Page 8 of His Fated Luna

I looked into his blue eyes which were filled with bitterness. And it struck me than that he was my…mate?! Oh shit.

"Instead, my father is dead, and now you’ve dragged me all the way here to meet a stranger..." He barely spared me a glance, as if he had far more important things to do than be here. Then, he turned his gaze back to Ezra. "I thought I didn’t have a mate. You hid all of this from me. I had a right to know."

My indignation flared at his words.

"You had a right to know?" I shot back sarcastically. "What about me? Didn’t I deserve to know the truth about my parents…my mother…my..." My voice wavered as I stared at the stranger claiming to be my father. "...dad?"

Ezra nodded tearfully and pulled me into a hug.

"I’m so sorry. I wish I could have told you sooner," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. Tears spilled from his eyes as he held me close. "We kept hoping we’d catch the culprit. I knew they were watching me, waiting for me to lead them to you. It’s why I couldn’t even come here to you. How could I put my daughter in danger! We had no choice. You had to go off-grid. Hilda was kind enough to leave the pack and keep you safe. She even…she gave up being human for you, Rose." His voice was raw with emotion as he gently patted my head."I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping Rose safe," Hilda said, directing her words at Ezra before turning to me. "I’m sorry I had to lie to you."

I hesitated before leaning into her embrace. "I’m still angry over the lies, Auntie Hilda," I admitted shakily, squeezing her tight. "But thank you for always being there for me. You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a parent. You…you’ve given me so much love...I..."

Tears overtook me, gratitude swelling in my chest. I owed her so much! I never wanted to be a burden and here it seemed that’s exactly what I had been to my aunt. She couldn’t date, couldn’t socialise. All because someone might find out my true identity. How could I stay angry at her?

Then suddenly, as if struck by lightning, I pulled back.

"Wait…wait…that means…you guys…I’m…we’re werewolves?" I sputtered, struggling to grasp the revelation.

"Yes, we are." Auntie Hilda grinned. "Bet you didn’t see that one coming. Your werewolf gene will activate when you turntwenty-one. Dr. Danvers, our pack doctor—you used to see him for yearly check-ups in a secret location when you were little—he says that when you shift for the first time, that’s when your werewolf abilities will awaken. You’ll have super strength and super speed."

“And here I thought you were just athletic," I muttered, clearly not over how I’d been blatantly lied too.

Auntie Hilda laughed nervously, trying to smooth everything over. "Trust me, honey, even by werewolf standards, I’m the least athletic person in the pack. Now, Aiden, come here and meet your mate."

My eyes widened as the rude boy from earlier stood up with an exasperated sigh.

"Mate? You…you…there’s got to be a mistake." My mind scrambled for a reasonable explanation. No way did I have a mate!

Aiden raised an eyebrow, looking unfairly attractive as he did so. Clearly, he was in total agreement with me.

"I wish," he replied lethally. "I mean, come on… Let’s just leave her here. She’s got a nice life. At least it looks that way to me. Why drag her into this mess?" He ran a frustrated hand through his silky, wavy hair.

I stared at him, stunned.

"You’ve come to get me?" I asked my father sharply.

"Our alpha died, and Aiden has taken charge of the pack," Ezra explained. "We need to bring our luna home so you can begin preparing. You’ve been gone far too long, Rose."

"P...prepare? Prepare for what?" My head started to spin. This was too much.

"For the mating ceremony!" Auntie Hilda squealed excitedly. "Natural born wolves have their first-turn at sixteen. When they turn eighteen, they can sense their mates and–”

"The what?!" I shrieked, cutting off her babbling as the words “mating ceremony” finally sunk into my brain. No way. Absolutely not.

"Rose, since you grew up with humans, you’re not used to our traditions. Even for me, the whole mate concept was foreign when I talked about it with Estelle, but you need to give it a chance," Auntie Hilda said gently, glancing at Aiden nervously. “Rose, werewolves can be very territorial about their mates,” Auntie Hilda continued placatingly. “Don’t say something that might make Alpha Aidan angry.”

But instead of anger, Aiden smiled. He looked relieved that I wasn’t jumping at the chance to be his mate.

"See, Ezra? Let’s go. Everyone has a right to choose their mate—"

"You only say that because you haven’t felt the pull of your mate yet, Aiden," Ezra said quietly. “It’s different because she doesn’t have her wolf yet. Werewolves have their first shift at sixteen and can sense their mates at eighteen, but it’s different for you because your mate doesn’t have her wolf yet. Things will change once her dormant wolf begins to emerge. I know you think you’re in love with Lexia—"

"I don’t think so. I know," Aiden snapped. His voice was clipped, his expression unreadable. Then, stiffly, he continued. "Now that I’m Alpha, I think it’s time for you to retire and join the Council of Elders. My brother is next in line to be beta, Ezra. You’ve done your duty well. Let’s go home and—"

"Aiden," My father’s voice was firm. "I’m taking my daughter home. It’s time she learnt about the pack and trained with her people as the future lu—"

"She isn’t the future luna!" Aiden snarled.