Elena's point of view.The tension between Vanda and me is palpable as he prods, “What’s wrong?”I narrow my eyes, accusing, “You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re trying to embarrass me.”He steps in front of me, blocking my escape. “Embarrass you? Elena, the thought of you with your hands…” He trails off, his voice teasing and deliberate.“I don’t want to talk about this,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “Please.”Vanda’s lips twitch, amusement barely contained. “Yet you still want to sleep in my bed?”“Not if my innocence makes it a problem,” I counter, standing my ground.He returns to his plate, scraping up the last remnants of his meal. “Don’t misunderstand me. I want you exactly as you are. And I don’t want anyone else near you.” His words are casual, but the bite he takes afterward is anything but.The bond we share flares to life, spreading warmth through me, and I clutch my glass of water tightly. “Then stop teasing me. I’ve been told… that intimate things are only for mate
Elena's point of view.The master bedroom feels cozy and serene once I turn on the lamps and close the shutters. I get through my nightly routine before Vanda comes upstairs, ensuring I don’t disrupt him.Back home, I shared a bathroom with Serena. We were so in sync that we rarely clashed—she had her side of the sink, and I had mine. Here, the master bathroom offers far more space. With two sinks, a mirror wide enough for both of us, and a bathtub large enough to swim in, it feels like the room itself is encouraging Vanda and me to share the space, as if it knows it belongs to an Alpha and Luna.I glance at my reflection, squinting as I try to imagine myself as Luna.The bedroom door closes softly. I step toward the bathroom doorway and spot Vanda.“Hi,” I greet him.He glances at me. “Did you bring your things in here?”“You wanted me to do that tonight?”“Why not?”I hesitate, moving toward the bed. “I just wanted to be sure it’s what you really want.”“My mind isn’t going to chang
Elena's point of view."Elena?" Charles's voice calls out.I weave through the trees, stepping into the clearing in my wolf form. Unassuming as ever, I watch the training field, where Vanda and Charles have made plenty of space for us. The other pack members linger at a distance, though I hope it’s not just because of me.Vanda’s wolf paces while Charles returns to him, both of them noticing me instantly. Vanda’s gaze sweeps over my wolf, and I suddenly feel small—insignificant even.“Perfect timing.” Charles motions for me to come closer with a sweeping gesture. “Just head over here.”I take a few cautious steps, only to splash into a puddle, leaving my light-colored paw coated in thick brown mud. My head dips in embarrassment, and I drag my paw along as if I’ve stepped on something sharp.“All right,” Charles begins as I reach Vanda. “We’re skipping the basics today. Instead, we’re diving into scenarios—real ones you might face if someone from Kane’s pack tried to abduct you. You pr
Elena's point of view.I stand in the closet, staring at my collection of new clothes, trying to decide what to wear for dinner with Alexa. Vanda said she’d be here by late afternoon, and now it’s past five. It’s probably time to get ready.Elizabeth and Ben are in the kitchen working on dinner together. Elizabeth had already finished preparing a guest room for Alexa and offered to help cook so I wouldn’t have to. Since Alexa isn’t here yet, I’d offered to assist, but Ben insisted they had it all under control.I pull out a knee-length dress, but just as quickly, I hang it back up. A dress feels too formal—Alexa is technically family. Instead, I choose a black long-sleeve top I really like and pair it with wide-leg pants. After I change and fix my hair, I head downstairs to check on Ben and Elizabeth in the kitchen.“I thought you were getting ready,” Ben says as soon as I walk in.“I did. I’ve run out of things to do now,” I reply, leaning against the counter while Elizabeth cleans v
Elena's point of view.Vanda’s sister, Alexa, appears at the bottom of the staircase, her footsteps light as she steps into the dining room. She smiles brightly. “There you both are. What’s for dinner?”“Steak, mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables,” I reply, recalling the meal Elizabeth had been preparing earlier. “It all looked amazing.”Alexa approaches the table and pulls out the chair directly across from mine. “Let’s sit.”“Oh, sure.” I follow her lead, but Vanda is slower to join us. He takes his time settling into his usual spot at the head of the table.Elizabeth returns with a wine bottle, pouring into our empty glasses before Vanda asks, “Bring me the scotch when you get a chance.”Alexa glances at me over the rim of her wineglass. “I hope you manage to soften him up,” she says with a teasing tone. “Our mother always said a strong Luna brings balance to her mate, and Vanda’s always been a little too distant.”I glance at him, but his focus remains fixed on some invisible
Elena's point of view.As expected, Vanda is gone before I even wake up. I linger in bed a little longer than usual since today will be a busy one spent entertaining Alexa. Knowing I won’t have much personal time later, I savor these quiet moments. Once I’m ready for the day, I head downstairs to look for Alexa and find her seated at the dining table, sipping coffee and reading from a small, worn book with a white cover. Her conversation with Ben plays on repeat in my head, but I enter the room as if I never heard it. She looks up and closes the book as I approach.“I thought I heard you coming,” she says with a small, tight smile, drawing her coffee mug closer. “Ignore my pajamas.”“What are you reading?” I ask.“Oh, just some book about conception that my mate’s mother gave me,” she replies, taking a sip of coffee. “It’s a bit outdated and very spiritual, but I like the little illustrations.”I joke, “I’m sure my mother has the same one.”She eyes me with amusement. “Look at you, al
