Chapter 7 - A Beta's Claim

Anderson’s possessiveness ignited a pleasant sensation within me, a visceral energy that left me breathless, curling around me like an unseen force.

 It was more than a mere claim, it was a promise, a vow etched into every word he uttered, and the sheer certainty in his voice compelled something deep inside me to awaken, so powerful that I wasn't sure I had the strength to resist.

"What do you mean?" I still asked cautiously.

"I mean," he murmured, leaning forward, "as soon as you're ready, I will take you to meet my Alpha and the pack. After our mating ceremony, you'll move into Eclipse Howl as my woman and the Beta female."

Again, a ripple of nervous excitement shot through me. With that came also a fresh wave of panic, cold and sharp.

Readers, please, look at it from my point of view.

My new job, my dreams, big ones that have just begun to take shape in Human Town, I need to consider all that. I’ve only just started this career, this independent, ambitious life, meticulously building a future for myself. I want to make a name for myself, to reach the highest levels of the modeling industry, to prove I could stand on my own, separate from the shadows of my past.

Was I ready to give that up, to trade this burgeoning success, for a predetermined future, even if it was with a true mate, a bond that felt destined? I really don’t know.

It felt like tearing a piece of my soul free, a fresh sacrifice on the altar of destiny.

 The thought of another mating ceremony, another pack, so soon after Axel … it was too much too soon, a tidal wave of emotion I wasn't sure I could withstand. My hands trembled slightly, instinctively clenching into fists at my sides.

I exhaled slowly, a shaky breath, casting one final, searching glance into Anderson’s gorgeous blue eyes. They held so much unspoken promise, so much hope, that it was almost impossible to look away. Then something inside me shifted, a stubborn wall I’d erected around my heart finally crumbled, not with a crash, but with a soft, quiet surrender, like ice melting under a warm sun.

Maybe this was Axel’s way of guiding me, a silent blessing from beyond the veil. Maybe this was him ensuring I didn’t spend the rest of my life drowning in loneliness, trapped by the ghost of a love lost. Perhaps this was his final, selfless gift to me.

"What about this weekend?" I proposed shyly, the words surprising even myself.

"You see, I’m a workaholic, striving for excellence, and I always manage my business myself. The day after tomorrow is my debut on the catwalk, and I want to do great."

                I also wanted to prove to myself, and to him, that I was more than just a mate, I was a capable, driven woman.

A flash of surprise crossed his handsome face, his eyebrows rising slightly.

He looked at me, a mixture of admiration and something else in his eyes.

"Your debut?" he echoed, a slow smile curved his lips. "Then I have to be there, watching my mate’s professional side. I wouldn't miss it for anything." His gaze warmed slightly, and then he added the following, almost as if he were an afterthought. "And the Alpha female will surely buy some stuff there, she is addicted to these shows. Andrea spends millions on clothes, parfum, and cosmetics."

A sharp, unexpected jolt of jealousy coursed through me, an intense, unfamiliar heat that flared in my chest. My wolf, Era, who had been purring contentedly, suddenly rumbled low, her eyes flashing red.

This was my mate. He was not supposed to accompany any other woman, and most certainly not know her habits by heart, speaking so casually about her spending millions on frivolous things. My wolf felt an undeniable surge of territoriality.

Anderson suddenly chuckled, a deep, knowing sound, and I realized he must have felt the commotion in me, the flare of my dormant wolf. His warm hand reassuringly covered mine over the table, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.

"Calm down, babe," he coaxed with amusement and tenderness. "Andrea is the Alpha female of my pack, my Alpha’s sister. We are practically siblings. We grew up together, and I've been her personal guard and confidante for years. Going around with her to these events is more like my job. I need her safe and sound. That’s all."

He paused, his blue eyes searching mine for understanding.

"There's nothing more to it, I promise you, baby. Once you know her, she will take you by surprise, in the best way possible. She’s strong, fierce, but incredibly kind."

Ashamed, a blush rising on my cheeks, I lowered my eyes, my gaze fixed on our joined hands. This fierce jealousy had never happened to me before. Axel was always considerate, constantly made it clear to everyone around us that I was his woman, his Luna, and nobody would dare challenge me for my position in his heart.

And here I had a second chance mate, and I had to deal with a female friend, an Alpha female no less, who clearly held a significant place in his life. It was a new, unsettling dynamic.

"It’s okay," I stated a little forced, not quite assured of this new reality. "Sure, I’ll get used to it. It’s just new." I managed a small, tentative smile, hoping he would believe me.

His grip on my hand tightened, a silent acknowledgment of my words, a silent understanding.

"Good," he responded, his smile returning, wider this time. "So, the fashion show. What time?"

We exchanged numbers, addresses, and agreed to meet again after the fashion show.

As we prepared to leave, Anderson hesitated, then gently pulled me into his arms, his touch confident, tender, drawing me close until my head rested against his chest. I could hear the strong, steady beat of his heart beneath my ear, a rhythm that resonated with my own. The moment stretched between us, slow, electric, charged with unspoken emotion and undeniable connection, a silent conversation far deeper than words.

I felt his wolf, a powerful, gentle presence, swirling around mine, a comforting embrace.

Then he gently pulled my head back and leaned in.

His lips met mine for our first kiss.

It was gentle, yet so possessive. I felt everything in that single, profound moment, the warmth of him, the intoxicating, comforting scent of his wolf that now filled my senses, the subtle way he held back just slightly, proof of his respect for my fragility, how much he wanted this, how much he needed me.

His happiness radiated through the kiss, a pure, unadulterated joy that wrapped around me like a silent vow and refused to let go, pulling me deeper into his orbit, into his world.

And in that moment, in the soft, tender press of his lips, I made my decision.

I would take the leap.

This bond, this breathtaking pull, had become my new reality, a potent force I could no longer deny, a beacon in the darkness.

I closed my eyes briefly, savoring the intimacy, allowing myself to feel, truly feel, for the first time in weeks. Then I stepped back, my heart pounding in a chaotic symphony in my chest. The fears were still there, gnawing at the edges of my newfound hope.

I was scared. So scared. Of the unknown, of the past, of this overwhelming new future that was unfolding at a staggering pace.

But I was also ready.

Ready to trust again. Ready to love again. Ready to finally believe, I deserved happiness.