The Blood Moon: Luna

Chapter Five: Lane

“Would you like to take our plates out to the patio?” He asks me as he gestures to the doors.

“Sure… I think Hunter wanted some dessert though.” Something that looks like part anger, part amusement flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can decipher it much.

“I’m sure he won't mind if we pick it up on the way back to the table. He seems preoccupied at the moment anyway.” I follow his gaze across the room to where Hunter is chatting with a red head, fully in Prince Charming mode. I realize then that Hunter never was actually flirting with me, just being his normal over friendly self. Which is fine by me as I seem to be stupidly attracted to the big bad wolf with me currently. My dad always said I never make anything easy for myself.

As if I conjure him with that thought, my dad steps up to us and slides an arm around my shoulders. “I see you have met one of the guests I was going to introduce you to. Alpha Hudson,” my dad nods in respect.

“Alpha Miles” Hudson nods back.

“I hope my daughter here is treating you well?”

Hudson’s smile is genuine when he answers, “ Lane has been lovely.”

Dad laughs lightly, “Glad to hear it! Lane if you have a minute, I want to introduce you to the alpha of the Crescent Pack. He is a young unmated—“

Hudson begins growling and his eyes flash wolf at the mention of the other Alpha. Dad and I both look at him immediately, both of us trying to figure out the reasoning of the abrupt change. I wonder if the alphas have bad blood somehow? My dad looks at me then back at Hudson with a shocked but knowing look in his eye. What is he thinking? Dad then jumps to diffuse the situation instead of investigating like I want to.

“But of course you both need to finish eating I see.” Dad says as he points to our plates in our hands. He then squeezes my shoulder and tells me he will find me later. Okayyy.

Once my dad walks off I turn and walk out the patio doors. Maybe a little fresh air will help me get a grip since Hudson’s scent won’t be so intense. I swear it’s muddling my brain. It’s so peaceful and beautiful out on the patio with twinkling lights and different areas to sit all around. I head toward a little bistro table and chairs over to the side. Hudson follows and sits across from me. His whole presence is just…intense. He sits there all power in his suit that fits his body perfectly. Legs spread apart with his hands just resting on his thighs like he is completely comfortable. My eyes trace his whole body lingering on his hands as I wonder if his touch is soft and caressing or maybe more of that possessive hold. My wolf is rolling around like a maniac at that idea. Scratching at me to touch him and find out. He hasn’t touched me even once tonight, which is odd because shifters are very casual with platonic affection. A hand shake, hug, shoulder bump, etc is all acceptable even between strangers in our world. He has been extremely close to me since we met but he stays a solid inch away from actually making contact. My eyes continue their way up his body until I meet his eyes again. He looks pleased with himself. I blush and realize he just watched me check him out thoroughly. I should probably start some polite conversation but instead I turn my full attention to the chocolate cake on my plate.

“Ughhh this is delicious.” I say after scarfing down half of the piece.

“It looks like it.” His eyes are staring at my lips.

I hum as I take the fork out of my mouth and his eyes pop up to mine. The look he gives me heats my entire body.

“Why haven’t you touched me?” Oh my gosh I can’t believe that just came out of my mouth. Fix it, Lane! “Umm I mean you seem to not be as physically touchy as most shifters are.” I’m definitely avoiding eye contact now. I’m usually the confident hard-ass type of girl and this guy has me tripping over words and blushing.

He smirks and leans forward, “Look at me.” I meet his eyes instantly, my wolf whimpering and rolling to her back in submission. What the heck, traitor? Woman up! You can’t just roll over for him, you hardly know him!

“Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask me something. Even if you think it’s too direct.” I nod absent mindedly still arguing with my wolf in my head while also still very much embarrassed. “To answer your question, I am less physical than other shifters. My… profession, takes a control and a persona of self. So from a young age I was trained not to give into my wolf’s urges for physical contact.”

I should have known it was something like that. I keep forgetting who this man is. Enforcer, Lane. You are sitting here with the leader of the gosh dang shifter Mafia.

“But to answer your direct question, why haven’t I touched YOU. Well… if I am honest it has nothing to do with how I was raised, and everything to do with I think I would lose control.”

What? Lose control? From the look on his face I think I would very much like him to lose control on me. I hum in response, trying to hide my reaction to that.

“My wolf, whom I will tell you doesn’t care for anyone or anything besides his Alpha duties, is so interested in you that he is pushing to the surface harder than ever before.” His eyes flash wolf.

My wolf answers his call and leaps to the front as well. Hudson growls and balls his hands into fists at his side. All of a sudden he is standing and pacing back and forth in front of me. After a minute he abruptly turns and kneels beside me.

“Lane, I think we both know what is a very real possibility if I touch you. I have never felt a need or desire for someone like this in my life. My wolf has never yearned for another wolf.”

I know he is talking about the mate bond. It would explain everything I have been feeling and the uncharacteristic responses I have had no control over. Wolves don’t feel the actual pull of the mate bond until they physically touch each other. I subconsciously lean forward.

Hudson jolts back away from me. My wolf whines and curls up in a ball. I jerk back, the sting of rejection reeling through me.

“No, Lane. It’s not like that. I want you, f**k I want you so bad.” He stands up, running his fingers through his dark hair, pulling at the strands. “My world is different from yours. I don’t live an entire… moral life. I don’t just have a pack and be an alpha.”

“I know who you are.” I state seriously. “I know what you do.”

“Do you? I’m not even sure how to explain it.” He blows out a breath waiting for me to answer.

“I know that you are the alpha of the enforcer pack. This means your regular life consists of a lot more violence and crime than any of the other packs. You keep the packs safe by any means necessary. While also basically being hit-men.” I trail off not wanting to sound like I’m accusing him of anything.

“If I take a mate, they are immediately in danger. We are the enemy of any “bad guy” that wants to target the shifter communities in any way. I don’t know if I can do that.” He looks away from me and goes back to his seat.

“So you are saying you don’t want a mate at all? That you are scared to put a mate in danger?” I stand and walk away. I always thought I wouldn’t have a mate. What a cruel twist of fate to be the rare alpha female to find one and then be rejected.

Hudson growls as he follows me. “Lane, if we mate your life would be in danger all the time and could even be targeted because of me…what you know of life would be totally different.”

I’m quickly morphing from sad to mad. Is he kidding me? I turn around quickly, staring him down as I let loose the attitude everyone knows me so well for, “So what you are saying Alpha Hudson is that you are questioning how well an alpha female can take care of herself?” Hudson’s whole body tenses, eyes pure wolf as he growls at my statement. But I’m not done. I growl back, “Or better yet, Alpha, you can’t take a mate because you can’t protect her?”

As soon as the words leave my mouth he is on me. His hand wraps around my throat and his whole body pins me to the wall behind me. The instant his skin touches mine it’s like my whole body is set on fire. My wolf is going crazy howling for her mate in my head.

He leans down putting his lips just a breath away from mine, “You’ve done it now. I tried to let you go and have a normal life. Now you are mine and there is no turning back.” He slams his mouth onto mine.