The Unexpected Mate

Chapter 5

"I want you to be my Luna."

The world stopped at that moment. I heard nothing, felt nothing, saw nothing. My mind was trying to compute. It couldn't.

This couldn't be right. I must have heard him wrong. I stared into his eyes. He looked down. Solemn, patient.

"I'm sorry, what?" I whispered. "What...what was that?" I scanned his face, trying to make sense.

"I want you to be my Luna." This time, he went slower, as if hearing was my problem in all of this.

"Why?" I genuinely didn't understand what was happening.

"Because we will unite our two packs. You can do a lot of good in helping us to move forward. You also have a good standing in the larger wolf community. Other packs know you, respect you, even if they didn't your mate."

My mate wasn't respected? This was news to me. He had always been so kind and thoughtful. There had to be a larger game at play. Victor was known to be ruthless. This niceness was an act. What was I to do?

"What if I say no?" I asked him. Taking a step back. I lifted my head even higher to show that I wasn't afraid. Even if it was just on the outside.

"I will have you stay in jail until your pup comes. Then you will stay in there alone until you die."

I was horrified, not for me but for the thought of my pup. "What will happen to my pup?"

"I will raise them as my own. They will not know you are their mother, and you will never see them after their birth."

I lost my breath at that moment. the thought of never seeing my child. Having them ripped away from me was too much to bear. My knees went weak, and I felt faint. Before I could fall, I was in Victor's arms. He was bringing me to the bathroom. It was huge. he sat me on a little bench and went to the bathtub. It looked luxurious, a big deep tub with some jets.

Victor turned the tap on and got up to grab the shampoo and conditioner. He sat with his back towards me, watching the tub fill. I was numb. I couldn't believe that this was my life. When he turned the tap off, he came over

"Stand up."

I did as I was told. I was too tired and stunned to argue. He pulled off my shirt and unclaimed my bra. Then came down the pants and underwear.

"Get in the tub."

Again, I did as I was told. the warm water felt wonderful. I sank into the tub as the reality of the situation sank in. His Luna. That means we would be mated. He would mark me, and we would share a bed. We would have s*x. I mean, we would have to. He would want pups, pups that were his. Would I have to follow his every whim? Would he throw me into the dungeon if he didn't like what I said or did?

Tears streamed silently down my face as I realized that I would be living the rest of my life as a prisoner. That I would never be truly free. I was so lost in thought that I barely took notice that he had gone, and a female had taken over and was scrubbing my hair.

She was silent, not looking at me and allowing me my time. I slowed down my crying just as she was finishing up.

"Can you get out of the tub, Luna? Or do you need my help?"

" I am not your Luna," I snarled, anger coursing through me. Rage. My wolf had been silent, hiding in pain. But for the first time, I could feel her stirring even though it was much and didn't last long. Hope sprang.

She took a huge step back and hung her head. "I am sorry, but that's what Alpha Victor told me to call you." The rage grew. I stood up and grabbed my towel. I went to pull the bathroom door about to tell him off.

He wasn't in the room. The girl followed behind me as I stopped. "Where is he?"

"I am sorry, Lu- I mean Elise. He is in his room."

I turned around to look at her. "Then whose room is this?"

She looked at me like I had gone insane...well, maybe I had. My emotions were all over the place. "Yours, Elise."

A little twinge sprang in me. Maybe I would be Luna in name only. Maybe I wouldn't have to be with the man who murdered Alric. Maybe I could do this for my pup.

"Okay," I replied, trying to smile. "I am sorry for snapping at you. What is your name?" I asked, trying not to be a total b*tch to the girl just trying to do her job.

"My name is Ava," she replied, giving me a small smile but zero eye contact with her head still tilted down.

"Okay, Ava. What am I supposed to do now?"

She looked up. "Alpha Victor wants me to get you dressed and to join him for dinner.

I sighed and looked around the room. Spotting the vanity, I made me way over and sat down. "Let's get to it then."

Ava made her way to me and started primping. She didn't do much talking, and the silence was nice. I had turned myself away from the mirror and just sat with my eyes closed.

I only dressed up for Alric on special occasions. He said he just liked me as I was, that I didn't need to be fancy for him. But the times when I did, I went all out. Beautiful gowns, flats if I could get away with it or wedges when I couldn't. No heels for the uncoordinated. Make up, hair done, the works. My favorite part of the night was after he and I were finished when the party was over. We would always go back to just the two of us and dance in our room. He would hum a song, and we would just sway together. My head on his shoulder, eyes closed. Just lost in each other and the moment.

I could feel tears start to pool, but I couldn't ruin Ava's makeup. I took a deep breath. I didn't know how I was going to get through this, but I would for my pup. They deserved to grow up with me.

After about an hour, Ava finished my hair and make-up. I felt brave enough to look in the mirror. My hair was softly curling, pulled back with some pearl clips. My make-up just enhanced what the Goddess gave me. Natural as possible for makeup, but I looked awake, rosy cheeks, and a light pink lipstick on my lips.

I exhaled as I realized I looked like me. like a version of me I was used to seeing. "You do good work," I complimented to Ava. "Thank you." She blushed."It was my pleasure, Miss Elise. Now let's get you in your dress."She brought it over, and I stood to assist her.

After she zipped up the back, she pointed to the full-length mirror in the corner, and I went to take a look.

As I did, Ava came over with a necklace. A small diamond pendent. It was pretty but not ostentatious, which I was happy to see. I hated big jewelery. As she put it around my neck, I checked out the dress. It was black, almost like a satin material and mermaid style. It was sleeveless, but thick straps and a very generous amount of cleavage between the straps.

Ava brought out the shoes. Stilettos. My enemy. "I can't wear those," I told Ava, pointing to the shoes. "But you must, Alpha Victor picked out the outfit for you to wear."

Well, the amount of cleavage made sense. I walked to the closet. "Too bad. I can barely walk in this dress as it is. I am not going to add a broken ankle on top of everything else." The closet could have been its own room it was so big, but I quickly found the shoe section." I scanned what I was looking for, and asmile came to my face as I found what I was looking for. "I will wear these," I showed Ava. "But.."

"No buts, Ava, mustn't keep the Alpha waiting."