His Possessive Luna

Problems.....

Xavier's POV

She left with her father, and I'm still reeling from what just happened. I can't believe my own friend rejected his mate over something this shallow.

"You realize your reasoning is ridiculous," I tell Sean. "You waited your whole life for a mate, and now that you've found her, you're throwing it away for this?"

"I waited for her. She didn't wait for me."

"She broke her engagement for you. That was the price she paid."

"She should've waited. I would've handled it properly."

"You should be a lot more concerned about your mate right now. You heard her father — he's not exactly thrilled about one of his pack members being my mate, let alone his daughter."

He's right, and the situation's worse than I thought. Her father won't accept this bond easily, if at all.

"Drink?" I ask Sean. He nods.

Jane's POV

We get home, and Dad is still furious. Amelia was dropped off along the way. Mom's still awake in the lounge when we walk in.

"What were you doing with the Blood Moon Alpha? Answer me — what were you doing there at that hour?" Mom demands, but Dad cuts in before I can respond.

"She was there with Amelia. That girl's caused a real problem. I'll speak with her parents tomorrow and figure out a way through this."

"Amelia never causes problems. What did she do?" Mom asks.

"She broke her engagement — turns out she's mated to the Blood Moon Beta, who rejected her in return. Jane was there, I assume trying to comfort her."

"Jane, did you know she'd broken the engagement?" Dad asks me directly.

Crap. Yes, obviously, but I can't say that with him this furious. "I just found out tonight," I lie. "She'd mentioned before that she wasn't feeling well, restless about something — I figured it was just nerves about leaving the pack soon."

"You're both adults. Even a kid understands how important a pack alliance is. How could she be this reckless?" Dad says.

"What about her parents — does her fiancé know? Has anyone told them?" Mom asks.

"I don't know anything about her parents," I answer honestly.

"I'll call them tomorrow," Dad says. "You, go to sleep. And I don't want to hear about you being anywhere near the Blood Moon again," he warns.

"Okay," I say, and head to my room, exhausted in every possible way. I shower, lie down, and replay every second I spent with Xavier — the way my body reacted to him, still humming from it. I fall asleep thinking about him.

I'm back in the snow-covered woods. Growls echo through the trees, and then two wolves appear, circling each other, tension thick in the air. Slowly, more wolves gather until the clearing turns into a full battlefield — everyone fighting everyone. The two most powerful ones circle one another, and just as they lunge, I wake up.

Drenched in sweat again. The clock reads 5:10 a.m.

Why do I keep having these dreams? I assumed they were tied to my mate, but even after meeting him, they haven't stopped. The jet-black wolf felt like Xavier. But who's the second one — and why do I feel just as connected to him?

Breakfast is silent. It's Christmas week, and the pack's swamped with decorations and preparations on top of everything else — the Ceremony landing the same week has doubled the workload. Maybe that explains why Dad's not talking. Mom's quiet too, and even my brothers are unusually subdued.

Once they leave for school, Dad turns to me, and I immediately know I'm in trouble.

"I spoke with Amelia's parents. They're coming here in half an hour, along with James. You'll be present," Dad says.

Shit. What if Amelia mentions I was already there before she arrived, that I already knew? Moon Goddess, please.

"Are you even listening?" Dad asks, eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Dad. I'll be there."

We wait in the living room. Uncle James arrives first, visibly furious. A few minutes later, Amelia arrives with her parents — her parents somewhere between angry and mortified, Amelia looking like she hasn't slept in days. I want to hug her, but I'm too nervous to move, so I just nod.

"Alpha, Beta — we're deeply sorry for what our daughter's done. She's young, she doesn't understand how the pack works. We'll speak with her fiancé and fix this," her father says.

"Opal Moon called this morning. They're reconsidering the alliance, though they'll hold off until after the Ceremony," Uncle James snaps. "Tell me exactly what she did."

"She broke her engagement because she found her fated mate," her father says. "She's young, and we all know how strong that bond is — she can't be blamed for it. We should speak with Opal Moon and keep the alliance intact regardless."

"We can't afford to lose an ally over one girl's poor judgment," Uncle James says, glaring at Amelia.

"It's not her fault, or any young wolf's fault, that we use our own members to secure alliances," Dad says, an edge in his voice now.

"So what do you want us to do? Why call this meeting at all?" James snaps.

"We negotiate with Opal Moon through business instead — offer to invest in their territory. Help their finances. Keep the alliance without forcing anyone into anything."

"I called this meeting to talk about the Blood Moon," Uncle James says, going red. "Amelia is their Beta's fated mate." He tries to say more, but Dad keeps talking.

