Chapter Two

Rae managed to finish her dinner.

It was delicious. Even Negan complimented the chef and StonePaw's chef was the best in their district. Rae ate raspberry mousse for dessert and it left her mouth watering. She watched Negan the entire time but he rarely met her eyes. She didn't want to think that something was amiss so she attributed his behavior to nervousness. Yes, he was probably nervous. He couldn't hold her gaze for five seconds.

Yes, she was counting.

After dinner, they sat hearing her father talk about the economic state of their kind and Negan joked about how similar to humans they were becoming. It was a tasteless joke but Rae smiled warmly and reassuringly at him. Werewolves hated being compared to humans. They were completely different beings. Her father hated it more and she could tell because his nostrils flared a little and all conversation ceased.

Rae cleared her throat after a painful moment. Her father looked at her and then at her mother. Something passed between them. Rae didn't know what it was. Her father then stood and announced, "There is an urgent matter I must take care of. Alpha Negan, I will return shortly."

"Please," he said. "This is your home."

Her mother followed and only she, Negan, and Kara remained seated. Her sister's presence annoyed her. Couldn't she tell that she and Negan wanted to spend some time alone? Their mating day would be the following day. They had much they had to discuss. Well, Rae hoped that they would. She hadn't seen him in a couple of months. Her family was taking care of the preparation, but perhaps there was something he wanted to say to her.

When Kara stood, she exhaled sharply. She hadn't realized that she was holding her breath.

Finally, they were alone.

She had known him for five years yet at the moment, she couldn't think of anything to say to him. It wasn't nervousness or shyness, it was something else. He was a little distant. Perhaps his travels weren't as productive as he said they were.

She waited for him to say something but she quickly realized that if she didn't break the silence, he wouldn't. It made her uneasy. She didn't like feeling uneasy. "Are you excited?" she asked. It was a simple enough question.

He looked at her with his hazel eyes and leaned forward. She did the same. Her eyes were only a shade darker than his. It was the first thing her mother noticed when they first met. "He has your eyes," she mentioned. "It's almost as if you were meant to be!"

"I am," he answered, and she instantly relaxed. She was anxious and her anxiety was causing her to overreact. Everything was fine. Why wouldn't it be?

"Would you like to see the backyard?"

He nodded and they both stood. They were standing on either side of the dining table and when they were finally side-to-side, she expected him to hold her hand but he didn't. They walked past the bustling kitchen where the servants were rushing to get the kitchen clean so they could retire to their rooms and to a narrow corridor that led to a door. She opened the door and he walked past her. She followed him and closed the door behind her.

The lights were off but the moon was bright in the sky. The next day would be a full moon, which was the most auspicious time of the month to host a mating ceremony. Many chairs were facing a platform where they—the couple—would say their vows to each other. There was a tent above the flatform decorated with vines and all sorts of plants that they deemed lucky. Her favorite flowers, gardenias, were all over the stage. She could smell them from where she stood and it calmed her nerves, the scent of them.

Negan looked at the whole setup in silence.

"What do you think?" she asked. She didn't like that she had to push him to talk but again, maybe it was something she had to get used to. She'd be his mate, after all. Everyone had something unpleasant about them and this was Negan's flaw. That was what she told herself but deep down, she knew that something was wrong. She felt it in her bones. He wasn't usually quiet. They normally had much to say to each other.

What was the matter with him?

"I think it all looks beautiful," he finally said. "I can tell you've got something to do with the decorations. The gardenias."

She beamed. "You remembered." She had told him that gardenias were her favorite long ago. She was pleased that he remembered such a small detail about her.

"I wouldn't forget."

He turned away from her and stared at the stage and the hundreds of chairs. Behind the chairs, there were the long buffet tables which would be covered in food for their guests. It was cold and so she rubbed her arms. A few minutes passed and he still hadn't said a word. His eyes were glued to the stage.

Rae was growing impatient. It was becoming increasingly clear that something wasn't quite right. "Is there something you would like to say to me, Negan?"

He turned to her quickly. There was a crease between his brows. For a second, it looked like he would answer her question, but then he asked, "Why do you ask, Rae?"

"You seem distant," she told him. "You won't start a conversation with me. It feels like there's something you want to say to me, something important."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "It's nothing like that, Rae. I'm just tired. It was a long trip and I should've slept before I stopped by here. I apologize."

