Rogue Luna

Chapter 3: Evelyn

    When the car pulled up to the massive packhouse I was unimpressed. When the high ranking pack members greeted me with an easygoing nature, I was unimpressed. I hadn't bothered to dress up per the drivers instructions when he came to fetch me. I had never been so relieved to leave a pack territory than I was to leave the Blue Mountain pack.

    The Alpha was absolutely disgusting. Calling him an Alpha was an insult to all other Alphas. Every chance he could get, he had the balls to put his filthy hands on me. I wanted so badly to rip his fingers off one by one, to shove them down his throat until he could scratch his own ass from his asshole.

    The former Alpha and Luna were the first ones to greet me. They were very friendly, even though the former Luna gave me a strange look I couldn't quite interpret. The driver quickly and quietly unloaded my luggage and disappeared with it to wherever I assumed I would be staying.

    The sheer number of high ranking wolves that were greeting me and welcoming me was overwhelming and led me to believe that whichever pack I was now in (to be honest, I gave up paying attention to the packs years ago) was one of the largest, if not the largest pack in the US. There were at least twenty ranked wolves alone, not including their mates if they had one.

    "Evelyn dear, welcome," the former Luna spoke, "my name is Lauren and this is my husband Gabriel."

    "It is a pleasure to meet you. This is by far the largest pack I have ever been to. The landscape and scenery is breathtaking and I was in awe on the drive in. I cannot wait to go for a run with Jayde."

    "Oh yes, this time of year is perfect for letting our wolves run free." Lauren spoke with a warm smile, but she still had a strange look in her eyes I couldn't quite pinpoint.

    Just as I turned towards more ranked pack members, Jayde let out an internal growl. It wasn't in warning, but I gave her enough control to try and pinpoint the cause of her sudden restlessness but she quickly lost the trail as I became surrounded.

    "You must be Evelyn," a petite strawberry blonde with bright blue eyes spoke with a warm smile before giving me a hug.

    "I am," I gave her a warm smile in return.

    Jayde let me know that this she-wolf was a good person. She would be nothing if not kind.

    "My name is Melissa, I'm Jayson's, the Beta, mate. The Alpha wanted me to put my best efforts into making an absolutely welcoming feast together. I do hope you like it. Party planning is kind of my forte. I think you and I are gonna get along just fine." Melissa gave me a smile and a wink as she pointed out all the ranked pack members and their mates.

    "Are you mated?" Melissa asked as everyone began to head indoors.

    "No, I'm not," I shook my head sadly.

    I had often wondered if rogue wolves were even given a mate. Wolves and their mates were chosen by the Moon Goddess to bring their strengths to the pack. Since I was born as a rogue and had no pack, I wondered if the Moon Goddess had chosen not to give me a mate.

    I knew I was aesthetically pleasing to look at. I could see it in the eyes and on the faces of unmated males when they looked at me. I could tell the she-wolves were jealous because of how I looked. I didn't give them any thought as I was only a few months away from being able to return home.

    A lot had changed in the last nine years since I had been gone. My parents were no longer the ruling Alpha and Luna. My younger brother and his mate had been in charge for almost seven years. All of my siblings were grown up, with their own mates and even some pups. Yet here I was, unmated. Life was so unfair.

    I've lost touch with many of my pack members and friends as months of being away from home had turned into years. I was okay with that though because what I thought to be my home, my pack, was anything but. I was a rogue and rogues didn't have a pack or family.

    "That's probably a good thing because I know when I'm away from Jayson for a long period of time I get very moody," Melissa laughed. "It doesn't help that we have two pups under the age of three to drive us both crazy."

    "I can only imagine it can be a bit hectic at times," I smiled as we slowly meandered towards the packhouse.

    "Oh for sure, but I love every minute of it."

    "Evelyn darling!" Lauren called from behind.

    I turned around as Lauren and Gabriel walked up to where Melissa and I were standing.

    "Please do forgive our son for not being here to greet you. He's been so very busy making sure everything is in capable hands so he can focus on you." Lauren spoke as she looped her arm through mine.

