Page 13 of His Fated Luna

Jake grinned mischievously. “You want to come to my apartment? It’s right on the edge of campus.”

A little voice in my head warned me not to agree, but fifteen minutes later, I found myself sitting on his dark brown couch, clutching a bottle of peach malt.

“So,” I started once he had settled into the chair across from me. “You’re a werewolf?”

Jake nodded. “My parents and I… Well, we’re lone wolves. We don’t belong to any pack. I would have my first turn at nineteen, like most do.” His brows furrowed. “Why couldn’t I sense you back in high school?”

I hesitated. “I…I’m part-wolf,” I admitted, clearing my throat. Aiden’s warning echoed in my mind.

Be on your guard.

Telling Jake I was a hybrid wasn’t exactly dangerous, was it? Could he be trusted? He wasn’t really a friend back then—more like a guy I had a massive crush on.

“Ahh,” Jake mused, his expression thoughtful. “That explains it. So you don’t turn until…twenty-one?”

I nodded, tilting my head back to take a sip of my drink. When I lowered the bottle, I caught Jake staring—his eyes locked onto the exposed skin of my neck, on my marking spot.

He looked away quickly when he realized I had noticed. “That means you’ll be finding your mate soon, too,” he remarked casually. “The closer you get to your turn, the stronger the mate pull will be. If your mate is full-wolf, he’ll know right away. Do you know who he is?” He was watching me intently.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Not yet.” It was best to keep things vague for now. “So,” I changed the subject. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be at some Ivy League school. You were always so smart.”

Jake scoffed. “I was never the smart one between the two of us.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his muscular thighs. “I did community college for a semester before transferring here for spring. It was one of the few colleges thataccepted me. I got in on the minority quota for werewolves. Guess without you to help, my grades went downhill.” He smirked.

I laughed. “I didn’t know there was a werewolf box to check on college applications.”

“There is if you know the right people.” A small smile played on his lips. “My mom used to be part of a pack before she left to be with my dad. She knew this college catered to our kind.”

“Which pack?” I asked curiously.

“Bloodfire Phoenix.”

My whole body went rigid.

“She’s the sister of the previous alpha,” Jake continued, unaware of my reaction. “He died a while ago. Mom doesn’t like to talk about it much, like she’s hiding something. We went to his funeral. His son, Alpha Aiden, even visited us once. That was around the time you…” He trailed off, realization dawning in his eyes.

I gave him a small, guilty smile. “My father was Beta of Bloodfire Phoenix. They came to bring me home.”

Jake nodded. “Makes sense. Half-human werewolves usually don’t develop until their first shift.” His gaze darkened. “And you’vedeveloped,” he murmured.

I cleared my throat, shifting uncomfortably. I crossed my legs, and thought back to how my body was still adjusting to all the changes—the speed, the sharper vision, the rapid healing. Every day, I felt more and more like a wolf. Less like a human. And my instincts were telling me it was time to leave.

“Well,” I stood, eager to leave. “It was nice seeing you. I should get home.”

“Wait.” He smiled. “Want to grab a bite this weekend? I’ve heard good things about EC Diner.”

The old me would have said no. Leaving pack territory was a risk. But…it was time to live a little. Besides, I adored their milkshakes.

“Sure,” I said quickly, before I could change my mind.

Aiden’s POV

I walked into my hometown, hand-in-hand with Lexia. Her blonde hair tickled my neck as she rested her head against my shoulder, burrowing deeper into me for warmth. The cold January air made our breath visible as we walked. I had spent the past few years studying abroad while representing the four aligned packs within the region. We had made serious progress in forming alliances overseas, strengthening our collective power.

After spending Christmas in England with one of our newly aligned packs, Lexia and I finally made our way home. Werewolves didn’t celebrate Christmas the same way humans did. For those of us living in the West, where it was a national holiday, it was more of a time to take a break and be with loved ones. Excited to return to my alpha duties while finishing college, I decided to stop by my favorite diner for dinner before diving back into my responsibilities—responsibilities I had never truly wanted but had no choice but to accept after my father’s passing. Lexia had helped me come to terms with the fact that taking up my birthright wasn’t about benefiting from his death; it was about honoring his memory. For that, I was endlessly grateful to her.

Mother would be happy to see me. She always tried to mention Rose, and I always quickly changed the subject. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about Rose. But sometimes, when I closed my eyes, I could see those deep emerald eyes, hear her soft yet determined voice saying those words I had never quite forgotten.

"I want to fall in love."