The Black Claws Luna

Chapter 2

Dane's Pov

Silence falls on both Janice and Dane as the ride to Janice's new house feels like the longest journey Dane has ever had. Dane was taking in her features as he drove into the night.

"Are you going to sulk all the way home or be sarcastic like you’ve been all along?" Dane said as he leaned in on his seat.

Janice turns to face him as if waiting for the right time. "Does my silence scare you, his royal highness?"

"Being spicy doesn’t suit you, mate," Dane said.

Silence fell on them once again. Dane inhaled deeply, wondering why his chosen mate felt the need to be hard on him. Inhaling deeply.

"I know you didn’t want this marriage, but we can both come to an understanding. "We have other members of the pack living with us," Dane said, staring at the road.

"Let’s make this as painless as possible. "You do your thing, and I do mine," Janice said, turning away from him.

Dane felt a tight knot in his chest. What was this feeling? Was it jealousy? Dan shifts uncomfortably in his seat and remains silent.

The weather gets darker as they drive into a beautiful lawn with a big mansion in the middle and beautiful flowers.

Planted all around. Dane parks beside the house and begins to take things out of the car.

"You can go in, mate," Dane said without glancing up at her.

"I'm new here; you have to show me the way," Janice says, sounding annoyed.

"It's our new home; you have to get used to it," Dane said, walking towards the stairs with her luggage.

Janice comes out of the car with her silky white dress. She clings to her bag and walks towards the house behind Dane. Dane takes in her looks and immediately focuses on the remaining luggage.

"You know you can just walk right through the door," Dane says. Walking towards her with the remaining luggage.

Before she could lean in to open the door, it sprang open. A middle-aged lady smiled nicely at Janice.

"Hello, welcome, Luna; my name is Mrs Lisa," she said, indicating that she had come in. Janice smiles back and walks in slowly. Dane walks in carrying luggage.

Welcome, Dane. I hope you had a great journey. Mrs Lisa said as she hugged him lightly.

"I did. "Thank you, Mrs Lisa," Dane said. Heading up the stairs. He turned towards Janice.

"Please follow me up. "Let me show you to the room," Dane said, heaving as he carried the luggage.

Dane walked leading the way when he stopped in front of a nice-looking door. He opened it, and the smell of a flowery scent hit Janice's nose. He walked in, dropping the luggage on the ground. The room was nicely painted and broad.

"Welcome home," Dane said as he walked towards the curtains and started adjusting them.

"Thank you; if this is my room, I wonder what your room looks like," Janice replies without the slightest hint of happiness.

“Your room”? Dane asked, turning to face her.

"Yes, my room. "Am I getting something wrong?" Janice asked.

Dane chuckles slightly. Did she really think she would sleep in separate rooms? He thought.

"We are mates; we sleep in the same room," Dane said.

"No, that's not true. "I wanted to sleep in separate rooms." I don't even know you,I don't know how you sleep or probably snore..." Janice said, looking uncomfortable. Dane cuts her shirt.

"We are mates. "I don't want this any more than you do, but we have to make this work," Dane said. Why would she think we would live like strangers? Dane thought.

"We are not mates by choice," Janice said, folding her hands defensively.

Dane growls slowly. "I'm glad we are on the same page, but as mates we will share a room," Dane said. Janice's shoulders slump slightly. It was nice to see her look soft.

"Fine, but you will have to sleep on the couch. I will sleep on the bed. Janice said

"Great, that's fine by me," Dane said. Taking off his tie, his phone rings, and he picks it up.

"Yes, yes, alright, I'll be on my way soon. Thank you". Dane said.

"I need to go for a pack meeting. I'll be back in an hour. Mrs Lisa will make dinner for you. "Make yourself comfortable," Dane said as he picked up his tie again and walked away.

Dane closes the door behind her. Janice stands in the middle of the room, confused. She hated that Dane didn't seem affected by her actions. Did he even care? There was a knock on the door.

