The Luna

8

"You'll be staying with me," Caspian says, as we leave the meeting hall, "In the room across the hall from mine, of course," he adds.

I'm not sure if he added that for my benefit after seeing the look on my face or not but I appreciated it.

I just nod in response, still trying to process exactly what happened back there. All that excitement and the pack seems so happy, but it was all a little overwhelming, and I didn't understand most of it. And why did it seemed like it happened so fast?

I mean, I know Caspian told me he was the next in line to govern his people. And I know he had called me his Luna, but I'm still not really sure what that is or what it all entails. Is it like a King and Queen ruling over a kingdom?

I make a mental note to ask him about this, to have him explain it all to me. We have time, I know, but he can start filling some of the blanks and I should be allowed to cash in some of the 'Laters' that he owes me.

Caspian leads me up the drive of a large colonial-style mansion larger than any other house I've seen on the way into the city. I can't help but let my jaw drop as I take in the neatly trimmed grass and rose bushes lining the wide wrap-around porch. It's so elegant and the red of the roses really pop against the white of the house. Large bushes, taller than even Caspian and his dad surround the rest of the property like a fence. It's beautiful and idealistic, like something out of a Home and Garden magazine - something that I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I'd be living in.

I didn't realize I had stopped walking until Caspian tugged on my arm urging me forward again. His face is patient and a small smile is still tugging on his lips but he says nothing as he leads me the rest of the way.

"Welcome," He opens the door and ushers me into the large foyer, that if I'm honest looks like it should be for a museum instead of someone's home.

I can't help the gasp that leaves my lips as my eyes try to take in everything. There are archways on both sides of us, one leading into what looks like a living room and the other leading to a hallway. Directly in front of us is a split staircase leading to the second floor.

I could see the kitchen nestled just behind the staircase. I'm itching to explore, to see what all the other hallways and archways lead to and the rooms they hide. But Caspian is already leading me towards the stairs.

"Only the high-ranking members actually live in this house. So only one other family is here aside from my parents and I. However, only my family, the Alpha family, is upstairs." His hand is on my lower back gently pushing me up the stairs at a quicker pace than my looky-loo eyes are letting me. I slip on the steps a little but quickly regain my balance, giving Caspian an embarrassed smile.

"My parents are on that end," he points to an intricate dark wood door across a small catwalk walkway, but where the other staircase leads to, "and we'll be over here."

There are only two doors down the hallway that Caspian took us. Another dark wood door with small details etched into the wood and a simple white door across from it.

"That's me," he points to the dark wood door but moves to open the white one, "and this is for you, my Luna," the door sweeps open and the first thing I notice is the amount of natural light that filters into the room. I don't know if I gasped loudly or if it just sounded loud in my head but, at this moment, I can't bring myself to care.

One entire side of the room is glass with nothing but trees and sky for as far as the eye can see, peaking just over the bushes that surround the house. The room itself is minimal at best. A full-size bed is pushed against the opposite wall with simple, fluffy white bedding and an oversized chair sits near the window.

"Bathroom and closet are here," he opens a door to a small hallway lined on both sides with sliding closet doors and at the end, I can see the sink to the bathroom, "If you don't like anything, the mattress, bedding, towels - anything at all, let me know and we will get them switched out to something better." my eyes snap to him at his words.

"What? Why? This is already so much more than I could have imagined," I say, watching Caspian close the little space there had been between us.

His hands reach out and stroke the length of my arms as he watches me carefully. I wish more than anything I could know what he's thinking - what that expression on his face means.

"You're my Luna. Your happiness now is all that matters," he leans in and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head, "I do have some things to catch up on, so if you need anything ask your guards." Two men stepped into the room behind me so silently that I practically jumped out of my skin when they appeared next to him.

I can feel the color drain from my face as I take in both the men. I'm going to go ahead and guess that all of his people are intimidating by nature because these two are no exception. They tower over me with chests wide with muscle and biceps that I think are bigger than my thighs. I'd probably be right to assume that they could c***k a walnut with their biceps.

Caspian chuckles in amusement and it breaks me out of my gaze.

