Claimed

Chapter 6: Introducing the Luna

CHAPTER SIX:

INTRODUCING THE LUNA

[THIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW]

    THE NEWS ABOUT the Luna finally stepping into the pack has been spreading all around the pack, passing from one wolf to another like the very wind—it traveled with such speed that even surprised the Alpha. Some news was disseminated with added detail, certain things that would make the triad chuckle in the upcoming gossips about the Luna.

    Although, most news was nothing but praises, one couldn’t help but chuckle with the stories heard about the Luna. People continued to hear things that happened while some didn’t even hold a torch to what exactly takes place in the pack house. 

    For example, others heard that Luna was someone who lives so far away that the Alpha travelled a long time to get to her. Which in a way that, he did. Although his original plan was to do nothing but put an end to the family, which holds the title of “haunted”, which were werewolves hunters. It was a surprise for Hendrix that his mate was there.

    Other spread gossips that the reason why their Alpha had been missing his current job was because he had to save her from some impeccable doom. There were many news concerning the whereabouts of the Luna. It has been a passing talk, too. Some people spread that she just turned 18, making it possible as to why the Alpha had some problems looking for her before. One more news covering about Luna was her being kidnapped by some goons; others address the perpetrator as their enemies.

    Nobody knows what to believe in the gossips anymore, as they seem to get crazier as they spread.

    All the ones that started the rumors only got to witness the back of their Luna. Some were surprised to see her face in general, quoting it something they'll like to do again. Savanna Haute was a beauty that was unlike any other; she has the vision that will make a man kneel before her. It was a beauty that her father, Valir, always feared that would be used in the family business. Luckily for the man, it never happened. 

    Everyone was curious about the news about the Alpha’s mate. Hendrix was a terrific Alpha, and he has everything handled in the palm of his hands. He was strong Alpha and he is a Lycan—an excellent leader to lead a pack as they were stronger than any regular wolfs in the realm.

    Hendrix is the best Alpha that the pack could hope for.

    However, despite the smiles that they would see from their Alpha, they know better than he had been struggling to control the need of his wolves. Instead of lashing out and mating with a woman who would throw themselves to the Alpha, Hendrix choose to be alone in his office. That alone had the pack worrying about the man. 

    Lycan wolfs are very destructive when they got out once he’s been ignored for a long time. That is why Hendrix had never shifted in front of his pack ever since he turned 20. Hendrix had been suppressing his wolf for years, and it scares everyone that he would go livid when he lost control. Hendrix could go mad and out of his mind just by the suppression of his wolf.

    Everyone was conflicted whether they would be proud that Hendrix was able to contain his wolf for so long or be saddened by the fact that the man has to control his wolf not to go berserk for the sake of his people, his pack. The man had offered a lot of things for his own pack.

    “Is everyone gathered?” Hendrix asked upon closing another folder, which was offered to his desk, “I need to talk to them about Savanna. Everyone is rejoicing about her appearance in the pack that they are getting loose. I just saw someone shifted right outside the pack house, one place that's in clear view of the windows.”

    "That's a normal occurrence, Alpha," Andrew frowned, confused at the idea of why the Alpha was vexed with something so trivial, “I even do it sometimes—even Jordan, who is a sucker for rules do it.”

    Hendrix looked at him, “Savanna is human, Andrew. How do you reckon she'll react when she saw a man shift into a wolf? I don't want my mate to think she's crazy.”

    Which of course, make sense. The whole place of Hendrix was beautiful in one thing—the space that it has for his pack to even shift whenever they wanted. For years, no one really bothered if someone shifted before their eyes—it was normal.

    Now, hearing about they needed to be careful makes everything hard to get used it. Sooner or later, someone might shift without being aware that the Luna was in clear sight. Then again, the warriors are known to control themselves.

    “It’s the new shifters which we need to worry about,” Jordan processed, looking at his folder with a frown. Counting the lists of the upcoming 16 years old makes him dizzy with the numbers that was going through, “There are quite a lot this coming month and two, Alpha.”

    “How many?” he asked, frowning.

    “Around twenty by this month. Next month are around double the number.”

    New shifters are quite dangerous, as they usually didn’t know when their wolves are ready to shift too—so suppressing them would be hard enough. New shifters needed time to adjust as shifting is very hard and painful to their bodies. The wolves needed to be familiar with the pack so that would bear such a huge risk for Savanna.

    While she was comfortable with the ideas of wolves—new shifting wolves are still quite dangerous.

    “Until when are they banned to shift freely, Alpha?” Andrew asked softly.

