Chapter 10: Am I pretty?
1171 Words
Nina found life in her new pack hectic yet exciting. She met many new people everyday and learned she had a knack for being Luna. The pups flocked to her. They were fascinated by her scars and blindness. They had never met a blind wolf before. "Your grey eyes are really beautiful," a pup said to her one day. "Really?" she asked surprised. She figured her scarring made her ugly, scary even. "Alpha says all the time how pretty you are. I think so too," the same pup whispered into her ear. That made Nina blush. She didn't think her mate talked about her looks let alone calling her pretty. She assumed he only loved her because of the mate bond. She had to shake such thoughts away. "He loves me" she chanted to herself. He tracked down my attacker and killed him for crying out loud! Why am I so self conscious? She spent a lot of time in her own head. Ryan was busy with Alpha work.
A week after moving into her new home she asked her mate's beta to bring her a phone. "Please dial my father," she said. The beta was happy to help his Luna. She was his best friend's lovely mate after all! He dialed the number and announced "Luna Nina wishes to speak to her father Alpha Charles." Hearing herself addressed as Luna in such a respectful manner caught her off guard still. She was not used to it yet. A few moments later Beta Tim handed her the phone.
"Daddy?" She asked excitedly. His voice came on the line. "Baby girl, is that you? You sound really good." Nina smiled to herself, "I'm doing good. How about you?" He chuckled, "Just happy to hear your voice. It has been a long week. It has been very strange not having you here. Cherry and Barry keep nagging me to come see you." She giggled at the mention of the twins. "I could come visit. Would that be okay, Daddy?" Charles smiled and waved his father-in-law over. "Nina wants to come visit." Nicholas beamed at the other man. "I'm on my way with the car," the old man stated happily. "Master Nicholas is coming to get you. Is that okay with your young Alpha mate?" Nina realized she hadn't spoken to Ryan about leaving the house. "I will tell him after we get off the phone. I'm sure it is fine." Her father told her he loved her and that he would see her soon. "Bye, Daddy."
After the call ended Nina held the phone out in the direction of Tim's body. He stared, surprised. He had left and come back, now standing in a different spot than before. "I can hear and smell you," she said, sensing his surprise and hesitation. "Of course, sorry ma'am," he said nervously. He was very anxious around her but not for the reason Nina was used to. "It's alright, Tim. Most everyone is caught off guard by my heightened senses. It just kind of comes with the loss of one sense." Tim stiffened, "I'm sorry, Luna. You must think I'm very rude." She shook her head. "No, not rude. You're just honest. At least you don't make up lies to save my feelings. Too many people tiptoe around my blindness." The beta held back a breath. "I wish I could say I was that honest, Luna. I'm just nervous around pretty women. I've always been this way." Nina stiffened. Why was everyone suddenly calling her pretty? "Am I pretty?" She asked out loud. Tim stammered, "Luna is not just pretty but beautiful!" She smiled. The compliment made her happy. She had always been on the fence about her looks. Before the attack she felt pretty but with the blindness she worried she had become ugly. "Thank you," she said, walking away whistling.
Nina followed her mate's scent to his office. She was still learning her way around the pack house. Ryan met his mate at the door as he had smelled her scent from down the hall. He heard her whistling happily. "What has my mate so giddy?" He asked, smiling. "I'm going to visit my family and birth pack today. I miss them, so I'm very excited!" Ryan's face fell. "No," he said, his voice low and unwavering. Nina put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me, Alpha, but since when do you think you can control what I do? Last I checked I was your Luna not a child or servant." Ryan scrunched his face up. "You just moved in. If they want to see you they can visit here. I don't want you leaving the house." Nina felt her anger and her wolf surfacing. "Why in the world would you want to keep me here in the house?!" Ryan refused to answer. He had his reasons. He felt justified in his mind. "What? You can't speak suddenly?" Ryan once again refused to respond. He thought she was overreacting. Nina felt tears burn her eyelids. "I knew everyone was lying to me! I guess I'm so ugly you think you have to keep me locked up. Is that it? Goddess forbid the blind mutt go roaming around outside the house!" Ryan's stared in confusion. "Woah, woah! Where in the world did you get such an idea? You're not ugly and I'm not trying to hold you hostage!" She growled, "Do you take me for a fool? You don't ever tell me I am pretty. Hell, I have to hear it from pups and your beta. Do you think you can suddenly pretend like you haven't been avoiding me this week? I am by myself all day. I see you for like 10 minutes before bed. Am I so revolting you can't spend time with me or let me leave the house? Do you think people will judge you for having a blind mate? Should I return this damn ring?!" Nina's tears were streaming down her face, all her pent up emotions running with them. Ryan felt taken aback. What was going on with his mate? She was always calm and collected. He had never seen her angry before. "Mate, you are pretty, no, beautiful! I'm just not comfortable with you being away from me. My wolf whines when you are not in close proximity. Honestly I want you everyday all day but I fell behind on work while I was moving you in and everything before. I can't give anyone a reason to say I'm a neglectful Alpha. This pack depends on me. How about this? I will make more time for you if you promise to only be gone a few hours. Deal?" Nina thought on the compromise. "Only if you tell me the truth: am I pretty?" Ryan chuckled as he pulled her in close. "Baby, you are the prettiest she-wolf to ever walk this Earth. Don't ever think otherwise." He crashed his lips on to hers and she melted in his arms.
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