Loving Luna - Stephan

Chapter One - Home Up Close

Stephan Stan or as he had found out, Liam Lavoie, glanced over at his mate, Jewel Wood and smiled. She was perfection to him. Beautiful and desirable. He shook his head and looked back out the window. The drive back to his actual biological parent's pack was surreal. George, his father, was driving and Andrea, his mother was singing along to a song that was playing on the radio. He glanced back over at Jewel and noted she was sitting stiffly next to him, the desire to reach out and touch her was quite overwhelming. The very few conversations that the two of them had always ended up in an argument. He turned away from her and sighed, his actions, of course, were nothing to be proud of and he wished more than anything to turn back time and do things differently. Unfortunately, he couldn’t, and he would have to do his best to prove that he wasn’t a bad wolf.

“Would you like to take a picture?” Jewel’s soft alluring voice brought him back to reality and he found that he had been staring at her, unintentionally of course.

“Um,” he trailed off, unsure of how to answer her.

“It was a joke, Stan relax,” she turned back to the window and he blushed. He loved that she chose to call him Stan. His parents hated it, especially his mother as she wanted him to change his name to Liam. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the name and it wasn’t because he hadn’t accepted that he was, in fact, their son. It was just that his whole life he had been Stephan Stan. It wasn’t something that he could just change overnight like clothing.

“We are here!” Andrea suddenly sang out and Stephan sat up straighter, wanting to see the pack and the village close up. He had been at the borders plenty of times but he never inside. He smiled in wonder as they drove through the village. It wasn’t as big as Sasha’s pack or as big as Michael’s pack, but it wasn’t small. He smiled at the wolves as they passed and soon George drove into the driveway and Stephan could finally see their family home close up. It was a simple double story house. It reminded him of the white picket fence with a red door and blue shutters. Actually, it looked like a farmhouse. George stopped the car in front of the garage and Andrea hopped out. Stephan got out and was on his way to open for Jewel when he saw that his father had already opened it for her. She was standing looking around her and at the house.

“I know it’s not fabulous, but it's home,” Andrea said with a smile as she led them into the house. It was a bittersweet experience. Finally, he was home where he belonged after all these years, but it pained him to spot all the photo’s on the walls of his three sisters. “Come on, let me give you a quick tour,” Andrea offered to Jewel and Stephan. George excused himself and they followed her into the kitchen. “This is where the magic happens,” Jewel giggled at Andrea’s little joke and Stephan stopped and looked at her, once again, in awe. Her giggle was addictive and so attractive. His mother showed them the pantry and the dining room as well as the sitting room. It was clean and smelt like lavender. She pointed out the office and a bathroom before taking them upstairs. The main bedroom was his parent's room and she quickly informed them that she had asked Dora to prepare two separate bedrooms. “I didn’t want to just assume,” Andrea said with a shy smile.

“I appreciate that thank you, Andrea,” Jewel said with such a soft innocent smile that Stephan thought for sure his heart would swell.

“This was Emily’s room, but for now it is your room Jewel,” she pushed open the door and Jewel smiled brightly.

“It’s beautiful,”

“Not as beautiful as you,” Stephan’s wolf spoke up.

“So, cliché,” Stephan couldn’t help but remark back, which earned him a growl. They had moved onto another room and Andrea stopped just in front of the door. She looked at Stephan and he already knew what was coming.

“This was going to be your room, obviously Dora changed it a bit, but I asked her to leave some of the things in there for you to look at,” her voice wavered, and he knew she was fighting back the tears. He could do nothing else but simply nod at her. He didn’t trust his own voice at that moment. She pushed open the door and he stepped inside. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked around the room. The walls had been painted a soft blue and although there was a king-sized bed in the room, he could see the cot in the corner with a rocking chair. A teddy bear stood on top of the dresser as well as a photo of his parents. He picked up the frame and smiled. Andrea had been pregnant when the picture had been taken and she looked so beautiful. “We kept this room locked up, the girls always wanted to know what was inside, but I just never had the heart to tell them, to show them,”

“It’s alright, Andrea, I think it’s perfect,” he said as he pulled her into a tight hug. He noted that Jewel was just standing at the door and he frowned as he looked at her. He didn’t want to ruin the moment with his mother, but he would remember to ask her about her actions later.

“Why don’t the two of you freshen up and then George can take you on a tour of the village?” his mother suggested, and he looked over at Jewel.

