The Reluctant Luna

Chapter 11

"What the hell were you thinking?" he roared at her. They were currently in his office, the door closed, making it sound-proof to werewolf hearing.

Louise leveled her gaze at him. "I was teaching your suitors respect," she stated.

"They think I've brought a monster into my pack!"

Louise's head fell as she sighed. "You have. That's exactly what you've done."

There was silence in the room. "You're not a monster."

"Luca, that's all I have ever been. For now, they need to see me as dangerous. If they respect my power, they'll give me the time needed to get used to me."

"You're their luna!"

"You're the only one who believes that, Luca." She sighed. "Half of them probably think I've done some vampire voodoo on you to make you declare me luna."

There was silence for a bit longer. "It's more than half," he admitted.

"You can still get rid of me, avoid all these problems."

There was silence for a long time before Luca finally looked her in the eyes. "It's not that simple."

"Explain," she asked gently.

"Mates can reject each other, but there's no backup. In the case of an alpha, that means a pack would never have a luna. He cannot take another female, because at any meeting, she might meet her mate." He was silent for a bit longer. "If I reject you, the only luna I could offer is another rejected female."

There was a long period of silence. "Shit," she finally said. "You're stuck with me whether you like it or not." He nodded. "Damn it," she muttered.

"Whether you like it or not, I have to make this work, or step down as alpha."

"And you don't think Michalis has what it takes, do you?" He shook his head slightly. "Fuck."

"Yeah. Fuck."

They sat in his office, silent for a bit. Their thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Luca opened it to Michalis, who looked a bit pale. "Alpha, Broodmaster Dean Henderson has sent one of his human thralls with a request."

"What is it?"

"He requests a meeting with you and... your new luna."

Shit.