Rejected Luna

Chapter 6: Only seventeen

-Clara -

I am sad that Josh and Luna Margaret are getting back to their home. They are fun! Even Luna Michelle is sad about their departure. However, she will feel better since Mason is back along with his fiancé.

Luna Michelle's cheeks are pink now. My Luna has gained some weight, and she even looks healthier with the visit of her sister.

Marissa Malone is the only daughter of the Alpha of Red Moon Pack, and Luna Michelle told me that our pack would merge with hers. And Blood Moon Pack will be the dominant party. There are several administrative issues to get it done, such as permission from the Alpha King after their mating ceremony. However, it is bound to happen.

I was glad for Mason. He looked happy as his dreams were coming true.

Alpha James will retire and spend more time with his Luna as Mason takes over. He has made plans and will take Luna Michelle to visit the Royal pack and take a very long vacation away from everything.

I am happy for my Luna, although I would miss her when that happens.

Karima and Alina were with me working on the kitchen. We were making dinner under the orders of the main chef, Gloria Ramirez. They were busy with the requests of our new Luna, who was into seafood, nothing spicy, low in sodium, no milk, no wheat, and something else I do not remember.

Mason and Alpha James hate seafood and would choose steak, while the others would prefer pasta but had no issue with seafood.

Gloria put together a set menu for pack members and a special one for the Alpha family. She is fantastic at her job.

Besides, another group of omegas will come once we finish cooking the food to serve it all on time.

We work like an orchestra directed by the chef in perfect synchrony.

Josh left with Mason to talk. He and his mother will go tomorrow to their pack.

After his return, Josh went to the kitchen. He was looking for some dessert and found me there. He said he wanted to erase the flavor of the beer.

"Why would you drink something if you do not like the flavor?" I asked him.

"Social pressure." He replied and gave me his pearly white smile. I giggled at his answer.

Yeah, we do things without thinking just because it is socially acceptable, like drinking bitter beer.

I smiled back at him but kept working on my task.

I was making two types of dessert, passion fruit mousse, and chocolate lava cake. I was helping with the lava cake, I still do not master it, and this dinner must be perfect.

Besides, I love cooking. I can get one dish extra for me as a reward. There are two hundred attendants,

and we always cook more than needed. No one would notice!

Rose taught me to cook besides Luna Michelle. I learned from her to bake banana bread.

I am trying to learn, and Gloria is the best to learn from the most delicious recipes.

The pack’s kitchen is spacious and has all kitchen appliances and supplies to prepare a big meal as if this were a top restaurant at Royal Pack. Fancy!

The residents of the packhouse have their meals in a large room. It is in the opposite direction of where the main dining room is. That place is used exclusively by our Alpha, Luna, and their special guests like Luna Margaret and Josh.

The omegas of the packhouse would eat at the kitchen, never with the pack members, even less with the Alpha family. I am the only one who eats there with Luna Michelle when her son or mate is not around.

And tonight, I will dine with the other omegas that work in this shift.

Josh joked with us about stealing our secret recipes or even us because the smell was delicious. He was so funny using all the synonyms he knew of that word. He even said it was deliciously intoxicating. Josh had more synonyms of the word.

I am glad he has mastered his control over his Alpha aura by now, so we all can spend some time with him and enjoy his jokes.

“Please, I want to try it! Please!" he begins to whine about tasting the chocolate mix for the cake.

I know it tastes good. It is chocolate, the reason for my existence, but it is uncooked. I wanted to joke with Josh, too. So, I acted as if thinking about such a request.

"What if you get a stomachache?" I asked him playfully.

“I am a strong wolf. I can take it!” He told me. Josh even pouts like a pup after saying that. I could not contain my giggles. He is so funny.

“Are you sure? Should I ask Luna Margaret?” I told him in a warning tone teasing him.

I know Josh is a strong wolf, but I could not help myself and teased him a little. I enjoy it when he acts childish.

The girls also chuckled at my statement while he glared at me, also playfully.

However, I did not realize my comments were making Gloria uncomfortable.

Josh opened his mouth to say something when Gloria yelled from the other side of the kitchen and almost threw the pasta she was taking out of the hot water. We heard the noise of the pots hitting the metal sink.

“You should not deny anything to a Young Alpha!” It was her scream.

