The Moon Goddess's Karma

Chapter 05 ~ Mate! No, wait...

“Why would he visit our school?” Astrid mindlinks Vixen as they walk back to their respective classes.

Vixen shrugs. “Beats me. But isn’t it exciting? I mean, we’re talking about THE Aidan Hunter. He is such a dream!” She giggles. “I personally wouldn’t mind being second chance mate to that beefcake… yum.”

Astrid snickers. “You’re drooling.”

“Who isn’t?”

Astrid snorts. “I’m not. He is just another guy who happens to be rich and more powerful than usual. He still has to wipe his own ass after pooping.”

Vixen stops walking and glares at her. “Just another guy!? We’re talking about the alpha king, Star! In our world, he’s more than just a celebrity; he’s practically a demi-god! Heck, I wouldn’t even mind wiping that ass myself.”

“Ugh, you are so gross!” Astrid grabs her friend’s hand, silently urging her to continue walking. “I just don’t see how his visit should affect us. Mr. Greybeard is being his usual dramatic self. Wrong move, if you ask me. We’re not trouble-makers. The shifters would never make a wrong move unless they are looking to be expelled. The human students are well-behaved because deep down, they feel threatened by something they don’t really understand but instinctively feel. All that declaration and special reward if people behave is just asking for trouble. Someone could be tempted to stir the murky waters just to see what would happen.”

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*****

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The day of the alpha king’s arrival…

Astrid goes to school feeling as if she has woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Actually, it’s Rieka who appears to have woken up with her ass on fire and is shamelessly transmitting her restlessness to Astrid.

“Annoying wolf! Of all days, choosing today to act up…I should have stayed in bed.”

Given the presence of the alpha king, her father is also present in school to pay his respects, his beautiful luna by his side.

Astrid heads to class, rolling her eyes as she notices everyone looking as if they are walking on eggshells. Thankfully, she and Vixen share the same classes all morning, which helps her relax a little.

“What has gotten your tail in a knot so early in the morning?” Vixen asks, frowning when she snaps impatiently at a human classmate who is being silly.

Astrid sighs. “My wolf is giving me a headache, pacing all over my mind. She’s been like this since we woke up.”

“Oh, that? I think all our wolves are reacting to the alpha king’s presence. Even mine has been frisky all morning.” Vixen giggles. “I can’t wait to see him! Perhaps ‘accidentally’ bump into him somewhere…I’ll turn my delicate ankle, and he’ll lift me in his strong arms to take me to the infirmary—.”

Astrid snarls in fury, slamming her friend against the wall with a frightening growl before she gets a better hold on herself, and they stare at each other in shock.

Even their classmates stare at them cautiously, probably wondering what the hell is going on.

“Sh*t, Star! What is your problem!? You nearly bit my head off!”

She hugs her friend, feeling so guilty. “Sorry, sorry! It’s not me. It’s my wolf! I told you she’s been acting all weird…”

The school secretary’s voice suddenly booms all around the campus as she calls the attention of all the students to proceed to the auditorium to welcome their special guest.

Astrid bites her lower lip. “Maybe it’s better if I skip this one,” she mutters. “My wolf is going berserk and I don’t want to be the reason Mr. Greybeard gets upset and cancels prom.”

Vixen stares at her, torn between loyalty and her fixation with prom, which she has been dreaming of since she learned the meaning of the word. In the end, loyalty wins.

“Oh, come on. It’s going to be alright. I’m sure your wolf will behave in the presence of the alpha king! You have to come. It would be disrespectful not to! I promise to hold your hand all the time so you won’t lose control again, okay?”

“I don’t know…”

Vixen tugs her hand firmly, leading her out of the classroom, as they are the only ones left; the others have already gone, excited to see a celebrity. “It will be alright. Hurry! I don’t wanna miss anything!”

As it is, they are the last ones to go into the auditorium. Their guest of honor is already on the stage with the principal and Astrid’s parents, along with a boy who is probably going to be a freshman in the following year.

Astrid fights Rieka’s restlessness by blocking the annoying wolf and focusing on her control.

She lets her friend pull her towards the front, ignoring the mute protests of the other students.

“I want to see him up close!” Vixen whispers excitedly.

“Maybe that’s not such a good idea right now—”

The principal is currently making his speech, with the alpha king standing beside him, patiently waiting for the plaque of appreciation that Mr. Greybeard will hand over as soon as he is done kissing ass.

But all of a sudden, the alpha king frowns and turns to scan the sea of students before him with intense eyes.

Astrid stiffens as Rieka claws her way out of the wall she has built to block her.

