Luna of the Golden Moon

The Bond

I was putting the pearls back on, Caleb smiling behind me, staring at us, dressed in black. This was it. I was going out there and telling the pack and the world that I was Caleb's mate.

"Yes, you are, Luna, yes, you are..." He snickered in my ear, giving me goosebumps again. The ache inside me started when he lifted his head from my shoulder where it had rested, feeling it. He then lost the smirk when I frowned. What was wrong?

"Nothing is wrong... keep close to me and don't stray, no matter what, Emilia. You don't go away from my arm out my sight, got it?" He sounded serious when I made a nod. Yeah, sure, I got it; it's not like I wanted to leave him; I loved him.

My eyes found his in the mirror when he stopped looking so grim and broke out into a great smile that made my stomach warm by looking at it; I really loved to see him happy.

"You make me happy, Luna; don't ever forget that." He turned me around, making me lose sight of us in the mirror. He really was so big compared to me, and I loved that; he had so much muscle, and all of it was mine to have.

"All yours, and don't you forget that when you step outside these doors more than ever, you are not the cowering Delta anymore, the future Luna, and you belong here with me." Caleb sounded so confident, making me nod in agreement. I belong here with him.

"I want to see my mother and father... that's all..." I stared at his face when he made a small smile like he knew that, but I didn't know if that mattered or what I wanted.

"I swear, you will see them on my mother's grave and my Alpha blood. I don't know how, but I will try for you, my Luna." He made a slight dark purr, his eyes splashing with yellow breaking out in the dark charcoal. This made me purr back, press my sore body against his, and feel the heat from my thighs. That's all I needed, my male and Alpha, to tell me he would try; it was more than nothing.

His eyes dilated, and his head lifted when I knew it was time for us to go, and I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. I looked pretty, didn't I? Enough to make the pack like me, at least I hoped?

I stared at the formal and tight black dress, which made me look even smaller than I was. Maybe the Deltas were right; I did look too skinny and had no hips to bear an heir to my male.

"Stop that. You look amazing! I'm this close to telling the entire pack to f**k off so I can take you back to bed... I want you, Emilia, every part of your body is making me hard for you...." he growled, feeling the hot breath on my neck from his mouth when I moaned. Yes, yes, I wanted that. Please take me to the bed and make me scream like I had done so many times in the short time we had been mated.

Caleb growled deeper, his hands digging into my dress when I was moaning more, making it so hard for the both of us when he pulled back fast, cursing and looking like he wasn't happy. I know he wasn't since I could feel how much he wanted to take me and not go out into the stupid ceremony we were supposed to attend.

"Luna, no! We are supposed to go. We can do that later, please; stop making it so f*****g hard for me..." He was growling some more, teeth gritted, and every muscle in his body was tense. Something was bothering him, and I didn't know what it was.

"You are in heat. that's what's wrong!" He made another snarl, making me pull back, whimpering. What? I had no idea what he was talking about, heat? I was fine! I snarled back at him for being stupid. He wanted to have s*x just as much as me, maybe even more, and he was telling me no!?

"Heat, as in you are inviting anyone to mate you, can't you feel it?! It's everywhere, and we are going out there, a whole room of Alphas and Beta, feeling it too. Anyone who doesn't have a mate will have difficulty resisting it!" Caleb made more curses, making his hair ruffle when I stared at his pacing. He was nervous and couldn't hide it, not from me or anyone else.

"Oh, I didn't know that. Is it really that bad?" I pouted, staring at him. I felt fine; there were just some more urges I didn't want to deny. I loved feeling like this; it made me feel more powerful.

Caleb stopped and smiled. He could feel that I felt more powerful than ever, and I wasn't afraid of an Alpha or Beta! He was my mate, and he was so strong that nobody could take me from him!

"It's not bad, Luna. Just dangerous, and I believe my father did this on purpose. I don't know what game he is playing, but you are not safe even with me. I will fight and die for you, but I can't take on all of them. Thirty Alphas are invited, and at least a third have no mate. I might have to kill someone if they get too close." He said that last part seriously when I gasped.

