Aria

I heard the sound of loud snoring coming from next to me, urging me to open my heavy lids. I wanted to resume sleeping because I was having one of the peaceful sleep of my life. However, in the back of my head, I knew I needed to wake up and go back home. I looked at my right shoulder to find my mate's head resting on it. He was in a deep slumber, his nose was snuggled into my neck, and his hot breath creasing my neck sending funny sensations to my belly. I glanced at his face and smiled shyly at how cute he looked in his sleep. And one of his arms was resting on my abdomen, keeping me close to him — like he didn't want me to leave his side.

I kissed his forehead and gently removed his arm from my waist. I slipped out of the bed and put on my tank top with my jacket. I searched for the paper and pen to write a note.

Leaving a note on the pillow, I made my way downstairs and saw Ryan sitting on the patio, gazing at the moon. I was planning to leave but I didn't understand why my legs lead me to him.

Ryan didn't even notice me; he seemed dazed — lost in his thoughts. I cleared my throat to catch his attention as I settled down on the vacant space beside him.

"Hello?" I said to snap him out from his daydreaming.

Unconsciously, I started to study his grief-stricken face. His eyes were swollen as he had cried for hours. He looked as hadn't slept a wink for a long time. His face, his slouched shoulders and the distant look on his face was saying a tale of his exhaustion.

I caught a glimpse of an empty beer bottle sitting on the other side. I didn't understand why he was drinking when werewolves were immune to alcohol.

I pinched him on the arm and his head snapped in my direction in anger. He blinked his eyes then realised who I was. He asked in bewilderment, "What are you doing here?"

"We fell asleep. I just woke up and realised that I needed to go home."

"Sorry, I didn't notice you, Luna," he sighed and rubbed his face with both his hands.

"You're my mate's beta; I think you can call me Aria except when I am angry."

His lips twitched up in a small smile. "Yes, Luna."

I glared at him and he mumbled, "Aria."

A small chilling shiver went to my spine when he said my name but I shook that sensation.

"You know one bottle won't get you drunk," I told him, glancing at the bottle.

"If I take it with sleeping pills then it makes me tipsy, "he muttered.

I was surprised by his answer.

"You know how dangerous it is to take sleeping pills with alcohol? If you weren't a werewolf we might be loading you in the ambulance at this very moment," I told him infuriated by his inconsideration.

He looked stunned. "I just take enough to make myself numb for a while," he replied in a rough voice.

His explanation made me apprehensive about my mate's safety. Betas were supposed to be as strong and cautious as their Alphas so they would be able to foresee the danger beforehand, but Ryan appeared to be oblivious and exhausted with the world.

"Are you okay to be left alone in this state?" I asked him.

"Absolutely," he said.

"Well, then I should go. It's pretty late already," I said, getting up from the floor.

I made my way to the door when I felt him following.

"Where are you going?" I asked him confused.

"I am coming with you," he said, stepping out and shutting the door.

"Why?" I asked him confused.

"Your mate will have my head if I let you leave alone at midnight. Especially, after what happened in the evening."

"I am Alpha and I can protect myself very well. The patrolling team is taking care of the territory so you don't have to worry about another rogue attack." I retorted back.

"That's good. But Luna, I am just doing my duty." He said waking ahead.

My suspicion about my mate's safety in his presence vanished after hearing his statement. He was completely aware of his responsibility despite being numb.

We reached my house and I gave him a polite smile. "Thank you for walking me home even though there was no need."

"I can see why Jeremy and you are bounded," he said, shocking me and stopping me in my tracks.

"And why do you think we are bounded?" I asked him.

"You both are exceptionally stubborn," he said, bowing his head slightly in respect before leaving.

I grinned at his explanation. It was clear Ryan was close to my mate and knows him well.

"It might come in handy someday." I thought.

I straight went to my room and fell face flat on the bed, thinking about only one thing — my mate and the marking.

When I woke up in the morning, I realized that I need to talk to my parents and announce my marking to my pack. I mind linked Kaden and told him to take care of the training. I got ready for my day and went down to find them waiting for me at the table.

As soon as, I stepped close to them they got up from the chairs in alarm.

"Your scent has changed," my dad said, stepping closer and taking a look at my neck.