    It wasn't like he was dismissing it as a bad thing. Rather, he wanted to make sure to let his warriors know about this rule, as this was something that concerns the Luna. Even if it was a hard thing to ask for the pack, it was a necessity for everyone in the pack. They wanted a Luna but having one that is a human did have its hardships. 

    One of those hardships would be the time waiting until the Luna is ready to be comfortable in their kind. To know everything there is to know and to understand her position in the pack. It was a big thing to ask for a human but if they are fated to an Alpha, it is a must. 

    "I am not quite sure yet," Hendrix replied with a frown. 

    Jordan, his beta, only smacked Andrew in the back of his head, “I assigned the twins to gather all of the wolves in the area, Alpha.”

    "What the f**k was that for!" Andrew screamed, holding the back of his head. 

    "Because you're a f*****g i***t, questioning why a certain thing is needed like a loser," Jordan responded with a sigh, "Couldn't you think for yourself?" 

    Andrew scoffed, “In battle.”

    “Charice must have a good time with that thinking,” Jordan scoffed.

    A growl rippled in Andrew’s mouth, which in turn made the beta grinned to his reaction. It wasn’t really a surprise that he has been snappy for quite a while now. The news about his quarrel with his mate has reached everyone who was in the mindlink.

    “That’s enough of that," Hendrix sighed before removing his coat, "We’ll head there now. Get your head out of the gutter—both of you.”

“Yes, Alpha,” both answered in synch.

    Hendrix loosens his tie while walking towards the arena, not knowing what to say to his people. It was always things like this that make him contradict his solutions to every problem. As beautiful and amazing his mate was, there were certain things that he find hard to pass to his people. The very news of her being a human would be a huge thing for a pack—especially the warriors. Even if he know they wouldn’t mind, his mind seemed to be everywhere.

    Since he didn’t have enough time to change his clothes, he was forced to wear formal attire while facing his pack members—not that it has any problem to him, he just wasn’t used to facing his people in such formal attires. It was just uncomfortable for him.

    Due to Hendrix’s rules, werewolves who already have their pup to take care of have all the right to dismiss his meeting when they see fit. No one will judge them as they have a lot on their plate. All they really need is to make sure that they know what was going on in the pack, as it always concerns their safety. 

    To that very sure, Hendrix was sure that he’d be faced with every man in the pack like he usually would get. That is why it surprised him when that wasn’t the case.

    Everyone in his pack was present in the area—older adults, warriors, mothers, fathers, children of all ages, and generally all of there is in his pack. All of them were beaming at the very sight of their Alpha, giving him the validation that he needed. Some were glancing to his back; all anxious to meet the very female that make them this excited.

    Even some were congratulation him upon finally spotting their Luna from away just a couple of hours ago. 

    He only shook his head in disbelief, never really knowing that this was already the capacity of people who were anxious to meet their Luna.

    Then again, due to the absence of his Luna for years, he understands their expression very well. 

    “I’ll have to thank everyone for coming in this meeting,” he started with a stern expression printed into his face. Everyone cheered while looking at the man, “I’m sure you’ve all heard about my mate, that's why I quite understand why everyone decided to come to my meeting.”

    The smiles printed in their faces already answer his question. Alpha Hendrix couldn’t feel more proud of the expression on their faces. His people never really fails to give out what he needed, and some more. The way this pack had grown support one another and puts their trust to their Alpha has always been the thing he was more proud that he could ever be.

    His people have been seeking a Luna by his side—and now that he had found her, he was nothing but ecstatic.

    His people didn't just need a Luna because of the production of the heir in the pack, but they were seeking someone who will finally fit the role. Being Luna isn’t just merely being mates with the Alpha, having every control and everything luxurious—she has her job to do for the people.

    A Luna is a mother of the pack, one who cares for the pack and will provide them with the light that they desperately need. Luna is supposed to govern the people while the Alpha works with a problem. If the pack ever goes to war, She has to provide some defenses in the warriors and be someone who will be equal to the Alpha.

    Savanna’s role isn’t just to produce his child. It was too guide their people also.

    “Unfortunately, my mate couldn’t adhere to her role just yet,” he announced, eliciting frown and murmurs around the place. Hendrix only held out a hand, stopping their attempts to form their conclusion, “However, that doesn't mean that she isn't fit for the role. She is, after all, my mate. My mate will need some time to adhere to our rules and all that she needed to be a Luna.”

    A man raised his hand, signaling for his request to speak, "Why would she need time, Alpha?" 

    "Is she okay?"

