Page 25 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

“ P ull yourself together,” she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling despite the brave front she was trying to maintain.

“They were just cookies.” But it wasn’t just the cookies.

It was also the large crowd of strangers …

Grayson and Caspian … a sense of belonging, something familiar but out of reach.

Honestly, it was a painful reminder of the belonging she longed for but was always unobtainable.

She closed her emerald green eyes, focusing on the gentle gurgle of the water in the fountain.

The soothing sound helped to ease the throbbing in her temples, if only for a moment.

Lita took a deep breath, the crisp evening air filling her lungs and granting a temporary reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere of the masquerade.

The soft crunch of footsteps on the gravel path shattered Lita’s momentary solace. She glanced back to see Grayson and Caspian coming toward her.

“Lita, are you alright?” Grayson asked, his deep voice laced with a protectiveness that didn’t make sense to her.

Caspian moved next to her, his blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “You don’t look like you’re feeling well.”

The pain in her head intensified, as if they were both the source of it. “Please, leave me alone.”

“Lita, I can’t just—” Caspian started, but Lita turned and snapped.

“Both of you, go!” Her voice seemed to radiate with a power she didn’t know she had. She was overwhelmed, and it was their presence that was creating these irritating sensations.

Grayson and Caspian exchanged a worried glance, their brows furrowing with a silent communication that Lita couldn’t comprehend. She watched as they hesitated, clearly torn between their desire to comfort her and their respect for her wishes.

“If that’s what you want,” Grayson finally said, his voice heavy with reluctance.

“But I will be just inside there, if you need me …” he trailed off, pursing his lips before turning away.

Caspian’s gaze lingered over her face for a moment before he turned and followed Grayson.

Regret immediately washed over her for how she’d snapped at them, but the pain was subsiding.

She just needed to get control of her emotions.

She sank down onto the edge of the fountain, her fingers trailing through the cool water as she tried to quiet the chaos in her mind.

“Why can’t I just be normal?” Lita whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the soft splashing of the fountain.

“Why do I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in?

How can I ever belong anywhere?” Could Asher really accept her unconditionally?

Could they create a world together where she truly belonged?

It seemed like a beautiful fantasy … a bedtime story for pups.

She had seen reality, and it was much harsher and far more unforgiving.

She wanted to trust in Asher and allow herself to be vulnerable with him.

Her pack had taught her that there was nothing she could do to be accepted, and it was hard to convince herself that things would be different with Asher.

She had scars on her heart … marks upon her soul that she dreamed would one day be healed.

That there was someone who would fight for her.

Someone who would love her and embrace her wounded heart.

As Lita sat lost in her thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see a group of unfamiliar men, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the fountain lights. They moved with a casual grace, and their demeanor seemed unthreatening as they drew closer.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” the tallest of the men drawled, his voice smooth as silk. “A beautiful lady all alone, on such a lovely night.”

Lita tensed, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. She forced a polite smile, her tone guarded as she replied, “I just needed some fresh air. The party was getting a bit overwhelming.”

The men exchanged knowing glances, their lips curving into smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes.

“Ah, we understand completely,” another chimed in, his voice dripping with false sympathy.

“These gatherings can be so stuffy, can’t they?

It’s much more comfortable out here, with the cool breeze and the relaxing sound of the water. ”

Lita nodded, her heart beginning to race as the men slowly encircled her. She could sense the danger lurking beneath their charming facades, the predatory glint in their eyes setting off alarm bells in her head.

“You know,” the leader of the group purred, his gaze raking over Lita’s form appreciatively, “a stunning creature like you shouldn’t be out here all alone. There are all sorts of dangers lurking in the shadows.”

Lita narrowed her eyes at the man in front of her and growled. “I’m much more dangerous than what’s in the shadows. You men don’t smell like you belong to a pack.”

“Is it a crime not to belong to a pack? We’re just working on trying to form our own,” a man who made her skin crawl said as he looked her up and down.

“You know, even loners need protection, and even the strongest need allies. I’d be willing to provide that.” Another man who looked like the leader smirked at her.

Lita growled as she pulled Mira to the surface, ready to defend herself. Suddenly something wrapped around her from behind. Silver chain clinked as they pinned her arms to her sides. The leader gave her a triumphant grin as he held her arms.

“Now, now, now,” the leader tutted, his voice low and dangerously close to her ear, “there’s no need for that. We just want to be your friends, right boys?”

The other men chuckled, their eyes hungry as they closed in on Lita. She struggled against the leader’s grasp, desperate to break free, but the chains were enchanted. Her mind raced, searching for a way out, a way to survive this nightmare.