Gloria was not familiar with Josh talking and joking with us so informally. He is very kind and never acts like a high-rank wolf. I imagined that made her feel nervous.

She yelled at me, and my smile dropped at the instant while regretting my boldness.

Gloria is a delta. The omegas would naturally whimper at the display of her aura. I was not affected by it, but Karima and Alina were.

"Watch the way you talk to a Young Alpha, Clara. Apologize to him immediately!” Gloria’s voice was commanding, since I am an omega, I should comply with her order, but I did not feel compelled.

However, I know she is right. I felt embarrassed. I do not understand why I keep forgetting my place.

Since everyone was silent, my stomach twisted painfully at the situation I got myself in. The girls look at me worriedly. I have gained myself a good scolding from Gloria, but Josh can excuse me, right?

I bowed my head while I apologized to her and then to Josh. I waited for his acknowledgment. But it never came.

The uncomfortable silence was hurting my heart.

I was such an i***t! I felt like crying.

I cleaned my hands on my apron nervously.

Then, I sensed a powerful aura radiating from Josh. When I raised my head, he was clenching his fist with his eyes closed. He was fighting with himself to contain his Alpha aura.

I did not understand why he was so mad. I have joked with him before, and he never reacted this way. Maybe I went too far in joking with him. I have never talked to him like that in front of others. Josh might get all Alpha on me now! I want to run and hug my Luna.

"I am sorry, Alpha!" Gloria apologized now. “She is just a pup who forgets her place.” She bowed her head to him showing her nape in submission and ordered me to do the same. I was about to do it, but Josh stopped me.

He opened his eyes, still clenching his fists.

“Do not ever raise your voice to Clara.” Josh's voice was deep and dangerous. He looked at Gloria, and I saw that his eyes were flickering black.

Gloria opened her eyes wide open, and I looked confused and shocked.

Was he mad at her for yelling at me? Even his wolf?

Gloria bowed her head again. She submitted to Josh's aura, almost whimpering in fear.

The young Alpha was quite impressive and frightening.

 I have never seen him like this before. I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach looking at him this mad.

His aura was powerful and scary. This one is not the Josh I met. It is the first time I felt some fear towards a wolf's aura.

Josh seemed like gaining back control over his wolf when he looked at me. But then another source of power entered the kitchen.

"What is going on here?" Mason also displayed his aura when he showed up at the kitchen without shoes, wearing only his pajama shorts.

Mason looked like he was about to shift. His hair was a mess. Although, it is not bedtime. Oh, wait, oh! I understood... There was another scent on him.

It was too much for Karima and Alina. They whimpered and stepped back down to a corner. I stood up in front of them with my apron dirty with chocolate cake mix.

Josh turned around to face Mason and then looked back at me. When his eyes focused on me, getting silver-grey again, I muttered “please” to him, hoping he would understand I do not want more trouble.

“Nothing, cousin. Just a misunderstanding. Gloria here will never make the same mistake again. Am I right?” he said and looked at her directly. There was a threat in his words, and Gloria probably felt the same. She shivered.

“Yes, Alpha. I am sorry.” Gloria said, and now I feel bad for her. However, I hope she does not take it on me later. That something that usually happens to me when Luna Michelle intervenes.

Damn, Josh! We are friends, but you do not have to protect me. At least not like this! Why did you get so mad? I thought to myself.

Before leaving, Josh dared to wink at me and grin at the girls as if nothing happened. His aura again was under control. He was the nice Young Alpha, again.

“Guys, please. Keep working. I will wait for my dessert at the table.” Josh then walked towards his cousin and chuckled looking at a confused Mason.

“Wait, all this time you contained your aura?” Mason asked incredulously of what Josh did.

I was not aware that it was something outstanding. It was just a nice gesture from Josh with us, omegas.

"Yes, I do not want to frighten your pack members. All these good omegas were nice to me and fed me with delicious desserts." Josh joked and patted Mason's back. "Did you not know I am a glutton, too?"

"I... I felt your aura up to my bedroom, on the third floor," Mason stated while amazed by Josh's control.

“Yeah, I learned to conceal my aura with help from Alastair. My wolf.” Josh smirked again and began to walk away from us leading Mason away too, blocking my view of Mason.