He looked at me with disappointment clear in his eyes. "You let him mark you in human form?"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and I already knew who was outside. His scent made my head woozy and I suppressed the moan. I walked to the door to discover Jeremy, standing with a brilliant smile on his face. He leaned closer and captured my mouth in a sweet but passionate kiss.

My mind became fuzzy with the passion and need to mate with him right there, however, my dad was glaring at a hole in the back of my head. I pulled away from him and said, "I left a note telling you to wait for me."

"I woke up early and couldn't stop my wolf from bugging me to come to you." He said inhaling my scent. His wolf wants his mate to mark him and influencing his need on Jeremy's human side.

"Your timing is worst," I said making a face.

"I can smell your dad's anger." He said.

"And her dad can very well listen to you." My dad announced.

"Come in," I told him.

Jeremy looked at my parents and gave them an uncertain smile. "I wanted to apologize for last night. My wolf was furious when he witnessed that rogue attacking her and marked her on instinct."

My dad took a good look at Jeremy and cursed. "You marked him too?"

His question made me furious. I didn't want the repeat of last night's argument. I wanted my dad to accept him and move on from this issue with him.

"Yes, dad. We marked each other."

My dad shook his head while my mom just looked nervous.

"She always does," Lynn chipped in.

"Thank you for gracing me with your presence. I don't need you at the moment," I replied sarcastically.

"I was just relishing in the ecstasy of being marked," she said.

"Are you even listening to me?" dad yelled.

I clenched my fist to stop myself from destroying one of my mom's favourite vases sitting on the shelf behind me.

Jeremy fisted his hands, controlling his anger. "Mr Woods, I understand that things didn't happen as they should have. But you should be happy for your daughter that she has found her mate."

"If you weren't her mate then I would be happy for my daughter," he said.

"Dad, I don't know why you are against him."

"I am not against him. I have heard nothing but good things about him. If circumstances were different I would've welcomed him with open arms. But..." dad said glancing at Jeremy.

"But what?" I asked him.

"If he was beta or any untitled wolf, I wouldn't have reacted this way."

Jeremy was furious now; I could feel the anger burning my veins. I clasped his hand, trying to comfort him. He grabbed my hand tightly, lacing his fingers with mine.

"His Alpha title doesn't change the fact that he is my mate," I replied.

"It does, Aria! And you both know it very well."

Jeremy glared at my dad, leaving my hand and making his way to him.

"It doesn't change anything. She is my mate, my Luna."

He looked straight into my eyes and said, "Yes, the Alpha of Crescent Mount Pack is now Luna of Midnight River Pack. Do you both see the problem now?"

The room became dangerously quiet.

My dad walked to me and said, "He is an Alpha which means he won't stay here with you and your pack. He would go back to his pack and wants you beside him as his Luna." Dad took a deep breath before continuing. "It means I'll have to take back my position and I don't have another heir to take the Alpha title after my death. I'll look weak and will be attacked by any other pack or rogues!"

I took a deep breath, knowing that he was right. His concern and his repulsion for Jeremy made sense now.

"That's why two Alphas cannot be mates. Not after the war that happened a thousand years ago because of the mating of two Alphas," Mom said, looking at us with pity.

"You both didn't think of it before marking each other, did you?" He asked us.

He was right. I didn't think any of this before marking him. I didn't even discuss our future because the only thing that mattered at that moment was my mate.

"This is what mate pull do to any werewolf," he said tiredly. My mom was instantly at my dad's side placing her hand on his shoulder. She was trying to comfort her mate. My dad slumped down on the chair. "This pack is going to collapse. Shortly after you leave with your mate, I am sure some power-thirsty Alpha would attack us. Even if we will survive the attack, we would lose many of our fighters. It would only make us weaker — a perfect target for another attack. Only the powerful and mighty survive in our world."

I knew he was right. I knew I had put my pack in danger by marking my mate without discussing everything. He was thinking of everything when I was only thinking about ravishing my mate. My wolf was furious at the outcome. For the first time in her life, she was regretting her impulsive actions.

Jeremy looked at me knowing very well what my wolf was feeling. His shoulders were rigid as well, he was thinking about everything.

I sat down on the chair and grabbed my dad's hand.

"I understand everything, dad. However, we can combine both packs." I said, looking at Jeremy for support but he didn't react.

My dad placed his hand over mine and said, "Combining two packs is not an easy task. We don't know if our pack would be willing to join them or his pack would welcome us happily. You are Alpha, but you can't force your pack members to join another pack neither can he."

