His Reluctant Luna

Alice (POV) -

We moved slowly to a table in the middle of the wall at the other end of the hall, those we passed all bowed their heads. I noticed that after we had gone by, most of them raised their noses and scented the air. Realizing everyone we walked past knew what Lucian and I had just done upstairs was embarrassing. I was blushing deeply by the time we reached our table.

The conversation at our table was pleasant. I was seated with Katherine and Savannah; several other girls and ladies were sitting with me alongside the long table.

The dinner was terrific, steaks, roasted chicken, vegetables, pasta, salads, literally everything one could wish for, and I consumed them with gusto.

Lucian was busy talking to some other people on the other side of the room, so I was quite on my own. Except for the fact that I was being interrogated by curious girls. The one sitting opposite me was barely 18, and she was staring at me with awe. As if I was some celebrity. I smiled at her politely. She beamed.

"Madam Alpha, I heard you are from England. I have never been there, what kind of place is it?" She asked.

I could sense, Lucian, glancing at us. Of course! He could hear us.

"Wet and cold mostly if you mean the weather. Otherwise, it is a great place, with many old manors and castles." I smiled.

"Wow! Have you met the queen?" The girl asked, her eyes wider with winder.

I nearly choked on my drink.

"No, the queen is not very approachable, I am afraid. But I did see the royal wedding," I winked at her.

The girl nearly fell off her chair," Wow! Was it fun?" She asked.

"I don't think so because I wasn't invited." I joked.

The girl giggled along.

"How many years have you lived there? And are there any wolf packs there?" Another girl asked. By now, the entire table was looking at me curiously. I guess they all wanted to know about their Luna.

"Well, I was in Australia until I shifted for the first time, I was 13 then, my aunt immediately left for Europe after my first shift."

"Why is that?" The girl asked.

"Because, Australia does not have any wolves, the nearest thing they have are dingoes, so when I shifted for the first time, and I was small then, the local papers carried the news about someone spotting a dingo in the town. A wolf roaming in Sydney would be hard to explain." I laughed along with others.

"And in Australia, everyone will be your mate," I added.

"Why so?" They asked.

"Mate is a slang term for a buddy or a friend. So if any Australian calls you a mate, don't assume that he or she is your real mate." The table burst into laughter.

I stole a glance at Lucian, the hint of a smile on his face indicated he was pleased.

"How did you live in England all by yourself? I mean there are no wolves, right?" Savannah asked.

"My aunt owns a giant estate, so I could shift and let my wolf run around. There are a few lone wolves there, but no wolf packs. Mainland Europe has a few wolf packs, but it's mostly full of vampires," I stated.

"Have you met a vampire?" The young girl sitting opposite me asked.

I contemplated my answer, "yes, a few times, they don't like us."

"Madam Alpha, have you travelled like.... everywhere?" Another girl asked. I was enjoying this, no one had ever asked me about my adventures, not that I had many.

"Depends on your definition of everywhere, I have travelled entire Europe, and parts of Asia."

"What about South America, are there wolf packs there?"

"No, South America has only shape-shifting cats, and they are very territorial, they hate us as well."

The girls giggled again. I could see a look of respect in their eyes when I explained my qualification, my job. They were nice girls. The conversation was not just one way, I learned a few things about the Crimson shadow pack as well. Historically, the Alphas of this pack was not known for their kindness, Lucian was no exception. The pack location was midway between the businesses held in town and a dockyard. It was convenient for all involved. They had a giant territory of land, most of it was a forest, so it allowed plenty of room for the wolves to run around. Everyone had a job, either in the city, under various businesses owned by Lucian or back in the pack.

Sexual behaviours varied in different packs, depending on the Alphas. Some packs were very puritans, some hypocrites, where they allowed the males to screw around but put restrictions on females. Sex was far from a taboo subject with this pack. They lived to fuck was the impression I got. No one cared who was going out with whom unless they found their mates. Mates usually do not cheat, they just cannot because the partner would come to know, and it would hurt them. That hurt would be felt by the one who cheated as well, so it just did not happen. There were rare exceptions, but generally mates stay loyal to each other. Same- sex relationships were not looked down upon, here.

"Alpha Lucian is very accepting of gay wolves," giggled Katherine. "He's welcomed in several pack members who have been cast out of other packs. Not all packs accept homosexuality."

I smiled, I was glad we agreed on that. At least Lucian was not a conservative Alpha like I had anticipated.

Lucian (POV) -

I watched and heard Alice talk about her life. I could not help listening to her. She was fun, witty and when she laughed......it was everything. The youngsters seemed to hang on to her words. Most Lunas came about to be extremely, sheltered. Trained to become wallflowers. Alice was different, agreed she had more dominant human tendencies, and sentiments than her wolf, probably because she had kept her wolf under control most of her life.

It was something I could live it. I was falling more and more in love with her.

"So, madam Alpha, why were you sent away from your pack?" Eliza

There she goes again, I thought. Eliza was playing with fire, I had to stop her...

I strolled towards Alice, to stand behind her. I know she felt my presence because her shoulders relaxed.

"I lost my father in they were wars, and my mother died of grief, I was just nine and couldn't bear the trauma, my aunt Flora offered to take me away for a change, she is a keeper. And that is how I went to live with her." She explained.

I knew her history in parts, they were war was devastating for many, including me.

I felt a surge of sympathy for her.

"How unfortunate, but you could have returned earlier, I mean why did you continue to stay away?" Katherine asked.

Even I was curious about it.noveldrama

"My brother wanted to call me back after I shifted for the first time, but Aunt Flora

is very fond of me, she didn't let me go," Alice explained with a smile.

"I just continued to live with her, and that's how I liked it." She added.

Something was missing, Rick and I might not be on good terms, but I respect him

as an Alpha. He would not leave his sister alone unless there was a reason. I needed to find out why.

"That's somewhat unfair, had you stayed here you would have met Alpha Lucian earlier, and we would have got you as our Luna much earlier." One of the juvenile girls commented.

I could not help smiling, the kid was right, had I known my mate was a continent away I would have searched the world for her. I looked at the watch, it was about time to break the party. But before I could interrupt, Eliza had fired another query. "If you don't mind, can I ask you how did your father die?"

My head snapped towards her and I glared at her. She took the hint and bowed, but it was already too late. Alice was upset, I could tell. Her breathing had become short. I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.

"I don't remember much; I was in New York with my father before.... when the war started. Somehow, I had run out of my room, and I was found unconscious under a pile of rubble, protected by a table. I do not remember anything else. "Alice said while I looked on in shock!

That little girl was Alice! She was there, we had met before, but she did not remember me. She had no idea that we had hidden under the table in a conference room trying to survive in that mayhem, I often wondered what happened to that little girl. I looked at Alice in a new light. That girl was all grown up, and she was my mate.