The Rejected Full Moon

Alone

Storm Forest goes mad!

The Lupercalia Full Moon Festival was tonight, and it was already midday.

The women of the pack were making the final preparations to make this year's festival even more successful than last year's. The lunar festival was designed to increase the libido of mated wolves, driving them mad with lust, to produce more pups. More pups meant a bigger pack, and a more powerful Alpha. The packhouse was buzzing with life, everyone eagerly awaiting the start in a few hours.

"Rain! Haven't you finished roasting all the meat yet?" my mother-in-law raged behind my back. She had been in a bad mood all day and was taking it out on me. It was my job to make sure all the meat was ready when the starving mates returned from their intensive collective mating.

"Yes, Mother, just the lamb and everything will be ready in half an hour," I reassured her.

When she heard me call her "mother," her face turned sour.

The former Luna hated it when I called her that, though she never told me. She didn't dare because she knew Jasper would be terribly upset, and she avoided all discussions with her son, especially when it came to me.

"Okay, get everything ready on time. The wolves will gather here in half an hour and then the flight to the sacred cave will begin. Just like last year, of course, you will stay in the packhouse. No wolf has time today to wait for a human or carry it on their back," she told me viciously.

I nodded indifferently, this wasn't the first time she stressed that I didn't have a wolf and that I was a mere human. Over the years, I had learned not to react to this in order to keep the peace in the house.

I put the bowl with the meat I prepared on the big table. Next to me, I saw Anje, Gamma Kenrick's mate, serving the sauces and preparing the cutlery. She gave me a sideways glance, and I expected her to make the usual snide remark. And yes, she did not disappoint me.

"Rain, you're staying behind in the packhouse. Maybe you can help the unmated she-wolves look after the pups. At least then you'll get the chance to finally hold one in your arms. Nothing will come of you anyway."

I nodded again and didn't waste time arguing with her.

When I had everything in order, I decided to go up to the apartment to freshen up first. I had been roasting and steaming meat all morning and could already smell my stinky self.

Before I could press the elevator button, the doors opened. Jasper, my mate, stepped out.

"Rain, baby! I haven't seen you all day. I’ve been terribly busy, but you could have come to my office for a kiss. I missed you, little one," he reproached me with a wink. I jumped on him with a beaming smile and nuzzled his neck.

Jasper was the love of my life. He was obviously madly in love with me too and protected me like a true mate. When he was around, no one dared to insult me.

"I've been busy too, my love. Everything must be ready when you return. You know how hungry wolves can get after a fierce mating," I laughed.

"Hmmm, is that right? I'm hungry too now, but you haven't taken care of me yet, mate," he whispered sultrily as he nipped at my earlobe. He held me tighter, got us back into the elevator, and pressed the button to lock the doors.

Then he pushed me gently against the elevator wall, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. His boner pressed against my core as he kissed me passionately.

"I stink, Jasper, let me shower first," I whispered to him. "I've been handling bloody meat all day. Blood is all over my body and my clothes." He bit my neck seductively, sending ripples of desire through my body.

"No problem. I'm an animal too, so I'm used to raw meat. And all I want this moment is to devour you."

And that's exactly what he did.

When he opened the elevator doors an hour later, he grinned with satisfaction. After one last kiss on my nose, he hurried off to his study while I headed upstairs to our apartment. I walked into the bedroom while tearing the rest of the clothes off my body. In the bathroom, I took a refreshing bath to relax my muscles.

The adventure in the elevator was mind-blowing but also a lot of exercise. After half an hour in a warm bath, I was very much my old self.

I stepped back into the bedroom with a towel around my body, and it immediately caught my eye. On the bed lay a long red dress with a deep V-neck set with sparkling gemstones. The bodice was tight but fell loosely from the hips. I walked over to it and noticed the packaging was from a prestigious fashion designer in Human Town. There was also a velvet box in the middle of the dress. Opening it, I found a platinum chain with a ruby pendant on the bed. The jewelry and the dress matched perfectly.

I stepped back and found a pair of open shoes in the same color by the bed, completing my outfit for tonight. Jasper was such a gentleman. He could go to great lengths to prove his love to me. My mate! And on this night of Lupercalia, he always came back to spend the night with me. We celebrated this festival in our own way, just the two of us.

I smiled, knowing this night would be perfect after all. Quickly, I put on a pair of skinny jeans and a white top and danced my way out of the apartment, heading to the daycare where the unmated she-wolves were waiting for me. They too were ready to pester me about not being able to join the festival. But I didn't mind; I had my mate all to myself at eleven.

Nothing bothered me anymore.