The Reluctant Luna

Chapter 28

"You smell different, my daughter."

Louise and Luca were standing before her father with two of Luca's guards. Two very, very nervous guards. "You asked me to report what happened when I spoke with the witch. She said you arranged things with Mom so that you could produce a tool to have an advantage over Broodmaster Henderson."

"And she would be correct. But that doesn't explain your scent."

"Luca and I had our own requests of her, which she has fulfilled." She hesitated a moment, then added, "Luca is my mate. I am Luna Louise Caruso."

Her dad's eyes narrowed slightly. "She changed you. Both of you. You are no longer my loyal daughter, are you?"

"I love you dad, but I have a place, a home, a pack."

"What did this cost you?"

"I don't know, fully."

"Come, spar with me, my daughter."

She felt the guards and Luca stiffen. ::He will not harm me. But he can most certainly test me. We need to know what the cost was.:: "May I suggest we allow Luca in the cage with us, I want to test something else, as well."

Her dad smiled broadly. "Yes, let's. Then I have a proposal for you both."

She felt Luca smile next to her. "That should be interesting," he replied.

They went to the sparring chamber where she'd last fought with her father a mere month ago and nearly bested him. She stepped into the cage with Luca at her side. Luca went to a corner to observe, while Louise squared off against the shorter vampire broodmaster.

She shifted to her most powerful form for fighting her father, half-wolf, augmented. As soon as the first blows were exchanged, she felt the difference. Her strikes had less effect, while his hurt more. It only took thirty seconds for her to be dominated completely. I could take on one of the lesser vampires, but no broodmaster, she realized.

"Come, you are mates. Let's see what the two of you can do together," her father suggested.

Luca bounded forward, taking on the same form as Louise. They both had golden eyes as they stared down the broodmaster.

Almost immediately, she understood the power of the packs. She didn't need to watch Luca. She didn't have to speak with him. She simply knew. They flanked her father. When he struck at one of them, the other struck back. For every blow he threw, they landed one that was unguarded.

He was faster. He was stronger. He was only one. Luca took a blow to grapple the older vampire. It would have been suicidal, except it allowed Louise to rain down blows on her father's back. Eventually, they wore her elder down, forcing him to yield.

"Well done, my dear. I think you've made a good trade."

Louise and Luca shifted back down to human form. "Thanks, dad," she smiled. "You had a proposal?"

"Yes, I think your pack should become neutral territory."

Luca raised an eyebrow at that. "You know that's not how werewolves work."

Her dad leveled his gaze at Luca. "I didn't just fight two werewolves. Regardless, I don't need an answer right away. Go. Figure out how the other packs are reacting to you. I think it's a good idea. Oh, and talk with Broodmaster Henderson. I'm sure he's already aware that your status has changed."

Luca and Louise both leveled a mistrustful gaze at him. "And I'm sure you'll make sure he knows," Louise stated.

"I like having my rivals owe me favors."

"Especially if that puts pressure on others to get what you want," Louise replied cynically.

With that, the four werewolves left to return home. Once they were a ways away from the brood, Lewis asked, "What happened in there?"

Luca glanced at him, then said, "Things got more interesting. Your Luna just found out how much weaker she is, now, and how much stronger she is with me."

With that, he went silent, but Louise could hear him contacting Michalis. ::Arrange a meeting with our five closest allies within the next two days, if possible. We may have a problem.::

::How bad?::

::Broodmaster Byrne is trying to entangle us in vampire politics, and mess up our relationship with the other packs at the same time. We need to find out the reactions of our allies as soon as possible so we know what our options are.::

::This has to do with the changes in you and Louise, doesn't it?::

::Absolutely.::

::I'm on it, Luca.::