CHAPTER 2: THE LUNA TRAP

Percival

Three damn days.

We’ve been holed up in my family’s old estate, shut away from the rest of the world. I let her claim every inch of the place. Every wall, every floor, every surface—marked with our scent. This house didn’t just smell like us... it reeked of us. Of need. Of sweat. Of release.

That was kind of the point. I wanted this to be our place. A quiet spot away from the pack’s nosy eyes and ears. Just the two of us.

If she’d let me... I’d keep her here forever.

She stirred, her cheeks flushed and lips red and kiss-swollen, blinking those green eyes up at me. The fever hadn’t fully passed yet, but we were close. Real close.

This was the last stretch. I could feel it.

And for the first time in days, I could think straight. Her scent wasn’t fogging up my damn brain as badly. I had just enough clarity this morning to realize something.

There’s a 99.9% chance she’s pregnant.

I checked everything. Looked through every drawer in this place, called every number I could find. No one had any contraceptives. None. Not even a crumb of a damn pill.

Liars.

They wanted me to knock up their Luna. I know it. They didn’t even try to hide it.

“Morning, sleepyhead. I made you breakfast,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her warm lips. She smiled up at me, all sunshine and softness.

“I’m starving. Thank you,” she said, her voice still a little raspy from sleep and heat.

I’d been making sure she ate through all this, especially after what happened with the storm. Yeah… I royally screwed that up. Nearly lost her. But this time? I got it right. I made sure she was safe, cared for. In every damn way.

She shifted, propping herself up in bed while I reached back to grab the tray. “Sit up, sweetheart,” I said gently. I’d thrown all the linens in the wash last night so she wouldn’t wake up tangled in sheets that still reeked of our… mess.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the food—bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, a big glass of OJ. Her cheeks flushed even deeper, and she looked at me like I’d just given her the moon.

“Thank you,” she said again, her voice soft.

I grinned. “Anytime.”

Watching her eat was… addictive. I could do it forever. There was something so mesmerizing about the way she moved, the way she enjoyed every bite.

She finished the rest while I fed her bit by bit—an act that meant something serious in our world. Feeding a woman like this wasn’t just about the food. It was about care. Devotion. It was a sign—you matter to me.

Back when she first got here, I did the same thing for Tatiana once. Tried to help her settle in. Let her know she wasn’t alone. But Edeline saw it from her bedroom window… and the look on her face—hell, it wrecked me. I stopped feeding Tatiana right then and there. But it was too late. Edeline had already closed the curtain.

Not one of my better moments. But I’m trying to make up for it now. With memories that actually matter.

She set the empty plate on the nightstand, her eyes soft but full of something playful as they moved over me—like she was really seeing me. I could feel it, that quiet spark in her gaze. The way she looked at me… it made my chest tighten. Like I mattered. Like I was hers, and she knew it.

She bit her bottom lip, just for a second, and something about the way she did it made my heart do this weird little flip. The warmth between us hadn’t faded—not even a little.

My throat still ached, but I didn’t care. I’d give her anything, no hesitation. These past few days, I’d held her close every chance I got. I didn’t count the moments—we just kept falling into each other, again and again, like the world didn’t exist outside of us.

Her heat had changed things. We’d both felt it. The way our breathing synced, the way our hearts raced like we were caught in some kind of current—something stronger than us. We didn’t fight it.

I didn’t want to fight it.

She was everything—her scent, her laugh, the way she fit so perfectly in my arms. I could spend forever right here, wrapped up in her, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

…

Morning came fast. Our little love nest time? Over. Her heat had passed. I could tell just by touching her skin—cooler, calmer, like the fever broke.

Now, we wait.

For the bleeding. If it shows up... we’re in the clear. If not...

Well. Then she’s pregnant.

And honestly? I wouldn’t mind. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I didn’t stop it either. I let nature do its thing. And if she ends up carrying my pup?

I’ll be the happiest damn man alive.

She blinked awake, eyes groggy, voice rough with sleep as she whispered, “Morning.”

Then she smiled, and it hit me all over again—how beautiful she really was.

“You’re so handsome,” she rasped. “But you’re nothing like that boy I played house with in the treehouse. You’ve changed. You feel... dominant now.”

She smiled again, slow and teasing. That smile always did me in.

I leaned in and kissed her, pulling her into a full-body hug, our skin flush and hot. “And you’re all grown up too,” I growled softly. “Curvy, strong, sexy as hell. You’re gonna get me killed if someone even glances your way.”

I gave a low snarl to prove my point, hugging her tighter.

It felt like we were slipping back into the comfort of who we used to be. But deep down, I knew it was just the aftermath of the storm. The calm that follows chaos. There were still things left unsaid—truths she needed to hear. Yet for now, I was glad I could give her this—something special. Something memorable. I fulfilled her needs, like any male should for his mate.

And I didn’t regret a single second of it.

She leaned into me, her lips brushing my ear, her voice barely above a whisper. “Percival… we didn’t use any protection,” she said, a little breathless, but now there was worry in her tone—like the thought had just hit her all at once. “What if…” Her words trailed off, and I could feel the tension in her body.

Her body stiffened as she leaned back, panic spreading across her face like wildfire. Her eyes, wide and frantic, locked on mine.

