Chapter Ten

Aria's POV 

I can recognize that voice anywhere. 

“I, Jessica Woods, challenge you, Luna Aria, for your position as Luna.”

Gasps of surprise envelope the air. It's almost unheard of for a Luna to be challenged immediately after attaining the position. It can only mean that she is deemed as incompetent. 

“An Omega is unfit to rule the largest pack in Crescent Moon. She cannot even dream about filling the shoes that Former Luna, Margaret left.” She finishes.

Loud murmurs fill the pack grounds, looks of disdain are thrown at me, in response to this revelation.

A loud snarl from my mate shakes the entire pack grounds. The whole place goes completely still. I grasp his arms tightly, the air feels suffocating, my palms grow wet with sweat.

He gently pries his arms off mine, taking powerful strides towards Jessica. Just as he gets to the farthest part of the podium, Aldin reaches out and grabs his shoulders whispering, though I could surprisingly make it out.

All this while, she stands completely still probably in order to avoid infuriating my mate more. 

“I know she deserves it but, please, it's not yet time.”

My brows furrowed in confusion at this statement, what does he mean by that. 

“No one disrespects my mate, Aldin,” my mate replies in utter irritation. 

“I know but if you do this, you prove that what she is saying is correct,” Aldin continues, “Let Aria prove herself and gain respect, she has mine but needs the pack to look up to her.”

“Fine, she better not spew any more nonsense,” my mate all but growls out. He then scratches himself off Aldin and walks back to me.

“I'm sorry babe, I just couldn't stand and watch her disrespect you.” 

I give him an award winning smile and mutter close to him, “You make me feel so special, I can't begin to explain how good that makes me feel.”

His mouth opens to say something but a rough unladylike  voice cuts him off. 

“I, Misty Wardwick, challenge you Luna Aria to a fight for your position as Luna.” A tall tan woman, with a short bob comes forward in the crowd. 

“I, Anita Miller, challenge you Luna Aria to a fight for your position as Luna.”

I, Wendy Snow, challenge you Luna Aria to a fight for your position as Luna.”

“What?” My mate roars at the challengers, they retreat in fear. 

“It's okay babe, I'll take care of this, okay,” I say, taking a step in front of him to speak into the microphone. 

“At a point in my life, I would have succumbed to the doubts and harsh words, but now I have a loving mate and the best thing that ever happened to me, by my side.” My mate's large hands wrap around my waist.

“Nothing can replace that, now I'm stronger than ever. The moon goddess knows exactly why she made us for each other and I think we're perfect for each other.” I say with a loud voice giving the challengers a steely gaze.

“I accept your challenge, all of you,” their eyes widened in shock. “If the moon goddess wills it I will emerge victorious, with or without a wolf.” I finish cryptically. 

A pin drop can be heard in the silence. “That's the spirit, you go girl,” Martha screams, pulling the crowd from their reverie. A round of applause breaks in the crowd, though I can still see some members of the pack shooting me disapproving looks.

“The Luna Trials will be held in three months,” Kael says out loud. He then pulls me to his side and picks me up bridal style. With long strides, we get off the stage walking to his room.

He places me gently down, and heads towards his drawers, opening it in search of something. 

His room has a dull feel to it. Curtain drapes are plain black. The walls are painted grey, with a black duvet. He takes time in search of something then walks back to me in the dark. 

“Who is Margaret?” I ask, jealousy overtakes my senses.

He “She was my first mate, the one I mentioned in our conversation at the infirmary.”

“I see,” I don't know whether to give in to the jealousy that is clouding my senses. 

I take a deep breath, taking a moment to clear my head, his deep blue eyes peer at me in silence, probably gauging my actions. 

“Tell me more about her, I'd like to know why four she-wolves challenged me because she was mentioned.”

He pulls on my arm and leads me towards the bed, sitting and getting comfortable. 

A heavy sigh escapes his lips, “She was my childhood friend and a sister to my Enforcer and close friend O'brien. They were orphans from the wiped Maltis pack, the most powerful pack at the time. A lot of survivors from the pack had been appearing across pack borders. An older boy and girl were found and initiated into the pack. They grew nicely and were pretty strong, we suspected them to be of Alpha blood.”

He looks at me with mild discomfort but continues, “She and I were particularly close and after the death of my father, I became an Alpha really young. When I became of age we discovered that we were mates, the whole pack was ecstatic. The attacks of the rogues had intensified by the borders, we tried having kids for awhile but it didn't work out. She was the best Luna to my pack, forming a personal bond with each and every one of them.”

“I see,” I mutter, feeling envious. My mate should only talk about me like this.

He chuckles at my expression, “No one can replace you my love. I'm just clarifying why the other she-wolves stepped up after what Jessica said.”

“Okay, go on, I'd like to hear all of it.”

“Sure, where was I again……., yes, she was ambushed and killed at the pack borders by rogues, it was a sudden and huge loss for myself and my pack.”

I inhaled a sharp gasp, losing a mate was so painful that it made some wolves feral.

“I’m so sorry about that, but how did you get through it?” I asked in curiosity. 

“I almost went feral if not for the help of Aldin, O'Brien and the pack. Aldin took it upon himself to inject me with Wolf's bane in order to knock me out and stabilize me for short periods.”

“Then why did you go for Jessica?” I ask, each word laced with so much venom.

“I needed an heir at the time, or else my lineage would be wiped out. The Elders of our pack chose Jessica, because she was strong and could give me “strong pups” as they claimed. There were no feelings attached to it, it was an obligation to the pack.”

“Doesn't make me feel any better,” I say with a pout evident on my lips. I fold my arms pushing my face to the side. I know I am being petty but I just want to be babied. I know none of these is his fault though.

A squeal escapes my lips as he pulls me to his laps then he places a necklace on my neck. Clasping it firmly, I place my fingers on the slightly weighty pendant. I lift myself off swiftly, rushing towards the mirror in his room.

My eyes widen at the intricate patterns around the pendant with a howling wolf at the middle of it.

“It's so beautiful,” I utter in amazement.

“It has been in my family for over nine generations, given to Lunas at their mating ceremonies as a sign of eternal  commitment.”

“Wait, so you gave it to your first mate?”

“This is about us, and no one else,” he replies with a reassuring tone.

“No just answer me,” I say pressing the matter.

“It never felt right to give her, I just never did,” he says slowly, staring deep into my eyes.

A loud knock broke off our stare contest. My mate walks towards the door.

“I'd like you to meet someone.” He mutters, twisting the  door knob and pulling it open.

“Come in, man.” My mate turns towards me with a slightly shorter man towing behind him. With curly brown hair pulled up in a messy bun.

They approach me slowly, then stop right in front of me.

My mate clears his throat and says, “O'brien meet my lovely mate, Aria. Aria, meet my Enforcer O'brien.

“Well, hello Luna, it's an honour to finally meet you,” the man says with a radiant smile on his face. 

My body goes completely still, his face looks eerily familiar. My mind spiralling, trying to remember a distant memory as I slip to the ground, my vision going completely dark.