I gazed out the SUV’s dark windows as we pulled up to the pack house. It was stunning, so different from the mountain home I was used to.
The house was a grand two-story mansion, its exterior covered in intricate stonework. I looked up in awe before being guided inside.
Entering the foyer, I tried to mask my surprise. The high ceilings, the clean, crisp colors, and the grand staircase leading to the second floor were all breathtaking.
“Follow me,” Damon muttered, leading the way deeper into the house.
“This is the common area,” he explained as we walked through the house. “Meals are served at 7:30 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. Feel free to use anything in the entertainment centers.”
I trailed behind him into the common area. It was huge, featuring a large industrial kitchen and rows of long dining tables for pack meals.
Several large sectional couches surrounded TVs, game centers, and shelves lined with books and other forms of entertainment.
We turned back and headed toward the front of the house, veering down a hallway that I assumed led to the pack offices.
We entered a room, and I watched as Damon settled behind his desk. I stood there awkwardly as he busied himself with some papers on the desk.
“Sit,” he commanded.
I took a seat across from his desk and watched as he worked. “Alpha Damon…,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, worried I might upset him.
He held up a finger to silence me, continuing his work for another minute before finally looking up. “Yes?”
“Where will I be staying?” I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“In the Alpha apartment, of course. You are to be the Luna after all,” he replied, his tone suggesting I should have known this.
“Okay, but where is the Alpha apartment?” I asked.
“Upstairs,” he replied, his attention already back on his work.
I nodded and stood up, leaving the room. I knew if I wanted to find anything, I’d have to do it myself.
“I think he’s just always like that,” I replied, letting out a huff.
I headed upstairs, pausing at the top of the stairs, unsure whether to go left or right. I chose left. I walked down the hallway and slowly opened a door.
It looked like living quarters, and I sighed in relief, grateful I had found it on my first try.
I stepped in and looked around for a moment before a man emerged from the back hallway.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his tone a bit snippy.
I glanced around nervously. “I’m sorry, I must have gotten the wrong room. I’m looking for the Alpha’s apartment.”
The man huffed before giving me a sideways glance. “Nobody is allowed in the Alpha apartment. You shouldn’t be up here.”
I frowned at the man, summoning all the courage and authority I could muster. “I am Emery Brooks, mate to Alpha Damon. Please take me to the Alpha apartment.”
The man looked at me in shock before lowering his head. “I apologize, Luna. I had no idea that—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted, “Could you just show me where the apartment is…”
“Yes,” he replied quickly. “Follow me.” He led me out of the room and back down the hall.
“Right,” I mumbled to myself, “I should have gone right.”
“I’m Beckett, by the way,” he said nervously as we walked down the hall, “Beta to Alpha Damon.”
I gave him a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Beckett.”
“Here we are,” he said, stopping in front of a large set of double doors.
“Thank you,” I replied.
He bowed his head in respect before walking away. I let out a long breath, slightly embarrassed that I had walked into his apartment by mistake.
Stepping into the Alpha apartment, I was once again taken aback. It was a two-story apartment, occupying a significant portion of the back of the house.
I moved further in, looking over the railing down into the living area. I turned to the right and opened the door next to the staircase. It was an office, probably for the Alpha.
I descended the stairs, staring at the massive two-story wall of windows that flooded the space with light.
Reaching the bottom, I surveyed the living area. There was a decent-sized kitchen and dining area, along with a family room.
I walked down the hallway to find four bedrooms. The first three were obviously unused, but still large and beautiful. At the end of the hallway was the master suite.
I opened the door to find a massive bedroom. It had high ceilings and a loft area to one side; an oversized king bed sat in the center.
The staircase led up to a sitting area. Below that was the door to a large walk-in closet and bathroom.
I looked around in awe. “How could this possibly be our home?” I whispered to myself.
I walked back out into the living area and opened a sliding glass door to a private veranda that led down to the lake behind the house.
I looked out at the view, enjoying the deep colors of the sunset before walking back inside.
“What do I do now?” I asked myself as I plopped down on the couch. I glanced at my watch to see it was almost six o’clock. “Dinner time!” I smiled as I hopped up from the couch.
I walked down the stairs, hesitating at the bottom. I was going to just go to the common area, but I also thought I should see if Damon wanted to walk with me.
I thought for a moment before deciding to check on him. I walked down the hall to the pack offices and tapped on his office door.
“Come in,” he grumbled from the other side of the door.
I walked in with a smile. “It’s time for dinner, I was just seeing if you would like to walk with me.”
Damon looked up with a weary face. “No.”
“Alright,” I responded, a bit jittery about the prospect of venturing out alone. I left the office, stepping into the common area.
“Luna!”
I swiveled towards the voice, my face lighting up when I saw Beta Beckett approaching.
I beamed at him. “Beta Beckett, how’s it going?”
“I’m doing well. Are you getting settled in?” he asked.
“I think so. This place is huge compared to my old pack house,” I answered.
“Let’s introduce you to everyone!”
Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the pack, and Beckett was grinning at everyone.
“Everyone, meet Emery Brooks, our new Luna! Make sure to give her a warm welcome. We’re thrilled to have you here, Luna.”
I blushed, not expecting such a grand introduction. “Thanks, Beckett.”
