Luminis

Howls filled the air as the full moon burst from the clouds. I sighed, smiling at the antics of the pack. They loved howling wildly at the sky, racing through a forest lit up by moonlight. I could see our Beta’s fanged grin as he hurtled through the undergrowth. Rémy was a prankster, even though he was Noah’s second in command.

Thinking of Noah, I turned to look for him. But I couldn’t see him anywhere. I pictured his blue eyes and jet black hair, his arms corded with muscle. I shivered, smiling bashfully. My heart leapt and our bond tightened. I could sense him somewhere inside but I could tell he wasn’t paying attention to me. My smile wavered for a second, but I forced it to stay on my face. He was just busy, that was all. He’d been busy a lot recently.

The urge to change into my wolf form nagged me, like an itch I couldn’t scratch. But I forced it back. Tonight wasn’t about me. It was for the pack to indulge in a moonlit run. I was their Luna. I was meant to supervise.

The trees were dark sentinels and I could barely make out the odd paw here and there. Noah should be here with me. Some deep part of me keened at doing this alone; we were meant to be united, together. No. He’s just busy, I thought.

I’d been in love with Noah for almost a year now. I remembered the night we met…

I looked up at my worst enemy, the man with hair as dark as night. Noah Sanderson. I was the daughter of the Crescent pack, next in line to be the Alpha. He was my enemy: the heir to the Dark moon pack. His eyes caught mine and he flashed a wolfish grin.

“If it isn’t little Freja Luminis. Aren’t you scared of the big bad wolves?” he asked, his mouth twitching. I thought he was an arrogant ass at the time. His Beta stepped in behind him, his teeth sharp. I gave them both a confident smile.

“Why would I be scared of my own pack?” I asked, widening my eyes. “Since we’re the only big bad wolves here. You pups should run along…wouldn’t want to be late for the celebration.”

His smile faltered and I felt a hint of triumph. His eyes bored into my own and another sort of shiver ran up my bones. His gaze was hungry and it slid up and down my body until my cheeks were flushed. Bloody Sanderson…our fathers killed each other, even if I couldn’t remember my own. I should be ashamed of myself.

But even as he opened his mouth to give a cocky reply, something happened. It was like a gunshot, loud and life changing. The sky brightened and I gasped doubling over. What was this?! It was like a cord, a connection running between me and…no!

Noah was staring at me like I was the only thing in the world… I could feel his shock and anger and…want. We were…mates. Howls filled the air as the other wolves sensed it….

I blinked, returning to the present. I hadn’t been sure at first…but Noah had won me over. He was sweet and sarcastic and…everything I wanted. When we slept together it was as if the world had changed and I understood why mates were so special.

But recently…he’d been different. He still threw that sweet smile at me but it wasn’t the same. There was something up. Maybe I could get him to tell me about it. He was my mate. Even if he spent so much time with Serena, his third in command.

I scowled, thinking about her. With her long blonde hair and legs for days. Her nasty smile that she only shot at me. I knew she’d cared for Noah’s father and that she hated me because of what my father had done. I’d tried to bring it up with Noah but he had gone silent, shutting me out. Not for the first time.

I focused again on the run, noticing some of the younger members getting into a fight.

That’s enough.

My mental voice echoed out and reached them. They stopped clawing at each other immediately.

Sorry Luna…yeah sorry…

Their greyish heads down, they padded away into the woods, thoroughly chastised. They were only young, I thought warmly. They were only playing.

“You should’ve let them play fight, Luna. They deserve the bruises,” Rémy said, finally finished with his run. The Beta was good looking with curling brown hair and bright blue eyes. They were often filled with mischief. When he was speaking to me, however, there was always an air of condescension. It was better than how some of the pack treated me though. I would take someone being patronising over being downright hostile.

“But I’d feel guilty later on,” I muttered, shrugging.

“You’re too soft on them,” he said, his eyes cooling slightly. It was as if he was saying I wasn’t good enough. That the daughter of Eric Luminis would never be enough. But then he smiled and the look disappeared.

