Page 4 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

“The fuck she is!” Drew growled. “You can’t strong-arm your way into my sister being your luna—”

“I can, and I have.” Asher shrugged, his tone brooking no argument. His gaze swept over Lita, softening. “Lita is my mate, and I intend to honor our bond. You wouldn’t be trying to keep me from my fated mate, in front of all the witnessing packs around here? That would be breaking our laws.”

Nathon reached out and placed his hand on Drew's tense shoulder, grounding him in the present. “We don’t want to act impulsively,” he suggested, his voice steady and soothing, his calm demeanor diffusing the tension in the air.

"Teo, please stay here with Lita. The rest of us will convene in the conference room to talk. This situation requires a more private discussion. We don’t need to make this a public spectacle. ”

“I'll be leaving my beta behind to look after her too, because she belongs to me.” Asher looked over at Caden, who nodded his head, following the command of his alpha.

Drew's growl intensified, but Nathon tightened his grip on his son to keep him under control.

“Very well.”

“Don’t I have a say in this? I mean, this is my life we’re talking about.” She watched as her father turned his head to look at her.

“Let me speak with him for a few minutes. I’ll call you in soon.” He turned, and the three men walked out.

Lita watched until they were gone, then let out a sigh. Teo wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay, Lita?”

“Keep your hands off my future luna,” Caden growled.

Lita’s gaze snapped to his, and his eyes softened instantly.

“Lita, I’m Caden, the beta of the Black Ice Pack.

” He stood tall and strong, with massive arms that seemed to ripple with power.

“I heard you're a healer. That is impressive at your age.” He watched as Lita only shrugged. She didn’t seem impressed with her own accomplishments.

“Lita …” Teo’s voice was quiet as she turned to look into his pained eyes. “Is he your mate?”

"I told him he didn't want me for a mate," she said, her words barely above a whisper.

"I'm not exactly what one would call 'mate material'.

" Her usual confident demeanor had faded, replaced by a vulnerable and uncertain tone.

She shifted her weight from foot to foot, avoiding eye contact, as if ashamed of her own admission.

But even in her moment of self-doubt, there was a certain strength in her vulnerability, a raw honesty that demanded respect.

“I would have been more than proud if the Moon Goddess had given you to me as a mate. I used to pray to her for you, and then I got to the point that I didn’t care. I just wanted you. It would have been the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for.” Teo looked down at her wistfully.

“You mean curse,” Lita said with a soured sigh, but she felt moved hearing what Teo said, even if it was just to make her feel better.

Teo reached down and cupped her cheeks, causing Caden to growl again, but Teo ignored him. “You are the best person I’ve ever known. Don’t ever call yourself a curse. Lita … gods, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I thought I had more time, and now it looks like I’ve lost my chance.”

“Teo …” At first she thought he was trying to make her feel better, but she could finally see what she never had. A tenderness in his eyes that was only for her. “Are you saying that I’m the person you were talking about?” She watched as a small smile reached his lips.

“You’ve finally figured it out.”

She felt her chest tighten as his hand moved to her shoulder.

“That is quite enough,” Caden growled, making Teo straighten up. “That is my alpha’s luna. You will keep a respectful distance or we are going to have issues.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s asking for. He doesn’t understand. He needs to reconsider.” Lita watched as Caden’s face changed completely when he looked at her. The menacing look was gone, and he had a warmth in his eyes and a tender smile on his face.

“He would go to war for you. His mind is already made up, and he wants you to come back with him.” Caden could see the insecure look in her green eyes. He wondered why she didn’t think his alpha would want her. She was beautiful, and an alpha’s daughter. What wasn’t to want?

Mira, what do we do? Lita asked her wolf.

Who would have thought we’d snag two unmated males in one day, Mira said wryly.

I never knew Teo was interested in me. He knows better. I would be his doom. And this alpha … he has no idea who I am.

I want my mate. We’re supposed to be together.

I just don’t want to see the look of rejection in his eyes when he learns about me. I don’t want to feel that pain again. She was referring to the first time they’d shifted. When the whole pack had completely rejected her.

Don’t worry, Lita, I’m here.

“Lita, they’re asking for you.” Teo looked down at her sadly, as if he was about to lose her forever.