“My pleasure. Come, sit with us. Meet my mate.” He guided me to a table where a beautiful redhead was seated. “Gemma, this is Emery, Damon’s new mate.”
Gemma greeted me with a broad smile and a gentle handshake. “Emery, it’s wonderful to meet you! We’re so glad you’re here!”
“Thank you, I’m delighted to meet you too,” I responded, relieved to find so many friendly faces in this pack.
As dinner wound down, I noticed Damon hadn’t shown up. I scanned the room before leaning towards Gemma. “Does Alpha Damon not join us for dinner?”
Gemma shrugged, “I don’t think he eats with the pack anymore. Hasn’t for a while.”
“Why?” I asked, intrigued. It was unusual for an Alpha to dine separately from the pack.
“He…he just doesn’t,” she answered softly.
I sensed she was holding something back, but I decided not to push it. Not today, at least. “When does he eat then?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Gemma responded. “I think the pack cooks send him a plate. Or he might cook for himself in his quarters.”
I leaned back, letting out a sigh. “Interesting,” I mused.
I shrugged it off, said goodnight to my new friends, and headed back to the apartment. I walked in to find Alpha Damon lounging on the couch.
“Oh!” I exclaimed, surprised to find him there. “I was looking for you earlier. You were missed at dinner.”
He grunted in response before rising from the couch.
“Alright then…,” I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes at his perpetual grumpiness. I trailed him down the hallway until he halted and spun around.
“What are you doing?” he asked, stepping closer.
“I…I’m going to bed,” I stammered, taking an uneasy step back.
“Did you forget our conversation already? We’re mates in name only. I don’t want a mate and I don’t need one. You won’t be sleeping in my room,” he stated gruffly.
“Okay, then where am I supposed to sleep?” I asked, irritation creeping into my voice.
“Your things are in that room,” he said, pointing to one of the spare rooms.
“Oh…,” I responded quietly before heading to my room. I walked in to find my bags next to the closet door. I let out a frustrated sigh before flopping onto the bed.
“What am I going to do?” I asked the empty room, thinking about my mate and the barriers he’d erected. He was a bit frightening. Intimidating was an understatement.
And yet, I found myself drawn to him. His steel-blue eyes, the sensation when he’d placed his hand on my back, the way his jaw tightened when he looked at me.
I sat up in bed, my mind whirling. I closed my eyes and placed my hands on my chest, finally finding a moment to calm myself before drifting off to sleep.
I lay awake in bed, unable to stop thinking about her. She was so determined to be mates, to have a relationship.
I’d been there, done that. I wasn’t going through it again.
And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
I huffed, rolling over to try and get some sleep.
In the morning, I dragged myself out of bed, aware of the tasks awaiting me. An Alpha’s work was never done.
I decided to head to the field for training that morning. It had been a while.
As I exited my room, her scent hit me. I looked down to see her sitting on the couch, engrossed in a book.
“Good morning, Alpha,” she greeted cheerfully, looking up at me with a smile.
“Morning…,” I mumbled, heading down the stairs and out of the apartment.
When I returned to my room a few hours later, sweaty and grimy, I was glad I’d made time for training. It was just what I needed.
I was heading to the office when I bumped into Emery.
“Oh!” she gasped as we collided. “I’m sorry, Alpha, I was actually coming to find you.”
I walked into my office, with my mate trailing behind. “What do you need?”
She sat across from my desk, and I watched impatiently as she squirmed uncomfortably.
“Emery,” I huffed, “what is it?”
She lifted her gaze to meet mine, a hint of worry in her eyes. “I’m just, well, bored,” she confessed.
“Come again?” I asked, my brows furrowing as I tried to decipher her meaning.
“Back home, I was always busy at the pack clinic. I had a purpose. I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do here, for the pack,” she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush.
I leaned back in my chair, taken aback. She seemed so delicate, so breakable. “I’m not sure,” I admitted, turning my attention back to my work.
“Oh…okay,” she responded, disappointment in her voice. She rose from her seat. “If you need anything, just let me know.” With that, she exited the room, the door clicking shut behind her.
I let out a sigh, sinking back into my chair and raking a hand through my hair. The room was filled with the sweet scent of vanilla, her scent. It was messing with my head.
There was no way I could focus on work now. I left my office and headed to my Beta’s.
“Hey, Damon,” Beckett greeted as I walked in.
“Beck, how are the patrols holding up?” I asked, trying to find a reason for my visit.
“Good,” he responded, nodding his approval. “The new schedule seems to be working. Fewer mistakes, less exhaustion, better spirits.”
“Good,” I echoed.
“I met your mate,” he mentioned casually, a smirk playing on his lips. “She’s nice. And pretty.”
I rolled my eyes at his teasing. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Ha!” he laughed, leaning back in his chair. “We both know that’s a lie!”
I shook my head. “I don’t want a mate.”
Beckett shook his head in return. “You can’t keep that up forever. You know as well as I do that you won’t be the best Alpha without her, and the pack needs her.”
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “I know…”
“Good,” he grunted, “So when’s the Luna ceremony?”
I looked at him, taken aback. I hadn’t even considered it. “I don’t know,” I shrugged. “When’s the next full moon?”
“Three days,” Beckett replied, smirking.
I rolled my eyes. “Then get it planned…” I muttered.
