#17

EEvander POV

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as I declared my hope for her future with me. “How can I know if I want to accept a title I don’t know anything about?” She questioned. "The Luna is the Alpha's other half. She completes him. Compliments his flaws. We tend to be impulsive, possessive, protective, and authoritative. Our soul mate is nearly the opposite. She masters control, is forgiving, and is generous. She has her people’s best interest at heart. The Luna smooths the Alpha's edges and brings peace to the pack and often they make up the heads of their own families." She narrowed her eyes at the last bit, but moved on with her questions.

"Is turning wolf required?" She asked, taking another bite of her apple. I caught myself being lost watching her sensuous lips close around the bite and gently chew before she licked her lips, still looking at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. I coughed to cover my slip-up. "By tradition, yes, but no, it is not required. I think you have enough abilities to assert yourself, even to an Alpha male." I stated coolly. I wanted to be that freaking fork right now. I needed a moment to pull my wayward thoughts together. "I don't know the pros and cons. I don't want to accidentally make a decision I will regret." Her inquisitiveness was something I liked. There was great leadership in looking at all aspects of a decision. "I think you should ask your brother those questions. He choose fur, and he's been a pain in my ass and the best Beta I could have asked for ever since." I offered. She nodded before looking up at me with a question.

"Beta?" "My second in command. If I were to fall, he would rise as I have no heir." She took this in, popping a few walnuts in her mouth. Goddess, I wanted to kiss her again. But we had put off this conversation long enough. "So basically, the Luna is like your wife and the first lady of the pack keeping your Alpha BS in line?" she summarized. "Typically, there are a few Lunas who never fully mate with their Alphas. They simply work well together while being apart. However, it’s never easy on the Luna." I informed. She eyed me. "You mean Mr. possessive Alpha still can't let her live her life?" Just now realizing I was still playing with her hair. I had shifted in my chair, one foot on either side of hers. She was boxed in, unphased, and pointed out my behavior without scolding me. "You're perfect! You know that?" I told her. Stating it unabashedly. Stupid grin all on my face.

"Wait till I’m kicking your ass in my sleep later," she grumbled. "Whys that? What did I do?" I was honestly upset she may be mad. "Nothing about you but, I’m going to be trailing visions for our rogue problem." "Sometimes it’s not pleasant," she grimaced. My heart soared for a second when she said our rogue problem, that she would still sleep with me before I really thought about what she was saying. What was this sleep-on-it thing? I thought back to the day at the pool the next morning. She had woken like rising from the dead. She had thrashed around in her sleep. “Like the night at the pool?” I asked. "Worse," she answered, looking up and meeting my eyes. There was a challenge there, I shook my head, "Then don't do it". She shook her head. “If I’m even entertaining this Luna idea of yours. What kind of Luna would I be not to try?” She explained. My jaw dropped a little. "So you're considering?" "The Mother of gods brought me here to you," she pointed at me. The Moon Goddess sent you to me." She pointed at her chest over her heart. “There's a reason we are here together. And whatever this undeniable attraction is,” she paused, pointing her finger between us. "Is weakening my resistance.”

“This is not the sort of thing I was expecting coming out here. I hoped to find Blake, maybe some answers, but this is a lot and you’re going to have to be patient with me.” she stressed. “I’ve been alone most of my life besides my Aunt. Being important to people or getting to know people well isn’t something I’m used to. I try to do my due diligence to fly under the radar." She confessed. "You've already got my soul wrapped up in yours and me spilling lifelong secrets. This intensity between us I want to give in and hide all at the same time." She confessed. “You have to stay with me tonight. I can't chase visions alone.” She resumed. “If I get stuck, you need to get my brother to pull me out.” She stated firmly. My eyes widened. "This doesn't sound like a good idea,” I stammered. “I've been doing it since I was 5. I could do it without you but I don’t want to its safer with someone. When my Aunt asked me to do it she'd sleep with me those nights just in case.” “Have you ever gotten stuck?” I questioned worriedly.

"Yes," she admitted, looking down. A tear fell from her eye. "What happened?" I took the tear stain away with my thumb. “When my parents didn't come home and we couldn't find them.” “My aunt and I had known they were dead. My aunt told me not to, but I did it anyway. I saw the whole thing happen.” “Watching the car slide off the road and into the ravine. The blood, the crooked bones.” “I,” she paused the grief and trauma evident in her eyes. “I heard their last breaths." She was stifling in a sob when I pulled her into my lap, stroking her hair. "How old were you?" I asked quietly. She sniffed. "twelve" her voice cracked out. "I don't want you to do this." I said matter of fact. “We can find another way.” My heart was in tatters, my soul aching, and my mind distraught at how to heal the woman before me.
She brought a teary stare up to meet mine. "You don't get to decide what I choose to do, Alpha." Her greens and blues were swirling with authority even in the vulnerable moment. "You either stay with me or I go to my brother." She stated, with zero room for argument. She was the utmost composed now. "The other time I was six, being a stupid kid, and to this day I hate being in confined spaces." She admitted. "I’ll stay," I said softly, realizing I honestly didn’t have a choice. I was not the controlling type, regardless of my Alpha traits. She simply nodded, linking her arms around my neck. The inner strength of this woman had me floored.

It was now that I received the link from my sister demanding we come to breakfast at their place. I nodded and turned to my mate. "By the way‌, my sister has invited us to breakfast. She can't wait to meet you and your brother has been given a thorough lashing for his secret of having a sister," I informed her after Whinny linked me with a smirk. She was angry as hell. Sorry Diablo, but that’s your story to tell since you hid it, I thought to myself. "I don’t think she knows everything. We will keep that between the 3 of us for the time being." "She should know." She stated. "Maybe she will understand better why he never told her that way. I don't want her stressed with the baby." "Fine,” I relented. “But it stays between the 4 of us for now." She nodded as I got up for the rest of our dinner. It was spaghetti with eggplant and tomato sauce. I sat, handing her one. She took it gingerly and tucked into the meal. She was quiet as she ate.

“This is good,” she said, taking another bite. "Shelly, you would like her, she ensures nothing goes to waste. She cans all our leftovers to perfection, so we have winter stores when we are not producing as much." I told her. "I like her already. When can I meet her?" She smiled to herself. “Maybe tomorrow for lunch, but expect a lot of attention,” I warned. She sighed and nodded. Obviously not a fan of any limelight. She went silent again, nibbling at her food.

"Now, what are you thinking about?" I asked. She looked down, almost ashamed. “It’s as if I just met you and there's nothing between us, like two open books with their pages intertwined, like a shuffled stack of cards. I have no fear of giving you anything, and that fearlessness is scary." She admitted. "It makes sense considering how you were raised in fear of knowing, your own people could be traitors to you.” “Just know, Aurora," I said, lifting her chin, her eyes meeting mine. "I'm not just here for the good stuff, I’m here for the bad stuff, too." I interlaced our hands together. "The tears, the fears, the anger, the insecurities. If we do this, we carry each other’s burdens together.” “I’m no saint. I’m going to mess up. But, for you angel, I’ll grovel till I’m dead to get back in your good graces." She looked at me like her heart fell out of her chest. "OK," she said with a shaky breath. I kissed her gently, conveying my sincerity.