"Before anyone reacts — I was angry too, at first. But we don't get to choose our fated mates. I think it's time we left the old history behind. Blood Moon is the most powerful pack alive. An alliance with them is worth a hundred with anyone else. If we can resolve Amelia's situation, this benefits everyone."

I agree with him completely, though I stay quiet.

"Have you lost your mind?" James snaps. "An alliance with Blood Moon? And does her mate even return the feeling?" He turns on Amelia. "Well? What does he say?"

Amelia hesitates, voice breaking. "He... rejected me."

"There it is," James says. "Jonathan, forget the Blood Moon entirely. We repair things with Opal Moon and move on. Am I clear?" He turns to Amelia's parents. "Tell your daughter to accept the rejection."

They nod.

Dad leaves the room angrily, Mom trailing behind him. I'm left standing with Amelia's furious, humiliated family, unable to believe no one listened to Dad — his read on this was right. We can't stay chained to old grudges forever, but apparently that's exactly what everyone intends to do.

Once Amelia and her parents leave, Uncle James turns to me. "Jane, you're like a daughter to me, and everything I want is for your good. I know you were with her when she was alone with the Blood Moon's Alpha and Beta. I don't want gossip, so stay away from that girl, and stay away from Blood Moon entirely. Understood?"

I nod, and he leaves to find Dad.

What am I supposed to do now, about any of this — about Xavier, about all of it?

After dinner, Dad tells Mom and me that Opal Moon has officially cut ties.

"They said we insulted them. They want nothing to do with us — not even business," Dad says, pouring himself a whisky.

"Jane, stay away from that girl. She's insulted our pack in front of others. And stay as far from Blood Moon as you possibly can," Mom adds.

"Her birthday's in two days," Dad says, switching subjects entirely. "I want it done properly. She's our firstborn, turning eighteen — that matters."

"By everyone, you mean the Blood Moon too?" Mom asks.

"Yes. Leaving them out raises questions, and questions are the last thing we need right now," Dad says.

"As you wish," Mom says, heading to her room. I say goodnight and head up too, though something about Dad still feels unsettled — and I don't think it's only about Amelia. I remember he had a meeting scheduled with Xavier, but I decide not to ask. Not tonight.

Xavier's POV

I'm told the time and place for my meeting with Jane's father. Nervous — which is unusual for me — but I do my best not to let it show.

"Sean, will you come with me to the meeting?" I ask.

"Of course. I'm your Beta, I go where you go," he answers.

"You're sure you still want to?"

"Yes, Xavier. And drop the pity act with me," he says, annoyed.

"Fair enough."

We arrive at the restaurant, and one of his Gammas leads us to the table. "Good morning, Alpha Xavier, Sean."

"Good morning, Mr. White," we answer together.

Facing him now, I feel more nervous than I expected. He's powerful, physically imposing, an Alpha in every sense. But it's not his aura unsettling me — it's the bond I share with his daughter.

"I want to discuss Amelia," he says. "I know our history, but I think it's time we moved past it."

"I agree. We need to move forward."

"I respect mate bonds. They're a gift from the Moon Goddess, and we should honor that. So — what does your Beta say? Does he still stand by rejecting her?"

"I can't speak for him," I say. "Sean, answer for yourself."

"I stand by it. I don't want her as my mate," Sean says.

"Why? Are you engaged to someone else?" Mr. White asks.

Sean hesitates, then answers honestly. "I don't want a mate who's slept with someone else. I know it sounds harsh, but that's my reason."

"That's your reason?" Mr. White says, voice rising. "I thought better of your people, but apparently the rumors are accurate." He stands. "We should stick to our history after all."

"Mr. White, please — listen," I say quickly. "I can't force my Beta into anything, but I still believe an alliance benefits both our packs. Business, at minimum. It's good for everyone."

"My pack wants nothing to do with yours. Not after rejecting our daughter for something this petty."

"Please — I'd like to propose something else, then. If not through Sean, then through a different connection. Your daughter is unattached. I'd like to propose marriage."

His expression tells me instantly I've overstepped.

"Don't ever speak about my daughter again, or I'll rip you in half," he growls, and my wolf bristles at the insult, restless and hard to hold back.

"I meant no disrespect. If it came across that way, I apologize. But please, reconsider."

"I've said everything I intend to. We're already considering a proposal for her — one that benefits both her and our pack. I'd advise you not to push this further." He pauses. "She turns eighteen in two days. You're both invited to the party. Come if you like. But stay away from her."

I wasn't expecting an invitation at all.

"She's mine. My mate. I won't step back from claiming her," I say.

He gives me a look that could kill, but says nothing more, and walks away.