“I’d love that,” she said, and he nodded. The two she-wolves left the room and Stephan looked around and smiled. He would’ve loved to have grown up here. He thought back to his childhood and smiled. It wasn’t as bad as everyone thought it had been. Sure, they hadn’t been his real parents, but they loved him and cared for him, yes Michael pushed him into being strong and all that, but other than that, he couldn’t complain. Although finding out the truth had been heart-breaking for him and then to find out he had a brother. No, it wasn’t his brother. Joshua had killed him and rightfully so. Stephan hated the whole thing and wished that none of it had ever happened. Picking up the teddy bear, he smiled sadly. He knew it was pointless of thinking about what could have been when he had no way of turning back time. He was home now and that was all that mattered. He sensed her before she could knock or say anything, and he put the bear, down and looked over at her.

“Everything alright Jewel?” he asked her, he wanted to know what was going on in her mind. He knew she hated him for what he had done, yet, she had agreed to come here with him.

“I have something to say,” she whispered the words and he frowned.

“What is it?”

“I, Jewel Wood, reject-”

“Nope,” he interrupted her and took the steps to close the distance between them. He didn’t want to hear those words; he wouldn’t allow her to say it. “I know what I did was unforgivable, but all I am asking is a chance to prove that I am not a bad wolf and that I can make you happy,”

“Stan, I just think that coming here was a mistake,”

“No Jewel, coming here was not a mistake, please, we just got here, don’t do this to me, to us,” he reached out and very slowly ran a finger across her cheek. He didn’t want to scare her by being too forward, but he needed to touch her. He could feel the sparks between them, he could feel the connection.

“What do you want from me?” she whispered as she leaned into his touch. Stephan smiled as he fought with himself to regain control before he kissed her.

“I just want a chance, if after that you want to rej…um, leave me, then I won’t stop you,”

“How long do you need?” she asked him, and he thought about it for a moment. He didn’t think proving himself had a timeline on it as he would prove to her for the rest of his life, just how important she was to him. Instead of answering her he took a step back.

“Jewel, my mother, no, um, Mikaela always used to tell me what it would be like when I met my mate. She would tell me how wonderful it felt and how complete I would feel. I never truly believed her and now I know it’s because Michael wasn’t her mate. I never saw that between them. I watched Andrea and George for weeks and envied them as their love for each other was so apparent. Then watching Ayden and Sasha, I mean, at that point I was so jealous of everyone,” he turned away from her as he spoke from his heart. “When I met you, I thought, I don’t deserve it. I still don’t think I deserve you; you are perfection and I am, well, I am just me. I know what I did. I can’t make excuses for it at all, I was prepared to take my punishment, which in itself seems so small in comparison to what I did. But Jewel,” he turned back to look at her. “I promise you that as you get to know me, you will see for yourself who I am, so as to your question about how long, I don’t have an answer,”

“Oh Stan, I hate the way you make me feel,” she blurted out as she blushed at her own words. Stephan wanted to smirk at that but decided it wouldn’t be a good idea.

“How do I make you feel?” he questioned as he took slow steps towards her.

“Listening to you, makes my heart melt, but in the same moment, I remember what I went through, my brother, my family, and it pains me, Stan,” she closed her eyes and Stephan took the last step and gently pulled her into his arms.

“Give us a chance please,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He felt her nod and he smiled to himself. As crazy as it sounds, he was already head over heels in love with Jewel Wood.

-

Jewel smiled as she followed George around the village. He was giving them a tour of their new home and it wasn’t as big as she was used too but it was pleasant. The wolves were welcoming and often cheered at hearing that the lost son had returned. None of them knew how evil he was. None of them knew what he had done. She listened to their praises and wanted to burst their happy bubble with a pin by telling them the truth. However, glancing over at Stan, she could see just how uncomfortable he was. He didn’t like the attention, and this confused her. She would’ve thought he would be over the moon, after all, his plan had been to take over this pack and now someday he would. She looked away, not wanting him to catch her staring. She didn’t want him to know that she longed for his touch. She hated him. She had to keep telling herself that she hated him.

“We don’t hate him,” her wolf stated, and Jewel rolled her eyes. Her wolf had not shut up about how wonderful Stan was.

“Have you forgotten what he did?” she mentally asked her wolf, Jam.

“No, but have you forgotten that he acted out of lies and manipulation? Besides, he apologized,” Jam commented and didn’t hesitate to throw that in her face.

“Yes, he apologized but did he mean it?”

“Of course, he did, he has been trying to get you to see who he is, but you are stubborn and won't listen. You wanted to reject him because you are weak! Let me in and I will show you,” Jewel groaned out loud at Jam’s words. Her wolf had one thing on the brain and Jewel was definitely not interested in that. Not yet anyway. “Might I just add that he is seriously sexy?” Jewel couldn’t deny that as she glanced over at Stan again. His dark hair and dark eyes made her weak in the knees. He had muscles that she longed to touch and caress. “HA! Gottcha!” Jam remarked as Jewel blushed. Her train of thoughts had been anything but pure and innocent.

