Page 5 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

L ita's eyes flicked to Asher before she shook her head in frustration.

"Alright," she sighed in defeat. "I'll go with you. But I want you to remember that you’re the one who pushed for this. It's just going to make it harder later.” Lita rose from her seat, her emotions in a vortex. Yes, she wanted her mate, but that wasn’t the issue. The problem was that he wouldn't want her. She didn’t want to get her hopes up. She didn’t want to be crushed by his rejection later.

However, leaving like this made leaving her own pack easier.

She wouldn’t be a burden to her father and brother.

She knew they would have been upset when she left the pack on her own.

This was what she would do to protect them.

And after Asher rejected her, she would move to the city.

It would make the break more simple this way.

As she walked past Asher, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

His silver eyes looked at her as a sad smile formed on his lips.

“Lita.” He stared at their hands, feeling the sweet tingles from the mate bond.

It was the first time he was able to really touch her.

And he liked it. “I want you to remember this moment.” His voice was soft.

“The moment your mate fought to keep you, so that he could show you the things you don’t know. ”

“Like?”

“Like how much you’re worth fighting for. From now on, your pack will love and adore you. For the good of my pack, I want you as my luna. I won’t force my mark on you, Lita. I want you to come back with me and just live with me for now. Just like I’m choosing you, I want you to choose me.”

She gazed at him in shock. She wanted to believe his words, but he couldn’t say such things right now.

There was still something she hadn't told him about herself, and once he knew, he would be kicking her to the curb.

Still, a small flame of hope ignited inside her.

A dangerous light that she never expected to have.

Asher watched as she took a few steps away from him. They were mates, so he knew she was naturally drawn to him. But her pack had made her feel like she had no worth. This didn’t make sense, especially since she was the alpha’s daughter. He heard Drew growling and he turned to look at him.

Drew's hands curled into tight fists as he stared at Asher with searing intensity.

"She's not going anywhere with you," he growled, his voice trembling with barely-contained rage.

"I'll be damned if I let someone like you take her. I can’t trust you to keep her safe.

I've always been her protector, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.

" But Asher remained unfazed, a smug grin still plastered on his face, as if he enjoyed provoking Drew's ire.

“Drew.” Lita softly placed her hand on her brother and gave him a small smile.

“I’ll be okay. You can’t spend your whole life protecting me, and I don’t want you to.

Eventually, I would’ve left anyway. I was never wanted by our pack, and we know this.

Promise to stay in touch.” She enveloped Drew in a warm embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around his broad shoulders.

“I’ll have your stuff packed and delivered to the Black Ice Pack.” Nathon took Lita’s arm in his, pulling her in for a hug.

“You two go ahead. I’d like a moment with Drew.” Asher smiled as Lita glanced at him. Nathon looked over at his son and mentally warned him to control his temper before he stepped out of the room with Lita.

“Drew,” Asher said coolly. The moment Lita left, he switched his emotions and was now staring the future alpha down. “I don’t know what the deal is with your pack, but I can promise you she will be welcomed in mine.”

“It’s because of her mother—” Drew started, but Asher waved him off.

“Like I said, I don’t care, and it doesn’t matter. I want her. And honestly, you know there isn’t a stronger pack out there. Who can protect her better than me? You’ve been her protector? Well, you haven’t protected her from being neglected by your pack—”

“That isn’t our way!” Drew snapped back.

“Well, it is mine!” Asher growled. “And it should have been that way in your pack, too!”

Drew's brows furrowed, creating deep creases in his forehead as he glared at Asher with a mixture of concern and protectiveness. But if he was being honest with himself … Asher was right. They should have done better, and he hated that they’d never put a stop to it.

It was because his father wanted to encourage free will.

Well, fuck that. When he became the alpha, things were going to change.

What happened to Lita would never happen to anyone else.

“I should have done better,” he admitted.

“You’re right … we should have done so much better.

” He rested his hands on the table. “Will you promise me something? Promise me that you’ll take care of her.

” Drew’s voice quieted then. “Please take care of her. She’s important to me.

She is such an amazing person. She is so strong, but she hides her emotions.