    "Is the Luna injured?"

    "Was she kidnapped?"

    Countless whispers now surround the pack. Everyone has their worries of their own that it became incredibly noisy in the area. All the wolves were worried about the news was given to them, completely confused as to why they couldn't see their Luna quite yet. 

    Hendrix holds out a hand, dismissing the noises around the place, "No. She is doing quite well and safe by my hands. There is no problem with her health, nor was my mate kidnapped. She's inside the pack house, eating. My mate is perfectly fine." 

    "Then what is the problem, Alpha?" 

    "Your Luna," he dragged, looking through every mind in the people present, "is human." 

    That’s where the murmurs seemed deafening to Hendrix as his people have their worries to face. Savanna being a human was something that seemed unreal for their ears. It was a massive surprise for Hendrix to know that his mate was human, too. He needed a couple of seconds to calm himself upon realizing that fact. 

    It also crossed his mind that he was being baited, taunted to think that it was his mate—but then again, it was. There was no sorcery forced on Savanna, even the sparks he could feel when he touch her was real. The female was his mate—his. 

    He was a Lycan, a blood that is more powerful than ordinary wolves. Lycan are the first generation of the wolves; they hold the blood of royals. One who has their blood is stronger than ordinary wolves; aside from that, their mating process is a tad different from usual mating. Savanna needed to feel an immense sense of pain upon ending the mating process—and he needed all the sources he could have to ensure that she will live through that pain.

    Even Jordan—who was to be mated to his sister, was in imminent danger by his sister’s Lycan blood.

    There were no records that a Lycan is destined to be mated to a human, as they were the most fragile creatures ever created in the earth. Even if some were seem fairly strong, their strength is really nothing compared to what Lycan generally needs—especially Savanna. The female was nothing but a gentle soul.

    Savanna would have to change so much to be fit to be seen by someone like Hendrix. It was something that troubled Hendrix, as he wasn't sure just how much Savanna would be comfortable when she got to know what she'll have to do to mate with the man. 

    “Alpha, what will happen to her?” Someone voiced out.

    A frown formed into his face, thinking the wrong predictions to their words. Human mates aren’t usually frowned upon, but it would be different when it comes to someone like Hendrix. For example would the Alpha King—it was sure that the whole people in the palace would stand guard in having a female queen.

    If he still reside in the palace, there is a huge possibility that this would have been a different scenario. There would be possibility that he was to face a couple days of proving that Savanna has what it takes to be his mate—and that would be hard seeing that she is a human.

    “What do you mean?” He only responded with a calm voice.

    An older woman raises her hand, worry slipped through her delicate face, “Would she be okay? Can she handle the mating process, Alpha?”

    A smile slipped in his lips, grateful to have heard something in relation to her concern—not at all spilling nothing but rejections to his mate. With grateful voice, he all but responded, “She is my mate, Felicia. Your Luna is bound to be mine.”

    Another woman raised her hand, worries covered her eyes, “Will your enemies target her then, Alpha? There would be a lot of wolves who will run after if they heard that she is a human.”

    “That is a possibility,” Hendrix, offered, nodding his head to hear their concerns, “However, you won't need to fret about the possibility of losing her. They will have to go through me before even touching my mate.”

    Jordan agreed, eyes serious as they could be, “They will go through me before having you, Alpha.”

    Hendrix only shook his head, feeling rather profound of his pack. The pack has been established for years, passing from his generation to generation. Through all those years, these people were like a family to him. Everyone trusted everyone with their own heart, and the support system in the pack is something that he was proud of.

    It was the reason why their pack always surpasses others who just run to get a pass to Hendrix. 

    Never did the pack cared of anything rather than having their backs and protecting what they deem is important. There were couple bandits in the pack and would betray others—but they never really live enough to tell tale.

    Hendrix is dangerous as he was a magnificent leader.

    “However, there would be one little change in the pack,” Hendrix addressed, pointing towards the spot where all the workers in the palace were, “There will be no sudden shifting in the view of the pack house. We don’t want to scare her as she still wasn’t aware of anything that involves us being wolves.”

    Jordan nodded, “Please help us give the Luna some time to adjust, I know this is hard but it is needed.”

    Hendrix looked at the number of new shifters and he could see the worry in their eyes. There are tons of choice that he could to have them be careful of their shifting, but it would hard to do it without guidance and frankly—he will have to find himself out of warriors to order for quite some time.

    One of the soon to be shifter raised his hand, “What should we do to be careful, Alpha?”   

    Another nod came from another man, “We didn’t want to scare her.”