Elena's point of view.The news of an impending war between the packs seemed to be known by everyone but me."Is everything alright?" Alexa's voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts.I forced a bright tone as I glanced back at her. "Yeah, everything's fine."“Elena—” Vanda started, but I cut him off quickly. “We’ll talk later, I guess. Alexa and I are heading around the pack for a while.”He remained where he was, watching as I walked away to rejoin Alexa.“So, how long are you staying?” Charles asked her.“Just until tomorrow,” Alexa replied with a small smile. “It’s a short trip, but Vanda tells me he and Elena are planning to visit Gold soon.”I joined in their conversation. “I’m ready when you are.”“Oh, that was fast,” Alexa commented with a mix of sadness and contentment. Turning back to Charles, she added, “It was so good to see you. Please give Emma my best wishes with the new baby.”“Good luck with Alpha Gold,” Charles said with a chuckle.Alexa sighed dramatically. “Yeah
Elena's point of view.As Elizabeth disappears with the man, stepping outside where the glowing moon starts to dominate the blackened sky, I remain inside, looking at the array of jewelry before me."This is all for me to wear?" I ask, my voice tentative as I glance at the gleaming adornments.Vanda approaches, carrying the jewelry carefully. With one hand, he begins separating the pieces and hands me a heavy moonstone necklace, its multiple pendants dangling in a delicate row. I secure it around my neck, feeling its cool weight against my skin.Next, he gives me two bracelets, one for each wrist. “You look beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low but sincere.A blush rises to my cheeks, and I try to suppress it. "I thought you might have changed your mind or gotten too busy for the ceremony. You still want to do this, don’t you?"“I do,” he replies with quiet conviction, holding up the final piece—a headpiece adorned with fine, shimmering chains and moonstone droplets. Its intricate met
Elena's point of view.The rest of the night, I'm embroiled in our mate bond. Every time Vanda touches me, I have to withhold my blush and wipe the fresh memory of what we've done out of my mind. Over dinner, my attention is so shot that I hardly hear Ben say he'll be leaving tomorrow for four days to visit a friend's pack, thankfully, neither Kane's nor Alpha Walter's. He's definitely chosen such days on purpose, however. With the mayhem of constant attacks, he must be yearning for normalcy.Each time my distracted thoughts win, and merely making eye contact with Vanda has me giddy and shy, he simply smiles, waits a moment, and then asks me something unrelated so I might find some relief.---Hours before the sun rises, Vanda rubs my upper arm in short strokes, waking me up. I stir and slide my arm over his chest."Don't go," I mumble.The bed is the perfect temperature and perfect softness; it tries so hard to lull me back to sleep."I have to get ready to meet Alpha Walter's men at
Elena's point of view.Vanda gently unclenches my fist, his expression caught between amusement and surprise."What is it?" he asks, a playful curve to his lips."I... want more," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.His brows lift in surprise. Placing his hands on the desk on either side of me, he leans closer, his presence making me instinctively press my knees together. "Is that so?" His hazel eyes scan mine, searching for any trace of hesitation."What would you do if I was in heat?" I mumble, unable to meet his gaze.His smirk fades, replaced by a more serious look as he straightens. "Elena...""I'm serious," I insist, stepping down from the desk. "You mentioned there are...""There are what?" he prompts, his tone both curious and challenging.Heat rises to my cheeks as I glance away. "You said there are things besides traditional mating. I know about them, but I don’t know what you meant. I want to understand.""Alpha!" a voice calls from the front of the house, cutting thr
Elena's point of view.The clatter of pots and pans greeted me as I entered the kitchen that morning. Ben stood at the stove, wearing borrowed pajamas and cooking breakfast.He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Morning. The Alpha's already eaten. He's in the study with Charles and Alex. I figured I'd make something since I wasn’t sure when you’d wake up. There’s plenty if you’re hungry." He paused, flipping something in the pan. "After this, I’ll stop by home to change before heading to the gardens. I’ll be back by lunchtime.""Is Elizabeth here?" I asked, rubbing my chilled arms."She came in for a bit but left to get soap for the laundry. Hungry?""Yeah," I admitted. "I’ll be back in a minute. I want to check on Vanda. I think the attacks are weighing on him.""No rush," Ben replied with a kind smile.Leaving the kitchen, I headed down the hall, past the stairs, and into the left living room toward the study. Vanda’s, Charles’s, and Alex’s voices carried through the open door."The