“Mate!” her wolf cries.

“What!?”

“You heard me! He’s our mate! It’s only fitting, as I am the queen of the wolves! The Moon Goddess could not have chosen a better match,” Rieka declares smugly. “Now go up there and claim him now!”

“Are you crazy? No!” Astrid replies automatically, even though she can already feel the pull of the mate bond.

The alpha king’s eyes suddenly zero in on her, silently acknowledging her wolf’s claim.

Astrid groans, “F*ck my life.”

She should have stayed in bed. This can’t be real! Maybe her mind is simply playing pranks on her. It’s probably just a bad dream. Just a horrible nightmare from which she hopes to wake up soon.

To her relief, the alpha king does not interrupt the principal’s speech, merely holds her gaze for a few extra seconds before focusing on Mr. Greybeard again.

But then, of course, Vixen notices and turns to stare at her suspiciously.

“What the hell was that?”

Astrid closes her eyes. “I’ll explain later.”

“But—”

“LATER!” Astrid snaps, pulling her hand away from her grip. “I have to go.”

Fated to the alpha king. Oh, this is no longer a disaster. This is a catastrophe of epic proportions!

What is she going to do now!?

Rieka snarls at her as she heads out of the auditorium. “What is your problem!? I cannot fathom why you’re not over the moon rejoicing at being given such honor of becoming luna to the alpha king. You are an unnatural child!”

“I just turned eighteen!” Astrid growls back, too stressed to be intimidated. “I have my whole life ahead of me!”

Rieka scoffs. “So? Life does not end just because one meets one’s fated mate! We’re hardly in the medieval times. He won’t be forcing you to stay home and bear him pups, and he already has an heir from his previous mate! This match cannot be more perfect! You have been blessed with a tremendous privilege, and yet—”

“This is not a blessing! If anything, this is a punishment from the Moon Goddess!”

“How is it a—”

“HE IS OVER THIRTY! I CAN’T BELIEVE THE MOON GODDESS WOULD TIE MY FATE TO SOMEONE SO OLD!”

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*****

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I stare in disbelief at the screen. Where did that come from!? I don’t even know how things suddenly turned out the way they did. I was typing until the scene called for her to dig her heels in protest of her fated mate.

“Seriously? You’re still fighting me!?”

The nerve of this girl. She is really starting to piss me off. Nothing I do is good enough for her, and she keeps blaming me for everything!

Granted, I’m the one who chose her fated mate for her, but my choice is based on what I believe is solely for her well-being.

“Old!? Thirty-three is not old! What are you talking about!? Seriously, this new generation is so rude,” I mutter.

In my opinion, it’s just the right age when it comes to men. Anyone younger will still be too immature and less than capable of handling her spitfire attitude. She just has to see it from my point of view.

As far as I know, my biological father is the same age as my mother. They were batchmates in college. He disappeared as soon as he found out my mother was pregnant. My mother’s current husband is much older, but he is the best thing that ever happened to her. He is financially stable, hard-working, emotionally and mentally mature, and he takes care of all my mother’s needs. I could not have asked for a better man for her.

I gave Astrid the same kind of man, only absolutely more powerful, infinitely richer, sinfully gorgeous, and practically perfect in all aspects…and this is the thanks I get?

That he is OLD!? The stubborn lass needs to have her mouth washed with soap and rinsed with alcohol.

I went to the kitchen to get myself a refreshing glass of iced water because I swear the girl is making my blood boil, and I’m starting to see red. As I tap my fingers against the kitchen table, I think of ways to proceed.

Somebody ought to talk some sense into the foolish girl, but it has to be done in a way that she’ll get the shock of her life enough to make a difference in her attitude. She loves her mother and her best friend, but they are too soft with her, too coddling. Her father, in exasperation, will probably use the alpha command and make things worse.

So who could it be?

I stare at the glass covering the top of the table, where my image is reflected, although distorted and unclear.

A grin spreads on my lips as an idea comes to mind: Who better to have this conversation with…than with me? Their very own Moon Goddess?

I hurry back to my room, ready to continue the story. And if this still doesn’t work, I might just have to smite the bejesus out of her. Yeah, that ought to make me sleep well.

*****

Dear readers, this novel is actually complete, but it is_ a v a i l a b l e _somewhere else

( A M A Z 0 N ) and free f0r $ub$cribers of

K I N D L E UnLI Mi Ted. If I will have many readers in a short time on Dreame, I will consider putting it here as well. We'll see how it goes.

Se a r c h for "WREN Littleleaf" or the title itself.