Chapter 5: The Declaration

The Moonlight Pack hall felt like a cage made of two hundred pairs of hostile eyes. The air was thick with whispers, with suspicion, with the sharp scent of anger that made Luna’s skin crawl even from two floors above in Asher’s bedroom.

Luna sat on the edge of Asher’s bed, her hands trembling in her lap. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She wasn’t supposed to hear the pack’s verdict on her. But Asher had refused to let her stay downstairs.

"You’re not facing them alone, Luna," he’d said before he left, his gray eyes dark with determination. "Not ever again."

The words had sent warmth spreading through Luna’s chest despite the fear coiling in her stomach.

The door opened and Asher walked in, his black formal suit making him look more powerful and dangerous than ever. His jaw was clenched, his gray eyes stormy, but the moment they landed on Luna, something in his expression softened.

“How did it go?” Luna asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t think she could handle hearing that the whole pack had turned against him because of her.

Asher walked to the side of the bed and sat down, reaching for her hand without hesitation. His fingers were warm and steady against her cold ones. “They’re angry,” he said quietly. “They don’t understand. They don’t accept.”

Luna nodded slowly, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Asher,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I’m bringing you trouble. I’m sorry I’m making your pack hate you.”

Asher’s jaw clenched and he reached up, gently wiping away a tear that had slipped down Luna’s cheek with his thumb. The touch was so gentle, so careful, it made Luna’s breath catch. “Don’t you dare apologize, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly, his voice rough with emotion. “You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re my mate. You’re carrying my child. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Luna looked up at him, her gray eyes searching his face. “But the pack—”

“The pack will learn to accept it,” Asher cut her off, his voice cold and absolute. “Because I will make them accept it. Because you are mine, Luna. And anyone who disrespects you disrespects me.”

The word mine sent a shiver down Luna’s spine. It wasn’t possessive in a cruel way. It was possessive in a protective way. In a way that made Luna feel safe for the first time in five years.

Luna closed her eyes and leaned into Asher’s touch, just for a moment. Just for one second of feeling wanted. Feeling protected. Feeling loved. “I don’t want you to lose everything because of me, Asher,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t want you to lose your pack. Your position. Your life.”

Asher’s expression hardened and his eyes flashed red for a moment before he regained control. “I would lose everything willingly for you, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice low and intense. “I would burn this entire pack to the ground if it meant keeping you and our child safe.”

Luna’s heart stopped at his words. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. No one had ever made her feel like she was worth that kind of sacrifice.

“Asher,” Luna whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I… I don’t deserve you.”

Asher’s eyes softened and he reached out, gently cupping Luna’s face in his hands. “Don’t you ever say that again, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. “You deserve everything. You deserve the world. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

Luna closed her eyes and leaned into Asher’s touch, feeling safe and loved and wanted. “I love you, Asher,” she whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Asher froze, his hands stilling on Luna’s face. For a long moment, there was only silence between them. Then Asher’s eyes widened and he stared at Luna like she’d just hung the moon and stars in the sky.

“Luna,” Asher said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. “Do you mean that?”

Luna opened her eyes and looked up at him, her gray eyes filled with love and determination. “Yes, Asher,” she said quietly but firmly. “I love you. I didn’t want to. I tried not to. But I can’t help it anymore.”

Asher’s expression softened and he leaned forward, gently kissing Luna’s forehead. His lips were warm and soft against her skin, and Luna’s breath caught in her throat at the tenderness of it. “I love you too, Luna,” Asher said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. “More than my pack. More than my power. More than my life.”

Luna closed her eyes and melted into Asher’s embrace, feeling safe and loved and wanted for the first time in her life. Asher held her tightly against his chest, breathing in her scent and feeling his wolf purr in satisfaction. Mine. Ours. Loved.

“I’m scared, Asher,” Luna whispered against his chest, her voice muffled by his shirt. “I’m scared of what happens next. I’m scared of what the pack will do.”

Asher held her tighter, one hand stroking her hair in a soothing motion. “I know you’re scared, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice soft and gentle. “But you don’t have to be scared anymore. Not while I’m here. Not while you’re in my arms.”

Luna nodded and closed her eyes, letting Asher’s warmth and scent calm her racing heart. “I trust you, Asher,” she whispered. “I trust you to keep us safe.”

Asher pressed another gentle kiss to Luna’s forehead. “I won’t let you down, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “I swear it on my wolf. On my pack. On my life.”

They stayed like that for several minutes, just holding each other in comfortable silence. Luna could feel Asher’s heart beating steadily against her ear, strong and sure and protective.

Finally, Asher pulled back slightly and looked down at Luna’s face. “I need to go back downstairs, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice serious. “There are still things I need to address with the pack. But I wanted to come and see you first.”

Luna nodded slowly and looked up at him, worry evident in her eyes. “Be careful, Asher,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “Please be careful.”

Asher nodded once and stood up from the bed. “I will, Luna,” he said quietly. “And when I come back, things will be different. The pack will know that you are my Luna. Officially. Publicly. For everyone to see.”