The Young Alpha of Blood Moon looks more mature and handsome than I remembered, more built than two years ago, and a little bit taller but still not as tall as Josh. He is just a slenderer type.

I did not get to see Mason when he arrived at the packhouse with his fiancé, but now I and the girls saw his six-pack on display.

Did I mention that he was not wearing a shirt? This male has the body of a Greek Good. I blushed at the thought just like the girls. Wow!

"We will leave you guys; please, keep working as always," Josh said to us. We were still startled, but his words set us back in motion to keep cooking. Dinner should be ready for everyone at eight o’clock.

“We master concealing at the Alpha’s Academy. How is it possible?” Mason insisted on Josh while leaving the kitchen.

I know Mason is competitive, and knowing that his cousin can do something before he did would eat him alive. Josh will have another conversation with Mason about this skill he got to master without previous formal training.

Alastair is an old soul granted to Josh, an ancestor of his family. That was his explanation when I met him, and since he was very civil and nice to me, Josh allowed us to talk for fifteen minutes.

The wolf told me he was created by Moon Goddess like many other werewolves. He was told that he was special, and I believe him. Each creation of the Moon Goddess is precious and special.

I asked him how our Goddess looks like,  but he did not remember her appearance. He only remembered a warm light and her pure love for him. I wonder if my wolf would know that when she wakes up.

It is weird how Alastair and Josh are similar yet different. Josh hates beer, while Alastair enjoys it, although whisky is his favorite drink, he said.

Alastair enjoys training, while Josh hates it. They both also like chocolate, but it does not compare with my love for it. I enjoyed my time talking to Alastair and Josh, and as proof of his friendship, they shared their dessert with me more than once.

Yeah, Josh is my friend. A new kind of Alpha, a nice werewolf. Probably that is why he got so upset about Gloria's behavior. Although, I think he… I better stop thinking about this and focus on my duties.

We finished cooking dinner in silence. Karima and Alina eyed me but said nothing, while Gloria ignored me. I know now I will need to talk to her at some point about this incident.

Around seven, ten more omegas showed up to help us with the preparations, besides plating and serving.

Rose came to see how we were doing and ordered them to be ready to serve the residents of the packhouse already.

Rose mindlinked me that Luna Michelle wanted to talk to me in private after dinner. That I should wait for her there... I could eat there instead of here. I think I am in trouble after all. Josh! I want to kill you now!

Around midnight, I heard Luna Michelle’s voice in my head, and I opened my door for her to enter. She kissed my forehead; I was relieved she was the same kind Luna I have always known.

“Clara, we are going to have a tiny birthday party for you!” she said as soon as she entered my room. I am so happy, but I cannot accept, she will get tired. I was about to open my mouth, but she beat me talking first.

“Darling, you are like a daughter to me. We are having this party! Besides, Rose and Ms. Simmons will do all the work. I will just be there!”

“I do not understand.”

“We are going to celebrate your party at your friend’s house in the afternoon. And, then at midnight when you become eighteen, we will go to the forest near the small pond for your first shift.” I am speechless and happy at her explanation. My Luna is the best! I wanted to cry, and I did cry on her shoulder. How is it that I am so emotional?

“I am sorry Luna; I ruined your blouse.” I ruined it with my tears.

“That is nothing… I wish your mother would be here for you as well. You know she was my friend, right?” Her voice broke a little too.

“Yes, Luna. I know.” I tried to calm down. I got more emotional thinking about my mother. She just hugged me and comforted me as a mother would do. Then I remembered the incident, and I think I better explain things to her. Gossips can be poison.

“Luna, I have something to tell you. Today, something happened at the kitchen and I …”

"Do not worry, child. I know." She cut me off. What does she know? Even I am not clear about the whole incident!

“Clara, Josh told me he got mad at Gloria for yelling at you… He told me his wolf feels protective over you.” She continued, blushing.

"We are just friends, Luna," I told her honestly.

"I know, darling. He also told me that. I would have yelled at Gloria, too! I think many werewolves would feel the same for you if getting to know you as we do." She said and kissed my forehead like when I was six.

I think I will always be a little pup in the eyes of my Luna.

"Thank you, Luna," I whispered, and I feel a lump in my throat. She pets my head soothing me. I feel like a child, not just three days away from eighteen.

"Do not feel bad. I will talk to Gloria. I do not want her to gossips about you either. We need to be careful. He might be or not your mate." I blushed deeply.