"But we can always make them understand the need to combine our packs," I said looking hopeful.

Jeremy looked at me with sorrow in his eyes. "It's not easy, your dad is right. I understand why he was so upset last night. We should've discussed this before marking each other and closing all options."

"What do you mean by closing all options? Are you regretting marking me?" I asked him in anger.

"No, that's not what I mean. Things are complicated now. We don't know how long it would take for us to settle this problem," Jeremy said, staring into my eyes. All the traces of tenderness and affection were gone.

"You are right, Alpha Jeremy Roger. We have made a mistake by marking each other so hastily."

Jeremy glared at me. I knew my words were stabbing his soul but he had hurt me too.

"Hurting each other won't solve this, Aria," he said.

I leaned closer to him, glaring at him in disgust.

"No, it won't. The only solution that I can think of is combining both packs. I know I can do it. My pack will listen to me, it might take some time, but they will give it a go. Will your pack listen to you?" I asked Jeremy.

He growled at me. I could feel his irritation and displeasure. "I have never forced my pack to do something using my superiority. It's their life and I will let them decide if they want to welcome your pack or not. But one thing is certain they would accept you no matter what. You are their Luna, with your pack or without your pack." He said, leaving my house.

I looked at my parents, keeping a straight face. I did feel like screaming and breaking something.

"Whatever the circumstances will be, I can assure you that my pack would be my priority," I told my parents.

I was about to leave when my mom grabbed my arm.

"Aria, we are sorry."

I gave her an uncertain smile and left. I didn't know how I was going to fix everything but I was hoping that I'd be able to do it without crushing my soul.

I arrived outside the cabin to find him and his beta putting their bags in the back of their SUV.

"You're leaving?" I asked him.

He took a deep breath, listening to the sound of my rapidly beating heart. He could feel my sorrow, my fear, and my distress in his veins like I could feel his guilt in my veins.

He turned to me with a sad smile on his face. "We just came here to attend your birthday. As a neighbouring Alpha, I wanted to show my support and discuss our future alliance," he said.

"Then why are you leaving without discussing anything?" I asked him walking close enough to feel his breath.

"I have to go back, my pack is worried. I can't leave them alone, especially, after last night's attack on your territory. I need to be there to protect them," he explained, looking away.

"Right. The pack comes before mate," I said bitterly.

"You can come with me if you want. You're their Luna and they deserve to know you," he emphasized, hoping that I'd be stupid enough to leave my pack alone, especially, after the attack.

"I know why you want me to come with you. Once I leave with you, I wouldn't be able to come back here. Your pack wouldn't consider me as their Luna until we complete the mating. And mating will coax me into changing my decision; I will be under your spell. The heat will come and you will be able to convince me to think about my future with you instead of my pack's future. Well, you are quite smart Alpha Jeremy Roger," I said shaking my head with a laugh.

He didn't get angry at my presumptions because what I was saying was true.

"When I proposed this I knew you wouldn't accept it. I knew you would realize why I was offering you to come with me," he said with the grim look on his face. "I am your mate after all," he added.

"So you're escaping. You don't want the mate pull to incite your decisions," I said.

"We have already broken one rule. We were supposed to mark each other in the mating ceremony in front of our packs. And look we couldn't stop ourselves from marking each other before announcing it properly, not even our parents. The mate pull between us is extremely intense. I don't want this to influence our decisions for the pack," he clarified.

I didn't know how he had such a strong resistance when my soul was breaking from inside at the thought of separation from him. I knew the mate pull was making me weak, pushing me to break my boundaries, but I kept reminding myself that I was not just his mate. I was an Alpha. I needed to regain my strength and let him leave.

"Have a safe journey, Alpha Jeremy Roger," I said, nodding my head towards Ryan. He looked apologetic like he was to blame.

I was sure Ryan had tried to stop Jeremy but he couldn't undermine his Alpha's orders. I wasn't upset with him at all; he didn't need to feel guilty for his Alpha's decisions.

〰

Hello, lovelies!

I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. I know you guys want me to update frequently but I have been busy dealing with some personal matters. You guys know how much I appreciate your feedback so please don't forget to let me know if you're enjoying this book.

Chapter Five of His Luna will be available soon.
Thank you so much for sticking around and reading my mind-boggling stories.

Love you guys so much!

Published: 20th-May-2021