"Are you sure?" she asked, stepping closer to him. It wasn't that they hadn't embraced or kissed before—they had. So his silence and his distance were confusing her. She was close enough to kiss him. His arms remained by his side. "Because if you're unsure—"

"No," he said quickly, interrupting her. He touched her face then and the warmth of his palm was enough to rid her of all her doubts. She leaned into it and cupped his hand with her own. He searched her eyes in the dark and added, "None of this has anything to do with you. I'm sorry if I'm being uncouth."

Rae felt bad for her outburst but she didn't make that known. They stood close together for a few moments. She thought of asking him more questions about their mating the next day but she didn't want to ruin the moment because for some reason he wasn't in the mood. And before she realized it they were back inside and her family was in the living room, even Kara who usually slept early. They searched her face and she flashed them a smile she felt was reassuring. They had undoubtedly noticed his mood and they were probably as worried as she was.

Her parents exchanged a glance. They weren't convinced.

"Well," Negan began. "I believe it would be best if I left. Tomorrow will be a long day and we all need some rest before then."

They silently escorted him outside. Rae remained at the front door with Kara and watched her parents exchange a few words with him. He looked apologetic and she deduced that he was apologizing for his behavior. She wasn't too concerned; he had reassured her that everything was fine. She did not doubt that he would be back to normal by tomorrow.

She couldn't wait.

"I'm surprised you're still up," Rae commented.

"I couldn't sleep," Kara replied, staring at her feet.

"I don't think I'll be able to either," she confessed. "I can't wait for tomorrow. I mean, it's finally happening. I'll be mated to him and I'll be Luna of StonePaw. Isn't that exciting?"

Kara smiled at her curtly and turned to leave. It cut straight to her, her smile. It wasn't genuine, she felt that immediately. She turned to Kara and asked, "Is there a problem?"

Kara stopped near the staircase and sighed. "Why would there be a problem, Rae? Tomorrow will be a long day and we need to sleep. We're in charge of the preparations, remember?"

Rae stared at her. There was much she wanted to say but she kept her lips sealed Kara took the hint and ascended the stairs, disappearing from her sight. She heard her parents close the door behind her. She realized that she was still staring at the top of the stairs.

"What's the matter?" her mother asked.

"Nothing," she replied and walked away from them. She didn't care if she sounded brusque. At the moment, all she wanted to do was go up to her bedroom and be alone. What was Kara's problem? She couldn't figure it out. It was almost as if everyone around her was acting differently. The conversation during dinner was awkward and strained, far from what it used to be. Kara hadn't said anything at the table. She was in the office with their parents earlier and they refused to tell her what the matter was. They were clearly discussing her because she heard Negan's name.

What was the matter?

It was almost as if they weren't happy for her.

No, thinking that way wasn't healthy. Why wouldn't they be happy for her? She would help unify their packs and Negan was good to her. They all got along well. She was exaggerating, it was an entirely different matter. Perhaps they didn't want to tell her because they feared it would ruin her mating day. Well, she didn't mean to be a terrible person, but if it was going to ruin her special day, a day she had been looking forward to for five years, they could keep it to themselves. She didn't want to know.

Once she was in her room, she removed her dress and threw on an old t-shirt after removing her makeup. She crawled into bed and then decided against it. Her dress. She wanted to see her dress before she fell asleep.

It was Negan's grandmother's. It was an absolutely stunning piece of cloth. Navy blue to represent his pack's colors. It fit her like a glove when she first tried it and everyone that saw her remarked how lucky she was and how her mating to Negan was destined to be. She agreed with them. She felt the same way when she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked lovely. The red of her hair was a sharp contrast to the dark, rich color of the dress.

Rae ran her hand down the front and sighed. She loved looking at it. It was a reminder that her biggest dream would come true. Because the moment she saw Negan sitting with her parents all those years ago, she knew she wouldn't want anyone else.

She finally got back in bed and turned her nightstand light off after setting her alarm. She looked around her room in the dark before falling asleep and made a mental note of every single detail. It would be her last night sleeping under her parent's roof as a BloodMoon. She would be a StonePaw before the next day ended.

She closed her eyes and repeated her new title over and over again.

Luna Rae of StonePaw.