X-pack Luna

Xena

I take in a deep breath when we get out of the car outside the pack castle. I spent all my childhood here. I have memories of every section of the four-storey castle and the meticulously maintained grounds.

“Smells and feels like home?” Xael asks before casually placing his arm over my shoulder. He has read my mind as always.

The castle staff are very excited to see me. I feel so guilty for not calling and visiting often. Most of them are close to retirement. They literally raised me, Xael and Fiona because our parents were always away on pack businesses.

“How about you go and freshen up and let’s meet in the courtyard?” Xael suggests after I have greeted everyone. I can’t read his mind. That usually means he has shut me out. It means he is hiding something from me.

I watch him walk away, trying to figure out what he is hiding.

“Ahem!” Fiona clears her throat next to me. She thinks I am ogling. I am, but I am also trying to figure out why he is shutting me out of his head.

“What is he hiding?” I corner her and she laughs.

“You are the one who can read his mind.”

“True, but…”

“True?” she asks while I open and close my mouth. I fell right into this one. She is going to make a big deal of this.

“And you think he is going to meet his mate one day?” she adds and rolls her eyes at me like I am the dumbest person in the world.

I huff and head to my room. She and everyone else do not understand that Xael and I can sense each other’s emotions and read each other’s minds because we have been friends for a long time. Our wolves spent a lot of time together as well. It does not mean that we will not be susceptible to our mates if they show up.

My room is just as I left it. His scent is everywhere. My heart starts pounding. He slept here recently.

I head straight to the shower and let the water drop on me while trying to think what to do about Xael’s proposal. I love my pack, and Xael, but being Luna means sacrificing a lot of what I planned to accomplish.

Half an hour later, I head to the courtyard, still undecided. I shake my head when I find our pack members in their numbers. White lilies adorn the whole courtyard, giving it an intimate wedding setup. Those are my favorite flowers. Xael can be extravagant. He threw a bouquet for me when I got my wolf and when I completed high school. I can’t believe that he is doing this to celebrate my graduation when I thought he was angry with me.

I am taken aback when I walk in, and he and all our pack members go on one knee. This is not to celebrate my graduation, it is what it looks like.

I feel like I am dreaming when Xael proposes again. This is the fifth time. I feel like I am losing a part of myself every time I turn him down.

“Xena, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. It was my and your parents’ last wishes for both of us to lead this pack. Please be my Luna.”

I don’t have the heart to turn him and everyone down this time. They knew it because everything is already set up for our mating ceremony. Even our members who were abroad, are here today. I guess I am becoming a Luna.

It all feels like a fairytale as we take our vows and mark each other. The consummation is as weird as I have been told it will be, with all the elders here to ensure the survival of the species and succession plan.

Professor Mathews is disappointed but not surprised when I tell him that I will not be accepting the scholarship.

I turn to find Xael standing behind me. He must have heard my conversation with the Professor.

“I am sorry.”

“For what?”

“That you have to give up so much to be my Luna. I will never forget it. I will never take you for granted.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. I am not so disappointed by this. Maybe a part of me never wanted to be away from him.

“You better,” I tease and get pulled into his arms.

“How are you feeling?”

I frown at him. His question is so random.

“It was your first time. Our mating was explosive. I might have lost my restraints,” he explains with that deep voice that make me weak on my knees.

“Might?” I ask and look away when our eyes meet, last night’s events playing in my head.

He chuckles and holds my chin, forcing our eyes to meet. It is weird being like this with him, yet it feels so right. He is about to say something witty when Fiona joins us.

“My Alpha and Luna. Pregnant yet?” she greets and asks.

“We only mated yesterday, Fiona.”

“Really?” she asks. It is clear from her expression that she does not believe me. “You two shared a bedroom like forever,” she adds.

I look at her in disbelief. Xael and I have always shared each other’s bedrooms and even a bed, but we never did anything until yesterday.

“What? That is not normal,” she says defensively.

“She has a point, my love,” Xael agrees with her and plays with my curls.

“We were friends and clearly very much innocent,” I say and curse inside when my response comes out as defensive. She lifts her eyebrows at me.

“Oh, really? How old were you when you first kissed?”

We exchange looks at her question. That is a secret we will never share with anyone.

“That young, huh? So much for innocence,” she concludes from our lack of response.

“Don’t mind her, Love. The hospital called. They wanted to know if you would consider coming to assist?”

I narrow my eyes. He and I have not spoken about what I will be doing around here besides being Luna.

“I don’t mind you practicing your passion, as long as you are by my side.”

I can’t help but bury my face in his chest. Now this is the best wedding present ever.

“I will have your office set up. Just don’t overwork yourself. I won’t have it.”

I nod my head, feeling euphoric. I married my best friend, get to serve my pack and do what I love the most at the same time. This is just perfect.

Our honeymoon is just as perfect. We return to our pack three months so much in love and very much pregnant. Marrying my best friend means knowing exactly what he likes and vice versa.

We are greeted by a huge gathering. The Epsilon has unfortunately told everyone that they will have an heir soon. I am suddenly a very fragile antique they must all pamper and protect. I should count myself as lucky to have so many people fuss over me, but it does get overwhelming. I can’t walk outside without someone coming to hold an umbrella over me as if the sun will cause any damage to their heir.

“Xael, stop,” I warn when he walks in with a bunch of flowers and a gift bag. This is becoming an everyday thing, and his gifts are not very modest.

“I can’t. I love you so much, I just can’t help it.”