Luna nodded and watched as Asher walked toward the door. Just as he reached it, he stopped and turned back to look at her.

“Luna,” Asher said quietly, his voice serious. “I love you. Never forget that.”

With that, Asher walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Luna lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and something else. Something warm. Something hopeful. Something that felt almost like happiness.

The pack hall was still tense when Asher returned, though the shouting had died down to angry murmurs. Two hundred eyes turned to him as he stepped back onto the platform, and he could feel the weight of their judgment, their suspicion, their barely contained hostility.

Asher stood tall and proud, his shoulders straight, his expression carved from stone. But underneath that cold exterior, his wolf was restless and protective, wanting nothing more than to go back upstairs and hold Luna in his arms.

“Pack,” Asher said, his voice loud and clear and carrying to every corner of the hall. “I have one more thing to say.”

The room fell silent, everyone waiting with bated breath.

“I love Luna Monroe,” Asher said quietly but firmly, his voice echoing through the hall. “I love her more than I love this pack. More than I love my title. More than I love my life.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. This was unprecedented. No Alpha had ever publicly declared love for a wolfless omega before.

“And I will spend the rest of my life proving that love to her,” Asher continued, his voice steady and unwavering. “I will protect her. I will cherish her. I will honor her. And anyone who disrespects her will answer to me.”

The crowd erupted into chaos again, but this time there was a different energy in the room. Not just anger. Not just fear. But something else. Something that looked almost like respect.

Sarah stepped forward again, her face red with jealousy and rage. “Alpha, you can’t mean that!” she shouted, her voice shrill with emotion. “You can’t love that wolfless mutt! She’s nothing! She’s weak! She’s—”

Asher’s eyes flashed red with fury, and his wolf snarled at the disrespect toward his mate. “Watch your mouth, Sarah,” Asher said quietly, but there was a dangerous promise in his voice that made Sarah step back. “Luna is my mate. Luna is the mother of my child. And Luna is the woman I love. If you cannot respect that, then you have no place in this pack.”

Sarah’s face went pale and she opened her mouth to argue again, but the look in Asher’s eyes made her close it. She could see the rage in his eyes. She could see the promise of violence if she continued.

Asher looked out over the crowd, his gray eyes cold and assessing. “This is my final decision, pack,” he said quietly but firmly. “Luna Monroe is my mate. Luna Monroe is carrying my child. And Luna Monroe is the woman I love. If you cannot accept that, then you are not welcome in this pack.”

The room fell silent. No one moved. No one spoke.

Asher nodded once, satisfied. “This meeting is adjourned,” he said quietly.

With that, Asher turned and walked off the platform, his steps sure and confident. The crowd parted for him, making way for their Alpha, but the looks on their faces were now a mixture of shock, fear, and something that looked almost like acceptance.

Asher walked straight out of the hall and up the stairs toward his private quarters. His heart was racing, but not from fear or anger. From anticipation. From excitement. From the knowledge that Luna was waiting for him upstairs.

Asher pushed open the door to his bedroom and stepped inside, closing it softly behind him.

Luna was sitting up in bed, waiting for him, her gray eyes filled with worry and hope. The moment she saw Asher, she stood up and walked toward him, her movements hesitant but determined.

“How did it go, Asher?” Luna asked quietly, her voice trembling. “What did they say?”

Asher walked toward her and stopped just inches away, close enough that Luna could feel the heat radiating from his body. “They accepted it, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice soft and gentle. “Not happily. Not easily. But they accepted it.”

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise and relief. “Really?” she asked quietly, tears welling up in her eyes. “They really accepted me?”

Asher nodded once and reached out, gently taking Luna’s hand in his. “They accepted that you are my mate,” Asher said quietly but firmly. “They accepted that you are carrying my child. And they accepted that I love you.”

Luna closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, Asher,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “Thank you for standing up for me.”

Asher reached out and gently wiped away Luna’s tears with his thumb. “You don’t have to thank me, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “You’re my mate. You’re carrying my child. You’re the woman I love. Protecting you is my responsibility. My duty. My privilege.”

Luna looked up at Asher, her gray eyes filled with love and gratitude. “I love you, Asher,” she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Asher’s eyes softened and he leaned forward, gently kissing Luna’s lips. The kiss was soft and tender and filled with emotion, and Luna’s breath caught in her throat at the contact.

When Asher pulled back, Luna looked up at him with wide, surprised eyes. “Asher,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Asher smiled softly and brushed a strand of hair away from Luna’s face. “I love you, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me.”

Luna closed her eyes and leaned into Asher’s touch, feeling safe and loved and wanted. “I’ll never regret choosing you, Asher,” she whispered back, her voice filled with emotion. “Never.”

Asher held Luna tightly, breathing in her scent and feeling his wolf purr in satisfaction. Mine. Ours. Loved. Protected. Forever.

The door opened again and Dr. Williams walked in, carrying his medical bag. He stopped when he saw Asher holding Luna, and his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Alpha, Luna,” Dr. Williams said respectfully, bowing slightly. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to check on Luna again.”