    "Oh it's perfectly understandable. I can't even imagine how much focus it takes with a pack this large. Not to mention the architecture firm being the top in the world." I smiled while inwardly cringing to let on how much I googled about the Alpha.

    "Yes our dear, sweet Ryder has his hands quite full. He's a very talented businessman." Lauren beamed with pride for her son."Come, lets get inside so we can enjoy Melissa's wonderful welcome feast."

    The moment I stepped inside, Jayde went crazy. She was howling and growling. My nose twitched as the smell of pine needles, fresh snow and wood smoke filled my lungs. It was the most amazing smell, even better than the food I could smell in the kitchen.

    "Ryder! Come greet your guest dear," Lauren called for her son.

    I was trying to find whoever had my wolf going absolutely bonkers. Jayde kept pushing me to move farther into the house, but everyone was chattering loudly enough to be oblivious to the fact I wanted to move.

    "Of course mother." I heard the most silky smooth voice from beyond my line of sight.

    Jayde was practically a puddle from those words. Hell, even I had to admit the voice was sexier than hell. 

    "Evelyn," Lauren spoke, pulling my attention to her, "where all have you been to?"

    "I've been to just about every single pack in the continental United States. I think I only have one or two more packs to visit. The last pack I visited was not a pleasant experience." I almost shuddered at remembering the disgusting Alpha.

    I felt my body tingle and warm as I felt a rush of pleasure flow through my veins. Someone was staring at me. Someone my wolf wanted to pounce on and lick all over.

    When I was turned my head to look at my observer, my heart raced and liquid fire sped through my veins igniting a fierce passion. He had emerald green eyes flecked with gold. He stood easily at 6'5" and looked like a Greed God. I could tell he was in excellent physical shape by the way his clothes hugged his body. His hair was a rich, deep black that was slightly longer on top and shaved on the sides. 

    His eyes locked onto mine and all I heard was Jayde screaming 'Mate!'

    "Oh f**k," I breathed.

    My entire thought process was stopped in its tracks as I laid eyes on the Alpha. The Alpha who had surely broken plenty of hearts, who looked like he wanted to eat me. He was mine. My mate.

    "Evelyn?" Melissa and Lauren asked as they saw my expression change.

    I couldn't answer, even if I wanted to. I was too busy memorizing my mate. My mind thought of every dirty thing it wanted to do to him as I watched him.

    "Ryder are you... oh!" Lauren started before she came to a realization.

    "Mine," was the first word he growled as he stalked closer to me.

    "Oh Gabriel! Our son has found his mate!" Lauren cried in a thrilled voice.

    I could feel the power radiating off of him as he came to a stop mere inches away from my body. I wanted to close the gap and press my body against his. I wanted to feel his body against mine.

    Until I realized he smelled like a she-wolf. I narrowed my eyes at him as he gave me a cocky, self-confident smile.

    "What?" His smile faltered when he saw I was full-on glaring at him.

    I made a show of sniffing, "You smell."

    He looked very confused while his mother was staring at him in shock.

    "Ryder!" his mother was horrified that he smelled like another she-wolf.

    "I never thought that I would get my mate by her walking right into my territory and packhouse. I'm sorry I smell like another woman beautiful." Ryder spoke giving me a small bow.

    "You're forgiven," I breathed in a bit of shock that he bowed.

    'Jump him!' Jayde growled.

    'I am not jumping him! I don't even know him!' My wolf was a very horny girl.

    'He's our mate!'

    I ignored my wolf as my mate, the Alpha, held out his hand. I placed mine in his and felt the sparks course up my arm and settle low in my belly. His pupils dilated, so I knew he felt them too.

    "Let us all go sit and enjoy the food Beta Melissa had prepared." Ryder spoke, never taking his eyes from me.

    Everyone moved to the massive dining room, but the Alpha and I. I wanted to be alone with him, but yet I didn't. I wasn't quite sure what to do when two sides of me were at odds.

    Ryder looked around to make sure we were the only two left before he slide his hands to my waist and pulled me against him. A small gasp escaped before his lips were on mine. His tongue flicked my bottom lip, begging entrance to my mouth. His hands were squeezing my hips tight against his body. I felt every hard muscle in his body. My hands slid up the front of his chest as I gripped his shirt. 

