Her Fate, His Luna

“So, I can pick any girl from these two packs?” asked Damien, standing in front of the open window of the pack office, staring outside. His eyes were glued to that long, waist-length hair, falling on her back like melted caramel. She would be 5'5'', he thought. Those lean muscles hidden under her baby-pink t-shirt told Damien that she probably trained with the pack warriors. Her pale complexion was going well with her attire. Damien still couldn't see her face. She was busy helping others to set the barbeque in the vast garden behind the packhouse. Though both alphas from Golden Moon Pack and Red Moon Pack had gathered their pack members in the territory of the Golden Moon pack tonight for the party, the number might reach two hundred. Thanks to the rogue attacks. No wonder they were asking for his help. “Yes, alpha Damien. Though we are hoping you may like to take one of our daughter's hands in marriage as the proof of this treaty.” Baron, alpha of the Golden Moon Pack, spoke with a fake smile.  He would be happier if Damien chose some other girl rather than his daughters. He could bet that alpha Lucas of Red Moon Pack was thinking the same. After all, they knew Damien very well. This man standing in front of the window was a ruthless killer. He was known as a demon in the werewolf world. If it weren't for their pack, they would have never dragged Damien into their territory. On the other hand, Alex, Damien’s beta, was standing there in shock. He knew Damien had already predicted that these packs would ask for protection, but this marriage thing was way too much.  ‘How dare they,’ he shouted in mind link, ’you don’t have to marry anyone from these pathetic packs? Also, it’s a win-win situation for them, and we will gain nothing from this deal.’  ‘Patience, Alex...’ Damien replied in mind while a smugly smile made its way. ‘Damien, I know you haven’t been able to find your mate till now, but it is not the solution. Even if you are going to choose a Luna, don’t you think you should ally with a pack from where we will be benefited as well?’ Alex reasoned again in mind link. Indeed, Damien hadn't found his mate yet, though he was twenty-five. Most werewolves used to find their mates at the age of sixteen, considered the age of maturity. It was improbable for an alpha like him, as he belonged to one of the largest packs in the world. Some werewolves thought it was necessary for an alpha, the pack leader, to find his mate, Luna, to run the pack smoothly. It gave an assurance to the pack members that the alpha would not die heirless. If an alpha couldn't find his mate after a specific time, they should choose a mate, which was nothing but a political game.  Suddenly Alex noticed a crooked smile on his lips and a glitter on the corner of Damien’s eyes. He knew the meaning very well. Damien was not only going to accept the treaty, but also he had found the girl he was going to pick. Of course, Alex knew his friend very well. They grew up together. Alex knew the monster hiding behind that handsome face, and he could only pity that poor girl. That is the only reason he does not want Damien to get married. Alex could barely imagine what was waiting for that poor soul. The thread of his thoughts broke when he heard someone knocking on the door. With permission from Alpha Baron, a pack member came into the room and informed them that the food was ready and everyone was waiting for their arrival in the garden. Alpha Baron dismissed him and requested Damien to join them for the barbeque party. They all headed towards the garden. “Alpha Damien, please meet my son Benjamin and my daughter Lilac,” alpha Lucas introduced his family to Damien. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Damien”, Benjamin greeted him. Damien smiled at them, but his eyes were fixed somewhere else. “Alpha, please meet my daughter Evalyn and my son Jakob, and...” Alpha Baron paused, and his eyes kept searching for someone. “She is there, dad, talking to Emily as always,” Evalyn smiled, looking towards Alpha Damien. As soon as she finished talking, a brown-haired teenager walked towards them with a bright smile on her face. “Alpha Damien, please meet my youngest daughter, Lotus,” Baron concluded the introductions. Damien heard Baron talking.  So, she was the alpha's daughter! That was even better, he thought in his head.  Damien turned towards Baron and said in front of everyone fearlessly, ” Alpha Baron, I can marry Lotus as part of our treaty”. Everybody freezes at his words. Lotus is shocked beyond imagination. She caught that man staring at her from her dad’s office in the afternoon, but she didn’t know his identity by then. He is Alpha Damien Black! Her father does not need to give his complete introduction. His name is enough. Alpha of the Blood Stone Pack. A pack that is no less than a rogue pack. A pack of ruthless murderers. A pack where they kill their mates after breeding. So many rumours about that pack she has heard. And their alpha is the most feared in the werewolf’s world. Is he not the alpha Demon? He attacks other packs just to increase his territory. Is he asking for her hand in marriage? No, he was not asking. It is more like he commanded. Wait a minute. Did he say, ‘part of our treaty’? Why would he do that? What kind of treaty? ”What the hell is going on? What treaty are you talking about? How dare you drag Lo into something like this?” Jakob snapped Damien.  