Her Fate, His Luna

Chapter 2: The Truth

Damien's POV

My wolf was getting restless as soon as we started towards the garden from the alpha Baron’s office. I could sense the smell was getting stronger. I felt like someone baking one of my most favoured chocolate cakes. The scent was intoxicating. I knew from whom it was coming. I could see her caramel hair was now tied up, and her ocean blue eyes were so mesmerising. Her lips were just like a pair of rose petals. She was too young. I doubt she had reached her maturity. No wonder she had not sensed me yet. My wolf was howling inside my head. He was trying to take over. He wanted to run towards her, hold her tightly in his arms. He wanted to kiss her and mark her. I could not blame my wolf. My mate was beautiful, I thought.

“Our mate”, my wolf growled.

When I received an invitation from Alpha Baron to visit Golden Moon Pack three days back, I sensed they would ask for help regarding rogues. Rogues are the werewolves who have been banished from a pack because of their ill doings. Some werewolves go against the pack leaders, their alphas, or some leave the pack willingly and become rogues. Their number is increasing every day. My pack is large, and hence I don’t have to worry about them much, but small packs like Golden Moon or Red Moon, the rogue, are a big concern.

As I presumed, they asked for my help. They asked me to marry someone of my preference from their packs. I was laughing internally at their proposal, sitting in front of them in the packhouse. Mate and marriage are not my things. I get bored quickly and hence my choice changes almost every night. Suddenly a sweet smell hit my nostrils. It's chocolate. I could not concentrate any more on their conversation. My wolf was acting differently. He wanted to take control and follow the smell. He was desperate. I always had reasonable control over my wolf, and we quite got along well. We never argued with each other before. No matter how much I tried to concentrate on the meeting, I couldn’t. What’s wrong with me? I never got that much distracted by any smell before.

My wolf became restless, and finally, I stood up and walked towards the big window. The smell became stronger as I came closer to the window. I looked down from the window, which is on the second floor of the packhouse. There was an enormous garden behind the packhouse. Some pack members were taking care of the arrangements for today’s party. I tried to concentrate, to find the source of the smell. My eyes scanned the entire area, and there she was. Her back was facing me. My wolf became more desperate. Her caramel-like hair was touching her waist. I could only imagine how soft her hair would be. I wanted to touch her hair; I wanted to smell her more. Still, I could not see her face.

“So, I can choose any girl from both of the packs?” I asked, and I became shocked with my question. What was wrong with me? I didn’t need to marry anyone from this pathetic pack who could not even save themselves from rogue attacks. Even worse, they were trying to sell one of their daughters for the sake of the treaty. Being the alpha of one of the fiercer packs, I knew what precisely a treaty means, especially for marriage. There was not much difference between these marriages and the slavery system. The treaty remained the same once you got married, but none cared about that girl later. When the time comes, either they were killed once the alpha lost their interest or committed suicide because of negligence, insult, and torture. Some strong-willed ones became the mistress or rogue. I regained control of my mind.

Baron said something, but I only sense how pathetic he was as a father. Alex's mind linked me to the same thoughts, and I knew what exactly I must do. I wanted to show these two spineless alphas to their place in my eyes. I asked Alex to be patient, but he did not stop there. As soon as I was going to open my mouth, I saw her face. I saw her beautiful ocean blue eyes; I saw her breathtaking smile. My wolf howled again in my head,

“Mate mate mate!!” he shouted.

I froze at his reaction. I did not know how to react. I never tried to find my mate. I did not want to be bound with some weak female wolf. I already have many enemies, and they were trying to harm me each day, and now they will get a soft spot to target. How pathetic! I know I cannot stay away from her. My mate-bond and my wolf will not let me. But I cannot drag her to my world. It is so dark, and she looked so innocent, so pure. I could not think about putting her in my demonic world. It will only hurt her. She smiled again and said something to the girl standing next to her. My wolf purred in my head. I can tell how happy he is that we finally found her.

“We can protect her. She is our mate. We are strong”, he tried to assure me, but I can feel how anxious he is. He also knows how dangerous it will be for her.

“Accepting her is equal to dragging her towards death. She cannot be with us. She deserves to live an amazing life. I don’t want her to be sacrificed,” I said to my wolf. He was angry. I can sense he is fighting to take control.

“Don’t even think of rejecting her. You lose her; you will lose me as well.” He yelled.

“Be reasonable. How can you think she will be safe with... “ 

My wolf didn’t let me complete it. He said immediately, “We will protect her. We will keep her safe. In fact, we will keep her hidden from the rest of the world.”

As soon as he finished talking, suddenly she looked at me once. Her eyebrows frowned a little. Her eyes were vacant. They contained no feeling for me. Why can she not sense me?

