A Tale of Three Lunas-Completed

Chapter 18

Zinnia's POV

"So, the Alpha we wanted you to speak with finally made his way to our pack. We would just like you to come in and talk about your life in your old pack and your experiences with Alpha El and the incoming Alpha."

Oh, no big deal. I'm glad it's not about the coat. I have had it great here because of what happened with me and Leilani, but these people really don't know me. They trust me and I don't want them to question whether or not I'm a good person just because I stole a coat, especially since I'm not giving it back. When I took it yesterday, it was like I was in a trance. My brain barely registered that it belonged to someone. I just knew I had to have it.

The fear of confronting the person it belonged to didn't enter my mind until I walked into the conference room. I smelled him immediately. I followed my nose to find that he was already looking at me. I didn't look at him long, but from what I could see, he was gorgeous. He had thick, short black hair and a well groomed beard and mustache. His full lips were frowning and his dark, thick eyebrows were downturned. His dark eyes were glaring at me so hard I could barely tell if they were open.

It's my mate. I didn't think I would actually meet him. I wasn't even thinking about mates at all when I smelled that coat. That's the scent that has been driving me crazy, the scent of my mate. He's here, he's hot and he's mad.

"Zinnia, this is Lorenzo. He is the Alpha of the East Moontrail Pack. We just need you to speak more about the incoming Alpha of your old pack. We want to figure out how we are going to approach him once he takes power." Everett says.

He's an Alpha? But then... no, I don't want this. I don't want to be a Luna. I want to leave this room. I don't want to be here. I don't want to talk to him.

"What do you need me to say exactly?" I fidget unintentionally.

"Well, you were in a relationship with him, right? So just whatever you feel is relevant."

Well damn, Everett. Way to let everyone know my business.

I jump when I hear a belly laugh coming from somewhere in the room. I see the visiting Alpha now has the attention of everyone.

"So, is that who's baby that was in your room?"

What? How would he- "You broke my doorknob?"

"You stole my coat." he says in an accusatory way.

Oh my god. They know about the coat. I'm gonna lose my job. I'm gonna be kicked out. They're not gonna trust me anymore. I'll lose everything.

I excuse myself and run out of the room, because now everyone here thinks I'm a freak and a thief and I just want to go hold the baby.

Everett quickly catches up to me.

"Zinnia, hey. Wait up."

"It smelled like him! I only took it cause it smelled like him!" I confess.

"He's your mate." he states understandingly.

I nod and he shakes his head.

"God, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

"It's okay. I just found out right now, too."

"Listen. We don't care about whatever you took. Just go back to your room and we'll talk later."

I go down to my room with thoughts racing through my head. My mate is an Alpha. That means I'll be a Luna. If I'm his Luna, he'll make me leave to go to his home with him. He thinks I have a baby. Did they tell him its not mine? If he thinks the baby is mine, maybe he'll reject me. I hope he rejects me. I don't want to leave here, leave my new life. I can't leave baby Carlani. I'm supposed to work with the newborns and expectant mothers in the hospital.

I could always reject him.

My mother said that if I follow what the Moon Goddess directs I'll be okay, but I'm already okay. My life is perfect and I won't be okay if I have to leave Carlani.

Thankfully, my door is fixed by the time I get back to my room, but Beta Everett is right on my tail telling me that the visiting Alpha wants to talk to me. I'm not ready. If I'm going to reject him, I need to be ready and I'm not.

"He asked if you could be his date to the Alpha Prince's inauguration the day after tomorrow. By the way, the Prince is begging you to say yes."

I nod. We're both gonna be there anyway. I can't say no to the Prince.

I'm not gonna think about him right now. I have a full day tomorrow since the baby's parents are coming back in time for the inauguration and I've already had a long day.

After I get Carlani ready for bed, I open my closet and see the fur coat there. I grab it one time and give it a good, deep sniff. I had hoped that I would hate the scent now, the way I hated Shawn's scent when he became of age, but I don't and I'm angry about it.

I wake up early in the morning since Leilani and Carl's flight comes in at 6 am. I get the baby all wrapped up while he sleeps and we are all ready by the time Gamma Roman comes to get us.

"So," Roman starts once we get on the road, "you found your mate."

"Yea, so." I really don't want to talk about that asshole.

"So, you must be happy about that. I know how all the ladies dream about the day they'll find their mate and be carried off by the love of their life." he teases, dreamily.

"Yea? Well I'm not a stupid little girl. Both of my parents are dead and I've had to flee the only home I've known after it was burned down. I didn't need him to save me then and I don't need him now. My life is perfect without him." I snap. I look over at sleeping Carlani and stroke his hair. "I wish he would just go away."

We ride in silence for a long time before he speaks.

"My cousin felt that way about his mate. He was like a brother to me. His mate came into his life when he thought he had everything he wanted, so he rejected her. When his girlfriend found her mate and left him, he tried to get his mate back, but she had found her second chance mate. He ended up killing himself. I'm not telling you this to manipulate you or guilt you, I just want you to keep an open mind when it comes to your mate. How you deal with them can greatly affect the rest of your life. You're already so wise at your young age. Don't commit to doing anything you can't take back."