He looks furious. His eyes are peach black. Lotus can see that her brother’s wolf is taking over. He is standing at his edge. Jakob has always been protective of her. She knows Jakob well. He is waiting for an opportunity to jump on Damien. But Damien looks calm, like nothing happens. His deep blue eyes are staring at her father. His dirty blond hair is combed perfectly backward. His sharp jawline is quite attractive. Anyone can sense the muscles hidden inside the shirt he is wearing. He smells like fresh rain and mint. She likes that smell so much, so does her wolf. Why does he have to smell so good? It’s hard to believe that this Greek god is the leader of those murderers. Her eyes travel on his tall, muscular frame. He is almost twice her size. Is he going to marry her? Why is he even here? Wasn't it just a get together with Red Moon Pack? “Let’s speak inside”, her father says. There is pin-drop silence in the room right now. The entire family of Alpha Baron and Alpha Lucas are standing inside the office along with Damien, Alex, and the Beta of Red Moon Pack and Golden Moon Pack. The surrounding air becomes heavy. Lotus can sense it is the situation just before the storm. “Alpha Damien, I cannot agree with what you are asking for. She is a minor. She is only fifteen. She is not at her right age.”, the silence was broken with Baron’s words. Damien knows she is not at the right age. He knows she is not ready. His eyes move towards Lotus once. It looks like she is in deep thought. Then his gaze travels towards Baron. He smiles a little. ”haven't you mentioned I can pick any girl from any of these packs? If you want my protection, I will take that girl with me.” He snaps with a cold voice. His face has no emotions. “Are you crazy or what? She doesn’t deserve you anyway.”, Jakob yells at Damien, and then he turns to his father, “what is going on here, dad? What Treaty is he talking about?” A deep sigh leaves Baron’s mouth. He looks at Lucas once. He also looks sad to him. They both want to get Damien married to someone from their packs, but they could never imagine putting Lotus on the list. His gaze travels to Jakob as he starts talking, “As we all know, we have been the victim of rogue attacks for the last few years. We have tried our best to defend ourselves, even with Red Moon Pack and New Moon Pack. Nothing was useful, and we keep losing our pack members.” He pauses a little. “So many deaths after every attack. Someone’s mate, someone’s child. With their last attack, they demolished the New Moon Pack. The rogues didn’t even spare the children. We are also left with only forty-seven pack members, such as Red Moon Pack. We thought we could take help from alpha Damien, and that’s what the treaty is all about. The marriage will be the symbol of our alliance. But I have never thought in my dreams that he will ask for you, Lotus.” His voice chokes as he stops talking. Lotus is standing beside Evalyn, just like a statue. She knows about the problem very well. She knows everyone trying their best to defend their packs. She has also been training with other pack warriors since she was ten. But the fact is, no matter what, they always failed. They consistently failed to protect their loved ones. Her father is right. They need help from other packs. They need help from Damien. But help doesn’t come free. They have to pay back, and she is the p*****t. Of course, her father didn’t imagine the situation would turn out like this. “But dad, how can you do that? How can you bet on someone? She can never find her mate!” Evalyn shivers while talking. A tear escapes her eyes. She is five years older than Lotus. After her mother’s death, she has always been closer to her. She cannot imagine her little sister being sacrificed as part of a treaty. ‘Our mate!’ Lotus sighed internally. Her wolf also sighed. ‘We cannot give up on our mate. Someday we will find him. Then what?’ her wolf asks her. She has no answer to give. Like any other she-wolf, she also dreamt of a loving mate for her entire life, but fate brought this to her. She is the alpha’s daughter. She is a warrior. She has her responsibility towards her pack. If the pack’s safety comes with the cost of her freedom, she will willingly marry this man. ‘We cannot back up. It will keep them safe’, she whispers to her wolf. Her wolf whimpers in pain and stops responding after that. She knows what to do. She has to be strong. “I will marry him, Dad. If you and alpha Lucas made a treaty, as your daughter, it is my responsibility to keep your words intact.” She declares calmly. She can feel everyone’s eyes on her. She can feel Evalyn’s tears because of her. She can sense Jakob has lost his inner battle. She can sense her dad is feeling so weak and guilty; she can feel others are looking at her with sympathy in their eyes. She cannot take it anymore. She leaves that room immediately. Her reaction also surprised Damien. He has never imagined that