“As soon as you stepped outside, I could sense your power. Making someone like you my luna will be a good start for our new pack.”

“You think I would ever be your luna?!” Lita scoffed as the man moved behind her, his tongue tracing over her neck, making her body shudder in disgust.

“Willingly or not … eventually you will come to reason. Once I mark you, no one will want you.” She felt his fangs brush against her neck, and she struggled against the chains. “Hold her still! This one is strong.”

A fierce roar split the night air, causing the men to freeze in their tracks. Lita’s heart leapt as she recognized the sound, her eyes darting to the side as she finally breathed in his scent. Asher had found her.

He burst into the clearing, his silver eyes ablaze with protective fury.

“Get your filthy hands off my mate,” he snarled, his voice low and menacing.

He didn’t hesitate as he lunged into the leader.

The ensuing fight was a blur of claws as Asher’s uncontained rage was unleashed upon the rogues.

His partially shifted hands shredded them with an unmatched power.

That was when more rogues emerged from the shadows, but Grayson and Caspian, hearing the commotion, jumped outside and collided with them, their skills too much for the weak rogues to handle.

Lita’s heart raced as she watched the battle unfold, her eyes never leaving Asher’s form. She’d never seen him like this before … so fierce, so feral, so utterly focused on her safety.

In a matter of minutes, the rogues lay defeated at Asher’s feet, their leader’s lifeless body a testament to the alpha’s strength. Asher turned to Lita, his silver eyes softening as they met her green ones. “Lita,” he breathed, his voice rough with emotion.

He rushed to her side, throwing the chains off her and gathering her in his arms, holding her close. “I’ve got you,” he murmured against her head as he looked up at Caspian and the stranger next to him.

“I thought … I thought he was going to … and I couldn’t …” She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Asher’s arms tightened around her, his breath warm against her ear.

“I will never let anyone hurt you, Lita. You’re safe now.

I promise. I don’t want to wait anymore.

I want to mark you as my luna,” Asher whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

“I want to share my power with you, to build a life together. I promise to love you, to protect you, to cherish you for all of my days. My wolf is so angry, I’m trembling.

I wasn’t by your side, and I almost didn’t—”

“Asher, you aren’t blaming yourself, are you?” Lita lifted her head away to look into his silver eyes.

“Of course I blame myself. I should have found you faster. I never should have agreed to be parted from your side. I failed you, and—”

“You didn’t. I’m okay. I could have shredded those morons easily had they not chained me up. Who could have prepared for that? Why would you have anticipated that?”

“That’s my job. To protect you. Lita, I don’t want to wait a moment longer.”

“What are you saying?” She pursed her lips as she stared at him in confusion.

“I’m saying …” He knelt in front of her and grabbed her hand. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my luna?”

“Asher …” Lita smiled and nodded her head. Despite her insecurities, she knew she was meant to be by his side. That was what she wanted, and she didn’t want to regret not giving them a chance.

He jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground and spinning in a circle.

The plan was to mark her tonight, but he didn’t want to wait another minute.

Why not get tonight started now? He slowly lowered her to her feet and pressed his forehead against hers.

“Let’s go home?” She nodded, and he intertwined his fingers with hers.

“Alpha Asher … I’m Grayson from the Cedar Pack.

I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect her.

She’s my … friend, from childhood. I’m—” His eyes darted to Lita before returning to Asher.

“I have some things I would like to discuss with you. I see you’re busy now, but I want to come and visit your pack in the next couple of days. ”

“Yes, that’s fine. But like you said …” Asher looked down at Lita.

“I’m busy now. Caspian, Lita and I are leaving ahead of the others.

Make sure Caden knows.” Asher grabbed Lita’s hand and led her back inside, through the crowd.

He wasted no time getting to their vehicle and instructing the driver to rush back home.

It was finally time to claim his luna … his Lita.

What they didn’t know was, from the shadows, they were being watched.

Felicia clicked her tongue, marching angrily into the woods.

Those rogues were worthless. She practically served Lita up to them, giving them the enchanted chain that would block her wolf.

All they had to do was mark her. She even set up the anise-scented cookies in order to drive her outside.

It was the perfect plan. Worthless! She was able to delay Asher on the dance floor to give them time to get to Lita, but he ended up ripping away from her after only seconds.

She tried holding him back, but he growled at her, jerking his arm away.

Luckily he didn’t know it was her, but still …

the risk was all in vain. All that careful planning … wasted.

She would need something or someone stronger to get rid of Lita. “This isn’t over. I am the one who should be by Asher’s side. Me … Asher belongs to me.”