Luna

8

Laughing, I walked into my room. "I need to shower and change."
His smile filled his face, "Need a buddy in there?"
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. "I can handle a shower but I'll keep the offer in mind."
He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, biting down gently and I was envious. I wanted that to be my lip. He sat down on my couch, "I'll wait for you then."
Rolling my eyes, I smirked as I stripped off my shirt into my sports bra, "No need for that. I have plans tonight so I'll see you after dinner?"
His gaze moved from lustful to confused to annoyed, "Plans?"
"It's tradition. Cris and I have dinner out by the tombs the night before the full moon."
He scowled at his feet, "I don't like that." It was hard for him to express his emotions, I could tell by his clenched jaw and gritted teeth.
"Like what?"
"You spending time with him alone. It makes me and my wolf very uneasy."
"He wouldn't try anything. He's like me, saving everything for his mate."
A growl built in his chest as he shook, "I can't say no can I?"
"You can." Taking a deep breath, I kissed his cheek, "But I won't listen."
"You're so challenging." He grunted through gritted teeth.
"As are you." I laughed and shook my head, "I'll come find you as soon as we're done. Give you a goodnight kiss."
He seemed to perk up with this comment, "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Now go get showered. You stink." I scrunched my nose in sarcasm.
He shook his head and walked out the door, still looking a little rigid and unsure about things.

Showering and drying my hair, I pulled on a small white dress over my skin colored lace underwear. The dress had quarter sleeves and snug tight until my hips when it flared out a little. It was shorter than it was last year - my legs had grown - it fell a little higher than mid thigh. I just had to remember not to bend over. Pulling on my rain boots, I let my hair fall around my face and took one last look in the mirror. I looked like a little girl but with beautiful, tan legs. Finding my iPod and speakers, I smiled and pulled open my door in excitement. Shrugging, I skipped down to the greenhouse and gathered a few branches, making Cris a crown. We had done this since we were ten. The only thing that had changed was at sixteen we took dinner and Cris would steal some wine for us.
As the darkness fell over the land, I followed the path to the sacred grounds where our Luna's rested with their mates. Bowing my head in respect, I found my way to the spring that lay just beyond the graveyard.
Cris already had the blanket laid out and the food set up. He smiled as I sat down beside him, "You made it!"
"Of course I did! I wouldn't miss this for anything."
Sitting down beside him, I placed his crown of leaves on his head, "Perfect."
He laughed and picked up a a crown of daisies for me, "And for the Luna." He bowed and placed the flowers around my head.
Laughing at our silly tradition, we jumped right into conversation.
He smiled as he pored me a glass of wine, "So are you ready for tomorrow?"
Happily accepting the drink, I nodded. "I think so. I've been working so hard and I feel stronger than ever."
He pored himself a glass, "I know you'll make it." He laid back and took a bite of his food. "Is this going to be our last night of before the full moon celebration?"
I sighed, "I think so. I think I hurt Josh's feelings coming here."
"Josh?"
"Alpha Darrow."
Cris nodded, "I don't want to make trouble for you and your mate. Our mates come first."
I nodded, "I know but I wanted one last happy celebration with you. But I'm pretty sure the only reason he let me go and didn't fight it was because he trusts you."
Cris burst into laughter, "Yeah right! Darrow trusts no one."
Shrugging, I looked unsure, "He is very protective of me but he let me come. That says something."
Cris puffed out his chest and smiled brightly, "Who would have thought?"
Taking another big sip, I rolled my eyes, "Don't get a big head about it."
He just laughed, "So how is your mate?"
"I like him."
"Always a good sign."
Smiling, I grew serious, "We kissed."
Cris shot up with the biggest smirk on his face, "Was it everything we had ever imagined?"
I nodded vigorously, "Even better! It's like feeling whole for the first time ever. I can't wait for you to find her so you can understand."
"I'm so jealous JoJo." He sighed, "I want to find her so bad."
"She's out there. Maybe if I decided to move to the east coast with Josh you can come join us and meet more females, maybe she's over there?"
He looked at me skeptically as he filled our glasses, "You mean you are actually thinking of returning home with your parents?"
"Well yeah. I still have two months of school left. I need to finish that and..."
"You are making excuses. I know you best Josie. Why are you avoiding this?"
Feeling a little tipsy, I rolled my eyes. "I'm not avoiding anything."
"Are too."
Setting up the music, I ignored him and jumped to my feet, "Dance?"
"You aren't getting out of this." He stood and danced me around the blanket in the grass.
Together we finished the two bottles of wine and danced and sang in an intoxicated state. When we were finally too tired, we collapsed back down on the blankets in laughter.
Cris sighed as he looked up at the stars, "So why are you avoiding this?"
My walls were down and I was feeling bold from the alcohol, "I can't say goodbye to my family and my life. I have to give up everything for him and I don't think I can do that."
"Why not?"
"Well...What if...What will...I don't know."
He laughed, "Be brave Josie. The man loves you more than his own life, it's easy to see that."
"How?"
Cris laughed as he finished off my food, "He glows when you're around him and is ready to lay down his life for you. But what really showed it for me is that he doesn't fight when one of us hits him. Do you know how hard it is for a male to not react when attacked, especially an Alpha male."
My heart began to ache for him, Cris was right. "What time is it?"
Cris laughed, "A little after midnight."
Kissing Cris on the cheek, I smiled, "Thank you for so much fun but I need to see him."
Cris just laughed, "You make it there without falling down?"
The world was spinning a little but I could make it. "Yes. Love you Cris."
"Love you Josie."
Running through the silent halls, I kept one hand on a wall to keep from falling over. When I finally came to Josh's room, I stopped and took a deep breath. I could do this. Knocking softly, I waited for an answer. There was the sound of blankets being tossed to the side and footsteps headed for the door. Josh opened the door rubbing his eyes, "I said get lost Maya."
Laughing, I coiled myself against his bare chest. "I missed you."
Josh took a step back, "Josie? What?"
"I told you I'd come by when I was done."
He pulled me into his room and growled, "You're just getting done now? I was hoping you had just forgotten."
Kissing his naked chest, I laughed at him, "I could never ever forget you."
"Have you been drinking?" He pulled me away from his chest and looked me over with a dark scowl.
My eyes widened, "Am I not allowed to?"
"Not without me."
"I'm here now." I laughed and danced around in a circle. "And I wanted to tell you something."
He smirked, "What's that?"
"I want to go home with you. I'm not ascared anymore."
Josh chuckled, "Ascared?"
"Yeah. Cris help me see I was afraid for no reason. You love me."
"We can have this talk when you're sober." He kissed my forehead, "Now you need to get some rest."
"Okay." Walking over to his bed, I kicked of my boots and curled up in his scent. It was more intoxicating than the alcohol. "Let's sleep."
He cleared his throat, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"You don't need to worry about taking advantage of the situation. I'm not shit faced, I'm almost drunk but I know what I'm doing. My wolf needs you and I need you, I'm tired of not sleeping beside you. So please."
"Are you sure?"
Grabbing hold of his arm, I pulled him to the bed, "Are you uncomfortable with me in your bed?"
He laughed, "Yes but not in the way you're talking about."
My cheeks flushed, "Cuddle me?"
Climbing in bed beside me, he scooped me up in his arms, "Get some sleep." He kissed my forehead.
Turning in his arms, I pulled off my dress and kissed his lips softly. He stiffen but returned it with a guarded kiss.