A Tale of Three Lunas-Completed

Chapter 3

Zinnia's POV

"Goddess, I hate those bitches." he seethes, shaking his head.

"Oh, KJ, they're not that bad."

"No, they're worse."

"Nala would be so upset to hear you say that. She has a thing for you, you know."

He rolls his eyes and I laugh at him as we walk to the area where we usually train.

I used to be so scared to train.

She-wolves are not allowed to train, even if they want to. I'm not sure of the logic behind that, they actually should be using female warriors because our pack is like 65% female and they need a way to let some of their rage out.

The only reason I started training was my mom.

I trained in secret with KJ, one of my best friends when I mentioned that I wanted to be able to keep myself safe. We would go out bright and early almost every morning to train and I was getting good. As Luna, I would allow any female who wanted to train the option to train. But for now, our current Alpha, Alpha El wouldn't allow it.

I love the challenge. My house is by the training fields and I have watched the warriors train since I was a child, always wanting to join in, but never being able to. I don;t think I could seriously fight if it came down to it, but I promised mom I would learn.

KJ is a great warrior, as big as Shawn and a year older than me, so he doesn't let me get away with being sloppy, having bad form or not going hard enough when we spar. He always presents a real challenge. It is a good thing we werewolves heal quickly or Shawn would have a lot of questions about the injuries I get. KJ has been a great friend for years, being there for me after my parents were murdered, keeping my secret and being the one I spend the most time with these days while everyone else is at school.

"Your defense has improved, but we need to work on your attitude, you need more ferocity." KJ growls at me as he helps me off the ground.

"You're right, but I'm just not an angry person."

"It's not about being angry, it's about moving with purpose, finding your reasons for fighting and doing what you need to."

"Okay, we'll work on my bad attitude tomorrow. It's almost noon and I gotta check the traps."

"I'll come with you."

My pride and joy are my traps. I came up with a new way to catch small animals and continuously made modifications to the traps as a personal project. I call them my traps because I engineered them, but Alpha El and I collaborated on the upgrade and their placement.

Everyone in the pack who has shifted knows where the traps are. Even if they do forget, the traps are fashioned with a high-pitched humming device that our sensitive wolf ears can pick up on, warning us to stay away. It also keeps rogues from accidentally entering our territory and can trap humans who get too close to the pack. Because of this, we wear earplugs as we check the traps.

'Zinnia, I've been wanting to talk to you for a while about something serious.'

KJ mind links me as we check the traps. Werewolves can communicate in a way were we can hear someone else in our pack's voice in our head. It's usually used when we've shifted since our wolves don't have vocal cords to speak, but he's using it now since we're both wearing earplugs.

'Ok.'

'Have you thought about a future where you are not Shawn's mate?'

I'm not surprised he wants to have this conversation right now. He has brought it up before and it would bother me to keep discussing it if it was any other guy, but because we have had extensive conversations about his attraction to other men, I know he is just looking out for me as a friend.

'Well, I don't want to think about something that would break my heart, something I know is not possible.'

'I know. I don't want to see you with a broken heart. I just want you to know that I care so much about your wellbeing. You are important to this pack, Luna or not, and I want to make sure you don't get hurt. Nothing is 100% certain.'

I glower at him and see that he has a completely serious expression on his face, one that sobers me up to actually consider what he is saying.

'I trust that the Moon Goddess knows best. If I knew my mate was out there and I wasn't with them, I'd search, I wouldn't throw away a gift from her.' I say after a long pause.

'Good. I'm glad you're even-headed. It makes you easy to talk to.'

'My parents were my only family and I feel like the Moon Goddess will look out for me since I'm an orphan, you know? Do you ever think about going out to find your mate? You'll be 19 soon. I know you don't think you have a mate, but you can't know for sure. Objectively, you're quite a catch.'

'Objectively? You think I'm hot, don't you?'

'I didn't mean it like that, weirdo. I mean, if I hadn't known you all my life and I was just looking at your face...'

'I'm just kidding around with you, Z. Don't get all tongue-tied. I know I'm quite a specimen.'

'Yea, of a jerk.'

After we finish checking all the traps, we go to the pack house to drop off the fresh meat.

Sterling, who is in charge of food inventory, takes the small animals I caught with a smile.

"And do you have anything for me?" I smile back.

I usually eat breakfast and dinner in the pack house, but if I get hungry or miss breakfast like I did today, I'll cook up some of the little bit of food I keep in the house.

Sterling hands me over a bag with a small portion of rice, flour and fresh fruits and vegetables. Since wolves eat big portions, the food doesn't usually last me more than a few days.

"Anything for our future Luna."