His Possessive Luna

Him

Chapter 9 — Jane's POV (edited)

I'm still thinking about the tattoo.

Every pack has its own signature ink. This one, though — I've never seen it before, and it definitely doesn't belong to any pack nearby. So where the hell is it from?

I'm dying to find out, but I couldn't sneak into Dad's library today for the Pack Histories book. Typical.

The bell rings — school's finally over. I was so lost in that dream, and the tattoo, that I barely registered seeing my friends all day. I still need to check on Jo.

"Hello, beautiful. Long time no see," Mance says, smug as ever.

Sometimes I want to punch him straight in the jaw. I take a breath, count to five, and answer with all the irritation I can pack into one sentence.

"Hi. It was one weekend, not a decade."

"For you, maybe. For me? Only the Moon Goddess knows how long and tormenting it was."

Why is he so dramatic? He'd put soap operas to shame.

"And by the way — what were you doing in the boys' dorm yesterday?"

Is he actually interrogating me right now?

"Why does that concern you?" I snap.

"Why does it concern me?" he repeats, like I've said something offensive. "Because it does! Why would you go there and not tell me? Do you know who stays in that dorm? You think Uncle would be okay with his daughter wandering in on a weekend?"

My blood is boiling.

"First of all, you're not my father, so I don't answer to you. Second — who gave you the right to question anything about my life, let alone my weekends?"

"Where are your manners?" he barks. "I'm not your father and I don't want to be, but I demand some respect. You'll regret talking to me like this. Mark my words."

"And why would I regret it? Go on, say it. It's none of your business where I go or who I see. Keep your nose out of my life — or you'll regret your parents ever had you."

I'm fuming. People walking past visibly change direction. Mance goes bright red, fists clenched, and says nothing — just mutters something about me not even having a wolf before storming off.

Whatever.

Sometimes I wish he'd just vanish. But family ties mean I have to tolerate him. Lucky me.

I find Amelia and Ray later and ask about Jo.

"Still not answering her phone," Ray says. "And she's still blaming us for everything."

Seriously? Still?

Why can't people just own their choices? Not everything is someone else's fault. I'm sick of the victim act.

Amelia's face falls again. Poor thing.

"What are you two doing this afternoon?" I ask, hoping to shift the mood.

"My mate's coming over, so I'll be busy," Ray says, and leaves.

"And you, Amelia?"

"Nothing. I'm free."

"Come to my place. We'll talk."

"Okay."

We're in my room, sipping coffee. Amelia's been quiet the whole walk over. She barely touched lunch, and now she just sits there, hollow.

She used to talk nonstop. Now she's barely present.

"Any better?" I ask carefully.

"It's getting worse every day," she says, voice flat. "Happy one minute, sad the next, for no reason. Full of energy, then I can't lift my arm. It's exhausting. And now there are dreams too."

"What dreams?" I ask, suddenly alert.

"A brown wolf. It doesn't feel like a dream, though — I can smell him. It's so real, Jane. He smells amazing. I don't know what's happening. It's killing me."

Crap. Should I tell her about mine?

No. Not now. She has enough to deal with.

"I think it's about your mate," I say instead. "I read a book on mate bonds — what you're describing matches."

"Wait — you still have that book?"

"Yeah." I grab the worn paperback from my desk and sit beside her. We flip through together, and there it is: When the bond between mates is strong enough, they may appear in each other's dreams before ever meeting in person.

That explains her dreams. Not mine. I don't even have a wolf. How am I connected to anyone through dreams?

"What if it's real?" Amelia whispers. "What if I actually meet him? What do I do? I'm already marked. Already engaged. But in my dreams I'm completely gone for him. I don't think I can live without him."

She breaks into sobs. I sit there, useless. Comfort has never been my strength.

"When you meet him, we'll figure it out. I promise," I say, trying to sound convincing. "Everything will be fine. Don't lose hope."

Do I actually believe that? No.

Nothing about this is fine. If her fated mate shows up, she either rejects him or we're looking at war with Bluemoon. Her fiancé is a Beta. He won't just walk away.

I hope the Goddess keeps her mate far away. For everyone's sake.

Amelia falls asleep beside me. I'm bored out of my mind, scroll through my phone, find nothing, and grab the book again.

The book lists famous mate bonds throughout history — some between rival packs, one pair who defied a literal war to be together. Then I see her name.

Catherine White. From our pack.

There's a section on pack tattoos.

The one from my dream — I flip the page.

It belongs to Blood Moon.