Yeah... I knew this was coming.

My head dropped to her shoulder, and I exhaled slowly, wincing inwardly. “I tried. I really did,” I muttered, frustration curling inside me. “I asked around—both mated and unmated males. There were none on the property. Or at least none willing to admit it.”

She sat there, trembling, processing.

“I could’ve been more prepared,” I added, voice low. “But your heat came out of nowhere, Edeline. It hit us both hard.”

Her stare turned glassy, filling with dread. I reached for her cheek and kissed it softly before pulling her into my arms. “I’m here. No matter what happens,” I murmured. “You’re my mate.”

Normally, my voice calmed her. Normally, she melted into my arms like she belonged there.

But not today.

She jerked away from me, throwing the covers back and scrambling off the bed completely bare, her steps unsteady. Pacing. Unhinged.

“Hey, hey. Don’t panic, sweetheart,” I said gently, lifting my palms in surrender.

“Don’t tell me not to panic!” she snapped, her voice sharp, eyes blazing. “You wanted this, didn’t you, Percival? You wanted this!”

I took a breath. “Edeline...”

“I’m not ready!” she yelled, pointing at me, her finger trembling. “You did, didn’t you? You did this on purpose!”

Her words stung. My stomach twisted with guilt and frustration. I stood up slowly, dragging a hand through my hair. “Pardon me?”

“You heard me!” she cried, stepping closer. We were both still naked, and it wasn’t helping anything. My body didn’t understand that this wasn’t the time. My erection didn’t care that she was furious. And she noticed. Her eyes dropped, then snapped back up with disgust. “You lost one pup, and now you’re trying to replace them, aren’t you? This was a trap! You’re trying to force me into the Luna role.”

That hit me like a punch to the gut.

My blood surged as I reached for her, my hands cupping her face—firm, but not rough. Forcing her to look at me. “Edeline. Don’t. Don’t go there,” I said through gritted teeth, jaw tight. “That was below the belt, and you know it.”

She flinched slightly, but didn’t look away. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She was shaking.

“I’m not trying to trap you. I know we’re not ready for that. I know this is terrifying,” I continued, my voice softening. “But you’re my mate, too. I didn’t plan this. I searched for protection, and I failed. And once we started... you know I lose control. I stop thinking when I’m with you. All I could focus on was making you feel good. Making us feel good.”

Because when I was inside her... everything else vanished. It wasn’t about politics or pack duties or the ghosts of what we’d lost. It was just us. Raw and real.

Her eyes brimmed with tears again, and this time they spilled freely. I watched, helpless, as she turned away and began dressing herself in silence. She sniffled, tugging on one of my shirts and slipping into yoga pants she’d folded neatly in the closet the night before. The same ones she’d washed so carefully, thinking she’d need comfort clothes today.

“I... I need to go,” she said, barely louder than a whisper.

“Edeline,” I breathed, reaching out. I caught her wrist lightly, but she yanked it away like I’d burned her. That glare she shot me? It pierced right through my ribs.

“Edeline! Stop!”

She fumbled with her clothes, panicking. “Please, just let me go, Percival! I need time!” Her voice cracked—raw, desperate.

No. No, I wouldn’t let this be another one of her disappearing acts. I couldn’t.

I stepped in, my body towering over hers as I gripped her waist and pulled her flush against me. Her fists landed weakly on my chest, but I didn’t let go.

“No,” I hissed, eyes glowing. My lips twisted in frustration, in need. “You always run. You promised me you wouldn’t do this again. Not this time.”

Her lip trembled.

“We’re in this together,” I growled. “Whether you like it or not. So stop acting like a damn brat. Stop hiding. Stop pretending this is just my mess.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but I didn’t give her a chance.

“You’re eighteen now,” I said, softer this time, fingers brushing her cheek. “You’re not a scared little girl anymore. You’re my mate. It’s time to start acting like it.”

Before her features dissolved, her moist green eyes locked onto mine. Big, heavy tears spilled down her cheeks, sudden and violent.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tight against my chest, and damn—my heart cracked right open. 

“I know,” I murmured, brushing my lips against her temple. “I know.”

I understood her fear, but still, I needed her to believe—we’d be okay.

She sniffled into my chest, her voice muffled, fragile. “How can you be so sure?”

I kissed the top of her head, murmuring into her hair, “Because it’s you and me. Yeah, it’s a little early for this mess, but I’m here. I’m not leaving.”

She broke then—sobbing harder, trembling in my arms. Each sound gutted me. I couldn’t take this. Seeing her like this? It shattered something inside me. She wasn’t supposed to cry. She was supposed to be laughing, radiant, alive. When she wasn't glowing, the world just didn’t sit right.

She wiped her face and stepped back, avoiding my eyes. “I just... I need to think. I’m sorry. I just—I need to be alone.”

Will she ever stop running from me? Doesn’t she get it? She’s the only peace I’ve ever known.

I let her go, whispering, “Okay.”

She stumbled through pulling on her clothes, then bolted for the stairs. The sound of the front door slamming was the punchline to my already-fucked morning.

I felt like my heart had been rolled over by a truck—then put in reverse.

This wasn’t what I wanted. Not even close.