Tristan
“Avery,” I call as she runs out of the kitchen. I had just told her that I am a werewolf and that she is my mate. Sighing, I quickened my pace and chased her out of the kitchen. I caught her right as she opened the front door. I slam it shut.
“Let me go!” She shouts.
“Please, you must listen to me,” I clasp her hand.
“You just told me that you are a werewolf and a vampire bit me,” she snorts. “Werewolves and vampires don’t exist.”
“Avery, they do exist,” I tell her. “There is a whole world of truth that most humans are not privy to. It’s what keeps the balance. But there are some humans who are made aware of the truth. For some reason, the Moon Goddess, Celeste, made you my mate.”
“You are not a werewolf!” She screams and tries to get out of my grasp.
I sigh and pull her to my chest. “I didn’t want to do this here,” I say, pulling her into the living room.
“Let me go,” she struggles.
I hate causing her distress, but she needs to know.
‘She is our rightful Luna,’ Dragos speaks up.
“Please just let me go,” Avery pleads with me.
“Sit,” I point to the couch. “Sit and hear me out, please,” I say.
Avery gives me a defiant look. I want to smile because I am starting to understand how this human was chosen to be my mate. “I want to go home.”
“You can do that, or you can listen to me,” I say in a deeper tone.
“No!” Avery yells and stomps her foot.
I take a deep breath. “You can go home, but you won’t have a job.”
“What? Are you trying to blackmail me?” Her voice goes up a pitch as I hear distress.
“Listen to me. You don’t have to believe me after I talk, but listen, please,” I tell her. “Then you can go home.”
Avery glares at me briefly before finally sitting on the couch.
“I am a werewolf,” I say again as I start removing my clothes.
“What are you doing?” She asks.
I back away to the center of the room as I need space to shift. “I’m showing you the truth of the world.”
“By taking off your clothes?” Avery screeches.
“Just trust me,” I say as I slide off my boxers. I refrain from laughing when Avery covers her eyes. “You are going to want to see this,” I say.
She peeks through her fingers, “I can see it.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I snort. “Now, please don’t be scared.”
Avery stares at me.
‘Okay, Dragos. Show her,’ I say, and give him control. Within seconds, I am shifted into my large black wolf. My eyes blink as I stare at Avery. She has a neutral expression as she stares.
Dragos steps towards her and she pulls her knees to her chest. He whimpers and lowers his head as he lays his snout on the couch. ‘I would never hurt you, mate,’ he tells her.
“How are you doing that?” she looks at the wolf.
‘You are my mate,’ He responds.
She stares for the longest time in silence.
Dragos wags his tag and sits with his tongue out, trying to act dog-like. ‘You can pet me,’ he says.
Avery reaches her hand out and touches his snout, then starts stroking his ears. “You are soft,” she mutters.
‘You are beautiful,' Dragos coos.
Avery blushes and pulls her hand away. " Okay, you are a werewolf,” she says, folding her arms.
Dragos backs away, and yields control back to me. I shift into human form and pull my shorts on. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think,” she mutters, looking away.
I sit beside her on the couch. I graze my hand over hers. “Do you feel that? The tingles?”
She nods.
“That’s our mate bond,” I say.
“Why am I your mate?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” I say. “We don’t always know why Celeste does what she does. But mates are like soulmates,” I say. “They are the one that makes us whole,” I explain. “As the Alpha of my pack, you will or should be the Luna,” I say. “We are the leaders.”
“Alpha?” she says. “So, you are like the leader of a pack?” She knits her eyebrows, and I can sense her trying to make sense of things.
“Yes, I am in charge of roughly a thousand wolves,” I state. “And as you know, I am the CEO of the company. Lots of packs run companies to make money to support their people.”
“I see,” she says.
“Your friend Sean is a member of my pack,” I say. “He is an omega. They are the lowest rank.”
“I never- “she trails off. “I have known Sean my whole life,” She shakes her head. “How did I not know?”
“We must keep our secrets from most humans,” I explain. “Humans don’t always do well with the truth. And some humans hunt us.”
“I see,” she sighs. “So, I was bitten by a vampire,” she touches her neck and shudders.
“Yes,” I say and reach over to touch the wound. She leans into me. “Mates have the ability to speed up healing,” I say.
“Really?” Avery smiles. “So, do I have to be your mate? What if I don’t want to be?”
Dragos whimpers as I frown. “Well, I can reject my mate,” I say.
‘No,’ Dragos howls.
“But rejection is painful,” I continue explaining. "Look, Avery, I care about you. I have only known you for a few days, and I feel my heart already belongs to you. I can make your life so much easier. I will pay off your house, and you will never want for anything.”
“I am not a child, Tristan,” she groans. “I don’t need to be taken care of.”
“I know,” I smirk. “I sense your tenacious and strong spirit. You may be just a human, but Celeste saw something more in you. She felt you were strong enough for me.”
She smiles softly, and I touch her cheek. “So, Luna?”
“Yes, you are supposed to be my Luna,” I mutter. “But- “
“But what?” Her eyes narrow. “Are you about to reject me?”
“I should,” I say. “It’s what everyone else wants,” I say. “You see, my grandfather is a member of the Werewolf council,” I say. “They are almost like Congress or something. They make the rules we all must follow. Grandfather and the Council made a rule that forbids us from mating with humans. It's their law, not Celeste's. My Grandfather and father have arranged a marriage for me.”
“So, you must reject me,” she mutters almost sadly.
“I don’t want to,” I say. “Dragos will never accept Wendy as his mate. He only wants you.”
Avery frowns, “So, what are you going to do then?”
“I want you, Avery,” I say. “But I could lose everything to be with you,” I sigh.
She reaches over and touches my cheek. The tingles from her touch are the best thing I have ever felt as she leans towards me. “You would lose everything to be with me?”
“I would,” I say. I clasp her hand and bring her fingers to my lips, causing her to giggle. “My gods, do you know how good you smell?”
She smiles sweetly as I lean closer and brush my lips against hers. She lets out a small moan, and it takes everything I have to contain my lust. Her arms wrap around me, and she plants her lips firmly on mine. Those deep brown eyes of hers sparkle as we kiss.
I pull back with a sigh, “I can’t keep going.”
“Why not?” she asks.
“Because I won’t be able to stop myself from going all the way,” I say.
She smiles and pulls me back towards her, “Then don’t stop.”