A Luna's Power

Chapter 3: Mate

-Lara-

Goddess, it really was the queen! So… unbelievably… badass. I stood there, speechless, as she watched me from the doorway, her silver eyes locked on mine, arms crossed. What could you possibly say to the most powerful female on the planet?

“I… I have something to discuss with him,” I stammered.

My vague response only made her smile faintly as she stepped further into the room, stopping a few feet away.

“And here I thought we were celebrating your birthday. Nineteen, right?” she asked.

I nodded once.

“And instead, you’re here to speak to my mate. Not even to visit your sister, whom you haven’t seen in nine months.”

I could feel the judgment in her words. I didn’t want to get on her bad side, but what could I say?

“I’ve been busy,” I said. “I have important work to do. It’s not easy being a luna who rules alone.”

“No, it’s not,” she agreed. “But it can be really lonely ruling on your own.”

I knew that. But I’d always been alone. How was this any different from when I was younger?

“I know,” I replied quietly.

The queen studied me for a moment longer, then lowered her arms, nodding slightly. “Very well, I’ll see if Valerio has time to meet with you. But you’re staying for dinner.”

“Okay, thank you, my queen.”

She gave a brief glance to Selene before turning and leaving the room. I stood there for a second before turning to my sister, who was doing her best to smile at me, though I could see the hurt behind it. I should feel bad, right? I should apologize and tell her I came to see her, that I missed her. But I didn’t.

“Well, I guess I’ll go check on the kids,” Selene said, standing up.

“I’ll come with you,” Rider offered, joining her. Neither of them looked at me.

I understood. I wouldn’t want to be nice to me either.

-James-

“She wants a meeting?” Valerio inquired.

Octavia had just arrived at his office, where we were finishing up the last tasks of the day. We had been told that we all needed to attend dinner because Selene’s younger sister, Lara, had arrived. I hadn’t met her before.

“Apparently so. She only agreed to come here to see you,” Octavia said.

“Why not just ask for a meeting?” Garrett inquired.

“She wanted one immediately.”

Valerio leaned back in his chair, mulling it over. I could tell he had hoped to end his day early, or perhaps he was concerned about why Lara wanted to meet. Selene and Lara’s father, Michael, was still in isolation, and with Selene living here, the responsibility of the pack now fell on young Lara’s shoulders. Maybe something had gone wrong.

“And here I was hoping we could wrap up early and enjoy a nice dinner,” Valerio sighed.

Yes, that would have been nice—for everyone else. Personally, I preferred the work. It kept my mind off things...

“So, should I tell her you’ll meet with her?” Octavia inquired.

Valerio leaned forward slightly, rubbing his eyes. He looked exhausted, clearly not eager for another meeting after a full day of them. Still, after a moment, he nodded.

“We need to finish up here first. Tell her I’ll give her twenty minutes, and I’ll send someone to fetch her.”

Octavia smiled and left the room. Valerio rubbed his eyes again, looking worn out.

“You think this has something to do with Michael?” Garrett asked.

Valerio turned to him, tapping a finger on the table thoughtfully. “I hope not. We’ve already got enough on our plate.”

“And if it is?” Chris chimed in. “I’m not sure how Lara’s doing as the pack’s luna, but when Selene was in charge, a lot of the pack remained loyal to Michael.”

“Well, I won’t let their pack fall apart. If Lara needs my help, I’ll give it to her,” Valerio said.

***

We had finally finished the last of our work for the day, and the king was ready to meet with Lara. He sent me to fetch her from the living room where she’d been waiting. As I headed downstairs, I could only hope this meeting wasn’t about her father.

I rounded the stairs and walked down the hallway until I reached the living room doors. But just as I stood in front of them, I felt something strange—or rather, scented something. Why could I smell… vanilla?

I looked around the empty hallway, but there was no obvious explanation for the faint, sweet scent that was now filling my senses. My mouth watered, and my heart started beating a little faster. Was that excitement? I wasn’t sure, but I found it suddenly hard to stay still.

Without thinking, I quickly reached for the handle and opened the door. The moment I stepped inside, I was hit by a wave of a scent so overwhelming it nearly knocked me back. Vanilla, strong and intoxicating, filled the room.

Where was it coming from? My eyes travelled to the far side of the room, where a red-haired woman stood with her back to me, facing the open doors leading to the garden. The wind blew through her hair, sending that irresistible, intoxicating smell towards me.

What the hell? She must have sensed my presence, because she slowly began to turn around. And—f*cking hell—she was beautiful. Her face was an elegant oval, framed by flaming red hair. Pale skin dusted with freckles across her nose, and those deep, chocolate-brown eyes seemed to pull me in. She wore a black top, ripped jeans, boots, and dark gloves on her hands. She looked almost… dangerous.

Mate!

Oh no. No, no, no. That can’t be true.

I refused to believe it, but my wolf—who had retreated into the darkest corners of my mind after Jane died—suddenly surged forward. He was crashing to the surface, desperate for the female standing in front of us. I shook my head, gripping the door handle tighter to keep myself steady. I had never felt him so strong, so overpowering.

Mate! Mark her! Mark her now!

He was clearly driven by a primal need, terrified she might be taken from us if we didn’t claim her right now. But I wasn’t going to claim her. I had loved only one female—Jane—and she would always be my only mate.

“F*cking sh*t,” I heard the luna mutter under her breath.

It seemed she had realized what I already knew—that we were mates. But even though every instinct told me to get out of there, my body refused to move. My legs felt like they were glued to the floor. Goddess, why are you so cruel? I wondered bitterly as we stood there, locked in a frozen stare, both of us seemingly paralyzed.

Then, her eyes narrowed, and I noticed her hands clenching into tight fists. A sudden, threatening aura radiated from her, and for a moment, it looked like she wanted to kill me.

“You have got to be kidding me,” she snapped.

I blinked, confused. Why was she angry?

She strode towards me with determined steps, her intoxicating vanilla scent growing stronger with each step. It almost made me growl, a possessive instinct rising in response. But her energy—clearly directed at me—was anything but welcoming. It was as if she was daring me to challenge her.

“Reject me! Reject me now!” she demanded.

She wanted me to do what?