The Trapped Luna

Chapter 4

The drive to neutral territory took hours and once there Stella was rushed into a changing room where her grandparents told her she would spend the evening after the ceremony. Luna Tilly began curling and twisting her hair. Stella didn’t understand why the woman was so rough about everything she did.

She would enter early with Cade and be introduced as his mate and future Luna, then after one quick pass through the room she would be shut away from prying eyes.

Luna Tilly blathered on and on about who to greet and how, and told her to excuse herself quickly to meet more guests.

There was a knock on the door and Alpha Brayden came in followed by his son. “Stella. You look lovely”.

“Thank you Alpha.” He barely ever spoke to her.

“Tilly, let’s go do a quick pass and let Stella here have a moment to clear her nerves.”

Stella was surprised when her grandparents and Cade also left the room. She could hear them outside the door, and as carefully as she could she crept towards the door. The whispers stopped and she could hear their footsteps moving away. What were they hiding from her?

A scent wafted through the door, it smelled like monkeybread fresh from the oven on a snowy day. A pain ripped through her and she cried out, reaching inside herself her wolf seemed like it was straining against some invisible force. Her inner mind met the wolf’s big yellow eyes and a word came forth. “Trapped.”

After that the pain stopped and Stella realized she was on the ground panting. What. The. Hell? She jumped to her feet. I need to find Cade, tell him what just happened.

Stella opened the door and rushed out turning in the direction she had heard everyone go. She slowed when she heard his voice and slowly approached the corner.

“Please don’t do this.”

“I Cade of the Blackmoon pack reject you as my mate.”

Stella threw a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out.

“Accept it.” Cade growled.

“I won’t.”

“I already picked my mate.”

“I won’t accept it.”

“I Cade of the Blackmoon pack reject you as my mate. I will mark another tonight to force you to be rejected!”

Stella shook, frozen to the spot listening to the girl sob. Only too late did she realize that Luna Tilly was behind her with folded arms.

“Cade, come immediately.” She spoke in a manner that broke no argument. Cade’s face turned to shock when he turned the corner and saw Stella. “Both of you come now.”

They silently fell behind Luna Tilly, back to the changing room. She locked the door as they entered. “Stella I really didn’t want to force the issue. Cade, mark her.”

Pain ripped through Stella again as her wolf struggled against whatever held her, but Stella didn’t look inward. She crawled across the floor shuddering as Cade grabbed her by the hips.

“What the f**k are you doing?” She yelled as Cade flipped her over.

“I’m claiming my mate”

As he began Stella could smell that amazing scent again, was it Cade after all? Her wolf snarled and strained, as Stella lost consciousness she could have sworn she heard an explosion.

She drifted in and out of consciousness, but the scent was always there and voice told her that she was safe. So she went back to sleep, as still as the wolf inside her.