Operation Unite The Beasts.

Luca

  ~Ariana's POV~
I had met Luca only recently, he was a respected warrior of the Crescent Moon Pack and Talons close friend, he started hanging with us when Talon revealed he was to be his personal body guard, he was really nice to me but we hadn't really talked as he tended to keep to himself, I had been too busy as well, perhaps it was time to remedy that, I thought, swimming out of the lake.

I grabbed a towel Dan handed me, wrapping it round myself, before grabbing two plates heaped with food that Mia had prepared, I ignored her glare and headed towards Luca,

"hey." I said taking a seat beside him, he looked up at me,

"Hi Luna." he replied, before looking down again, I sighed, handing him a plate, he looked at me before taking it and we began eating quietly, after he was done, he placed the plate aside and turned to me,

"if you have something you want to ask me, then do so Luna, I'm obliged to give you a honest answer." he said.

"I do not care for your obligations Luca, the only answer you will give me, is the one you are willing to share, anything beyond that is not my place to pry." I said with finality, he looked up at me before nodding, I sighed,

"forgive my curiosity Luca, it might just be me over thinking things, but why are you always so sad?" I asked straight forwardly, he didn't reply for sometime and I actually concluded he wasn't going to,

"I do not know myself, I have asked the same question, why do I let myself feel this way, I have been unable to come up with an answer." he replied, I was quiet for a measure of time, before deciding to just say it,

"where is your mate Luca?" I asked softly and his eyes darkened as he frowned,

"you don't have to answer." I quickly added, he didn't reply and I didn't push, we just sat there quietly and after a while he spoke,

"she's not dead if that's what you're thinking Luna." he said laughing softly, I turned to him, smiling sheepishly, I had been mentally reprimanding myself for reminding him of his loss, it must have showed on my face.

"Sorry about that, I probably shouldn't have made assumptions." I apologized, he looked at me funnily for a second,

"do not apologize to me Luna, you did no wrong." he said, and I nodded, turning my attention to the forest floor, I picked up a small branch and started drawing patterns on the soft soil, pondering over some things, a sad voice broke through my thoughts,

"she did not want me." I heard Luca say, I turned to him.

"who?" I asked, and he sighed,

"my mate Luna, she rejected me." he explained, I didn't reply, quietly processing his words.

"Who is it? Your mate, who is she?" I asked him and he sighed,

"Claire." he said and I nodded wordlessly, somehow, I wasn't surprised, but I was damn angry, rejecting her mate and going after my men, what a certified bitch,

"I know what you're thinking right now Luna, yeah, she's always had her eyes on the Alpha and now the leader of the pride as well, she's a horrible person, and I should hate her, but I can't seem too, instead I find myself still caring deeply for her, and hoping someday, she'd come to her senses, I'm a fool aren't I Luna?" He said laughing hollowly, I remained silent for a while, before replying,

"no Luca, you're not a fool, you know, courage is knowing it might hurt and doing it anyways
Stupidity is the same
And that's why life is hard, so no you're not a fool, willing to accept your mate despite her numerous shortcomings, you're a good man Luca, you have my deepest admiration." I said standing up and, tilting my head down slightly in respect the way they always did in my presence, he stared at me a new glow in his eyes that wasn't there before and unknown to me, my simple act had given strength and purpose to a broken man and in turn gained me the unflinching loyalty and service of this shifter, and as time went on, my little unconscious acts to this jilted warrior, would earn me an ally, a protector, a friend, a pillar of strength..... and in time he would come to be known as my shadow, walking towards Jake, I ignored Grey's presence,