The Luna They Underestimated

Chapter 06

Rowan’s POV

Then, just as abruptly as it started, everything stops like a rubber band finally snapping free leaving only a persistent dull throb behind.

“You’re okay now. It’s finished,” Alpha Thorne’s voice cuts through the haze, prompting me to look up toward him.

He offers a reassuring smile while I blink rapidly, fighting back unexpected tears.

“Alright if I let go now?” he asks gently.

Glancing down, I realize his arms are wrapped securely around me, positioned just beneath my chest. Embarrassment floods my face as I register he’s literally the only reason I’m still standing upright, followed immediately by acute awareness of exactly where his hands currently rest.

Great, apparently I’ve developed an inconvenient crush on my own Alpha.

I step back quickly, and he releases me without protest. His gaze glazes over momentarily, and moments later, my parents burst through the door he must’ve contacted them directly through the Pack link.

“See? Told you it wouldn’t be so terrible,” Dad says, immediately fussing over me.

I swat his hands away irritably. I’m not exactly fragile. Sometimes they’re genuinely a bit much.

“You’ll stay here at the Packhouse tonight. Tomorrow I’ll personally show you your permanent residence. Curious, though why request something so isolated from everyone else?” he asks, directing the question toward my father.

“Ro struggles socially. Prefers solitude, generally,” Mom answers smoothly.

The Alpha’s expression shifts briefly toward surprise, head tilting slightly as his attention returns to me.

“Is that accurate?” he presses, gaze fixed directly on me.

I glance nervously toward my parents before meeting his stare again.

“I just genuinely prefer being alone,” I shrug, which happens to be entirely true definitely not winning any popularity contests here.

His mouth presses into a thin line briefly before addressing my parents again.

“Rowan’s already enrolled, starting Monday. You’re both excused from Friday’s Pack run report here Monday morning instead for work assignments.”

“Pack run?” I blurt out, earning a sharp elbow jab from Mom, though the Alpha clearly notices the exchange anyway.

“Pack runs are mandatory participation. Is that going to be an issue?” he asks pointedly, and I quickly drop my gaze toward my shoes.

“No issue whatsoever,” Dad answers smoothly, draping an arm across my shoulders while extending his other hand toward the Alpha.

“What’s your experience training teenagers?” the Alpha suddenly asks, turning toward my mother.

“Mostly trained my own daughter, plus some older she-wolves occasionally, but I’m certainly willing to try,” she responds.

“Interesting. We could genuinely use extra help over at the high school anyway convenient, since you’ll be nearby to watch over Rowan simultaneously,” he decides.

Mom’s practically glowing at the suggestion.

“That sounds wonderful, thank you, Alpha.”

He nods, gaze flickering toward me once more before shifting back toward my father entirely.

“My Beta will get you settled for tonight,” he concludes, turning to reclaim his seat behind the desk once more.

Beta Matthew shows up early the next morning to rouse us. We pile into our car, trailing his vehicle out toward the edge of town. What greets us looks more like a cottage than a proper house a wide veranda stretching across the front, gravel crunching beneath our tires as we pull into the drive, everything nestled comfortably among the trees. I climb out alongside my father, heading straight for the entrance.

Matthew unlocks the green wooden door, dropping the keys into Dad’s palm.

“You’re certain about this location? Plenty of vacant properties closer to town would probably suit you better.”

“This works perfectly. Appreciate it, Beta,” Dad replies.

“Same rank, technically, so drop the formalities. Honestly, you’ve probably got more experience than I do in this role could probably teach me something. Just Matthew’s fine. Welcome aboard,” he says, clapping Dad’s shoulder warmly.

He heads back down the porch steps toward the lawn, pausing beside me suddenly, nostrils flaring as he catches my scent.

“You smell different than most wolves I’ve encountered,” he remarks, studying me carefully, and my whole body tenses instantly.

“How so?” I manage, proud of keeping my voice level despite the anxious knot tightening in my stomach. What if he’s picking up on the same thing his Alpha already noticed?

“Can’t quite place it, honestly. Definitely wolf, just… faint somehow. There’s something else too your scent’s oddly familiar, like I should recognize it,” he says, brow furrowing like he’s genuinely trying to place the memory.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you all to settle in properly. Don’t forget, Pack runs happen every Friday evening, six sharp, mandatory attendance. You’re excused this particular week, sure, but introducing yourselves early would go a long way. Tight community here, and everyone tends to relax faster around newcomers who actually show up,” Matthew advises Dad, who nods in agreement.

I hustle up the steps carrying a box pulled from the moving truck.

“We’ll definitely make the effort to attend Friday,” Mom assures him, watching me pointedly as she climbs the porch steps behind me.

I nod silently before disappearing inside.

An enormous fireplace dominates most of the living room, dark brick climbing straight up toward the ceiling, spanning practically the entire wall. The flooring underneath is solid wood, stained nearly as dark as the brick itself. The whole interior smells distinctly musty, like it’s been sealed shut far too long.

Mom immediately starts working through the room, yanking curtains open and cracking windows wide, letting fresh air chase away the stagnant staleness trapped inside.

I slip away from the living room, discovering the kitchen tucked just beyond it. Thankfully, this room hasn’t suffered the same dated fate as everywhere else. Granite countertops gleam under the light, sleek black stainless appliances lining the walls, plus a compact island positioned center-stage. This room, at least, I could definitely learn to love.

Several of Alpha Thorne’s men arrive to help haul furniture inside while my parents begin properly unpacking. Carrying another box toward the rear of the house, I locate my designated room the smallest one, tucked beside the bathroom, window framing a view straight into the surrounding forest. My parents claim the larger room down the hallway, complete with its own attached bathroom. Overall, I’m genuinely pleased with the arrangement.

Once everything’s finally hauled inside, I retreat to my room, assembling my bed frame while one of the Pack members helps carry the remainder of my belongings inside, arranging boxes along the wall beneath my window. We spend the entire remaining daylight unpacking, scrubbing, gradually coaxing something homelike out of the space. By nightfall, exhaustion claims me completely, and I crash before even managing dinner, only to jolt awake sometime deep in the night.