    “But we have no control over our wolves,” another boy answered.

    “That is still in my list of controlling over the times,” Hendrix answered, his tone ever confident, “For now, be sure not to visit the pack house as frequently—she is to stay there until everyone is comfortable enough not to shift whenever they wanted. That then gives me enough time to think for some ways about the new shifters.”

    As everyone agreed to his rules, Hendrix was then to adhere to the shifts in the posts. Since it would take only a little time for his enemies to know about his little mate, it would be in his mind to prepare every single thing for her protection.

    His lists of enemies were larger than his own house—and seeing that it has the largest lot in the pack, it was safe to say that Savanna would probably have a hard time thinking if the man that she would be talking in the future is an ally or enemy.

    Additional security wouldn’t be a problem.

    Especially if it’s something that his people recommended themselves.

    “When can we meet Luna?” A child, probably aging 10 asked, looking at the Alpha with a smile.  

    Hendrix only smiled, patting his small head, “I’m not sure she’s quite ready yet, little one.”

    “I AM READY!”

    Savanna grumbled back to her father as he continually rejects her admission of her curiosity to know what she was getting herself into. There had been a lot of ideas in her mind as to why she was tangled with things that needed her to be apart from her family. Even if Hendrix was someone whom she didn’t mind to get tangled with—she wanted to be sure of her well being.

    Sure, Hendrix had already dismissed the idea of her knowing any single thing about what is getting in between her and her safety, but that doesn't mean that she'll stop asking her father. The idea seemed fair to her judgment, as she was the one who was being chased with danger. What is there to know that she could get shot while Hendrix isn't here to keep her safe? 

    “I am stuck here, that man just left me here to eat,” she whined, looking around with a frown etched on her face.

    Valir laughed on the other side of the phone, already knowing one little error that Hendrix had made. While it was true that Savanna was innocent and is nothing but a good daughter—she does love to create trouble whenever she was to be left unattended with nothing to do. The woman was a born adventurer.

    “I can imagine you losing your mind, my child,” Valir replied, amused.

    She jumped on her bed, frowning at the thought of doing nothing, “You tell me, daddy—not even a single book was enough to give my brain some simulation that it needed.”

    “You do love books, Savanna,” he agreed, humming through the memory that makes him miss his child even more than he does, “And you would always tell me stories about them whenever you found a new book that you loved.”

    She laughed, remembering the very detail that never vanished from her mind, “Oh! Do you remember that book? One that I read to you while you were so busy but you listened anyway.”

    “The Adventures of Mrs. Grizzly Bear,” her father replied, chuckling.

    Savanna laughed at her father, remembering that at the age of 10, she was so excited to bought a book on her own and she read everything on her father—who was in the middle of fixing finances by that time. He had to put some overnight in order to finish it, but he was more than glad to spend some time with his daughter.

    Valir Haute always dream of having a kid and when Sylvia had a hard time conceiving—he honestly thought that he wouldn’t have a kid. That was the dark days of his life, and he hated who he was by that time. It was only when Sylvia conceived did he make sure to be careful in every hunt as he didn’t want Savanna to grow up missing a father or a mom.

    He had sacrificed lot of thing for his daughter—but he didn’t regret any of it.

    Savanna grew up to be the woman he had dreamt of her to be—and more. She was beautiful in the inside as she was on the outside. It was his love and care that mold the woman to be the purest soul that she could be.

    “You were great at telling stories, my savy,” he chuckled.

    She laughed before a frown etched on her face, dismissing the talk, “Daddy! You’re changing the subject.”

    “Oh, did I?” he asked, grinning.

    “That is not fair, you know,” she asked with a frown.

    Valir chuckled, “You should ask Hendrix and not me, my child.”

    Speaking of which, it never really cross her mind as to why Hendrix would leave her unattended for this long. The man was always cautious about almost everything about her that she worries that he was stressed for a big reason. It was the main reason as to why she’s utterly scared to whoever was running after her.

    “I doubt he’ll tell me anything,” she replied.

    “Why do you think I will?” answered Valir.

    The man was anxious with having Hendrix to watch his only daughter—but he doesn’t have any choice. Even if it seems like he was putting a lot of trust for a kind that he was meant to kill, he could see the seriousness in his eyes when he speaks. Valir knew more than ever that the man was always meant to keep his daughter happy and safe.

    She was getting bored, knowing that there is absolutely nothing in the area to stimulate her brain. The books in his office are all about finances and everything that doesn't entice her interest—so what are there to do? All she has was to meddle with her father—as she would usually do.

