The Grumpy Alpha's Mate: Sealed Luna

Chapter 2 Alpha’s Reward

Willow

~~

When I finally got out of the shower, my hands were raw and slightly bleeding from the scrubbing and scratching that I did. So they hurt with every movement to dry off and then get dressed. My father ran up to me as soon as I was out of my room. He then grabbed my wrists to look at my hands which caused me to flinch.

"Sorry, Willow. But why are you bleeding?"

"The blood wouldn't come off, Dad."

The look of pity grew on his face. "Oh, my sweet girl. I'm sorry you had to go through that alone. Let's get you fixed up." He led me to the kitchen where he sat me in a chair at the island. Martavis then pulled out the first aid kit to treat my hands. After the disinfectant spray, he placed gauze and wrapped my hands similar to how a boxer wraps his hands before putting on gloves. "Please talk to me before you do something like this again. I understand that what you saw was scary, but I don't want you going through it alone."

"Yes, Dad."

My chores were limited for the next few days because I struggled to use my hands. Father even had me go to the pack doctor to get my bandages changed when he was too busy to do them himself. Then the day came that I was going to go to the local farmers market to pick out fruits and berries for the macarons I was to bake when my phone rang.

"Hey, Dad. I was about to head out. Did you need something?"

"Come by the Alpha's office first, please. Alpha Jason wishes to talk to you." I agreed but I felt the pit of my stomach drop. What could the Alpha want from me? I hurried over to the pack house and walked down the hall to the Alpha's office. I was told to enter after I had knocked on the door.

Once inside, I saw my father sitting in front of the desk, Luna Victoria standing to the right of it, and then the bandaged Alpha sitting behind the desk. The man was large in both height and muscle, and he could intimidate even someone like Martavis. It was a good thing they were best friends, or I would have been all the more scared of him.

Samuel got his deep blue eyes from his father and blonde hair from his mother. What he didn't get was his mother's hazel eyes and his father's black hair. Sam wasn't as large as his father yet, though I was sure all he needed was some time to mature. After I closed the door, I bowed to the Alpha and Luna. "Greetings to the Alpha and Luna. How are you feeling today, Alpha Jason?"

"You can stand up straight, Willow. And I'm much better thanks to you."

"I didn't do much, Alpha. It was Gamma Colin and the warriors that did all the work."

"Yes, but they only knew where to find me thanks to you. What were you doing all the way out there to begin with?"

"I was picking blueberries, Alpha. Father, I mean, Beta Martavis, asked that I make my special macarons for the upcoming party."

"Do you also make strawberry macarons in the Spring?" I nodded my head towards Luna Victoria. "Those are my favorite! Why do you only make them in Spring?"

"Because that's when the strawberries are in season. I only use fresh fruits when I bake. And knowing that they were your favorite, I pick the strawberries personally from the local farms."

"So you went picking fresh blueberries for your father," Alpha Jason asked in order to get us back on track.

"Yes, Alpha. I found a large patch of wild blueberries in the forest years ago. It's kind of my secret spot so I wasn't expecting to see anyone there."

"Instead, you stumbled upon me and the aftermath of my fight with the hunters."

Thinking back on that horrible, bloody scene made me scratch at the bandages on my left hand. It was like I could still feel his blood dripping off my fingers. Martavis reached over and touched my hand gently, causing me to stop. So I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Because of your bravery, my mate and I wished to reward you with an honor as great as your actions."

"But I didn't do much," I stuttered while replying to the Luna.

"Willow, I told no one where I was going that day. And those hunters pumped me with so much wolfsbane that I couldn't call for anyone with the mind link. I know you haven't had the best life here and I'm partly to blame for that. So it wouldn't have come as a surprise if you just left me there to die. So for your brave actions, we wish to name you Samuel's Luna."

The feeling in my legs left me and my father had to catch me before I hit the floor. "Alpha Jason, I don't think-"

"I don't believe you are the one that has a say in this, Martavis," Jason stated sternly. "It's up to Willow to decide."

My mind was in a whirlwind. Me, Sam's Luna? It was a dream come true! But it was too good to be true. "What happens when he finds his true mate," I asked sadly. Samuel was without a mate at that moment, but who was to say that he wouldn't find her down the line?

"We'll discuss matters if that comes to pass. However, we could name you Assistant Luna or some other title that will still give you honor and prestige among the pack."

I finally got up on my own two feet and bowed to the Alpha. "I'll accept this great honor if our future Alpha Samuel accepts me."

The Alpha and Luna nodded in agreement before allowing my father and me to leave the office. "Willow, I know you like the boy for some reason. But are you sure you wish to go through with this?"

"I said I would agree on the condition that Sam does as well. If he says no then there is nothing to worry about." I could see the concern on my father's face as we walked out of the pack house. "Now, I still need to go to the farmers market to get fresh fruit for those macarons. Sorry, yours won't be the wild blueberries this time."

"Like I would let you near that place alone again." He stopped for a moment, his hand rubbing the stubble that covered his chin. "Let me drive you to the market. It'll be less walking for you and I can carry your bags like a good father."

That made me smile happily. "Promise not to drive after a deer again?"

"That was one time! When are you going to let that go?" I couldn't help but guffaw at my father's over-dramatic reaction to my tease. He chuckled in response to me holding my sides before patting my head. We got into his older model Mustang and he drove to the farmers market.

Once we were there, Dad held the bags and baskets as I picked out all the fruit that I wanted. Only the freshest would do for my macarons and the sellers knew that. The one farmer Mr. Conroe even made sure that he kept a small basket to the side just for me. When it looked like I had all that I needed, we got back into Dad's car and drove back to the pack lands.

After he parked, I saw that Dad's eyes had glazed over like they do when he is mind-linked with someone. I sat quietly in the passenger seat until he was finished. Father let out a heavy sigh as his grip on the steering wheel tightened enough to make his knuckles go white.

"Looks like we need to go shopping for you now. Get a nice formal dress for you to wear to the party."

I was confused by his statement. The pack basically considered me an omega because I was so weak. And as an omega, I would be in a server uniform during the party. "Why would I need such a fancy dress?"

"Because after Samuel is named the next Alpha, you'll be presented and named his future Luna."

My heart beat right into my throat before it started to pound rapidly. Sam wanted me to be his Luna?