this little girl has that much courage inside. He smiles again. “Well, that fixes it. Please prepare the papers so that we can sign and leave tonight for my territory. Also, please ask your daughter to pack her stuff. She is leaving with me.” Baron cannot imagine what is going on. He felt like someone stabbed him with silver in his heart. Lotus is the happiness of his pack. How can he let her go as part of some treaty? He knew she was strong, not only physically but also mentally. She is stronger than Evalyn. Even so, she is just a little girl. She is not ready. We consider a werewolf to be matured when they reach sixteen. He looks at Lucas once. They prepare all the documents required. Once the formality is done, Damien shakes his hand with both the alphas with his regular smile on his face and leaves their territory. His beta, Alex, is driving, and he is sitting next to him. He looks at the girl once with a rare mirror who is sitting in the back seat. His heart chinches a bit, seeing her sad and tired face. It is going to be a long ride, he thought.  Indeed, Damien hadn't found his mate yet, though he was twenty-five. Most werewolves used to find their mates at the age of sixteen, considered the age of maturity. It was improbable for an alpha like him, as he belonged to one of the largest packs in the world. Some werewolves thought it was necessary for an alpha, the pack leader, to find his mate, the Luna, to run the pack smoothly. It gave an assurance to the pack members that the alpha would not die heirless. If an alpha couldn't find his mate after a specific time, they should choose a mate, which was nothing but a political game.  Suddenly Alex noticed a crooked smile on his lips and a glitter on the corner of Damien’s eyes. He knew the meaning very well. Damien was not only going to accept the treaty, but also he had found the girl he was going to pick. Of course, Alex knew his friend very well. They grew up together. Alex knew the monster hiding behind that handsome face, and he could only pity that poor girl. That is the only reason he does not want Damien to get married. Alex could barely imagine what was waiting for that poor soul. The thread of his thoughts broke when he heard someone knocking on the door. With permission from alpha Baron, a pack member came into the room and informed that the food was ready and everyone was waiting for their arrival in the garden. Alpha Baron dismissed him and requested Damien to join them for the barbeque party. They all headed towards the garden. “Alpha Damien, please meet my son Benjamin and my daughter Lilac,” alpha Lucas introduced his family to Damien. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Damien”, Benjamin greeted him. Damien smiled at them, but his eyes were fixed somewhere else. “Alpha, please meet my daughter Evalyn and my son Jakob, and..” alpha Baron paused, and his eyes kept searching for someone. “She is there, dad, talking to Emily as always,” Evalyn smiled, looking towards Alpha Damien. As soon as she finished talking, a brown-haired teenager walked towards them with a bright smile on her face. “Alpha Damien, please meet my youngest daughter, Lotus,” Baron concluded the introductions. Damien heard Baron talking.  So, she was the alpha's daughter! That was even better, he thought in his head.  Damien turned towards Baron and said in front of everyone fearlessly, ” Alpha Baron, I can marry Lotus as part of our treaty”. Everybody freezes at his words. Lotus is shocked beyond imagination. She caught that man staring at her from her dad’s office in the afternoon, but she didn’t know his identity by then. He is Alpha Damien Black! Her father does not need to give his complete introduction. His name is enough. Alpha of the Blood Stone Pack. A pack that is no less than a rogue pack. A pack of ruthless murderers. A pack where they kill their mates after breeding. So many rumours about that pack she has heard. And their alpha is the most feared in the werewolf’s world. Is not he the alpha Demon? He attacks other packs just for increasing his territory. Is he asking for her hand in marriage? No, he was not asking. It is more like he commanded. Wait a minute. Did he say, ‘part of our treaty’? Why would he do that? What kind of treaty? ”What the hell is going on? What treaty are you talking about? How dare you to drag Lo into something like this?” Jakob snapped Damien.  He looks furious. His eyes are peach black. Lotus can see that her brother’s wolf is taking over. He is standing at his edge. Jakob has always been protective of her. She knows Jakob well. He is waiting for an opportunity to jump on Damien. But Damien looks calm, like nothing happens. His deep blue eyes are staring at her father. His dirty blond hair is combed perfectly backward. His sharp jawline is quite attractive. Anyone can sense the muscles hidden inside the shirt he is wearing. He smells like fresh rain and mint. She likes that smell so much, so does her wolf. Why he has to smell so good? It’s hard to believe that this Greek god is the leader of those murderers. Her eyes travel on his tall, muscular frame. He is almost twice her size. Is he going to marry her? Why even is he here? Was