Kill someone? For me?! I was just one girl, and there were plenty of pretty Betas around, even I understood that seeing the wedding reception yesterday!

"Yes, that is true, Luna, but none have a mark. That's what starts the heat, making you more irresistible than you already are." Caleb's voice was a dark growl. He was serious about this, wasn't he? So, what was I supposed to do then? Walk out and let any male with the power take me!?

I moved closer to him, unaware that I had done it, when he roped me in, staring into my eyes with his serious, dark ones. I loved him so much that nothing would change that, and I trusted him wholeheartedly.

"f**k no! That is never going to happen. Keep close, and don't make eye contact with anyone or smile when you are outside these doors." I gulped again, hearing that. So, was there really a chance for him to fight another male, more than one, for me? That was so insane!

"It's my role, my place, Luna, just like yours. Don't you forget that..." Caleb's stern face and voice made me whine. No, I didn't want that. I couldn't live without him. He was my everything, and he knew that, the same as me.

He was still holding me close when the banging on the door started making Caleb growl lower. He didn't want to go outside, but we were forced, and I hated that. I hated that Alpha Terrence, my uncle, and his father could do this to us; punishment for being mated was what this was!

Caleb didn't answer, just holding me closer when we walked outside, making every Beta around stare at me. Their eyes were sparkling, noses flaring and tensing up; he wasn't making this up then. I was in heat, and they would go after me if they could.

I made it up the last corridor when one of the Betas lost control and made me do a small, terrified yelp. The man launched at me, only to have Caleb intercept him, taking him down with one strong swing and his right arm holding his neck.

Holy moon, he was so strong! His back flexed even in the stiff suit, growling.

His eyes were yellow, making me do a small moan, my thighs squeezing. He was so handsome and powerful!

"Get it together, Luna! I know you want me, and trust me, I feel the same way, but so does every other male around you!" His voice was snappy and hard, making me look up from where he was still holding down the struggling Beta, forcing him back to submissive, just like everyone staring at me.

"I'm sorry!" my voice was soft when I said it. I didn't know if I was apologizing to my Alpha or any other male. Caleb did another frustrated growl, his fangs showing when I made a slight sniffle. I couldn't help it!

"I know, I know you can't help it." Caleb was up again, taking me back and letting everyone know that if they touched me, they would be dead.

I smiled sadly, leaning my head against him when we walked further. The Beta was still on the floor, head down, and when I turned around to see him, he was handsome, and our eyes locked.

His eyes were green, and he was getting helped up by other men when Caleb made me look ahead, leaving the wounded Beta behind me. I was so nervous that I wanted to hurl. Really, I was going to puke my guts out, and we hadn't even entered the grand hall I had been in yesterday.

I was holding my breath, walking through the big gates to the private sector of the mansion. My hands were slightly shaking, feeling Caleb's tight hold squeezing me the slightest, not speaking. He seemed nervous too, at least to me, even if he didn't show any of his feelings on his stern, handsome face. Already catching the attention of unmarked Beta females, making suspicious whispers, staring at us, wondering who I was and what I was doing by his side.

"Belonging." he didn't smile, but I could feel the warmth making me do the slightest smile, forgetting that I wasn't supposed to. How could I not? Caleb was my everything.

The crowd's eyes followed us when we stood on a smaller balcony, the two grand stairs going each way to the main floor, making sure everyone could see us. I was waiting for Caleb to do something and start speaking. Still, he was on edge, checking that everyone was behaving and keeping me even closer, seeing the taller men in the crowd that had seen me, Alphas.

My eyes followed back, my face looking stern like Caleb's when I gasped, seeing the woman standing among the rest of the black suits and formal dresses.

Mother.

She didn't look happy. I took some deep breaths, trying not to freak out. I said I wanted to see my mother, but her cold grey eyes made me want to run and hide! She knew I mated Caleb!

"Yes, she does, and I don't care. She can't take you back. you have my mark, and she knows that." Caleb was linking me back.

