The Bullied Luna

Three

: Alpha Lucien

His paws hitting the soft earth with scattered leaves was just the crunching sound he needed to hear. Away from the countless droning of people.

He ran along the eastern border of his pack lands with his beta Caden Woods. At this point it was a race to see who was the fastest but he wasn't really interested this night of the full moon. Lucien was more interested in the scents and sounds of the forest.

They both ran till their lungs were burning but had to stop even when their wolves wouldn't admit they were tired.

They both came to a slow and steady trot as they went to where they left their clothes and it would be another race to see who got ready faster.

Lucien gave a taunting howl at Caden and rushed towards his clothes breaking their steady trot. Caden soon followed in pursuit behind him.

"Damn it you cheated!" Caden was not letting it drop even though he lost.

"Don't worry,one of these days you'll actually show improvement and if I'm in a good mood I can let you win"

Caden wanted to wipe the smug grin off of Lucien's face at that statement.

"You'll never let that happen," he passed a bit. "Is there something on your mind?, You seemed off and a bit slower today,not that I also didn't go easy on you too"

Lucien groaned at that thought.

Preparations for the next Winter Solstice ball were in order even though he never agreed to host it. His Nana sneaked and secretly sent invitations behind his back and now he had no choice but to go along with it.

Caden snickered at his friend's annoyance. " Nana Saylor really got you this time"

Lucien was already dreading the barrages of choking perfumes, meetings, politics and the many "fateful chanced" encounters he'll be going through.

"You know how important it is for Nana Saylor that you find a Luna" already dressed Caden reminded him as they began to walk towards their homes.

"Still I feel she'll be disappointed this time. It's not so easy to find your fated pair too.

If it were everyone would be together and happy" Lucien held little to no hope to find his fated.Heck he had little faith in the moon goddess ever since the I just demise of his parents.

The conversation was brought to a stop by a group of girls walking by and in their midst was their leader Mia Ashburn. She was one of the girls that he usually spends his time with and she was approaching him.

"A lovely evening Alpha Lucien,Beta Caden" she was met with two nods.

"Evening Mia"

Lucien greeted curtly and was taking his leave.

"Where are you guys headed?"

"I'm leaving it to my grandmother's to consult concerning the upcoming festivities". Not wanting to waste anymore time talking to Mia, he started walking in that direction.

"No time to see me… tonight?" Mia was pouting at this point.

He knew what she was trying to do and at this point he had no time nor patience to entertain her today.

"Sorry Mia,not tonight"

"Even tomorrow?"

Caden slapped his friend's shoulder and answered for him. "I think our courageous leader is going to be busy for the next few days, who knows he might be busy indefinitely ladies".

"So it's true, that rumor of this ball hosting to find your fated pair?"

Lucien felt like greeting his friend's face with his fist. Caden just all but announced to this eager crew about his search for a Luna.

"So it would appear," he had no choice but to bite the bullet anyway.

This caused a chorus of happy laughter and cheers from the girls happy to have an occasion to doll up and match.

"Excuse me ladies" wanting to escape Lucien dragged Caden as they walked off to prevent this big mouth from talking.

"Good night Lucien" Mia swayed her hips as she walked away.

He waved her off politely as he stalked off to his Nana's house seeing her kitchen light still switched on. She must have been having her nightly chamomile tea before she retired to bed. He wanted to run a few things by her before the next day as she was the acting Luna.

Caden ran into his home where he was sure to receive a scolding about how loud he was and why there were leaves in his hair by his mother.

Lucien wondered with a sick twist if Caden got a mate exactly like his mother- the nicest woman on this planet who liked nagging at her son.

Lucien lived with his Nana after his parents death- it only made sense as they were all that they had left.

He wondered if he would move out if got a mate but quickly discarded the thought.

He wasn't quite ready for it yet.

Nana Saylor was sipping tea "that had no sugar" with a mischievous smile on her face. She was a pretty cool Nana when she wasn't pulling pranks on Lucien with Caden or smuggling too much sugar.

"How was your run Lucien? Any good news?"

He mentally eye rolled at that statement. She wasn't still playing dumb to what she did with the invitations.

"Fine I'll host the ball, and several Alphas called to confirm their presence".

Looking down and stirring her tea. "Well it is your turn to host anyway, and you're welcome".

He nodded as she had told him countless times how it was an honor and a great obligation to host the ball and he got it at this point.

"And even if you might not find your fated pair,it would be good to reinforce alliances and strengthen bonds between packs"

On this note he agreed with her although he thought there were better ways of doing this than hosting a ball but he knew better to keep his mouth shut.

"Besides, I'm getting old. I'm approaching my late seventies in a few months and I'd like to retire as Luna and do my own stuff too!"

He knew the "stuffs" she was talking about included gardening, going to the disco, watching reality tv and people watching.

"And it won't hurt if I could carry my grandchildren too"

Ahh here it was. Growing up ever since he clocked twenty one she had been pestering him to find his fated pair and have dozens of babies.

"If you say so Nana" he kissed her on the forehead but he himself held no hope in any match.

With his "blessed luck" he'd probably be fated with a spoilt, stuck up brat who had nail polish for brains.