“Because she is a minor.”, my wolf said. Of course, we can hear each other’s thoughts. It’s like two different people sharing one body and mind. She is so beautiful. I cannot let anyone hurt her.

“We will hide her”, I said to my wolf, and he knew exactly what I meant. She is just a minor, and it shouldn’t be a problem.

As soon as we went to the garden, Lucas and Baron introduced me to others. I hardly pay any attention. My eyes stuck to her. I was watching her every movement. The way she smiles, she looks, she blinks, she waves her hand while talking, and then suddenly she walks towards me. My heart skipped a beat. My wolf was fighting again to take over. It was getting hard for me to hold back. She was breathtaking, like a personal brand of drug to me. My wolf was at his edge of taking control, and suddenly alpha Baron introduced her to us as his daughter. That spineless alpha was trying to sell her as well! She is so innocent. How can they do that to her? How can he put her in a treaty like that where it always ends in death? My wolf was furious.

‘We need to hide her, remember?’ I reminded my wolf, and he stopped fighting.

“Alpha Baron, I can take Lotus’ hand in marriage as part of our treaty”, I said to Baron in an indifferent tone showing no affection towards her. It sounded more like a command. I can sense everyone looking at me. Everyone looked at the heartless alpha they knew. She stood there like a statue. Her brother became furious and yelled at me. Nothing mattered to me right now. My mate was standing just hands away from me. My beautiful mate. I will protect her with all my means. Alex looked shocked as well. He never expected me to choose a minor to get married. He knows me very well. He knows about my partners. He knows how some of them get killed because of me. The only thing he doesn’t know is that this little kitten standing in front of us is mine to protect.

Alpha Baron proposed to go inside to talk about this matter. But I knew there was nothing to talk about. I would never allow her to stay here in this pathetic pack. She is not safe here. I am going to take her with me by any means.

‘What are you doing, Damien? She is just a minor.’, Alex mind-links me. I can sense how much anxiety he is for my little kitten. A part of me became jealous.

‘I told you to be patient, Alex. This game has just begun.’, I snapped at him. Meanwhile, Baron tried to convince me to choose someone else. ”Didn’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.”, I told him in a cold and humiliating tone.

‘Are you crazy? Please don’t do this to her, Damien. She is too young for this life.’, Alex tried to convince me. I just smiled. I said nothing. I can only concentrate on my mate. She is thinking something. Her siblings are trying to protect her. I can sense that. Baron was telling them about the treaty. She looked sad, then disappointed, broken. So many emotions were there in her eyes. Then I heard the sweetest voice in the world.

“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.”

Did she accept the offer? She looked so calm suddenly.

‘Our mate is strong-willed. She is perfect for us.’, my wolf shouted in my head with joy.

She was indeed a strong kitten. Alex also looked puzzled. In between a girl from some other pack and me, the girl always tries to run away to save her life. But Lotus is different. She is willingly sacrificing her life because of her pack.

‘She will be my perfect Luna when the time comes. But until then, we need to hide her, remember?’ I said to my wolf, and he agreed.

I asked them to prepare all the documents, and we started our journey towards my territory. I let Alex drive the car so that I can concentrate on my kitten. She is sitting quietly. She has not said a single word after accepting the offer. My kitten looks so sad. I wanted to hold her in my arms and comfort her. I wanted to touch her pale skin. I never felt this way. She looks so exhausted. She dozed off. I smiled. After some time, Alex and I can hear her steady heartbeats. She is sleeping.

Alex looked at her once. ‘Why did you do that, Damien?’ he asked me in a mind-link with a sad tone.

‘You seem to be more concerned about her than her husband. What’s your deal, Alex?’ I asked him playfully.

‘Husband? Do you really consider yourself as her husband? Don’t play with me, Damien. I know the exact meaning of this marriage.’, Alex retorted.

‘Well, technically, I am married to her right now.’ I smiled again.

‘She is too innocent to be sacrificed, Damien. She looked like a free spirit. Please don’t break her.’, Alex said.

I know exactly what he was thinking. I cannot blame Alex. I have always been like that, and Alex knew me too well. The only thing he doesn’t know, this time, it will be different. I cannot hurt my kitten. I looked at her sleepy face one more time. We almost reached my packhouse.

‘Once we reach there, wake her up and bring her in. Ask somebody to prepare one of the guest rooms on the third floor.’ I instructed Alex in mind-link.

He looks shocked. He probably thought I would take my kitten to my room. I also wanted the same more than anything, but I cannot. I even cannot ask her to stay on the same floor. I cannot afford to show any affection towards her. She will be safe if she stays away from me. I don’t want to draw any attention towards her. The only thing I want to do right now is to go for a run.