Asher nodded once and released Luna, stepping back to give the doctor room. “Of course, Doctor,” he said quietly. “Please.”

Dr. Williams nodded and began his examination, checking Luna’s blood pressure and listening to her heart and lungs. As he worked, Asher stood beside Luna, holding her hand and watching her with a mixture of concern and affection.

“The baby’s heartbeat is strong, Luna,” Dr. Williams said quietly, a small smile on his face. “Everything looks good so far. But you still need to rest and take it easy.”

Luna nodded and looked down at her stomach, where the doctor’s hand was resting. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said quietly. “For everything.”

Dr. Williams smiled and packed up his bag. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you again, Luna,” he said kindly. “And remember - if you feel any pain or discomfort, you call me immediately. Do you understand?”

Luna nodded and watched as Dr. Williams walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

The moment the door closed, Asher pulled Luna into his arms again, holding her tightly against his chest. Luna didn’t resist. She didn’t pull away. She just melted into his embrace, feeling safe and warm and loved.

Asher held Luna for a long moment, savoring the feeling of having her in his arms. Savoring the feeling of having her trust. Savoring the feeling of having her love.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Luna,” Asher whispered into her hair, his voice rough with emotion. “I swear it on my wolf. On my pack. On my life.”

Luna closed her eyes and nodded, feeling tears streaming down her face. “I know, Asher,” she whispered back, her voice filled with emotion. “I know you will.”

Asher released Luna and pulled back slightly, looking down at her face. “Luna,” Asher said quietly, his voice serious. “I need to tell you something else.”

Luna looked up at him, her gray eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of fear. “What is it, Asher?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Asher took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to find the right words. “I’ve decided to move you into my quarters permanently, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “I want you to stay here with me. Where I can protect you. Where I can keep you safe.”

Luna’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Asher, I can’t do that,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “The pack will talk. They’ll say I’m using you. They’ll say I’m trying to trap you.”

Asher’s jaw clenched and his eyes flashed red with anger. “Let them talk, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “I don’t care what they say. I don’t care what they think. You’re my mate. You’re carrying my child. And you belong here with me.”

Luna stared at him, stunned by his words. No one had ever wanted her before. No one had ever claimed her before. No one had ever made her feel like she belonged somewhere.

“Okay, Asher,” Luna said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. “Okay. I’ll stay here with you.”

Asher’s eyes flashed with relief and something else. Something that looked almost like happiness. “Thank you, Luna,” he said quietly. “Thank you for trusting me.”

Luna nodded and looked down at her hands again. “What about the pack, Asher?” she asked quietly. “What about the challenges? What about the war?”

Asher’s expression hardened and his eyes flashed red with determination. “I’ll handle the pack, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “I’ll handle the challenges. I’ll handle the war. You just focus on keeping yourself and our child healthy. That’s all I ask of you.”

Luna nodded slowly and looked up at Asher, love and trust evident in her eyes. “Okay, Asher,” she said quietly. “Okay. I trust you.”

Asher leaned forward and gently kissed Luna’s forehead again, his lips soft and tender against her skin. “I love you, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me.”

Luna closed her eyes and melted into Asher’s embrace, feeling safe and loved and wanted. “I love you too, Asher,” she whispered back, her voice filled with emotion. “More than anything.”

Asher held Luna tightly, breathing in her scent and feeling his wolf purr in satisfaction. Mine. Ours. Loved. Protected. Forever and always.

The door opened again and a young maid walked in carrying a tray with tea and snacks. She stopped when she saw Asher holding Luna, and her eyes widened in shock.

“Alpha, Luna,” the maid said hesitantly, bowing her head. “I brought tea and snacks for Luna.”

Asher nodded once. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “You can leave the tray and go.”

The maid set the tray down on the table and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Asher picked up the teacup and held it out to Luna. “Drink this, Luna,” he said quietly. “It will help with the morning sickness.”

Luna took the cup from Asher’s hands and sipped the tea slowly, feeling the warmth spread through her body. Asher sat beside her on the bed, watching her with a mixture of concern and affection.

Luna looked up at Asher and smiled softly. “Thank you, Asher,” she said quietly. “For everything.”

Asher reached out and gently took Luna’s hand in his, squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to thank me, Luna,” he said quietly but firmly. “You’re my mate. You’re carrying my child. Taking care of you is my responsibility. My duty. My privilege.”

Luna nodded and looked down at their joined hands, feeling safe and protected in Asher’s presence. “I know, Asher,” she said quietly. “And I appreciate it. More than you know.”

Asher leaned forward and gently kissed Luna’s forehead again, his lips soft and tender against her skin. “I love you, Luna,” he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me.”

Luna closed her eyes and melted into Asher’s embrace, feeling safe and loved and wanted. “I love you too, Asher,” she whispered back, her voice filled with emotion. “More than anything.”

Asher held Luna tightly, breathing in her scent and feeling his wolf purr in satisfaction. Mine. Ours. Loved. Protected. Forever and always.