?? Alli’s heart began to race.

She heard Jason let out an exasperated sigh and looked him in his eyes. They were a beautiful golden brown. In this darkness they almost appeared to glow.

“Fine.” He said, lowering his hand. “Follow me.”

Alli looked up and for the first time caught sight of the large building that had been on the other side of the car. It was a five-story red brick building, with brick columns spread out along the smooth stone porch. She watched Jason quickly walk up the steps towards the front door. The steps were the long, greystone kind that extended the entire length of the front of the building. The front doors were solid wood that must have been at least ten feet tall.

Alli quickened her pace to keep up with Jason as he walked into the giant building. They made their way past the ornate decorations in the long hallway to an elevator. They rode the elevator to the top floor where Jason placed his hand on Alli’s lower back and lightly pushed her to exit. When Jason stopped, Alli looked up at him unsure of where they were going. He was staring at Paul in the elevator as if they were having a private conversation with their eyes.

The elevator door closed, leaving Jason and Alli standing in the silent hallway. Jason walked to the last door on the left and opened it for Alli to step inside. Alli looked around and gulped.

The room was like a giant, but the wood paneling and vaulted ceilings made it feel more like a room in a museum. The tall, skinny windows on the wall and cold air made the room feel impersonal and uninviting. Like she was somewhere she shouldn’t be.

Near the entrance was a small dining set and beyond that was a large brown leather couch with two matching sitting chairs. A huge California king-sized bed sat in a sleigh frame. Alli looked over the room apprehensively and then back at Jason standing in the doorway.

“It’s late and I expect that you’ll want to rest. I’ll bring lunch around eleven?”

Alli nodded her head in agreement. She felt a million questions bubbling in her throat but didn’t know how to form the words.

“Goodnight.” And with that Jason shut the tall wooden door with a solid thud.

Alli stood there clutching her small purse in her hands when she heard a clicking sound.

He locked me in? No. Is that really what that sound was? She held her breath as she inched closer to the door. After a couple of minutes, she slowly tested the doorknob.

Locked.

Jason woke up a little after nine and headed down to the first floor kitchen. He hadn’t slept well and he needed some coffee. As he walked from the elevator he heard a voice call out from one of the common rooms.

“Jay!” Jason shuddered at the nickname. Only one person was bold enough to call him that, no matter how many times he corrected her.

“Good morning, Frida.” He greeted his Beta female without a smile. Paul walked up behind Frida and placed his hand on her back.

“Jason,” she said pointedly, “where is she? Where is our new Luna?”

“She’s resting.” Jason turned to continue his search for a cup of coffee.

“Jason,” Freda followed after him, “I can go up to check on her. I can welcome her to the pack and show her aro-”.

“No.” Jason’s firm answer made them all stop at the doorway to the dining hall.

Jason turned to look at Frida. The tall she-wolf was plain, with long straight black hair and barely any curves. He had no idea what Paul saw in her. That’s the mate bond for you though. Made you turn stupid, he thought. Not going to let that happen to me. I’m too smart for that s**t, he thought smugly.

“I don’t want anyone bothering her. She’s going to take a while to adjust and I don’t need you adding to her stress level.” Jason stared Frida in the face. He noticed Paul had moved beside her, almost in a defensive stance. Jason let out a small chuckle. As if Paul stood a chance against him if he ever felt like knocking some sense into Frida.

“Stay away from my mate. Both of you.” Jason ordered using his Alpha tone before walking into the dining hall for his long awaited coffee.

Did he just- Frida trailed off, unable to finish her link to Paul. Paul looked at her knowingly. There should be no reason why they would be unable to see and speak with the new Luna. They wouldn’t be able to go against his wishes since he used his Alpha tone. Most Alphas rarely resorted to using it because they didn’t want to look like tyrants ordering their people around. However, Jason used his whenever he saw fit and never thought twice about it. He seemed to enjoy the fact that he could bend people to his will with mere words. The fact that he ordered them using his Alpha tone had Agnus, Paul’s wolf on edge.

Why is he keeping us away from Luna? Agnus whined.

I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Paul answered, feeling uneasy. He hoped that it was just temporary and Jason needed time adjusting to his new life with a Luna. But he couldn’t shake the bad feeling that felt like it was crawling up his spine.

Alli woke from her troubled sleep and stared at the ceiling. Any sleep she had managed to get was out of sheer exhaustion. She looked at the clock on the nightstand that read 8:32. Ugh she sighed. It would be hours before he came back with food and answers, hopefully. Meanwhile, she was locked in a room inside a stranger's giant…mansion? She slowly crawled from the bed and made her way into the bathroom. It was made of marble. Everything in a cold dark black and white swirl. She looked at the shower longingly. She had gone through the dressers and closet last night and found everything completely empty. She had nothing clean to change into if she took a shower.

She walked around the room again in the daylight, searching every drawer and corner. It was completely empty. Wonder if he brings all his kidnap victims here? She tried to joke with herself but it felt too true to be comical in any way.

Alli looked at the clock again and barely any time had passed. Well, I may as well shower. It’ll waste some time until he comes back and maybe it’ll make me feel better. She closed the bathroom door, making sure to lock it. She carefully stripped off her clothes and sat them on the counter, knowing she would have to put them back on.

Alli turned on the shower and studied herself in the mirror while she waited for the water to warm up. She had dark bruises forming from the belt whips. She looked over the scars on her back that Leeland had left from other beatings. She felt the tears well up in her eyes as she ran her fingers along her ribs. She had lost so much weight in the last couple of years due to the strict diet Leeland insisted she follow. Even her breast seemed deflated, she thought sadly. She used to have some nice B-cups that she thought looked great when she went braless in a boho dress. Now she felt like a shell of the woman she once was.