"This is Travis," he points to the man on the right, with a shaved head and a tattoo of something with grey smoke on his large arm. "And this is Dex," the other man nods slightly, his brown hair falling forward on his forehead a little from the movement.

I give a small wave, unsure how else to greet them. Neither of them made eye contact with me and both wore stern expressions as Caspian introduced them. I don't know why but that unsettles me but it does. I can't help but get this feeling in the pit of my stomach, something that feels eerily similar to the creeps.

"Wait," I see Caspian move to leave the room without so much as a goodbye, but reach out to stop him "I don't know that I really need guards?" My eyes drift back to the two men standing in the same spot with the same stoic expression on their faces. A chill runs down my spine and I force myself to look away and back to Caspian.

"I mean, I'm not in danger here, am I?" I had thought this before but pushed it aside. I told myself that Caspian had given me no real reason to be fearful of him or his people. Truth is though, I still don't know him that well at all, and these two guards give me the serious creeps.

"Compared to us, you're very fragile," Caspian says, pulling his arm from my grasp, "Like glass on a baseball field. It's an honor for these men to be chosen to guard the Luna. Some men train their entire lives in hopes of being chosen, so there is no need to fear,"

I nod to show him that I understand even though I really don't, "Why doe-"

"Later, Mia," he says curly but when he turns to leave, I reach out again grabbing his arm. I don't want to seem clingy or overzealous, but I don't want him to leave. Maybe it's just nerves, like starting a new school or a new job and it will get more comfortable as I go, but I don't want him to leave yet.

I can hear his sigh in frustration but when he turns to face me, his face is clear of any emotions.

"Um, Will you be gone long?" I cringe at how that sounds. So desperate and clingy it makes my cheeks heat up.

"I'll be back in time for dinner," he looks over my head at the guards, and with a nod to them, he moves his arm from my grasp and leaves before I can stop him again.

I stare at the empty space where Caspian had been. Honestly, a part of me is angry that he would bring me here only to leave me so quickly. I mean I'm not really even settled am I and he just drops me in my room, with strangers who are supposed to guard me and that's it?! Not even a tour of the house or the grounds? However, I keep trying to remind myself that Caspian is an important man in his city and soon he will be the leader - the Alpha - and with that must come a lot of responsibility.

I jump when Travis shuts the door, standing in front of it with his arms crossed as he looks down at me. I turn to look at Dex standing behind me in a similar position. Both look intimidating and ready for anything that could happen. I can feel myself begin to shake a little but I keep telling myself it's just nerves. That these men are here to protect me from whatever it is that I might need protecting from.

It seems so weird to think that I am someone who needs guards. I guess though compared to the strength of these wolves, I am nothing but breakable. Both Travis and Dex could probably kill me in the blink of an eye with one hand...

Wow. If I was trying to comfort myself, I failed horribly.

"Well...um..." I purse my lips as I look between them again, before looking around the room unsure what I should say or do.

I've never had guards before but I have been to new homes on many occasions. Most of those times didn't feel as awkward as this though. I'd be lying if I said I felt comfortable enough to just decide to walk around and explore, even with my guards.

I want Caspian to show me around anyway. This is his home -his people - He brought me here to be his Luna, he should be my tour guide.

Another day, I tell myself. There is time still for him to do that. We don't have to do everything today. That doesn't mean, however, that I want to sit here with Travis and Dex.

"I guess I'm gonna take a nap?" Even though it's only a little before noon, it feels like it had been a long day, especially with traveling and my emotions. But why did it feel like I was asking them for permission?

"Yes, Luna, We'll be outside the door if you need anything," Dex says in a deep baritone that surprised me.

Both men bow their heads slightly before moving towards the door. Travis reaches out and flips a switch before closing the door behind him. I'm surprised when a dark curtain begins to cover the glass, engulfing the room in a darkness that I could swear was caused by night.

I want to tell them that they don't have to just stand outside the door, but I don't. There is much about this that I don't understand and if it's an honor for them to be chosen as my guards that maybe that's what guarding entails. I'll understand one day. I just have to learn. For now, I just kick off my shoes and crawl into the bed, trying to relax enough to fall asleep.