A Luna Scorned

Chapter 2

The celebrations were going off without a hitch. I had managed to steer clear of most of the men all night. I sat at a table in the corner with my two best friends, Jensen and Sam, and Sam’s mate, Avery. I liked Avery. She was a sweet girl with a very positive, bubbly personality. I tended to get along better with men, and had gravitated towards Jensen and Sam in school. We were like the three musketeers. Females were too much drama for me. All they talked about was shopping and finding their mates. There was always jealousy and cliques and I just didn’t have time for that. We went to a human school in a nearby town. Humans annoyed me sometimes. It wasn’t just the humans though, it was pretty much all people, but mostly the females. It took some time, but Avery and I developed quite a bond. I think mostly because she was mated to Sam and I came with Sam. We were very close, the three of us. So, she kind of had to accept me.

“So, Kyrie, no mate yet?” Jensen playfully poked my side.

“I don’t see any mark on your neck, Jay”. I said as I tousled his hair.

“Well, in that case, may I have this dance?” He reached for my arm and pulled me out onto the dance floor. My mom had done a wonderful job of decorating the mess hall. It looked devine. Like a party for royals. People had been complimenting her on the decor all night. It was definitely helping and looking promising to secure some alliances at the alpha meeting tomorrow.

“Hello Jensen.” My mother interrupted our dance. “I need to borrow Kyrie. We’re going to introduce Luke shortly and we need her.”

“Sure thing Mrs. Winters.” Jensen gave me a wink as I turned to follow my mother to the front of the room. We had made a pact a couple years ago after we didn’t find our mates at 18, that if we both hadn’t found them by twenty five, we would claim each other. I was sure he would have found his mate by now, but he hadn’t. He was a very good looking man. Tall and muscular with dark brown, almost black hair and soft brown eyes. Jensen was definitely the closest thing to a boyfriend I ever had. We did almost everything together. Now that Sam had a mate, he wasn’t around as often. So Jensen and I found ourselves rounding up cattle, hitting the sale barn and going on rides, just the two of us, a lot more. I didn’t mind though. He was a gentleman in every aspect of the word, and just a lot of fun to be around.

“My wife, Luna Kay, and I, Alpha Tyrone, would like to thank you all for being here tonight. Our little pack has grown so much in the last four years and we definitely have my daughter, Kyrie, to thank for that.” Applause exploded through the room with a few loud whistles and grunts from Sam and Jensen. I blushed and smiled. I hated attention and did what I could to avoid being in the spotlight. “We are here tonight to celebrate my son, who shall be taking over for me as alpha. I know my time leading this pack has been short, but I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have learned a lot, and have had so much help along the way, and for that I am grateful. I have been able to pass along all of the knowledge that has been so generously shared with me, to my son, Luke. Applause erupted from the crowd again, but my mind was suddenly clouded. I was finding it hard to concentrate. The most amazing scent filled my nose. I could smell fresh rain mingled with the scent of freshly cut grass. ‘I didn’t think it was going to rain tonight.’ I thought to myself. Suddenly my wolf, Natalie, took over my thoughts. “MATE!” She howled. ‘OH NO!’ I screamed back at her. ‘NO MATES’.

“Yes. He is here. We can smell him. That amazing scent.” I could feel my chest tighten as my gaze was drawn to the East side of the room. There were well over a thousand people in the room, and the East corner of the room was no less crowded than every other corner of the room. I tried to scan through the group of men but couldn’t tell which one that glorious scent was coming from. Either way, I didn’t want a mate. Not yet! I tried to push back the urge to run towards the large group huddled in the Eastern corner.

“Ky, hey? You okay?” Jensen whispered up at me from the edge of the crowd. He had always been so protective over me.

“Yeah”. I tried to whisper inconspicuously.

‘Okay, you got really pale all of a sudden. Just checking.” I tried to force myself to pay attention to the ceremony. This was my big brother's day, and I wanted to be here, one hundred percent, for it.

“MATE” Nat cried out again.

“Not now Nat, please. Focus. This is a big deal for Luke and I don’t want to ruin it. Please just calm down until the ceremony is over. Please!” I begged her. Finally, she relented and moved to the back of my mind. I hadn’t realized I had been clenching my fists so tightly and felt a tinge of pain as I removed my nails from my palms.

“I now introduce to you, your new alpha, Luke Winters!” My father triumphantly proclaimed to the crowd.

"Kyrie, are you okay? You look sick.” My mother quickly escorted me to the alpha table and handed me a glass of water. “What’s the matter?”

“Mate”. A commanding, yet soothing, voice echoed from across the table.

My mothers’ face beamed with excitement.