    I could feel his arousal pressing against my abdomen and it made the butterflies in my stomach go berserk. He exuded authority and strength, but he was gentle and sweet with me.

    I pulled away breathless, my head swimming and my lips swollen from his kisses. My body ached for his touch.

    "I wasn't finished," he growled, his eyes black with lust as he tried to kiss me again.

    I laid a hand against his chest, "No, but we shouldn't linger any longer. It wouldn't be nice if the guest of honor and the Alpha didn't attend the welcome feast."

    He wanted to argue, but I knew he knew I was right. I smiled and slipped my hand into his, intertwining our fingers and waited. He smiled and kissed my lips before we walked into the dining room where everyone was waiting.

    The second we entered, all eyes were on us. They could see us holding hands and could most certainly smell us on each other. He walked us to the head of the table where two seats were open and helped me sit.

    "Everyone, please enjoy the delicious, no doubt heavenly, meal Melissa has so wonderfully prepared in honor of our guest, my mate and the future Luna, Evelyn Elizabeth Waters!" Ryder announced as Omega wolves brought out plates and plates of food.

    I was sitting beside Ryder and I was in complete disbelief. Future Luna? I couldn't be a Luna, especially since I had no pack and was born a rogue. I knew nothing about this pack or my mate and wasn't even sure he would want a rogue as his mate. Even if he initiated our kiss and announced to all the ranked pack members that I would be the future Luna, that didn't mean he would accept me. 

    I was in emotional turmoil and was close to panicking. Ryder placed his hand on my lower back and moved his thumb in a circular motion as if he knew I was in distress. I risked a look at him and saw him watching me. I could tell her wanted to know what was wrong, but since we weren't marked nor was I a pack member, he couldn't mind-link me.

    I gave him a small smile and turned my attention to the plate of food in front of me. I was already dreading the impending conversation and tried to think of ways I could skip out on it. Though I knew that it would be near impossible now that the mate bond was already being forged. Neither of us would be able to stay away from the other for very long. We would need to be near each other almost constantly.

    Ryder continued to touch me throughout dinner, whether brushing hair away from my face or sliding his hand up and down my leg. Or even just to kiss me. I couldn't deny that I loved it. Every time he touched me, I craved more.

    I may have been a virgin (shocking, I know) but I wanted him to be buried so deep inside of me that it was as if we were fused together. I wanted him to to make love to me over and over. I've never had a serious boyfriend before but a mate was so much more. A mate was the other half of your soul. Quite literally a soulmate. The Moon Goddess made it so that werewolf mates find each other over and over again in their lives. Mates were everything you were missing in your life and everything you never knew you needed.

    As dinner came to an end and pack members left to go about their normal business, I became more anxious the less people that were in the room. I knew he would want me pressed against him again but I wasn't sure I was ready for that.

    "Evelyn," his voice sent shivers across my skin, "will you please look at me?"

    My eyes immediately found his and I wanted to get lost in them. His eyes were breathtakingly beautiful and allowed me to see his concern and fear. I reached up and cupped his cheek with it as I gave him a smile.

    "We need to have a conversation," I whispered knowing there were wolves still lingering.

    "I know beautiful. I know you are unsure and have some doubts," Ryder's response was just as soft.

    My eye widened as it felt like he read my mind.

    "I know your history love, therefore I can only imagine what you are feeling and thinking about having an Alpha as a mate." Ryder was rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of my hand.

    It was that simple act of reassurance that made me lean over and kiss him. I could tell I caught him by surprise and I loved it.

    "Is there somewhere we can go?" I asked as I watched his reaction.

    "Of course," he stood and pulled me up by the hand he still held.

    Without a word, he had us walking towards the stairs. The way he walked screamed predator in a sexy, powerful way. He stood tall and proud and my heart swooned for him. He was light on his feet and walked with a purpose. I enjoyed watching him move, knowing he was mine and I could admire him all the time.

    Knowing he was my mate and that he would never hurt me, but would only cherish and love me, made me hopeful that the Moon Goddess knew what she was doing. I smiled as I followed my mate. I would follow him to the depths of Hell and back with him at my side.