"Come in, please," Janice said, placing her purse in a beautiful white drawer.

"Hello, Luna!" A teenage girl hugged her. Janice was surprised but adjusted her stance.

"My name is Brenda!" She said, "You are so pretty. "I'm excited you are here. You will be happy here; Mr Dane is nice.

Hello Brenda, it's nice to meet you. Janice said, smiling because Brenda's smile was contagious.

"It's great to meet you." I'm so excited. "I'm sorry." I hope I didn't scare you." Mum said, "I should tell you that your dinner is ready," Brenda said.

Janice didn't have the time to soak the words in.

"Thank you, I'll be down in a minute," Janice said.

Alright, expecting you soon. Brenda said, hurriedly leaving the room and closing the door a little hard behind her. Janice finds it hard to collect all the information at once. She just smiles weakly. This is going to be fun, she thought, beginning to open her luggage.

Dane's POV

Dane drives down the road with the radio on, and the female host speaks.

"We have no idea what mating two rival families would do," she said.

"We hope that the outcome saves us instead of bringing more harm to us. It's been centuries since this happened," the male host said.

Dane shakes his head in disgust. The media had always tried so hard to be in his family's business. Dane switches off the radio and drives home in silence. Janice pops into his mind. He gives a sigh and turns on the radio again; this time it's music. He smiles to himself. He drives into the parking lot as the sound of heavy rain beats on the roof of his car.

He shuffles out of the car and runs into the house. Stepping into the room, he smelt Janice's scent in the room. Lightning strikes reflecting light on her face.

“Good thing she is sleeping. "I really don’t have the strength for her energy tonight,” he thought.

“Welcome, Mate,” Janice said.

With a tone of surprise, “Hello, Luna,” Dane said.

“Let me guess, you thought I was asleep.” Janice said

Yes, actually today has been some day, Dane said.

“Yeah, but I am literally sleeping with a stranger who happens to be my mate for the first time, Janice said.

Dane adjusts and sits on the couch, finally taking off his wet shirt and leaning on the couch. Dane hisses silently.

“How was your meeting?” Janice said.

“It was okay, just political and all,” he said in a calm tone.

“Same way our wedding came about, politically,” Janice said sarcastically.

“We have all our lives to be together. I suggest you start sounding positiv”e, Dane said.

“I am trying to be positive." This is the positive me,” Janice said.

“I'd hate to see the negative you,” Dane said.

Janice feels Dane's irritation at her comments. Why does he sound irritated? I thought he wanted to be the tough guy. She thought.

“Dane, I know I might not sound positive, but trust me, this is the positive side of me speaking,” Janice said.

Dane doesn’t respond. His snore echoes through the room silently. Realizing he had fallen asleep, Janice gazed into the night as the rain continued to trickle down the roof.

Janice Pov

Janice wakes up to a note in the drawer as the sunlight hits her face. She yawns and tries to remember how she slept last night. She reads the note that says

"Had an early start. I'll be back by midday. Have a beautiful day, mate."

Janice caught herself smiling; she stepped out of bed and headed to the shower. After what felt like forever, she walked down the stairs to the living room.

“Good morning”! Brenda said, beaming like she had seen Janice for the first time.

"Good morning, Brenda," Janice said.

"I hope you had a great night!" Your breakfast is almost ready. I know Mr Dane left really early. We are already used to it; he leaves very early for work sometimes," Brenda said, still smiling.

Janice liked Brenda; she felt she was an honest version of herself and didn't hold herself back.

"Thank you, Brenda; I'd like to do work in the garden," Janice said.

"Would you like some company? "I could help show you around," Brenda said.

"That would be lovely, but I'd love to go alone, if you don't mind," Janice said, smiling.

"Oh, that's okay; I'll head over to the kitchen then, bye," Brenda said.

Janice smiles as she takes a step outside the house. The collective smell of beautiful flowers hit her nose as she took a walk along the lawn. Maybe I should be positive, like Dane said. This isn't going so badly. After all, she thought to herself.