“I knew it! I just knew you would find your mate tonight!” I was unable to look up from the glass of water in my hands. I wasn’t ready for this.

“Excuse me, Luna Winters, but I believe your daughter to be my mate.”

“Wonderful news. May I ask your name?”

“Liam. Liam Flint. I am Alpha of the Silver Moon pack.”

“An Alpha! Did you hear that Kyrie? He's an alpha! Forgive me Alpha Flint. I never thought our daughter would be mated to an Alpha. You see, although my husband is an Alpha, and my son has just taken over as Alpha, we are not of Alpha blood. I’m assuming you have heard how our family obtained the title?”

“I have”. The voice answered. I still had yet to look up from my cup. This can’t be happening. Not now.

“Kyrie, don’t be so rude. Please.” My mother implored me.

“My apologies Alpha. I’m just a little shocked. I didn’t intend to find a mate tonight.”

“Nor did I.” His face was soft, and his eyes looked kind. They were a beautiful shade of chocolate brown. His hair, a soft black with streaks of silver throughout. He had to be over six feet tall. His shirt seemed another layer of skin as his muscles attempted to burst through the fabric. He was large, but not overly massive. He seemed so kind.

“To whom do we owe the pleasure?” My father broke my stare.

“Honey, this is Alpha Liam Flint, of the Silver Moon pack, and it seems, our daughters’ mate.”

“Is that so?” My father chuckled. He knew I was not happy about finding a mate. Natalie had awakened in my mind yet again.

“Our Mate is an alpha, Kyrie. How exciting.” She growled with a lust for this most handsome man standing before me. I breathed in his intoxicating scent and my body, and Nat, yearned to be next to him. To feel his touch, to have this man take me away here and now. I looked up at Liam and our eyes met. I saw lust in them, like he too, wanted to have me. I was overcome with excitement at the thought of laying with him. I looked away and noticed Luke had joined us.

“Kyrie is a sweet soul, and a hard worker. She deserves only the best.” Luke said protectively.

“I will do my best to treat her as such, Alpha Luke. I plan to take her with me when we leave in two days.”

“OH NO!” I thought to myself. The fear must have crossed my face as Liam reached his hand out and touched my cheek. Sparks seem to erupt from between us. I could feel a pull, a bond, developing between us. I could sense the same of Liam.

“Do not worry Kyrie. We are only a couple of hours away. You will love the Pack, and I’m sure they will love you. You can visit home any time you like. But please, do not fear leaving, and do not fear me.”

“Alpha Luke, Alpha Tyrone, Luna Kay”. Liam bid his goodbyes.

“Please, call me Ty.” My father said as they shook hands.

“Ty. I will see you tomorrow at the alpha meeting, But I assure you, our alliance will be secure.” He gestured in my direction. “Please, excuse me. I have brought a date with me and do not want to neglect her. Kyrie, I would like to spend some time getting to know you tomorrow though.” I nodded as my wolf growled in anger at the thought of Liam being with another woman.

“Calm down Nat. He obviously wasn’t expecting to find his mate here tonight. He had a life before me and we cannot be angry that he has brought a date. At least he is being a gentleman and not abandoning her.”

“I guess.” Nat said as she sulked out of my thoughts.

“If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to go to bed. Tonight has been a bit much for me”. I said as I got up from the table. I gave Luke a big hug.

“Congrats brother. I couldn’t have wished this on a better man.”

“Thanks sis. Congrats to you too.” He chuckled as he tilted his head after Liam.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see”.

“He better treat you right, Ky. Or he will have to deal with me.” He gave me one last hug as I excused myself from the party.

"Ky!” I heard from behind me as I ascended the stairs toward my room. “Ky, is everything alright?” Jensen and Sam ran excitedly up the stairs towards me, skipping multiple steps as they went.

“Yeah.” I said as tears formed in my eyes. “Except I found my mate and will be leaving here in two days.” Their jaws dropped and eyes widened.

“Ky, that’s great!” Sam said as he cradled my body in his arms.

“I guess so.”

“I’m gonna miss ya.” Jensen joined in on the hug. “Don’t be sad. It’s a good thing, and if he’s not good to you, he will have to deal with me”.

“With us”. Sam corrected.

“All of us!” I heard Avery chime in from the bottom of the stairs.

“You guys are the best friends I could have ever asked for. I’m going to miss you all so much! I don’t want to leave!” The tears began to stream down my cheeks.

“Don’t cry!” Jensen hugged me tighter. “We will always be here for you.”

“Thanks guys. I’m going to go process what just happened tonight.” They nodded in understanding and turned back for the party as I headed to my room to sort out what had just transpired.