“Jewel? Are you alright?” Stan asked her and she realized she was rooted to the spot and blushing like crazy. He had obviously noted that, and she caught the smirk on his lips.

“Fine,” she hissed out, before rushing forward to catch up to George who was talking to a group of wolves.

“Ah, here they are, Stephan, Jewel, I’d like to introduce you to my beta and his mate, Frank, and Dora,” he smiled warmly at them and Jewel forced a smile as she eyed out the beta and his mate. “Frank, Dora, this is my long-lost son, Stephan and his mate, Jewel,”

“Wonderful to meet you,” Dora said as she hugged Stephan and then Jewel.

“Long lost son, eh, more like stolen son,” Frank commented as he shook Stephan’s hand. He barely looked at Jewel. She didn’t mind much; she was sure that Frank was aware of the situation and didn’t care much for her. Why she wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t going to get upset about it. Dora went back inside their house and George and Frank started talking about pack duties. Stan seemed quite intent on being apart of that conversation, so Jewel decided to continue the tour by herself. It wasn’t as though there was much left to see. She had been secretly hoping that Stan would follow her but as she looked back, she could see the three males in a heated discussion. What was more important to him? Impressing his father and pack? Or impressing her?

“Selfish much?” Jam’s voice suddenly boomed out.

“Shut it,” she spat out. Jewel turned around and headed back to the house. She suddenly didn’t want to see the rest of the pack. Once again, she felt that coming here was a mistake. Rushing back and seeing the house up ahead, she breathed out a sigh of relief and entered the house. It wasn’t as grand as her home back at Midnight pack, but it wasn’t horrible either. She could smell something and followed the scent to the kitchen where she found Andrea in front of the stove.

“Oh? Back so soon, did you enjoy the tour?” Andrea asked when she spotted Jewel standing by the door.

“Yes, sure,” Jewel answered nonchalantly.

“Jewel, come sit for a moment,” Andrea said, gesturing for her to sit at the kitchen table. Jewel hesitated for a moment but then went and sat down. Andrea joined her and sat down across from her. “I can’t possibly know what you are thinking or feeling, I can’t offer any advice or words of wisdom. You see as much as this is difficult for you, I want you to keep in mind that it isn’t easy for any of us. Especially Liam, um, Stephan. He has to deal with his guilt above all else. Be patient with him please, that’s all I ask,” Jewel nodded as she thought about what Andrea had said. She knew it was true but yet she couldn’t help but put her own feelings and thoughts above his.

“Do you think that he is a good wolf?” Jewel asked the question that had been on her mind lately.

“He says he isn’t a bad wolf. Judging from his actions, I would disagree and call him bad, evil even. However, being a Luna, it is somewhat easy for me to enter his mind, view his thoughts and feel his emotions, and it isn’t the right thing to do, but I did it for my safety. For my husband's safety. For my pack and my daughters. That is why I mentioned him struggling with his own guilt. So yes, I would say with confidence that he is a good wolf. He messed up, made mistakes, bad mistakes, but he regrets it,” Andrea explained as she stood up and went back to the stove. “You see Jewel, Mikaela and Michael raised Stephan in a very powerful way, they taught him discipline, honor, pride and all of that was misguided and used against him. He didn’t think things through because he was hurt, heartbroken, and rejected, banished by those he thought were his parents. Imagine going through that, imagine hearing those things,” Jewel couldn’t imagine. She didn’t even know the whole story, but she did understand and decided to give him a chance. She did owe it to him and to herself. If he was evil or a bad wolf then he would slip up and if he did, no, when he did, she would leave him.

“Thank you for being so open and honest to me, I do appreciate it and I will follow your advice and give him a chance,”

“Just remember, it isn’t just you that he has to prove himself too,” Andrea commented, and Jewel frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“He has to prove himself to me, George and to this pack, not just you,” Jewel was sure she could hear the sarcasm in Andrea’s voice. “Not everything is about you, I am sorry to say it so bluntly but do keep that in mind,” Jewel nodded and then stood up, needing to get away from this female as quickly as possible. She went up to Emily’s room and closed the door behind her. Andrea was right, of course, but it wasn’t nice to hear. She sat down on the bed and thought about what she should do, she knew she would give him the chance he needed but she was scared that it was all a lie and she would end up with a broken heart.