It is embarrassing to talk about that with my Luna!

“He is a young Alpha, while I am just omega. It would be embarrassing for him to have a low-rank shewolf like me as a mate." I tell her honestly.

She frowned at me.

I know, I know, my Luna always tells me the same, but I cannot help how I feel.

“You are more than your rank Clara. I have told you this already. You are special. Do not say those things about yourself. Do not believe others' stupid words. Trust your Luna, okay?" I sighed and looked at my hands.

I am special because she cares about me. Because my mother was her friend. Because my mom was killed by vampires... No, there is nothing special about me.

“Clara, look at me. You are pretty, smart, and brave. Josh would be very lucky if he were your mate!" She paused for a moment. "My sister wants to take you to her pack so she can guard you for her son! If you are not his fated mate, I think he would even be keen to take you as a chosen mate… if you accept him, of course.”

“Luna! I want my fated mate!” I whined like a child. What can I say? I am only seventeen, well, at least for three more days.

She chuckled.

“I know, I declined on your name. I know you and Josh also understands that about you. He will never force you; he respects you…" She looked at me as if feeling guilty for something, but then she changed her expression and smiled at me.

"Darling, you caused a great impression on my sister and Josh. I am so proud of you." I can feel my face burn in embarrassment, although I like her compliments, for some reason, I am not comfortable with them in general. I never know how to answer.

“Sleep now, Clara. Josh and Maggie want to see you tomorrow early in the morning before leaving the pack following the official protocol. Wait for them at the kitchen at six.” I just nodded at her.

Josh will be at the Alpha's Academy for two long years. There is not much to think about.

During my sleep, Mason crept back inside of my mind. His aqua blue eyes are mesmerizing, why did he have to show up without a t-shirt!

Maybe I should consider moving to Silver Rain. I could visit Luna Margaret after Mason's ceremony and get to know how that territory is.

Early in the morning, I got ready to say goodbye to Josh. I wanted to prepare a nice breakfast for him and his mother before they leave. Oddly, at that hour, no omega is in the kitchen. Breakfast was ready but they were nowhere.

Then I sensed Luna Margaret and Josh at my back. When I turn around to face them, Luna Margaret hugged me tightly and told me that I was welcomed to visit her pack and stay as much as I wanted.

I even got an envelope with a card as her gift for my birthday. It is a free pass to get there and cross the borders without problems. It felt great to have her invitation.

Then Josh gave me a small box with a red ribbon. I opened it eagerly and disregarded the paper but kept the red lace. It was a necklace with a golden locket.

The locket was one where you put the photo of your beloved one inside. I like it so much! He got time to get this for me!

I grinned widely at him, and he went straight to hug me tightly too. I was so surprised that I remained stiff without hugging him back. He sniffed my scent and scared me a bit.

"Stop, Josh! You cannot leave your scent on her. We need to be careful of her reputation!" Luna Margaret said, but instead of letting me go, Josh took a deep breath of my scent from my hair.

This is not appropriate, but I do not feel like rejecting him either. We are friends. I did not want to hurt his feelings.

"I wish you would accept to come to my pack and live with my mother while I finish my training. I do not like the way others talk to you here." Josh said and released me but got angry.

I was stiff, still shocked by his sudden actions. He never hugged me before this time.

This is not appropriate. Josh's scent will be on me, and others might think something else happened. Since it is early, I think I have enough time to go to my room and take a shower.

“Thank you both for your precious gifts. I still need to finish high school and assist my Luna. I will help with the preparations for Mason’s mating ceremony. It is going to be the event of the year! You will come, right? Maybe, then I will travel with Luna Margaret to your pack?”

“That would be nice dear. Remember, if you have any problem at all, you can come to our pack. In case of emergency, you can ask the benefit of the asylum act for you.” Luna Margaret said smiling at me. I have no idea what the asylum act is, and reading my expression, she told me, "Ask your Luna about it."

We said our final goodbyes and they left. It felt like even the day was sad like it was about to rain.

Over time, I thought to myself, what would have happened if I just accepted their offer. Maybe, my life would have to be easier, different, but what did my still seventeen self knew back then... Nothing, and we live life like this, without knowing, taking chances, and betting in a game we had no idea we are playing.