The Luna: Braver Than We Are

Chapter 15

“You mutt,” the voice in Adam’s head wouldn’t shut up.”You scared her.” As if Adam needed to be reminded of the behavior, that he really wasn’t proud of. He almost barged out of the shower, naked, just because some woman reminded him of his long-dead mate. She ran away without saying a word, of course. “She isn’t just some woman. She is important.” The wolf insisted.

Adam couldn’t stand the wolfs’ ranting anymore. “How can you know she is important?”

“I feel it.”

“Her wolf?”

“No.”

“Is she even a werewolf?”

“I… don’t know,” the wolf became hesitant and it was oddly satisfying for Adam.

“How can you not know?” He hissed. The wolf remained silent. Adam had so many things to deal with. Granny’s illness, the deadline, that his grandfather gave him, and Alina with her nagging. All this was just a bloody mess. How could he find a luna in only six months in a way that wouldn’t hinder the relations with Coldmoors?

“Uncle, uncle,” a little voice brought him back to reality. A girl with fluffy brown hair and blue eyes looked at him. “Have tea with me in the living room.”

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” he answered and smiled.

If anything good happened in the last few days, it was the fact that he was forced to call Marius. And now there he was at his childhood friend’s house, playing with his daughter after eating the dinner that Marius’s wife prepared. The dinner that was so different from the meal that he had with Alina just a few days ago. She would despise the simple hearty food and the unsophisticated atmosphere during the meal. She would probably comment about the decor of the dining room. But Adam enjoyed every second.

It was like his first memories from childhood when his mother cooked meals and his father would praise her. Granny told Adam that his parents wanted him to have a taste of normality. But it was all gone when he moved with his grandparents. Grandfather looked displeased every time he found that his grandson and wife sneaked into the kitchen again. When adult, Adam realized that it was caused by his grandfather’s uneasiness. The Longclaws weren’t the old rich family with a big pack behind them. Their wealth came because William Longclaw worked his fingers to the bones. Fifty years ago he was just a minor alpha with no more than thirty wolves around him. He created the Longclaw Pack to be one of the biggest, guaranteeing a strong social standing and forged a true empire. It all came at a cost. Granny told Adam that the William Longclaw she knew as a young girl was lost in the process.

The loss of the only son made things even worse. Nadia lived for Adam, William lived for the pack and the company, only he decided to discard as much of his wolf self as he could. Adam still wasn’t sure what he lived for. The ways of Nadia and William clashed in him. He longed for this simple life, with true strong bonds, and tenderness of loving family. Yet he was a predator. The fact that he no longer hunted in the woods or fought for the land with other alphas didn’t change it. He channeled all his aggression and need for dominance, which he undoubtedly had, into business relations, following William’s steps.

“Uncle, Annelise asked you a question. It’s rude to pretend you didn’t hear her,” the girl, Mandy looked as annoyed as a four years old can look. Annelise, a doll in a rainbowy dress, with a big ribbon on top of her head also looked annoyed. And was adamant to get her answer. Adam was convinced that she, Annelise, was capable of anything to get it.

“Mandy, sweetie, it’s time for a bath,” Veronica, Marius’s wife came at the right time to rescue Adam.

“But mommy, I’m having tea with friends.”

“It’s unhealthy to drink tea so late in the night. You don't want your friends to get sick because they can’t sleep.”

“Oh mommy,” Mandy’s chin started shaking. “I forgot and prepared a regular tea instead of chamomile.” The girl was visibly worried, on a verge of crying.

“Don’t worry, we had just one cup,” Adam decided he should help. He didn’t want to see the pandemonium Mandy sure would cause. “Besides we will take special pills that prevent all insomnia.” Veronica chuckled.

“Really, uncle?” Mandy looked at him with hope in her still teary eyes.

“Sure thing, you can go to sleep.”

“But you’ll call daddy tomorrow to say you’re fine?” Adam nodded and Mandy seemed to forget the whole drama. “Mommy, after bath I want a story. The one about the big bad wolf and silver fairy.” She blabbed cheerfully.

“I told you this story so many times,” Veronica said taking Mandy in her arms and out of the room.

“But it’s so beautiful.”

“Ok. Just this time.” The bathroom door closed and Adam wasn’t able to hear the rest of the conversation. He was surprised that anyone still tells the children this old story.

“How do you like family life?” Marius entered the living room holding two bottles of beer.

“It’s sometimes scary,” Marius burst into a deep laugh. “But I suppose it has more pros than cons.” Adam tried to get up from the tiny chair he was forced to seat for the last twenty minutes.

“Need a hand?” Marius asked reaching out to Adam.

“Yeah, and a drink.”

“Don’t tell my little princess is so scary.” Marius looked suspiciously serious. “You look like you need a chat.”

Adam hesitated for a second. None of the things that bothered him was a good topic to speak with Chris. For Chris everything was simple. Marry Alina, become a CEO, lead the pack.

But it wouldn’t be all right to bother Marius, he just barged into his life after years of ghosting. He wasn’t a good friend and he didn’t deserve what he was offered.

“Nah, just have a drink with me.”

Marius looked at him as if he knew exactly what Adam was thinking and maybe he really did, there was a time they were like brothers.

“As you wish, just remember, I can’t guarantee any good advice but I will always listen.”