Luna of the Lake

IV. Dinner....

I woke the next morning, unsurprisingly I thought, to an empty bed. A note was laid on the pillow beside me, and I rubbed my eyes as I read it.

My dear little mate,
I once again have some serious business to attend to. I regret that it will keep me until the evening. If all goes well, I will see you early tonight. Please, I request you do not stray from our quarters.

Caius

Alone again, I thought. Was this my new reality? Kept captive in this beautiful house, never to see my mate, or much of anyone, ever again?

You are being dramatic and unfair, my wolf growled in response to my inner musings. Think of what is happening. He is busy keeping us safe.

I don't think he wants us.

My heart sank at my reply to my wolf, which of course she predictably scoffed and snarled at. I couldn't deny it, I was used to seeing pack bonds manifested in instantaneous love and adoration. Perfect matches between two wolves who can't keep their paws off each other. Romantic walks, being joined at the hip, that's what I always saw modeled for me and what I envisioned my bond with my mate would be like.

Not only was Caius cold, austere, and formal, but he and I couldn't appear to be more different.

The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes, Larka. You will see.

I would remain doubtful in the face of my wolf's obvious hope and desire, but truly I was not sure how I felt about the present situation. Caius scared me- would I want him to be more involved? Did I want to spend more time around this powerful, brooding and menacing man, or was it a blessing in disguise that he seemed uninterested in me?

Confusion and doubt filled my mind. I struggled to untangle my thoughts from the myriad of emotions swimming through me. Plodding towards the kitchen, the smell of breakfast drew me from my dark pondering.

Angela greeted me as cordially as usual and I enjoyed scrambled eggs and perfectly ripe avocado at the kitchen counter. I refused to have her make up the table for just myself, knowing how much fruitless cleanup it would involve.

"May I ask, Luna, respectfully," she started, as I looked up to see her leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in her hands, "what was your life like in your old pack? Do you think your family would like to visit you?"

I smiled weakly. Having asked Angela multiple times to not call me Luna and instead refer to me by my name, she insisted that 'the Alpha wouldn't like that.'
"It was nice enough, but my parents are dead. I have no family."

Angela apologized quickly for her personal questions, but I brushed away her fears and explained how I was orphaned and what my parents had done for work in the pack. She was sympathetic and we talked for a while. It felt good to have a friend, even if she wouldn't call me by my name. When I asked, however, about Caius's parents, she clammed up nervously.
"That's not for me to tell, dear. You'd better ask the Alpha yourself if you want to know about him."

"I try, Angela, but I feel as though he doesn't want me. He's barely spoken to me or even been in my presence since I was brought here." I surprised myself at how dejected I sounded. I wanted to know my mate, I wanted to be around him. I realized that I hadn't given him or our relationship a chance.

"He has a lot on his mind dear, what with the pack- well, you know, everything going on at the moment."

I sensed I wasn't going to get another peep out of Angela about Caius or the situation with Fallen Timbers. Fair enough. Luckily, I had had an idea.

"Angela, I'd like to make myself dinner tonight if that's alright. You can have the night off?"

I could see her start to object, before stopping, maybe realizing my line of thinking.