    Hendrix must be a very boring man, she thought for herself, someone who is only focused on his job and revolves his life around it. To be able to live that like seemed so lonely for her, and she was worried how the man was able to live like that for years. 

    People who work hard are usually two things, someone who are working for his family while the other is just working for himself. To see that Hendrix doesn't have a single picture of woman or kids in his house, it was safe to assume that the man was single.     

    He'll probably die of old age if he continued being the way that he is, she thoughts.

    “Savanna, why can’t you just listen to Hendrix and have this over with? You are not ready enough to know the real danger that you are in. Just rest assured that Hendrix had it handled, he'll make sure that you have nothing to fret over. You'll be safe with him,” Her father responded on the other end of the phone, “He’s doing me something important—and that is keeping you safe. When we got everything handled, we’ll tell you. How does that sound?”

    “Sounds like you’re prolonging this talk, Daddy,” she replied with a sight.

    He nodded, “You how I answer, there is no prolonging with you.”

    “There is only negotiation,” she replied.

    Valir laughed, surprised to how his daughter had replied, “You already how negotiation works, Savanna? You were barely there for a week.”

    “No, I don’t even know how that works,” she sighed.

    The smile never left Valir’s mouth—it was always his daughter, which cast his stress out of his mind. Savanna has something that was very important and he didn’t know if it was right to even let Hendrix off of what he had discovered from taking care of his daughter.

    Even until now, he still doesn’t believe it anyway.

    “Why don’t we take some time and we’ll tell you everything when we worked our way out of the mess?” He asked, wanting her to trust Hendrix and him.

    Savanna sighed, “I guess… that works out. It’s better than really knowing nothing, father.”

    “Atta girl,” Valir chuckled behind the line before someone interrupted him. It took him a couple of seconds to talk to his people whilst holding the phone, being very careful not to let his daughter hear a single thing. As soon as he was done, the call roared back to life, “How about we talk later, Princess? I have to take care of something about the business.”

    “Okay, Father," Savanna responded with a smile, wishing she were there to press a kiss in her father's cheeks, "I love you. Greet Mom for me.”

    There was silence on the other side of the phone, and before she could ask what was wrong, her father already cut the call. It was then when she realized just how trapped she was in the dull office room. The architectural structure of the place seemed modern than the standard rooms that she passed. 

    Hendrix must be a fan of modern designs. 

    She approves of that. 

    That's when Savanna wondered what the whole place looked like, her feet etched to roam the palace to see every beauty that settled around it. By her guess, this place has been built before her own parents were even alive.

    Since Hendrix didn’t really stop her from wandering the palace, Savanna put it upon herself to have a tour of her own. He wouldn’t really mind, right? There is no way that the man would get angry—besides, she’s only visiting the inside of the palace. No wandering outside, to look at the exterior of the place.

    Savanna bites her lips, listening everything she needed to remember before heading out of the place.

    It really wouldn't hurt to look at the place, right? Hendrix assured her that no one could touch her here, so she chooses to trust the man.

    Or maybe, she wants to wander around the palace. 

    Right now, she feels like it’s the latter.

    Savanna was amazed just how big the hallway was, twirling around the place with a smile printed to her lips. There were murals on the ceiling, forming an arc that would add to the history of the home.

    Everything around the palace makes her in awe as to how they seemed to design the place; it’s seemed to be filled with constant history that it makes her wonder if Hendrix was an heir to someone royalty back in the day. Everyone was wearing gown and below those portraits were some indentation about who the person was.

    His family must have some stories that are clearly exciting than half her life was.

    “I’ve been here before,” Savanna trailed before looking back to where she was walking but then frowned upon seeing that box exit looks identical, “Where did I go, again? Of course I'll be lost—it wouldn’t be Savanna wouldn’t messing a thing or two.”

    Seemingly closed with no choice, Savanna was about to walk to one of the exits when she stopped upon noticing that there was a door that seems to be embedded on the wall. One could miss it, but her eyes were quick to notice the handle. She knows that place that aged this well always have some secret entrance of two—she wondered what was behind the door.

    As her curiosity sparked through her mind, she didn't think twice before twisting to the knob and forcing the door open.

    It also didn't take twice for Savanna to back away, looking at the other side of the door in horror. There was a giant half wolf that seems resembles a figure of a man on the other side of the door, looking at her as if she was the meal prepared for it. The wolf was brown and growling at her face. As it continues to strides towards her, Savanna couldn't stop the scream that escaped through her lips- calling one name in particular.

    "HENDRIX!"