Captive Luna

End Game

    Bailey made his way down, slipping in quietly as he did every other time. He paused at the door, knocking softly before opening it.

    “Hey Danny,” she said, not looking up. “I’m nearly done, so we can start Love is Blind after the next episode.”

    She was reading more of the parenting magazine that Bailey got her a few weeks ago, and on her phone, an episode of Selling Sunset playing. She was lucky that Daniel was the real MVP in giving her his Netflix password and connecting her to the pack house’s Wi-Fi network when she got first got there. It was actually Daniel who recommended it to her. 

    To her surprise, Daniel low-key loved reality TV, often dropping by and bringing his laptop so they could watch something. He had already watched the whole season of Selling Sunrise but didn’t mind re-watching the series with her.  She was listening to the show simultaneously as she was reading, as she often did, even prior to arriving at her new ‘pack’.

    Bailey set the food on her table and watched her for a moment. She was glowing that beautiful pregnancy glow. He couldn’t tell if her belly popped yet since she was laying on her bed. Her hair grew a little. He made a mental note to offer to give her a haircut if she wanted one. He remained silent as he watched her.

He’s here! Claude sang. She might as well have had those heart eyes. Claude had claimed Bailey and Grey, but she did not, as of yet. Go say hi!

I know, but I don’t want to give him the wrong impression, she sighed to Claude. I don’t know yet what we should do. He’s going to pressure us to be marked by him, but I’m thinking of his safety and that of his pack.

Pleaseeeeeeee! Claude whined as she stared at him.  Just look at him!

    She sighed as she looked up at Bailey. He was in his uniform of black on black this time, opting out of his dark denims. He looked more fit if that was even possible. He was sporting a 5 o’clock shadow. His hazel eyes smoldering her with intensity. She slowly got off her bed and stood up. His eyes roamed her body, stopping on the definitive bump.

My baby, he thought.

She makes a mighty fine pregnant mate, Grey said. Just wait until there are some of our own.

I will love her baby regardless of whether it’s mine or not.

We can have all the fun putting one in her, Grey replied slyly.

    “Hi beautiful,” he said, gazing at her. She blushed and fixed her shirt. It was a little tighter now. He made a mental amendment to get her some maternity clothes. He approached her standing frame.

    “Hi,” she said shyly. He finally reached her and looked at her for confirmation before taking her into his arms. She nestled her head into his chest, as he inhaled her scent. He missed her so.

    “You belly popped,” he sighed into her hair. She pulled away and smiled, but tears were streaking her face.

    “What’s wrong baby?” he asked, searching her face.

    “I just missed you,” she sniffled through her smile. She blushed, embarrassed at crying happy tears. Stupid hormones.

    “I missed you most,” he smiled. “I brought food, but I made it this time.”

    Her eyes grew, head-turning away from him to look at her table. She extricated herself from his hug and immediately went over to retrieve her food. She sat down, opening the bag. Bailey chuckled.

    “Hungry?” he teased as he went to the mini-fridge to get her some water. He grabbed a carton of milk for her as well.

    “Starving,” she answered through a mouthful of eggs. “You’re a really good cook!”

    “Baby,” he began. But she cut him off.

    “Babe,” she interrupted him. “Please don’t ask because I’m not ready to give you an answer.”

    “It’s kind of about that,” he replied. “But not what you’re thinking.”

    She looked up at him and waited for him to continue. A beat passed and she went back to her food.

    “I stopped in to see Dr. Brennan before I came here,” he said. “He asked if you would be okay if he came to check up on you.”

    She chewed her food thoughtfully.

    “Would it be safe for him to? I mean, would he get caught by anyone coming here?”

    “He’ll be fine,” Bailey said dismissively. She nodded, getting back to her food.

My man can cook! Claude laughed. I wonder if he should apply to the kitchen. His talents are wasted fighting. He should be making food with his hands, not fisticuffs.

No, because he wouldn’t have enough time to come visit us if he did, she replied. And whoa, we've already passed his cooking and are onto more important things!

    “Okay, I’ll talk, you eat,” Bailey said, looking at her food. She nodded and continued.

    “I asked Dr. Brennan about us,” he began. She froze, as he continued. “I needed to know why I feel connected to you, even though you have a mate already. He asked me all types of questions regarding how I feel about you and how Grey feels about you.”

    “And what did you say?” she asked as she swallowed.

    “I said that I, Bailey, love you. Grey has claimed you as his too,” he answered. She gave him a small smile.

    “Babe, what do you feel when you’re with me?” Bailey asked her. “Like physically, and emotionally. Both you and your wolf.”

    “Well,” she said. “I know that I love you very much. My wolf wants to have your babies. So that answers that.”