not it just a get together with Red Moon Pack? “Let’s speak inside”, her father says. There is pin-drop silence in the room right now. The entire family of Alpha Baron and Alpha Lucas are standing inside the office along with Damien, Alex, and the Beta of Red Moon Pack and Golden Moon Pack. The surrounding air becomes heavy. Lotus can sense it is the situation just before the storm. “Alpha Damien, I cannot agree with what you are asking for. She is a minor. She is only fifteen. She is not at her right age.”, the silence was broken with Baron’s words. Damien knows she is not at the right age. He knows she is not ready. His eyes move towards Lotus once. It looks like she is in her deep thought. Then his gaze travels towards Baron. He smiles a little. ”haven't you mention I can pick any girl from any of these packs? If you want my protection, I will take that girl with me.” He snaps with a cold voice. His face has no emotions. “Are you crazy or what? She doesn’t deserve you anyway.”, Jakob yells at Damien, and then he turns to his father, “what is going on here, dad? What Treaty is he talking about?” A deep sigh leaves Baron’s mouth. He looks at Lucas once. He also looks sad to him. They both want to get Damien married to someone from their packs, but they could never imagine putting Lotus on the list. His gaze travels to Jakob as he starts talking, “As we all know, we are the victim of rogue attacks for the last few years. We have tried our best to defend ourselves, even with Red Moon Pack and New Moon Pack. Nothing was useful, and we keep losing our pack members.” He pauses a little. “So many deaths after every attack. Someone’s mate, someone’s child. With their last attack, they demolished the New Moon Pack. The rogues didn’t even spare the children. We are also left with only forty-seven pack members, so as Red Moon Pack. We thought we could take help from alpha Damien, and that’s what the treaty all about. The marriage will be the symbol of our alliance. But I have never thought in my dreams that he will ask for you, Lotus.” His voice chokes as he stops talking. Lotus is standing beside Evalyn, just like a statue. She knows about the problem very well. She knows everyone trying their best to defend their packs. She has also been training with other pack warriors since she was ten. But the fact is, no matter what, they always failed. They consistently failed to protect their loved ones. Her father is right. They need help from other packs. They need help from Damien. But help doesn’t come free. They have to pay back, and she is the p*****t. Of course, her father didn’t imagine the situation would turn out like this. “But dad, how can you do that? How can you bet on someone? She can never find her mate!” Evalyn shivers while talking. A tear escapes her eyes. She is five years older than Lotus. After her mother’s death, she has always been closer to her. She cannot imagine her little sister being sacrificed as part of a treaty. ‘Our mate!’ Lotus sighed internally. Her wolf also sighed. ‘We cannot give up on our mate. Someday we will find him. Then what?’ her wolf asks her. She has no answer to give. Like any other she-wolf, she also dreamt of a loving mate for her entire life, but fate brought this to her. She is the alpha’s daughter. She is a warrior. She has her responsibility towards her pack. If the pack’s safety comes with the cost of her freedom, she will willingly marry this man. ‘We cannot back up. It will keep them safe’, she whispers to her wolf. Her wolf whimpers in pain and stops responding after that. She knows what to do. She has to be strong. “I will marry him, Dad. If you and alpha Lucas made a treaty, as your daughter, it is my responsibility to keep your words intact.” She declares calmly. She can feel everyone’s eyes on her. She can feel Evalyn’s tears because of her. She can sense Jakob has lost his inner battle. She can sense her dad is feeling so weak and guilty; she can feel others are looking at her with sympathy in their eyes. She cannot take it anymore. She leaves that room immediately. Her reaction also surprised Damien. He has never imagined that this little girl has that much courage inside. He smiles again. “Well, that fixes it. Please prepare the papers so that we can sign and leave tonight for my territory. Also, please ask your daughter to pack her stuff. She is leaving with me.” Baron cannot imagine what is going on. He felt like someone stabbed him with silver in his heart. Lotus is the happiness of his pack. How can he let her go as part of some treaty? He knew she is strong, not only physically but also mentally. She is stronger than Evalyn. Even so, she is just a little girl. She is not ready. We consider a werewolf being matured when they reach sixteen. He looks at Lucas once. They prepare all the documents required. Once the formality is done, Damien shakes his hand with both the alphas with his regular smile on his face and leaves their territory. His beta, Alex, is driving, and he is sitting next to him. He looks at the girl once with a rare mirror who is sitting in the back seat. His heart chinches a bit, seeing her sad and tired face. It is going to be a long ride, he thought.