Alpha's Forbidden Luna

~Sienna Pov "First, Elora Daniels," I announce, striding back and forth. Onyx lets out a pained groan, tipping his head back."Sienna..." "She lives on the Western edge of the Pack. Her father owns a vast amount of land on which he harbours numerous successful orchards." I tilt my head to the side. "Impressive." Onyx shakes his head, shifting in his seat. He's been condemned to the chair in front of the fire, forced to listen to me read from four individual profiles that detail who his future wife may be. Alpha's need to marry. It's tradition, and Onyx is failing on that front. "I'm not interested," he mutters, his obsidian gaze tracking me as I pace in front of him. My finger trails along the page as I read further down, grimacing at the description. "These are so detailed. Creepy." "Then stop looking at them." "Elora is apparently of medium height." I huff out a breath. "Angel's-forbid they be specific...Has brown hair and brown, almost black eyes." I glance up from the page as Onyx rubs his hand over his face. Having him sitting here, at my whim will never not be exhilarating. There's so much power in this room, and it all belongs to him. Yet, I have a glorious amount of control over it. It's the benefit of being the Alpha's best friend. Well, only friend. "Is all this supposed to mean something to me?" He raises a dark brow until it disappears beneath the length of his ruffled black hair. It's as dark as his name denounces. "She has a slight limp though..." I rub my chin. His eyes flare. "They added that?" I smother my laugh behind my hand. He takes everything too seriously. "No, but whoever wrote this took liberties describing her. Apparently she has excellent posture." I straighten my own, knowing it probably needs some work. His mother is trying to cater for his selectiveness, it seems. He insists he isn't picky, he is just not interested in marrying right now. His gaze tracks my movements as I continue to pace. "This is disturbing, Sienna." "Most importantly, she has status amongst her peers, is softly spoken and polite," I tell him. Some people find value in such traits, although the way Onyx's face immediately screws up suggests he is not one of them. "None of that is appealing." I lower the page, exasperated. "It's not her fault she's been bred to be married off to a wealthy, powerful man like you." Onyx and I have spent much of our childhoods chastising the customs and traditions that govern his life, and many others of noble birth. We also spent an equal amount of time not being able to do anything about it. It's easy for me. I'm no one. My mother came here nine years ago with me in tow, no money to her name, wanting work. Onyx's mother kindly offered her a position as her assistant. When my mother died, I took over the job. "This girl doesn't have to worry about marrying me." I shoot a faux pout in his direction. "But it says here that she has ample birthing hips." His shakes his head, like he doesn't believe me. "Stop joking around." "No seriously." I turn the forms around, pointing to where on the page it is printed. "Whoever wrote this has detailed how likely it is she will provide heirs." Onyx stretches his long legs out in front of him, massaging his temples. "This is torture." "Fine, next then." I tuck Elora's form to the bottom before examining the next one. "Lexa Vale." "Stop, Sienna. I'm serious." Onyx's tone is firm enough that I actually oblige him. I know when to push him, and when to back off. It's why our friendship works so well. "Your mother asked me to show these to you," I remind him, dropping my arms, although I still clutch the papers. He's going to have to give these the time of day eventually. Even if he is looking at them like he's contemplating how quickly they will burn up the moment they touch the flames in the fireplace behind him. "I don't want to marry any of these women," he says again. "This entire process is artificial." I take a step toward him. "You're not"interested in anyone. Anyone. It's been two years since you became Alpha. Tradition mandates that you marry within one year." He rolls his eyes. I could strangle him sometimes, until I remind myself of how miserable it must be to be faced with a union not built on love, but on power. He hasn't confided in me that he's struggling with that aspect in particular. He doesn't need to. I can tell by how worn down he looks every time it is brought up. Right now he looks practically ruined as he slumps in his chair, although still can't escape looking like the perfect Alpha. Over the years, many Alpha's have come and gone through this manor. None of which, in my opinion, compare to Onyx. His towering height assists with the intimidation factor. That and the fact that he's extremely well-built, with muscles that are unmistakable, even when he is wearing his baggiest clothing. But it goes further than that...It's his intensity, the quiet threat of danger that even I feel on occasion. I can't imagine what it feels like to be someone he actually wants dead. What is most important for me to remember is that I can value him as an Alpha, but Onyx is off limits. Non-negotiable. There have been more moments than not where I've admired Onyx beyond what makes him a good friend. He's deliriously attractive, and even I'm not immune to it. He exudes raw s*x appeal, and has an intensity that would be impossible to escape if he ever became interested in me sexually. He has never, not once, made an advance on me. We are strictly friends. I think I've always been in love with him, but I've never considered him sexually until these recent years. Since he became Alpha, he's become jaded, harder to reach, yet simultaneously more fuckable.What's wrong with me? I know he doesn't see me that way. It feels wrong to fantasise sometimes, especially when our friendship means so much to me. I'm assuming my attraction to him is based on nothing more than the fact that I can't have him. He's to be married, and not to someone like me. "I'm choosing my wife, not my next meal," he exclaims pointedly. "If I decide on anyone, it won't be based on some arbitrary profile flaunting their supposed merits." I sigh, stepping close enough to flick his nose. He bats my hand away. "How else will you meet your wife? You turn your nose up at any woman that isn't me." I raise my brows, folding my arms over my chest. He narrows his eyes slightly. "Mmm." "Then again, I doubt you see me as much of a woman," I joke, giving him a half smile. To him, I've always just been his friend, not someone capable of being anything resembling s****l. He doesn't say a word. He just stares at me. I surge on, ignoring the heat in his gaze. "You must marry a woman of noble birth. Or she must be so wealthy, or of such high status she will be accepted as Luna." He tilts his head to the side. "Or she should be my mate." "Such a finding only comes from actually getting to know someone," I remind him, giving him a saccharine smile that he only shakes his head at.