Lita lifted her gaze, a determined glint in her eyes as she squeezed her tiny fists together.

“The conference room is upstairs. I’ll take you to it,” a man she didn’t recognize said. She nodded her head and slowly followed him. He left her at a tall, intricately carved oak door. She took a deep breath and pushed the heavy door open, stepping into the room.

Her gaze was immediately drawn to Asher's relaxed eyes and arrogant smirk.

Drew was scowling and glaring at Asher like he was about to fight him.

She made her way over and stood between Asher and her father, feeling tension radiating from both men.

She looked at her father, his normally kind eyes now stern and searching.

"Lita, this man claims that you’re his mate.

Is this true?" His voice was steady but held an underlying note of concern.

She turned and looked at Asher sharply. “Did you not hear me? I thought I told you to leave it alone. I told you that I am not mate material!” She listened as he chuckled. His eyes flickered with amusement as he leaned back in his chair.

“You might have said something like that. But you are. You’re my mate, and you're perfect. Beautiful … I think you do want me. You didn’t reject me formally, which meant there was hope.”

“I, Lita Silva—” His movements were like a cobra strike. Instantly, he was standing, his hand covering her mouth. Millions of lightning tingles ignited from his touch, almost making her lean into it, craving the sensation she never knew she needed.

“Don’t make me do something stupid, Lita.

Give me a chance.” He held her as Drew snarled loudly.

“Nathon, why does your daughter not think she’s worthy of being my mate?

What has your pack done to her?” Asher kept his hand over her mouth.

He felt her begin to bite his hand and he leaned in closer, his mouth next to her ear.

“Sweetheart, save the foreplay for the bedroom.” He watched as her cheeks turned beet red and he chuckled.

“Don’t reject me … please.” He slowly removed his hand.

She looked at Asher and took a step back, needing to remove herself from his heavenly aura. “I really wouldn’t be a good mate to have. There are things about me that, if you knew, you wouldn’t want. My own pack doesn’t want me—”

“Lita!” Drew yelled angrily.

“It’s true! You know it’s true. They won’t even make eye contact with me. Everyone is afraid of me and my wolf. Please, you don’t want me, you won’t want me. You should just reject me for the good of your pack.” Her eyes glistened with tears.

“Do you not want me?” Asher’s silver eyes stared at her.

“It isn’t that, but—”

“That’s all I care about. Is there someone else?”

She pursed her lips together. She had just found out about Teo’s feelings, but she couldn’t say she reciprocated them. Sure, she had sometimes wondered, but she never allowed herself to have deeper feelings. Instead, she’d always thought of him as family. “No, but—”

“Then it’s settled. If you have no objections about me, and you’re not in a relationship, then this is a done deal.

From now on, you belong to me and I belong to you.

” Asher’s gaze was intense and possessive as it bore into her, leaving no room for argument or resistance.

Her heart wasn’t beating in fear. Instead, a new emotion was stirring, one she’d never felt before.

Drew slammed his fist on the table with a deafening thud. “This is wrong!” he roared, his voice laced with anger. His eyes narrowed into fiery slits as he glared at the man in front of him. “I can't stand this guy. Lita deserves so much better than this!”

“This will only make things more awkward later when you end up rejecting me.” Lita looked at Asher, whose eyes seemed to soften.

“Lita, I’m not going to reject you. You need to get that idea out of your head. You’re worried I won’t want you because of your wolf?” He chuckled. “The Black Ice Pack are warriors. We are a strong military pack. Your wolf would be a welcomed asset.”

“There’s more.”

“I don’t care. Whatever you say won’t change my mind.”

“Don’t I have a say in this?!” Lita looked at him as he smiled.

“You do. Do you not want me? Am I not good enough for you?”

Her lips parted. “It isn’t that at all.”

“Don’t tell me what I want and what I don’t want. I’m here. I want you.”

"The decision is yours, my dear. No one will force this on you.

" Nathon’s gaze flickered toward the looming figure of Asher, the alpha of the ruthless Black Ice Pack.

He knew that, as much as he wanted to protect his daughter, he couldn't stand in the way of her mate bond.

It was a powerful and unbreakable force.