Chapter 1. The Luna's Temperance

Anna

All I wanted to do… was create.

I stared into the ocean hues in his eyes and stiffened as he pulled me into his arms, igniting sparks that only destined lovebirds could feel. My body subconsciously eased into his touch and my fingers found themselves drawing patterns against the softness of his shirt.

Far into the future, I could see the creation of our love birthed into something bigger than a current us could ever imagine.

He leaned into my face. My face was hot and I felt flustered but it all melted away as I felt the teasing tug of his teeth on my ear. A moan slipped past me as his warmth sent shivers down my spine.

"Haiden," I gasped, throwing my head back as a sensation I'd never felt before tugged through me.

He slowly removed his teeth from my ear and turned away from me. His arms slowly retracting from my crushable body. "Mate," he uttered into the reminisce reminder of the green array of trees that covered us. The pack's fluorescent guest house had been untouched for years but kept flourishing. Usually, Haiden came here to train, and I watched. His constant swing. Left, right. Heavenly majestic. All that twirl, making him encompass all that muscle of his greatness and flex all that strength, and beauty within him. I knew. I'd seen him since I was twelve.

I turned to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, still absolutely surreal that I was his mate and he was mine. I breathed in and out contently and deliberately traced my finger near the tug of his waistband making him clutch my hands tightly and twirl me around so I was facing him. I smiled, liking the reaction I'd ignited from him. It was just that I sensed this slight hesitation from him which I didn't like.

"Don't test me, mate," He grabbed me by the chin so I was only staring at him. "I've been waiting for you since I was eighteen, so if you're gonna tease me you better be ready for the consequence as I… won't hold back."

I swallowed as I sensed the sincerity emanating from his words.

He released my chin and gazed at me softly before speeding past me.

I felt the wind dance through my hair, but his wood-like scent was still there.

I turned, and there he was, showing me his back. I faced the ground and grew self-conscious as I watched my bare feet plunge onto the darker denser part of the soil.

"Talk to your parents, Anna. Soon I'll have you by my side as my Luna."

I gasped and lifted my head to thank him but he was already gone with the wind.

My lips curved up into a smile as I thought of his words.

"I'm going to be a Luna!" I excitedly whispered to myself before dilly-dallying past the routes I was familiar with to get home.

Haiden

I grabbed the footnote plastered on my desk to inform me of assigning new guards to watch the cemetery of our ancestors. I almost squashed the note but stopped. This was Luke's job. My Beta and most trusted person.

As if on cue, I sensed his presence behind the door.

I smiled, humming with delight as I heard his knock.

"Come in,"

There was something unhurried and daunting about his breath when he knocked, it was quite something.

"Luke, come here, you're just in time." I smoothened the note in my hand as I felt him behind me. I turned around to face him. "Here," I handed him the note and he took it without hesitation.

"My Alpha, I asked the message reach your desk. Recently, there are more scouting teams outside and there aren't enough squads under my orders. Without your order I—"

"—Do it, Luke." I interrupted him with a reassuring smile.

"Alpha," there was hesitation in his voice. I closed the distance between us and placed an arm over his shoulder. "That's right, Luke. I'm giving you permission to manage the squad teams under my right wing."

"But—"

"—No need to complain. I have my reasons." I led Luke out to the balcony and we both watched our Blue Thunder beneath our feet. On nearer inches of our lands, children were playing and hovering over a woman as pleasant as a goddess. She danced in sync with the direction of the wind and the kids joined her in playful curiosity.

I could sense Luke's gaze burning through me and I knew the question he wanted to ask.

"Do you know why I've brought you here, Luke?"

"No? Alpha," I heard the cautious curiosity in his tone but I could not blame him. This was the first time I'd ever brought him here without a forewarning.

"Relax, Luke. It's good news."

"I'm getting curious, Alpha. Please share this great news with me. If you're this thrilled, then I'd be over the moon. You know how much I like to celebrate your victories, My Alpha."

"Her." I pointed to the woman in the white dress who wouldn't stop giggling with the children. "She's mine," I couldn't believe the smile that crossed my cheek after I said that.

I was mature, or so, I liked to think, because I was slightly older and have been through some tough challenges but none of that could stop the boyish grin that graced my lips after I looked at the woman the moon goddess had bonded me to.

I'd waited years for her to grow and mature and she'd only grown progressively more beautiful than I could imagine, into a full-fledged goddess of beauty.

"You've found your mate, Alpha?" As expected, there's shock In Luke's voice. I smirked, I'd hidden our connection before she found out and Luke didn't even notice? Interesting.

"Why? Were you interested in her before, Luke?"

"No, of course not, My Alpha. It's just you've paid keen attention to her as a brother would! I just never thought she would turn out to be your mate."

I smiled, "Nothing ever passes your eyes, Luke."

A moment passed before I asked seriously, "What do you think of her being your Luna?"

I heard a pause in his breath and I looked at him seriously. "What's wrong, Luke?"

Luke immediately bowed his head in front of me, "My Alpha, it's nothing serious."

"If it's nothing serious then you should tell me!" I did not refrain from using my authoritative voice on him.

Luke instantly fell on one knee, "My Alpha, please forgive me but I dare not make any remarks without solid basis. Please let me probe into my suspicion and give you a decent answer soon."

I turned my back to Luke and faced over the fence, my gaze towering over the hundreds of squad members that were being instructed to locations within the pack. As they regrouped to move separately, I saw one of them jog to Anna and that riled me up, I admit. But the steel handle by the balcony squeezed up as I saw Anna smile back at the man. I could not watch anymore, so I turned away.

"Luke, have Anna sent over here. I'll just keep her with me until I'm convinced she'll make a good Luna."

"Yes, My Alpha."

With that, I walked away.