The Reluctant Luna

VIOLET

Our walk home was short, and I could feel the anger earlier muted by pain rolling off of Hunter in waves.

I went to my room immediately, packing most of my belongings, and I left whatever didn't fit. I would be back soon anyway.

I could hear voices, muffled by my bedroom door, and they were steadily rising in volume. I opened the door, and the conversation became clear.

“How could you say that to me, I left my home as well to be with you!” Liz was on the verge of tears.

“That was different!” Hunter yelled back. “She doesn't want to go!”

I'd never seen him speak to her in that manner before and I didn't want to be the bone of contention.

“Stop!” I yelled, my voice rising higher than both of theirs. “Stop it.”

Hunter came to me, holding both of my hands in his. “Violet, you do not have to go. You can stay here with me.”

The subject was untouched, but even right now my wolflessness was here with me, splitting my family. He was an Alpha, I couldn't shift. We knew what fate awaited me.

“I want to go.”

“Violet…”

“I want to leave with my mate.”

“No.”

A thread snapped in my head, and I ripped my hands from his. “I will leave with my mate! Aren't I allowed to be happy as well?” I screamed, my heart screaming in pain as hurt bled into Hunter's eyes. “I have a mate Hunter, and I am leaving with him!”

“Violet…” Liz interrupted, “Do not be so cruel.”

“I want to be happy, Hunter. Please let me go.” I whispered, looking away from the hurt in his eyes.

There was also hope there; hope that happiness would indeed be found with my mate, hope that leaving home would be best for me.

Hope was for foolish people.

*****

“Reject me,” I stated calmly like the words didn't leave an acidic burn on my tongue.

Brian cast a look at his packmates, who hung around the cars, waiting for departure, none of them paying any attention to us, and his gaze came back to me.

“No,” he replied, calmly as well. He wasn't surprised. If anything, he looked impatient, almost angry.

I couldn't blame him for that; it had been a hectic night, and I was only making it worse. All of this wasn't his fault, I was the inadequate one.

I needed to find a quiet corner and cry myself to sleep.

Everyone was back at the ceremony, it continued despite the earlier issue but Brian insisted on leaving. I had said my goodbyes to my family and pack, but as soon as I was done with the rejection, I would be back home. Life would continue as expected and I would put this behind me.

If Hunter or Liz knew about this, they would never let me. So I would sort it on my own and return to my family. I would apologize to Hunter and my brother would forgive me.

“Well, I reject you then,” I said, holding his gaze.

An eyebrow cocked in annoyance. “You're not allowed to do that either.”

“I am not going with you, I…”

He crossed the distance and was suddenly in my space, “I can tell, mate, I know.”

My breath hitched in my throat; he could tell?

Leaning his tall frame down to me, he took a long sniff. “Where is she? You have caused quite the trouble today, and it is for her, isn't it, mate?” His voice was gentle, the soft baritone a great contrast to the annoyance lining his gaze.

Shame clung to me like an invisible shawl, and my heart bled, but I inhaled through the pain. It would happen only once and it would be done.

I took an involuntary step back. “It is Violet, not mate.” My voice was barely audible.

His eyes traveled to my hair, and back down to my eyes. He closed the distance between us again, barely a breath away, I couldn't breathe without inhaling that soothing smell of his.

I struggled to unclog my brain. It was the mate bond, making him smell so good and comforting. I felt anything but comfortable.

“I reject you,” I exclaimed, needing this to be over, as there was a rising hysteria growing within me. “Find another mate, I'm sorry.”

Another thought vied for attention within me; what if he wanted me still? What if I could have my mate without having a wolf, what if? What if? What if?

The thoughts played around in my head, but a rivaling thought stopped them all. I couldn't, he was an alpha, he was of the Bloodmoon pack, and I could never be near worthy enough to be their Luna.

“But you can't, you can't reject me without her, can you?” A half grin lifted his lips. “Let's go home, mate.” He said, walking away like he expected me to follow.

No, no, no, this was wrong; he couldn't possibly want me. I cursed my wolf; I could barely feel her whimpering at the far edges of my consciousness, curling in on herself. So weak. She was never there when I needed her the most, not now, not ever.

Hysteria bubbled up to the surface. I would not leave with him.

He turned to see me still rooted in my spot, but it was perhaps the fright in my eyes that gave my intentions away.

“Don't,” He warned, his voice rigid.

But I was past the point of listening. My feet moved of their own accord, and a moment later I was fleeing toward the woods, clumps of dirt and leaves flying in my wake.

Wrong direction, but I wasn't exactly thinking at the moment. I just needed to get away from him, and I didn't care how. I moved quickly, the warm air whipping at my face, and tearing my hair band away.

There was a loud angry growl behind me. I didn't care, nor did I slow down. If only I could get past the line of trees and into the woods, then I would… Hell, I didn't know what was next, but my feet continued to move, expanding the distance between us.

It was fruitless, I didn't even hear him behind me. One moment, I was running; the next, I was falling into darkness.

*****

BRIAN

“Don't,” I growled, a tad bit harder than I intended.

She was going to pull another stunt. After walking the earth far longer than expected, I'd become quite adept at reading others, and from the frantic way her eyes flitted about, she was about to snap the thin thread my patience was hanging on.

I was right. She took to her heels a second later, darting toward the thick line of trees. I briefly considered letting her go farther; I was already wound up tight, and a good chase would loosen me up.

Instead, I covered the distance between us in a few leaps, striking her head with a forceful blow. It had the intended effect; she gasped, her small body crumpling to the dry earth.

“That might scar,” Aliya offered casually as she came to stand beside me.

Trails of blood ran down the side of my mate's head, further darkening her red strands. I cursed myself internally, I hadn't meant to use so much force.

“It was effective,” I muttered as I lifted her into my arms. Her body was light, too light.

As I stared at her face, my heart panged with something familiar but forgotten; peace. She was peaceful in her sleep, her red lashes delicately shadowed against her pale face. I shrugged the emotion off, reminding myself of what this was.

I refused to be deceived by the intricate threads the moon had woven between us, but for a moment, just a moment, I faltered, for I, too, needed rest.

I gave in for a second, burying my nose and sniffing her hair. She smelled different from anyone I'd met before, like a fresh spring on a cool day and the tiny white flowers that grew in the meadow behind my cabin. She smelled like home, my home.

“Are you sure about this?” Aliya asked, breaking my momentary peace. I was grateful that she did.

“Yes,” There was no returning at this point.

Soon, we were on our way back, cutting through the thick woods, headlights flashing as we went.

I carried my mate in my arms, her body nestled comfortably against mine, her head under my chin. The road was uneven, and as the car bumped its way forward, she whimpered slightly, clinging harder to me.

She seemed to be having a dream, and she tried to toss and turn in my lap, her nails digging into my back. She was so soft, and she made mewling sounds as she fought whatever demon tormented her dreams. My body reacted in the worst way possible, my cock becoming rigidly hard.

I groaned, cursing my body; this was neither the right place nor the right circumstance. It didn't help that she continuously sought out more ways to get underneath my skin. I lifted a hand to her head, patting it gently, and willing her nighttime demons away.

She quieted down moments later, her body sweating, but she still clung to me. She was going to be a problem, this mate.

She'd defiled and troubled me at every turn since I'd found her. I briefly wondered what her life had been like at her pack. Whatever instinct that had made her continuously run from me despite our bond was right; she was about to have a much harder life.

If she lived long enough.

I sighed; there was something about her, though. Violet with her red hair and eyes. She made me restless.

And this wasn't the time to be restless, not when I was this close.