She pretends so you don’t worry, which means you really have to watch out for her. ”

Asher's piercing gaze softened as he stared at Drew. "You have my word," he promised. The corners of his lips turned up into a subtle smile, showing that he truly meant what he said.

Drew's voice trembled as he made his last heartfelt request. "One more thing, please.

I beg you, don't leave her alone during a thunderstorm.

" His eyes pleaded with the man who would soon take his sister away.

"The day her mother was killed, there was a horrible storm.

She still hasn't recovered from it, and any storm brings back painful memories.

" Drew's shoulders slumped in sadness as he remembered the tragedy.

"I've been there for her through every storm since then.

" He could only hope this man would be a source of comfort and strength for his sister in times of fear and turmoil. “She needs someone so she doesn’t get stuck in the past.”

Asher's heart swelled with warmth toward Drew, his admiration for the way he felt about his sister growing stronger. It was evident that she held a special place in his heart, and her happiness was a priority. Though he could have done a better job in his own pack with that. "I may come from a pack with a fierce reputation, but there’s no need to worry. Your sister is my luna and will be given the respect she deserves. I’m going to take care of her. "

“Alpha Nathon, has everything been resolved?” an alpha asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Yes.” He moved away from her to go speak with the other packs and Teo came up to Lita.

“Lita, you’re not going, are you?”

“Like I said, it was really only a matter of time before I ended up leaving. I thought it would be after Drew took over as Alpha. I’m sure I won’t end up staying in the Black Ice Pack, and when that chapter closes, I’ll move on to one of the cities.

Maybe I’ll work as a human doctor and a supernatural healer.

” She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Of course it’ll work out. I already told you that you’re amazing. Who wouldn’t want you? I should have made my move earlier. I can’t let you leave without saying how I feel—”

“Teo, please don’t. I have to go. Asher is my mate, and I’ve agreed to go with him. Even if it will only mean more pain later.”

“I’m warning you, beta to beta, keep your distance from my alpha’s luna!” Caden growled, baring his fangs as he challenged Teo.

“I loved her first!” Teo snarled back, reaching for Lita. Then it was a blur. The claws came out, snarls ripped through the room, and it was barely a second before Drew and Asher each had a hold of their betas.

“Caden, out to the car!” Asher ordered, letting go of him to move closer to Lita.

His hand moved around her gently but possessively as he glared at Teo.

“I understand how you feel. I would fight for her, too. But Lita is my mate, and one day you’ll understand what it means to find your mate.

You will grab hold of her and never let go, because you know she is your only chance for happiness. ”

Lita glanced up at Asher, his piercing gray eyes gazing down at her.

“I’m securing our future. Our happiness.

Lita, your pack has made you feel unwanted.

I don’t care about their reasons. I don’t care about your secret.

It doesn’t matter to me. The Moon Goddess blessed me with you, and she gave me to you.

We don’t know better than her, do we? So let’s see what she knows.

” He smiled at her and slid his arm around to hold her hand. “Okay?”

“What’s all this?” Kennedy asked as she walked in from the sitting room, completely oblivious.

Her eyes landed on Asher and her lips parted in shock.

It was the alpha all the girls swooned over at the parties, the one that was sculpted by the gods themselves.

She had to try not to drool as she walked to Drew’s side.

“Lita has found her mate, and she’s leaving.”

“Alpha Asher is your mate?!” Kennedy’s mouth popped open as she gawked at Lita.

“Yes,” Lita answered quietly.

“And he wants you even after you told him about yourself?” Kennedy heard the double growls in the room, and her shoulders hunched down in submission. Both Drew and Asher snarled at her.

“Careful, Kennedy.” Drew glared at her. We’re going to discuss this later!

“Disrespecting my luna is like disrespecting me.” Asher felt Lita’s other hand reach over to pat his arm.

“She’s my brother’s mate. It’s okay.” Lita was used to this type of attitude, and it didn’t bother her. What shocked her was how he immediately calmed down with her touch.

“It isn’t okay, Lita. None of this was ever okay.

” He lifted her hand to his lips, lightly kissing it.

A small pink blush stained her cheeks … the most adorable color in the world to him.

He then lifted his gaze to Kennedy. “I will let your rudeness slide only because my mate wishes it. But don’t let it happen again.

” He sighed, looking back at Lita. “Ready to go home?”