I was so sad. My mother looked like she wanted to kill me, and I didn't understand why? I know that she didn't like Caleb and us being cousins wasn't the best mating, but.... did she really hate him so much that she couldn't see that I was happy? Even if I didn't like being here, in the wooden palace.

"Relax, Emilia. She can't take you. My father wouldn't let her." Caleb was also staring at the tall, attractive woman, but his eyes weren't scared like mine. No. They were challenging, and he would fight anyone to keep me.

"Can I see her?" I was still aware that I was a prisoner here, no matter what Caleb told or didn't tell me. I was.

He shifted his weight on me for a few seconds; he heard me, and I knew what he thought when I sighed, so I couldn't see her then, or what? She was here, and she was my mother!

"You are no prisoner, Luna. I don't want you to feel that way..." He sighed when I did one, too. It was so hard seeing my mother, and I couldn't even go to her, even if she would scold me for a lifetime.

Mother made a scowl, meeting my eyes. I wanted her to understand. Why didn't she?! The older female scoffed. She turned around, disappearing into the crowded floor, when my heart sank. My only family left me behind, not wanting to hear my side of the story?!

"I am your family too, your mate and your male." I smiled upon hearing that, turning my head to Caleb's face. He didn't look back at me, making me feel hurt. Why was he so cold all the time we were in public anyway? He looked like he had been forced to mate me instead of following me the second he had seen me on the patio.

"Emilia, listen... be careful around anyone; it's not just the heat that makes you a target. Anyone here, and I mean anyone, would love to have your place as my mate." I growled, hearing that, making some Betas turn their eyes before being snapped back and seeing Caleb's frown at them. Still, I was his mate, and they couldn't have him!

"Show them, Luna. That's the only way they will back off." I swear he smirked when I made another deep growl, my wolf being out. My eyes burned golden green, making the females staring at my male back off!

I was just about to show them my teeth when Caleb made a huff, pulling me back when I still was staring at a female that hadn't stopped staring at my male! She was pretty, adorable, and had tiny freckles over her face, smirking like she was amused over my anger.

"Relax, Luna. That's my sister. She is no threat." He chuckled slightly, causing me to drop my anger in a heartbeat. His sister, Melody? Caleb nodded imperceptibly, still looking like he would kill someone, not enjoying my insane jealousy that had kicked in the moment I thought she was a threat.

"That's the mate bond, my Luna...." He made another chuckle when I sighed. He was right. I made a small smile to the smirking girl, who just shook her head, still not believing what she saw, making me nervous. Was she against our mating, just like my mother was?

"No, she doesn't care that much. She is surprised; Father wanted me to end up with someone else." I snarled at that; yes, I knew that, and I wasn't happy to hear it. He was mine!

"I am." Caleb was proud to hear that. I knew he wanted me to feel like I belonged, and I did with him. I just wanted to know if I belonged here.

Caleb was about to say something. Still, he didn't have the chance. Alpha Terrence came out the doors behind us, making me jump back in horror, seeing that tall, handsome Alpha whose son looked so much like him I was mated to.

Alpha Terrence smiled charmingly, and I pushed even closer to Caleb's hard chest, his heart going firm against me. I was not too fond of how his father stared at me shamelessly, like he didn't care that I was his niece and son's mate.

"If he touches you, I will kill him." I didn't want to hear Caleb's dark and severe tone inside my head, making sure that Alpha Terrence saw his dark eyes. He would obey him in anything, but if anyone came near me, including his father, he wouldn't hesitate to kill.

"Don't! I don't want anyone to die, the least of all you, Alpha!" my voice was terrified. I couldn't hide it either, making the older Alpha smile, and it made me feel even worse to see the dark, glimmering eyes that were undressing me. I wasn't stupid.

"You will live, Luna, and care for my heir if I die. You understand that?" I didn't know how he could sound so calm talking about his death. No! He couldn't die. No matter what happened, I didn't want him to fight Alpha Terrence!

"Luna, it's not something I wish for either, but I have seen how he stares at you. They all stare, and my father knows that you are an Alpha female, which makes this even more dangerous." I was holding my breath hearing that. I hated this and every second of him telling me things I didn't want to hear. I wanted to be his mate and be happy; was that so hard for us to have!?