Elena's point of view.At one in the morning, I hear Vanda return to the house. Unable to sleep for hours, I leave the bed and rush downstairs in my nightgown. Ben is staying in one of the guest rooms—we thought it too dangerous for him to head home alone with a potential attack looming—so I lent him some of Vanda's clothes and a bed. The dim light under the guest room door tells me he’s asleep.As I hurry down the stairs, Vanda’s footsteps echo from the hallway before stopping abruptly. Leaning over the railing, I spot him glancing back at me.“Was it an attack?” I ask quickly.He gestures for me to come down, so I take the steps two at a time. Once I reach him, he confirms, “Kane attacked. He didn’t get too close to the border, but we didn’t have much time to intercept him. The first wolves to face his forces were slaughtered, but they bought us the time we needed.”“How bad?” I whisper.“Sixteen dead so far, though we may find more.”I press a hand to my mouth. “Goddess. How did it
Elena's point of view.I shower before dinner, dressing quickly with the bedroom doors shut—Vanda is in the study. As I pull on my pants and tug a clean shirt over my head, I reflect on the day. Vanda takes his leadership seriously, as expected, but seeing him in action gave me a clearer understanding of what he deals with. I hope there will be opportunities for me to join again, especially in discussions like the one about the war earlier.Once I’m done, I head downstairs. Ben is likely in the kitchen, so I plan to help with dinner.From the top of the stairs, I hear the front door burst open. I descend a few steps and see Alex in the foyer, half-dressed in only shorts.“Vanda!” Alex yells, rushing into the living room near the study.I hurry down the rest of the stairs, and as quickly as Alex vanishes to fetch Vanda, he returns with my mate, both moving with urgency.“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping closer to touch Vanda’s arm.He turns to me as Alex bolts back outside, leaving th
Elena's point of view.I found myself rambling again as Vanda and I walked through the woods. “I think I got a little distracted toward the end,” I admitted.“With what?” Vanda asked, his curiosity piqued.I hesitated before speaking. “Well, we know Alpha Walter can find another Luna to produce an heir, but what about Alpha Kane? He has his Luna, Serena, but they can’t seem to have a son. What is he supposed to do?”Vanda’s jaw tightened, his response delayed. “It’s a complex situation,” he finally said.“What would you do if you were him?” I pressed.“I don’t know,” Vanda replied. “I thank the Goddess I’m not.”I glanced at the trees, my thoughts drifting. “But what if we couldn’t—”“You’re thinking too far ahead,” he interrupted. “Don’t worry yourself.”I stopped walking, my heart heavy with unease. “Would you find someone else who could give you a son?”Vanda halted abruptly, turning to face me. “Where is this coming from?”I shrugged, instantly regretting my question. “The words j
Elena's point of view.Vanda leads me into a modest, one-story building that, while simpler than the pack members' homes, is comparable in size. Inside, the main room features a long table surrounded by chairs. The occupants are already seated, their gazes fixed on us as we enter.“For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her, this is my mate, Elena,” Vanda announces confidently. “She’ll be joining us today.”I receive a series of polite nods, which eases my nerves slightly.Vanda pulls out a chair beside the head of the table and gestures for me to sit. Once I’m settled, he takes the seat to my right.The door opens, and Charle steps in. He freezes briefly upon spotting me but quickly recovers. “Luna, welcome,” he says with a respectful tone, moving to sit on Vanda’s left. “This is a pleasant surprise.”“This morning, she decided to accompany me as I go about my schedule, including today’s meetings,” Vanda explains. “I thought it was an excellent idea.”“I agree whole
Elena's point of view.I wake up on my side, completely embraced from behind. Vanda's arm is draped over my waist, holding me close. I try to twist to see his face."Vanda?" I lift his arm slightly. "The sun's up.""I know," he mumbles in a deep, sleep-roughened voice. "Go back to sleep.""What are you still doing here? Don’t you have to leave?""No."I turn again, but Vanda adjusts, pulling me snugly against his chest. His familiar scent washes over me, grounding me in the moment. "Why not?""Do you want me to leave?""No, of course not. I’m just confused," I admit. "You’re never here when I wake up.""I decided to wait until you did today."Smiling secretly, I press my forehead against his chest. "If there’s something you need to do, maybe I could come along. See what keeps you so busy all day.""You want to?""Can I? Is that allowed?" I ask with a lighthearted tone.He looks down at me, his eyes soft. "Why wouldn’t it be? You’re my Luna.""I just assumed…""This pack belongs to bot
Elena's point of view.I follow Vanda to the study, my heart racing harder with each step. When I reach him, he’s standing behind his desk, pouring himself a drink. He takes a long sip before speaking.“Your father and family are safe—so is the Beta, Serena's mate." he says, his voice steady.“Thank you,” I reply softly, stepping closer to the desk. My eyes immediately catch a cut along his jaw, though it’s no longer bleeding. I can’t help but scan for other injuries, likely hidden beneath his clothes. “And you? Are you okay?”He finishes his drink and sets the glass down. “Will you come to bed with me?”I cross my arms, gripping my left elbow with my right hand. “You’ve been gone every night this week with almost no explanation. I should say no. I should sleep in the guest room.”“You’re not sleeping in the guest room,” he mutters firmly.“I’ve already been sleeping there. At first, I thought it was because I was angry, but every night, I just hoped you’d show up and bring me back to