No. No, no, no.

If any of this is real — if that tattoo means what I think it means —

then I am completely, royally screwed.

Chapter 10 — The Blood Moon Pack (edited)

The Blood Moon is the most powerful and largest pack in the world. So dangerous that no one dares speak against them, let alone challenge them.

Their Alpha, Xavier, is twenty-four and still unmated. Blood Moon Alphas traditionally choose a mate at twenty-one — always from within the pack. No Luna has come from outside in nearly three hundred years. Xavier's simply refused, past the deadline.

Xavier's POV

I trained for two hours, then sparred with Sean, my Beta. Even through the sweat and the punches, I couldn't shake her face — the girl I've been dreaming about for a week straight.

"Gotcha!" Sean lands a hit on my jaw — the first in years.

I blink back into focus, but within seconds he's flat on the floor, gasping.

"Trying to kill me?" he groans. "I know I talk too much and get on your nerves, but we're basically brothers, Goddess."

"Stop whining. You know I hate it," I mutter, grabbing a towel.

"Something's off with you lately. I've never landed a hit before, and today I actually connected. That's not normal."

"Nothing's wrong," I lie. "I wanted to see how hard you could actually hit. Disappointing, as usual."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Did I miss it again?" Penelope walks in — one of our main warriors, childhood friend. "Wanted to train with you two today."

"We just finished," Sean says.

"No worries. We'll do breakfast instead. Your mother called, Xavier — wants us to eat with her."

"Fine," we both say.

Breakfast With the Queen

"You're participating in the Claiming Ceremony," my mother announces, brooking no argument. "Arrangements are done. I don't want to hear another word."

"Mom," I sigh, "we've been over this. I don't want a mate. Why is that so hard to accept?"

"Because I refuse to accept it!" she snaps, eyes glossing over. "It's foolish. You need a mate — there's no Alpha without a Luna. She makes you stronger, stands beside you. Life is too long and too hard to face alone, Xavier. Loneliness eats you alive. Why can't you see that I just want you happy?"

Tears now.

Mates are weaknesses. I've seen it — a soft spot the wrong enemy can exploit. I can't afford that. But my mother's tears are the one thing I've never been able to withstand.

"If he doesn't want to participate, we shouldn't force him," Penelope cuts in calmly. "He can just pick someone from our own pack."

"No!" Mom cries. "I always hoped he'd be blessed with a fated mate. If he isn't, then at least let him choose someone he actually connects with — not just a Luna to fill a title."

She walks out in tears. I follow her to the lawn, where she sits in silence, staring at her flower beds.

"Fine," I say quietly. "I'll go. I'll find someone."

Her eyes light up. "I just want to see you happy."

"I know," I whisper, kissing her forehead. "Your smile is the only thing that makes me happy. So keep smiling, and I'll do this."

With Sean

On my way back inside, I run into Sean again — distracted, unusually quiet, occasionally grinning to himself like an i***t. Like right now.

"What's with the grin?" I ask.

"You believe in the mate bond?" he asks, suddenly serious.

"Do I strike you as someone who believes in fairy tales?"

"Then you won't get it."

"Explain it and maybe I will."

His expression turns unexpectedly earnest. "I've been dreaming about a girl for almost a month. Not just dreams — I still see her face after I wake up. Can't stop thinking about her. Every night, she's right there, close but out of reach. I think I'll meet her at the Ceremony. Come with me. If you hate it, leave. But I need to go. Something's pulling me there, and I want you with me."

He's pleading, and there's real sincerity in it. I nod.

Her face haunts every corner of my mind — her laugh, her touch, the sound of her breathing. The dreams are getting too vivid, too real. My wolf paces inside me like something caged.

I lose the whole day to it. Meetings, discussions — all blur. All I can think about is her. A girl whose name I don't even know is dismantling my grip on reality.

This Ceremony better happen soon, or I'm going to lose my mind.

"So we're actually going, right?" Sean asks, nervous.

"What did you think 'arrange our participation' meant? If you're having doubts, I can change my mind."

"Whoa, calm down. Just checking. And please, for the Moon Goddess's sake, don't change your mind. I'll die if we don't go. This feeling's already killing me."

"Stop being dramatic," I mutter. "Make sure the arrangements are handled properly. We're not on good terms with Green Valley, and they're hosting. I want this smooth."

"Roger that." Sean salutes and jogs off, leaving me alone with the tormenting thought of a girl I've never met.

Or maybe — I'm about to.