The Strength of a Luna

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Arden POV*

Over the next few days, I try to explore the pack house and the grounds. I’ve barely seen Robbie, and when I do, he doesn’t talk. He just holds me and takes in my scent before stalking off. I’ve tried talking to him just to see the sweet side of him once again, but he always leaves without a word.

Andrea has been a constant by my side. Her bubbly personality made it almost impossible to feel anything but happy. The only time she seemed to stop talking was when Robbie came in the room, but as soon as he left, she would pick up where we left off. I learned a lot about her and her life before she met her mate, Jason. She’d only met him a few months before, and had left her pack to join Dark Woods.

The Luna Ceremony was set for the New Moon in 2 weeks, and Andrea had been helping me get things set up and put in motion. Luckily, I didn’t have to do much. It became clear quite quickly that the pack had been nearly desperate for the arrival of their Luna. The Ceremony, I had learned, had been fully planned out for the past couple years. Only a few details were actually left for me to decide on. Any time I’ve met any pack members, they have all smiled and bowed their heads in respect, but there was an odd feeling that I couldn’t shake off.

“Andrea,” I interrupted her singing to herself while we were relaxing on a porch swing looking over the grounds. “something has been bothering me.”

“What’s that, Luna.” She answered, even though I’ve asked her multiple times not to call me Luna.

“I don’t know. Are people afraid of me? Or are they trying to hide that they aren’t happy with me being here? Everyone has been welcoming, but all of the interactions I’ve had with the pack members seem… weird.”

“What! Not at all!” the surprise in her voice was clear.

“Then why won’t they meet my eyes? And why have I only met a few pack members? Even then it was only those who are helping coordinate the Luna Ceremony. No one except the staff ever comes into the pack house, and they won’t even speak to me. I feel like I’m missing something.” I vented to her.

“Luna,-”

“Arden.” I corrected her, once again.

“I’m sure that no one is scared of you, and I can promise that everyone is very excited you are here. Things are definitely a little different around here, but that is just how Alpha Robbie runs the pack. Only the higher tiered members of the pack are allowed in the house, and the staff doesn’t speak to anyone.” The way she explained things, it made sense. But I had noticed that she had started picking at her nails, and the only time I’ve seen her do that is when she is nervous.

“There is more to it than that. I can tell that you’re hiding something.”

Andrea looked at the ground and shuffled her feet as if she was trying to find the best way to answer my question. Suddenly she jumped off the swing and turned towards me.

“Let’s go on a walk, Luna.” Andrea suggested forcing a smile on her face.

Before I could answer or figured out why she jumped up like she did, she had already began walking off. Getting up to follow, the feeling that something wasn’t quite right grew even more. Andrea was acting in such a contrast to her normal behavior, and even with the forced smile, I know I saw worry in her eyes before she had turned away.

**

Robbie POV*

I’ve spent days locked up in my office, only leaving to seek out my mate and scent her. She keeps wanting to talk, but even though I have blocked Max out, the more time I spend around her, the closer he gets to taking control. He used to only be a major pain in my ass, but ever since meeting our mate, I can’t trust him at all. I haven’t even been able to let him out to run since we got back with Arden because I was sure that her would go after her.

I didn’t really want a mate. I saw how weak it made my father, and that’s what got him killed. After my mother died, he became a shell of a man and couldn’t even protect himself let alone a whole pack.

When I took over as Alpha, I quickly earned the ‘Cruel Alpha’ title, but it was because I put the pack laws above everything else. I didn’t want or need any distractions that would hinder me doing what was right. However, once my pack had begun begging me to search her out, I couldn’t deny them. They thought that having a Luna would be what was best for the pack, and if it kept morale high, then I would take a mate. I had always taken pride in being a cruel Alpha because it meant that I was focused on what needed to be done for the strength of the wolves that followed me. I won’t let having a mate make me weak.

That is why the old ways work. The Luna will bare pups and keep the she-wolves happy, and I can carry on with what is important. But every time Max gets close to getting free, he tells me how weak I’ve gotten. He tries to put doubt in my head about how she has already changed me.

I had just left my Mate a little while ago with the annoying Gamma female, and ever since, Max has been spewing his opinions at me.

Weakling.

You are no Alpha. Alphas don’t wait to make their mate submit.

If you would just let me loose, I would make sure that she would follow the old ways.

It took a while, but I finally silenced him and could focus on the folder in front of me. It had taken way too long, but Marcus finally came through with what I asked. Every day, I would ask him how it was coming along, but he would never be any closer to having what I needed. I couldn’t risk asking my mate about herself otherwise Max could break through and take advantage of her.

Opening the folder, I started looking through what Marcus was able to gather.

Arden Hauge

Former Moon Stone Pack Member

Mother- Lacy Hauge

              Pack Event Coordinator

Father- Dennis Hauge (deceased)

              Pack Warrior

Arden-  Shifted at 13

              No wolf information

              Trained as pack warrior

              Left to travel at age 16

              Spent 3 years abroad

                             *Limited information on where time was spent

              Returned to Moon Stone Pack for Mating Ceremony.

The next page contained a list of places around the world, and the dates that she spent there. The more I looked through the file, the angrier I got.

MARCUS. Office. Now. I growled through the pack link.

A minute later, Marcus comes through the door automatically closing it behind him.

“Yes, Alpha.” His head bowed in submission

“Where is the rest?”

“That was all I could find. She lived off-grid for a few years, and her former pack doesn’t keep in-depth records like you do.”

It all sounded like an excuse to me, and I could feel my body shaking in rage.

“Alpha,” Marcus speaks up. “why don’t you just ask Luna Arden…”

I cut him off by throwing him against the nearest wall. My hand was around his throat and his feet were dangling a couple inches above the ground. Max was once again present, only his rage was directed towards my Beta instead of me.

“Are you seriously questioning me?” I spat in his face.

“N-no Al-Alph-a.” He managed to get out. I dropped him from my grasp, and watched as he slid down the wall.

“Get me more information. Or Jason will be taking your place as Beta, and you can sit in the dungeons.”

Marcus quickly left the office, closing the door behind him, and I was left trying to get Max under control once again.