Don't Mess With Her: His Luna

Chapter 3 - Questions

With the car pulled away, Leora gazed up through the window, watching Elise wave her hand, a bittersweet expression on her face. Keegan had been kind enough to give her a few moments with her best friend to say goodbye. She watched Elise disappear over the edge of the Rhee and felt a twinge of regret. She dropped her shoulders and placed her hands with her legs, nails digging into her palms.

Even with all the cruelty she endured from her family, Leora knew she always had Elise. They had been through so much together and now they were going to be separated by miles, by duty, and would miss each other like crazy.

The car travelled down the road quietly, and Leora thought back upon how Elise was there on the side of the road. Her boldness shocked her but she didn’t really surprise. Since childhood, Elise was always the bold one, willing to take risks and defy social norms.

Moments of quiet passed until Keegan's voice sliced through Leora's conflicting thoughts. He said jokingly, "Your friend seems a little bit out of her mind."

Leora laughed lightly and a sad smile came to her lips. "Yeah, sometimes," she said lovingly. They were worlds apart but Elise had always been the one to encourage Leora to try new things, to live a little.

She didn’t know what the future held for her in the new pack, and the thought of walking into that unknown, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, made her stomach knot. Elise had always been there, a constant, a reminder of what friendship truly meant. Now, with her best friend gone, Leora couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be completely alone in this new chapter.

She glanced over at Keegan, who was still looking straight ahead, his face unreadable, lost in his own thoughts. Leora turned back to the window, her breath fogging up the glass as she sighed softly. Would she ever have a friend like Elise again? It seemed impossible. Elise had been the only person who truly understood her—who didn’t judge her for her family's expectations or the strange life she led. They’d been inseparable, two halves of the same whole, and now… well, now Leora felt like she was going to lose that part of herself.

A fresh wave of longing swept through her, and she bit down on her lower lip, the familiar sting of regret settling in her chest. She wished, more than anything, that Elise could visit her in the pack sometimes.

"Maybe she'll come visit soon," she whispered to herself, though she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince—herself or the memory of her best friend.

Leora had never been great at making new friends, especially with the shadow of her family’s legacy hanging over her. She couldn’t help but worry that no one would understand her the way Elise did, no one would see past the tough exterior she’d built to protect herself.

The thought of Elise, even in the distance, was the only thing that made the future feel a little less uncertain. She just hoped it wouldn’t be too long before she could see her again.

Keegan nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. He dryly added, "Well, let's just hope she won't throw herself in front of the car in the future."

The joke made Leora laugh, and the momentary tension burned away. "I sure hope the same."

They exchanged a chuckle before the car drifted into a comfortable silence, other than the occasional hum of the engine. Leora was grateful for the moment, however short, that she had with Keegan. She seldom had the opportunity to interact with someone other than those who should've been inside her pack, and by any means, she intended to make it worth it.

With a deep breath, Leora glanced at Keegan in the rearview mirror. "Uumm, can I ask you a question?”

Keegan held her gaze in the mirror, his expression curious. “Why not?" he said softly.

Leora froze for a moment, not sure how to handle the matter. Finally summoning the courage, she asked, “How long until we get there?”

"About a day," he replied, "We should arrive tomorrow morning if all goes according to plan."

Leora nodded with an understanding look on her face. When the silence dragged on again, Leora was lost for words. Her next thought withering away, and unsure whether to break this calm again with her questions. However, when she looked at Keegan in the mirror, she saw how concentrated he was.

Leora remained unsure, but something about this moment made her not ready for the conversation to end. She wanted to know her new pack and the alpha, Allerick, better. She wished to learn about their traditions, their culture, and what they wanted her to do as their newest member.

Her mind quickly drifted to Alpha Allerick, the enigmatic leader said to be both vicious and cursed. She got chills imagining his piercing eyes and his powerful aura. As Leora filled with curiousity and anticipation of who her mate was to be, she wondered what kind of leader the man was.

Leora swallowed hard then summoned her courage again and cleared her throat quietly. "Um, Beta Keegan?" her voice whispered.

Keegan looked at her in the mirror, eyes focused. "Yes? What is it?"

Before she started speaking, Leora inhaled slowly to collect her thoughts. “So. uh … I just thought of something … wha’s it like in your pack?” she asked with a look of curiosity

Keegan smiled softly and looked at her in the mirror. He laughed before saying how it had changed over the years. “But I think you're going to find it... interesting.”

Leora was curious, again, and that was gnawing in her mind in a very unpleasant way. She felt drawn to find out more about Alpha Allerick. Her voice trembled as she managed to speak once more. "But... What does Alpha Allerick look like? she said, her intonation curious.

This time, though, Keegan didn't respond immediately as he had before. There was a pause on his end, and for the first time, Leora felt her heart sink. Uh oh. Oh no, well…. she started panicking, thinking she asked a question that was off the table. “Sorry!” she said, and quickly added, "I didn't mean to—"

Keegan interrupted her gently, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror. He held up his hand, "It's okay. There is no problem with your question. It's just that… Well, the best thing would be to take a look and judge by yourself."

Leora, still slightly uncomfortable, nodded. She had learnt the hard way that too many questions meant too many beatings from Paula. But that only made her more curious. She cleared her throat and spoke once again. "But what do you think about Alpha Allerick?”

Keegan took a moment before answering. Leora held her breath, hanging on his every answer. She feared she had crossed over the line.

Keegan's face went from thoughtful to slightly amused. “Alpha Allerick is… err, he has some surprises,” he started with humor. "Sure, he's known for being tough, but he also has a good heart. It's just got covered by the toughness.”

Leora's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean?"

Keegan smiled, his eyes sparkling with a secret. “He's a complex guy, full of surprises. But don’t take my word for it; you'll see for yourself soon enough.”

A flicker of hope ignited inside Leora. Alpha Allerick’s reputation was indeed impressive. "Thank you, Keegan," she said sincerely, feeling a bit more at ease. "I appreciate your honesty."

Keegan nodded, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror once more. "You're welcome, Leora. Just keep an open mind. You might be surprised by what you find."