“It’s time for supper,” I said. “I better get cooking then.”

I trudged into the massive kitchen and began organising food for the pack. This was normally someone else’s job…but I’d been such a disappointment when I’d joined that I volunteered to do this. And I just kept doing it. Truth be told, it was a pain in the ass.

I stirred a big pot of pasta and tsked when the steam burned my fingertip. The pasta swirled in a great big clump that I made sure to untangle and I shoved some mince around on a frying pan. I piled plates sky high and set out cutlery on the long table. There were so many pack members…and more just kept coming.

“Nice to see no one is helping again,” I whispered quietly. Noah wouldn’t be happy if I started complaining. I could just imagine what he would say: You volunteered for this. What did you expect? I shook my head, getting really into the imaginary argument. But no one in this pack is helpful! Or friendly or even nice half the time…No, I could never say that. But it was how I felt.

I dumped the bolognese onto the plates and put some parmesan in a small bowl. No doubt it would be gone in a second. I placed the plated down and rang the bell and suddenly the room was filling with ravenous twenty somethings and teens.

Angie the redhead sat in the best seat and Chris swapped his bowl for a bigger one. Eventually Rémy strolled in and behind him came Serena. I tried to keep my expression calm and not glower at her. Honestly, I hated her. I wondered if Noah knew that because he could sense my emotions. Her sharp green eyes were like those of a crocodile; it looked as if a swamp lived inside her irises. She didn’t bother smiling at me or saying a word of thanks. She just sat next to the head of the table as if she belonged there. Which I suppose she did.

I sat down in my seat, my finger still sore from the steam.

“Noah!” Serena shouted when he walked in and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. As if she hadn’t seen him like ten minutes ago. His dark hair fell into his eyes, which burned blue. He smiled and sat down beside me, his hand brushing mine. I blushed slightly, my anger fading away like smoke. I could feel the pull of the bond between us and the feel of his hand on mine could be so much more later-

“Another good job. Thanks, Freja,” he said, his voice smooth like chocolate. I gave him a soft smile. Noah wasn’t ignorant, at least. Not like these heathens.

“It’s nothing,” I replied. He threaded his fingers through mine for a moment and I was sad when he had to let go. He smelled like a forest; musky and wild.

After they had all tucked in, Noah turned to me.

“Could you handle cleaning up tonight, hun? I have a meeting I need to go to and things to sort out. I need Rémy and Serena with me to handle meeting the High Alpha. All those vampire lords are freaking them out.” He took my hand again but I just felt exhausted. All those dishes? And no one would help. They never did. A sensation of nothingness weighed down on me.

I nodded and he started speaking to Serena about something tactical. Not that I was included in those decisions. Sometimes I wondered what had happened to Freja Luminis, the daughter of the Alpha. Beloved of the Crescent pack, whom she barely saw now. It was as if she’d fallen into a big black hole of dishes and work and never climbed out again.

But…I was happy. I had Noah. I did. Even if…he was always busy with some meeting or vampires.

As I lifted the plates to go and wash them, Serena gave me a look of disdain and shoved her plate at me.

I opened my mouth to say something but she got there first.

“Goodbye,” she said rudely before I could utter a word and she walked off with Rémy who didn’t do much to hide his snort. I stared after them, tears making my eyes blurry. God, but I hated her.

“Don’t mind them,” Noah said quietly from behind me and I jumped. “They’re just stressed.”

Sure they are. Our bond strengthened and calming feelings rushed down it.

“Thanks,” I said to him and he leaned over and kissed me even though my arms were full of plates. A spark of attraction exploded between us and I wanted to throw the plates away and go up to our room. His tongue slid with mine and I could hear his breathing getting heavier; he wanted it too. And then…

“Noah!”

He pulled back from me with a sigh and left to follow Rémy, who had interrupted our moment. We didn’t have many of those anymore.