At eleven o’ clock on the dot, Alli heard the bedroom door being unlocked. Jason walked in the door, closing it behind him. He sat a tray of food down on the table and sat down acting like everything was completely normal.

Alli let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and couldn’t stop the questions that poured from her. “Where am I? Why am I locked in this room? Who are all those people walking around outside? What do you plan to do with me?” Her voice hitched on the last one.

Jason held up his hand, looking bored. “Sit down, Allison.”

“I prefer Alli, actually.”

Ignoring her request, Jason continued, “Allison, I have some things I need to tell you and I need you to just sit and listen. '' She gave a small frown as she sat across the table from him.

“I am going to tell you everything but I need you to keep an open mind and don’t interrupt me, okay?” Alli gave a small nod.

“I brought you here because you belong here. You feel this?” He reached across the table and grasped her hand. Alli felt the static electricity again and tried to pull her hand away in surprise. Jason held her firmly as he continued, “It means you belong here. And you belong to me.”

Alli blinked at his statement, feeling her mouth go dry and her body feel numb.

“Allison, I’m a werewolf and you are my mate. The tingling you feel is because of the mate bond. You were destined to be my mate and the Luna of this werewolf pack.”

This man is a full-blown psycho. Werewolves? I have to get out of here. Maybe I could find Paul. He seemed nice enough. Alli pulled her hand from Jason’s and ran for the door.

Jason grabbed Alli by her waist and a small scream escaped her throat. He lifted her from the ground effortlessly and took her to the bed. He threw her down on the comforter. He…growled? She looked up at him while her heart pounded in her chest.

“I asked you to listen to me as I tried to explain this to you!” Jason pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Suddenly his eyes seemed to gloss over as he stared at nothing.

“My mother is here. She was the pack’s previous Luna. She’ll help explain what is expected of you.” A tall slender woman walked into the bedroom. She waved her hand in the air and four young women brought heavy-looking canvas bags in, setting them down quickly before hurrying back out of the room. None of them even glanced in Alli’s direction.

“Hey!” She cried out as the last girl went back out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Alli looked at Jason’s mother as she approached the bed. She appeared to almost glide as she walked. She was beautiful with her long hair fixed in a fishtail braid. It was so blonde it was almost white. Alli couldn’t help but stare at her in awe.

“I hear you are to be our new Luna. I am the former Luna of the Juniper Hills Pack, Jennifer Lancaster.”

Alli looked between her and her son. Were they both crazy? She decided playing along may be her best bet at this point. She nodded her head in agreement.

“Well, my dear, we have a lot to cover. Your training will start tomorrow. I’ve brought you clothes fit for a Luna.” She gestured to the large bags sitting near the bedroom door. “Take the rest of the day to settle in.”

“Wait, what is a Luna?” Alli called out to Jennifer as she turned to walk away.

“A Luna is the mate of an Alpha.“ She gestured to Jason, who stood tall at the word. “A Luna serves her Alpha in whatever he needs.” Alli shuttered.

“A Luna is a well-mannered woman who displays confidence and beauty every time she walks into a room.”

What kind of cult s**t is this? Alli stared at Jennifer, not knowing how to respond.

“I’ll leave you and my son to chat.” Jennifer strode to the door and out of the bedroom, leaving Alli dumbstruck.

Jason sat on the edge of the bed as Alli instinctively pulled her legs to her chest.

“I know this must be hard for you to accept. Werewolves go to great lengths to keep our secret from humans. You’re in my packhouse now. I run the largest pack in the state.” Jason beamed with pride. “I have over 700 pack members that I’m responsible for. I oversee the operation of several businesses and I own the nearby town.”

“As Luna, you’ll be expected to attend important social functions with me. Mother will help prepare you.” Jason stood and headed for the door. “If you need anything else you can inform me when I bring your dinner.”

Alli remained on the bed in shock for a few minutes trying to wrap her head around everything she had been told.

With a renewed sense of urgency, she began searching the room for any possible escape. The windows were long, tall, and decorative. None of them opened. The only vents she could find were the long skinny ones near the floorboards. She was officially trapped.

Accepting her fate, Alli returned to the table, her stomach growling at the sight of the food. The plate of food consisted of half a turkey sandwich, raw carrots, and some grapes. Alli quickly finished the food along with a bottle of water and stared at the bags of clothing on the floor. Guess I’ll unpack.

A couple of hours later, Alli stood in the walk-in closet surveying all of the clothing. Most of the outfits were business casual. Something she would have worn back when she was working her old job. The rest were high end gowns that would only fit in at a gala or fancy ball of some kind. She sighed when she discovered there wasn’t a pair of jeans or t-shirt in the bunch.

She chose some black slacks and a flowery silk top to change into. It felt nice to wear fresh clothes. She walked over to the shoes and chose a pair of shiny tan high heels. She had smiled when she saw a pair of high heels in her size. Leeland had thrown out all of her heels a little after he made her quit her job. He thought the heels were to put her legs on display for all the other guys in the office. Alli rolled her eyes at the thought.

She slipped the shoes on and walked around the room. The clicking of the heels against the wooden floor made her smile like she hadn't in years. Alli loved the sound that heels made when she walked. They commanded attention and announced to everyone that she was coming. She had felt important at her job, she took a lot of pride in the work she once did. Such a simple sound brought her back to the life she once had and for a moment she was happy.