Page 19 of His Fated Luna

No one looked forward to Josie’s cooking. Her children had long since learned that their mother simply lacked the ability to make anything remotely edible. Tony, the pack beta, told me that when Alpha Austin had been alive, he’d dutifully chewed through her unappetizing concoctions out of pure love, all while giving his children stern looks and whispered promises of a late-night pizza run if they managed a few bites. Now that he was gone, the children were far more vocal about their distaste.

I had stepped in a few times, whipping something up in the kitchen, and all four of Aiden’s younger brothers had loved it. But Tanya, the youngest at just six years old, was a different story altogether. She was an extremely picky eater, surviving mostly on chocolate.

Tanya was an adorable little girl with black curly hair always tied into two bouncy ponytails. Her deep blue eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

Then there was Bradley, twelve years old and perpetually hungry. No matter how much he ate, he never seemed to gain weight, always managing to stay lean and fit. Kyle, thirteen, was the troublemaker of the bunch. He was always looking for the next adventure, often getting into scraps.

Dylan, at seventeen, was different. He was quiet, introspective, and had a deep love for books. He was brilliant at math and had known from an early age that he wanted to become an accountant.

And then there was Anthony—Tony for short. He was only a year younger than Aiden. We had gone to high school together. He was a ladies man. A total player. But he was kind and sweet, always ready to lend a helping hand.

Growing up without any siblings of my own, being part of such a large, lively family made me happy. I loved the constant motion in the house, the way life buzzed around me. To me,thiswas what a home should feel like.

Josie often joked that once Aiden got married, she and the younger kids would be kicked out to make room forhisbrood. Aiden would always respond with a casual, “Lexia doesn’t want a lot of kids".

I admired Aiden for respecting Lexia’s wishes. He was strong enough to fight that primal urge of every alpha to have as many pups as possible.

Perhaps that’s why he was able to fight the mate bond as well.

My pulse quickened at the mere thought of sitting across from him at dinner.

Tony was standing in the foyer, making a beeline for the dining room. He stopped though when his eyes fell on me.

“What’s up, Rosie?” Tony greeted, ruffling my hair affectionately. “I see I arrived just in time for dinner.”

Tony had, instead of opting for the beta residences closer to here, built a three-bedroom cottage on the perimeter of pack territory, right before the woods started.

“Not much,” I said, smoothing my hair back into place. “How does it feel to be relieved of your additional alpha duties?”

Tony let out an exaggerated sigh. “Finally, I can sleep peacefully again. I love my pack, but there’s a reason Aiden was born first. The Moon Goddess knew I wasn’t meant for all that responsibility.”

“You did a wonderful job,” I argued as we made our way toward the dining room.

The scent of homemade spaghetti filled the house, making my stomach grumble in anticipation.

A gruff voice from the stairs shattered the warm atmosphere, making me freeze in the doorframe that led into the dining room.

“What’sshedoing here?”

My stomach dropped.

Aiden stood at the top of the stairs,shirtless.

Chapter 9

“He's not your prince charming if he doesn't make sure you know that you're his princess.” ? Demi Lovato

Rose's POV

My breath caught in my throat. His abs were on full display, and the sight of him—broad shoulders, toned muscles—sent a jolt through my body.

Quickly, I dropped my gaze to the floor, willing myself not to stare.

“Be nice, Aiden,” Tony chided from behind me. “Rosie usually has dinner with us after Mom’s training sessions.”

“No, it’s okay,” I said hurriedly. “I know you guys probably want some family time—”

“What training sessions?” Aiden interrupted, his voice sharp.