    “Okay,” he replied. “But what about you?”

    “I can’t explain it. When I first saw you guys, I thought Daniel was pretty hot.” She took her last bite and chewed thoughtfully. Bailey frowned. Did she fancy his best friend? Grey growled at that.

    “Keep in mind, he’s slightly taller than you, so of course I noticed him first,” she continued, laughing. “But then I saw you and I couldn’t stop looking at you. You were so beautiful it almost hurt to look at you.”

    Bailey smiled. She took her last bite and chewed thoughtfully

    “Physically, it doesn’t feel like the sparks that I had with my ex,” she said quietly. “But I feel the warmth. I know wolves are warm by nature, but I don’t feel the warmth around him even when Danny comes. It reminds me of basking in the sun, the way I physically feel when you touch me.”

    “Okay, me too. But more like wearing fresh clothes out of the dryer kind of warm,” Bailey said smiling.

    “What does any of this have to do with you marking me?” she asked him.

    “Dr. Brennan thinks that you and I are second chance mates,” Bailey said. He waited for her reaction. Her eyebrows furrowed. Not exactly the reaction he was going for.

    “What do you mean?” she asked, confused. “I mean, I get it if you’re my second chance, but you haven’t found your mate though.”

    “I have not,” he agreed. “So, the gist is this: you and I are second chance mates. It had been recorded in the archives with the very same situation, though very few stories like ours. You and I are Selene’s end game. I just have to find and allow things to play out with my fated mate first.”

    “What do you mean? Like reject her?” she said incredulously. “You can’t do that!”

    “You’re right, I can’t,” Bailey agreed. “But he showed me the archives. The times this happened in history, fate played out and the fated mates didn’t accept each other. That’s how they ended up finding their second chance mates. But the situation where one met their second chance mate prior to their fated mate, was only a handful of times in our history.”

    “So, what do we need to do?” She asked, pacing her cell.

    “Those who were like us and found each other before finding their fated mates, only two thought they could defy the Moon Goddess’s will. So, they rejected their fated mates as soon as they found them,” he replied. “Selene ended up rescinding her decision of giving them their second chance mates. Even though it left their second chance mates alone, she had to punish them by ensuring the offenders would not ever feel the pull again. It's why second chance mates are rare. Most don't ever think they'll get one anyway."

    She remembered how it felt when her ex-mate touched her. The sparks were addicting, almost like a drug. Despite what he did to her, thinking of his touch sent shivers through her body, betraying her mind. This did not make her feel better. She knew they couldn’t defy Selene. It went against their nature as werewolves.

    “Dr. Brennan thinks that I should find my fated mate, see how it goes, and then the rejection will happen since it’s Selene’s destiny for us,” he finished. “Then you and I can mark each other.”

    “Oh,” she said, catching on. “So, basically you have to go out and find her?”

    “Yes, I think at The Gathering,” he answered her, taking her warm hand. His warmth was soothing her worries. “It’s next month, so I’ll be away for a weekend.”

    Her eyes darted from his. She felt sad, though not crying into a pillow sad. She understood that he could end up dating his mate or sleeping with her. The Moon Goddess paired them for a reason. Who knows? But something definitely was going to happen between them at some point that weekend. She was not more important than his fated mate. Just the thought made Claude howl in her mind.

    “Babe,” he said, gently cradling her jaw to make her look at him. “I just have to go through the motions and let fate take its course.”

    “I know,” she sighed, holding back her tears as stood up. He rose with her and she went straight into his arms. She gripped his waist, unable to process the amount of sadness she felt when she thought about him with his fated mate.

    “Just remember, you and I are Her end game,” he said softly.

    “Doesn’t make this any easier,” she sniffed.

    “I will do my best to stay faithful,” he whispered as he enveloped her into his arms. He knew he loved her. He didn’t want anyone else. That much he knew.

    “I know I can’t expect you to fight the bond with whoever she is,” she said. “And I promise, I won’t be mad if you mate with her. It just hurts.”

    “I love you, baby,” he whispered into her hair. She looked up from his chest. “You’re my end game.”

    “And you are mine,” she said, smiling through her tears. She lifted her face so he could meet her lips.

    He kissed her cheeks, and then her lips. He led her to her bed and lay down. She cuddled up into his arms as Selling Sunset played another episode.

    “So,” Bailey began. “Dan likes these reality TV shows, huh?”

    “Yep,” she laughed. “Up next for us is KUWTK.”

    “KU what?” he laughed.

    “Keeping Up with The Kardashians,” she rolled her eyes. “KUWTK.”

    They laughed as they watched the episode of Selling Sunset. At some point, they fell asleep in each other’s arms as the Moon Goddess smiled at her work.