His Fanged Luna

Chapter 7: Dining With The Enemy

Emma's POV

I backed away from the door as the old man approached, my body shaking uncontrollably. I pressed myself against the cold wall, trying to put as much distance between us as possible, but he kept coming. His eyes were sharp, and his expression darkened with each step he took toward me.

"You think you're clever, don’t you?" he hissed, his voice low and venomous. "You come here, thinking you can steal what belongs to my family? My daughter’s place? Her happiness?"

I could feel my heart thumping in my chest, each beat louder than the last. “I don’t even know your daughter,” I managed to say, my voice trembling. “I’m not here to take anything from anyone.”

His face twisted into a sneer. “Don’t lie to me! You think I’ve spent all these years serving this pack, earning my place, just to let someone like you ruin everything? I’ve worked for the crown, for my family’s honor, and you—” his voice rose, his face inches from mine, “you think you can stop me?”

“I’m not trying to stop you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though I was on the verge of panic. “I’m just a guest, that’s all.”

He laughed, a harsh, cold sound that sent chills down my spine. “You won’t be a guest for long. By the time I’m done, you’ll be gone by sunset.”

He was right in my face now, his breath hot and reeking of anger. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for whatever was coming next, when suddenly, the door swung open.

“Beta Perry,” a voice called out, firm and commanding.

My eyes flew open, and I turned to see a tall man standing in the doorway. Relief washed over me instantly. Someone had come to stop this.

Perry turned around, glaring at the man who’d interrupted him. “William Hemmings,” he grunted, his tone sour. “What do you want?”

The man, William, stood tall, his expression calm but firm. “I’m here to make sure Alpha’s orders are carried out. That includes Emma’s safety.”

I could see Perry’s jaw clenching, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “She doesn’t belong here,” he growled. “She’s a threat, and Kael is making a mistake by keeping her.”

“Maybe so,” William replied evenly. “But it’s the Alpha’s decision. Not yours. You can’t send her away, I'm sorry, I'm just following the rules, Beta Perry.”

Perry’s face flushed with anger, but after a tense moment, he turned on his heel and stormed out. “Kael’s going to regret this,” he muttered as he slammed the door behind him.

I let out a shaky breath, my legs trembling. “Thank you,” I whispered to William, my voice barely audible.

“There’s no need to thank me,” he said with a faint smile. “I’m just doing my job. “I’m Alpha Kael’s bearer, wingman and second in command of the pack.” He glanced toward the door, then back at me. “Come on. I’ll take you to the training grounds. The Alpha’s waiting, he asked to see you.”

I nodded, still trying to calm my racing heart, and followed him out into the hallway.

As we walked, we passed several werewolves along the way. I noticed how they bowed their heads to William in respect, but none of them even glanced my way. It was like I didn’t exist to them, and part of me was grateful for that.

“Did you sleep well?” William asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

I blinked, caught off guard by the casual question. “I... I guess so,” I stammered. “As well as I could, considering…”

He chuckled softly. “I apologize for Beta Perry’s behavior. He’s… protective of his family. But you don’t need to worry about him.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely convinced. “Is he always like that?”

“With people he sees as a threat? Yes,” William admitted. “But as long as you’re under Kael’s protection, no one can touch you.”

His words offered some comfort, but I still felt uneasy. Why was Kael offering me protection in the first place? None of this made sense.

We walked in silence for a while, and eventually, we stepped out into the open air. My breath caught as I saw the large training grounds before me.

The field was packed with men, all shirtless, their muscles glistening in the sun as they sparred and shifted into their wolf forms before shifting back again.

But it wasn’t the sight of the men that made my heart race.

It was Kael.

I recognized him immediately, even from a distance. His body was gleaming with sweat, his muscles rippling with every movement. He was shirtless, and even from where I stood, I could see how powerful he was. His every step was controlled, precise, like he owned every inch of the space around him.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. My heart thudded in my chest as I watched him move. He was… breathtaking. His body was everything I remembered, but seeing him now, out in the open, I felt something stir inside me that I couldn’t quite explain.

And then, just as I was about to tear my eyes away, he turned.

Our eyes locked from across the field.

My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, everything around me faded. It was just him and me, his dark eyes staring into mine, intense and unyielding. He didn’t say a word, but the way he looked at me made me feel exposed, vulnerable, like he could see right through me.

Then he smirked.

My cheeks burned, and I quickly looked away, but the image of him standing there, sweat dripping down his body, was burned into my mind. I couldn’t shake it, couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“Come on,” William said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Let’s go meet the Alpha.”

I nodded, trying to focus, but even as we walked toward Kael.

I felt my pulse quicken as he stopped just inches away, his eyes fixed on mine. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. I couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe. All I could do was nod, completely smitten, my heart beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. Then William handed him a towel, and Kael wiped the sweat from his face and chest with slow, deliberate movements, each swipe of the towel making my heart pound even harder.

"Join me for breakfast," he said, the words sounding more like a command than a question.

I blinked, still unable to speak, and nodded again. My legs felt weak as I followed him toward the dining area.

I was a little hungry, admittedly, but then, I froze as I arrived at the table. Selene was there, sitting at the table, her presence instantly draining any sense of calm I had left. I hesitated, not wanting to provoke any trouble.

Kael must’ve noticed my reluctance because he placed a reassuring hand on my back. “Don’t worry,” he murmured softly. “Selene had an outburst the other day, but she won’t bother you at breakfast.”

I glanced up at him, still unsure. But his touch and his words were enough to get me moving again, and I slowly made my way down to the table. Selene didn’t look up as I approached. Instead, she glared at her plate, eating silently.

William bowed slightly, breaking the tense silence. “I have other duties to attend to, Alpha,” he said, his voice respectful.

Kael gave a nod of acknowledgment. “You may go.”

With that, William turned and left, leaving just the three of us. I sat down carefully, trying to be as invisible as possible, and began to eat in silence. But I could feel the tension in the room building, every moment feeling heavier.

Not long after, the old man—Beta Perry—entered the room. My heart dropped to my stomach as he walked over and sat at the table. My eyes widened in panic. I stared down at my plate, my appetite gone.

Kael, always perceptive, glanced at me. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice soft but firm.

I leaned in, my voice barely a whisper. “He came to my room earlier today. He… threatened me.”

Kael’s expression darkened immediately. I could see the anger tightening his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he shifted his gaze to the Beta.

Without missing a beat, Kael greeted Perry. “Beta Perry,” he said, his voice controlled, but there was an edge to it now. “This is Beta Perry, he has served this pack for many years. He was my father’s Beta, and now he serves me. This,” he said, gesturing toward me, “is Emma, our guest.”

Before Perry could respond, Selene cut in, her voice cold and dripping with disdain. “And of course, the human you dragged in, claiming she’s your Luna?”

Kael’s eyes flicked to her, irritation clear. “I never said that,” he replied sharply. “I said she bears the mark.”

Perry scoffed, leaning forward. “I can’t believe this. It’s absurd. You lost your mate years ago, Kael. There’s no way she could be your mate again.”

Kael’s gaze hardened. “There’s something called a second chance mate, being with the pack this long, surely, you must know about this.”

Perry slammed his fist on the table, making the plates rattle. “All myths!”

Kael didn't respond, he just looked at him with a deep frown.

Suddenly, Perry got on his feet, he hadn't even touched his food. He growled, “I won’t sit here and listen to this! My daughter’s happiness will not be jeopardized.” He stood up abruptly, but before he stormed off, he bowed, a mockery of respect, and then left the room.