I was staring at him when he didn't look back. He hadn't once since we got out in public like I was something that wasn't even worth looking upon when I was supposed to be his mate!

"Silence, Luna." I whined, seeing Alpha Terrence coming towards us, smiling. Caleb and I were standing beside him, looking grim or worried, depending on who you were looking at.

"Caleb, Emilia, going through the heat, are we?" Alpha Terrence's eyes were staring me down, his eyes glowing yellow just like Caleb's, when I shuddered, pulling back more. I didn't care if I wasn’t supposed to show weakness; that man scared me, and he knew that, like my mate.

I didn't hear what Caleb and my uncle were saying, blocking everyone out. Still, Caleb growled a real loud one, making the Betas around uneasy, more than they already were feeling me around them.

Alpha Terrence smirked, staring into his son's eyes like his aggression toward him was amusing. My heart was racing; this was insane! Yesterday, I was this ordinary Delta that lived among humans; today, I was thrown into this world of higher ranks that didn't have mercy or kindness in them!

"At least you are a fast learner, Emilia. Good, you will need that." Alpha Terrence winked when Caleb growled again, making me hold my hands against his hard chest. No! He was not attacking Alpha Terrence here among the Beta and Alpha; they would kill him for it, even I knew that!

Caleb stared at me, panting from being upset and breaking eye contact with his father, who was observing us. I didn't know if he was amused or jealous, both.

I just wanted my male to calm down; there was nothing to be won by attacking the Head Alpha, Caleb would be dead, and he knew that!

"She will be a great Luna. Remember that, son, because I'm not the only one watching her." Alpha Terrence nodded when I followed his eyes, meeting the eyes of Alpha males staring at me. The small act of reassurance calming Caleb down had made them take notice, maybe even more than the heat had.

Holy Goddess.

They didn't even hide it. They were interested. I whined again; this was a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Why were they all staring at me!? Caleb made a scowl, the first expression I had seen him use since we got out, at least to the public, making people snicker. I didn't understand. He was my mate, and why were they still acting like I was open for anyone to have?

"If they kill me, you are." I looked back, shocked. What was he telling me here, that he would be killed for being my mate!? No! I loved him, and there was no way I would ever come along with any other male!

"Welcome. We have many challengers here tonight, so who is willing to fight for the female that is my son's mate?" Alpha Terrence was speaking when my heart dropped; there would be a fight between who!?

"Me, and anyone that wants to challenge the right to be your mate." Caleb's voice was grave when he let me go, starting to unbutton the expensive dark suit he had on. No! This wasn't happening!

"Caleb, please! Don't do this, don't go downstairs and fight anyone; they can't have me. I'm only yours!" I yelled it back inside our bond link when he didn't listen. I couldn't stop him from walking down the stairs, making me want to follow, only to have him stop me with a growl that I obeyed; this was the worst day of my life!

"I love you, Emilia, and don't worry, I will win." He said the word confident when I watched him walk down the last flight of stairs and stand in front of the other big male staring him down, just as confident and with muscles as my mate. My eyes were golden green, claws scratching into the railing.

Alpha Terrence came to my side. He didn't look worried, not like I did, and for some reason, I felt like he would win no matter what happened.

"I didn't raise my son to lose. You might think me a monster, but I will do anything for my legacy, and you are a part of that; if he dies, I will protect you." I didn't look at him. I didn't want to when he said things that made no sense. He didn't want Caleb to lose, but the head Alpha didn't sound upset if he did!?

"If he loses, then that's on him for being weak. You must forget what the human world is like and understand that you are home; learn that, or you will perish, Emilia." He looked down at Caleb, the same as me. He was bare-chested, only having his pants and bare feet, making me stare at him in awe. Caleb was flawless.

"Let the challenge commence!" Alpha Terrence's voice made me feel sick when he grinned, seeing the two big men taking a fighting stance, making my heart slam against my chest. Please, please, Moon goddess, save my mate!