Forty- one

"Tell me one thing," I said and tugged on Harper's hand so that he would slow down on his way to the pack meeting.

"What?" He said absentmindedly and pulled my body close to his own.

"You told me last night that when we accept each other as mates, the energy will let us feel the joy of every wolf in the pack and that they will know too, that their pack has got their future Luna." Harper nodded and I took a deep breath before speaking again. "So, they already know that you have accepted someone as their mate. Won't they put two and two together when they see me with you after they felt the energy last night?"

"You know, you worry too much." Harper chuckled and I pouted at him playfully. "Of course, they will think something is amiss when they see me being with you after last night. But they won't blatantly question it because matters like this are always announced during pack meetings. And we don't plan to do that today."

I nodded and agreed with him, I do worry too much. "But then again, I have been seen way too many times in compromising positions with you in school. I'm sure many people noticed and have already made up their stories or rumors or whatever."

I shifted uncomfortably. I wasn't reassured by his last statement. I wasn't too keen on being the subject of someone's rumor or ridicule.

"But they won't ever disrespect me or anyone directly associated with me and that includes you. So don't worry." Harper immediately said after he noticed my uneasiness. "Besides my parents, your friends, and the Beta family, only Amanda knows about us being mates, so you don't have to worry about anything."

"Amanda?" I scrunched my nose. I wasn't particularly fond of that girl, especially after I came to know that Harper had been planning to mark her as his mate. The thought filled me with unbridled jealousy and I huffed in annoyance.

Harper must have sensed my mood because he ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Well, I had to tell her, you know. I had planned to mark her and that requires a great level of intimacy, especially if you're doing it with someone who isn't your mate."

I cringed at his use of words and subconsciously pulled my hand out of his hold. I knew what kind of intimacy he was talking about. I knew Harper had a very raunchy past and I had tried to move past it and had succeeded to a certain degree too. Vivid images of Harper pounding into Amanda filled my mind and I shuddered.

I had no idea if I was just being melodramatic or not, but hell with it if I did. Harper would remain in contact with everyone he had slept with because he was their alpha and the realization was just setting in my mind.

Harper grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. I knew resisting him was futile, he was a wolf, a white one at that, and had super strength, so I didn't even try.

He put his hand gently under my chin and made me look up at him. I gazed into his green eyes which looked tormented and nervous. 

"I had to tell her, okay?! Not because of how close we were." I cringed again at the word close. I wondered how many females he had exactly been close with.

He took a deep breath and looked into my eyes again. "I had to give her a proper explanation as to why I wasn't interested in her anymore. She wasn't like other girls, Zara. I had made a promise to her and she deserved an explanation."

I stepped back, desperate for some distance between us and his hands fell limp by his side. I didn't care if I was being irrational or exceptionally hard on him, that was just how I was feeling at the moment. 

I turned away from him and started walking towards the staircase without saying another word to him. I heard him curse behind me and then I felt him follow me.

"Look, I'm sorry. I wish I could change how I was before, but I just can't." He sighed.

"I know you're sorry. And I know that I'm being a little irrational but I can't help but be jealous. Put yourself in my position and tell me how you would feel." I stopped and looked at Harper.

He gently smiled at me, pulled me into his arms, and kissed my forehead. "Well, if my mate had been as big a douchebag as yours is, I would have completely lost my mind because of jealousy." I chuckled in response and put my forehead on his chest.

"I love you and I'm not going anywhere." Harper tightened his hold around my body and I snuggled in his chest. "Come, we need to go."

He took my hand in his own and gave me a small smile. I squeezed his hand in reassurance and we walked down the stairs and into the Hall of the Pack house, where announcements usually took place.

It was a giant hall that could easily accommodate a thousand people. I had no idea this building housed such a big hall. I was simply awed at the size and sheer design of it.

At the moment, it was filled with three hundred wolves of all ages and genders. A stage had been erected on one side of the hall where I could see Sebastian and Eva talk amongst themselves. 

I gulped nervously as we entered the hall hand in hand. I could feel a couple of eyes snap in my direction and I resisted the urge to run out of the place. A few murmurs broke out and I could see curious and surprised faces taking me in from head to toe.

Harper tugged on my hand and led me to the front of the hall, towards the stage. I saw Eva gracefully sitting on one of the chairs beside a couple who I had not yet been introduced to.

"That's Aiden's parents, the Beta couple." Harper pointed towards the couple. As if they could feel me on them, their heads turned to look at me. I blushed under their gaze but they smiled and bowed their heads a little. I don't think I would ever be able to get used to people bowing, nevertheless I hastily bowed my head in return.

Just then, I saw Aiden walking through the crowd. People made way for him and bowed their heads. I had now realized that they had done the same for Harper but I was too embarrassed to take note of it.

"You don't need to bow to anyone, Zara." Aiden smiled at me and hugged me. I hugged him back immediately. 

"I don't think I will ever get used to all this." I waved my hand around the hall. "No wonder both of your heads are so up your asses." Both of their eyes snapped to mine. I laughed at their expressions.

The next moment I was engulfed in a hug from behind which led me to let go of Harper's hand. I turned around to see a very excited Samantha. Natalie wasn't too far behind her and I grinned at both of them.

Before I could say anything, a loud and powerful voice rang out in the hall which caused every pair of eyes to snap up to the stage. Sebastian was standing in front of the stage, displaying all his alpha male glory. He had captured the attention of every being present in the hall. 

I could easily make out the similarities between Harper and his father. They shared the same eyes and build and I knew the coat of their wolves was the same too. I could picture Harper standing in Sebastian's place a few years from now, his aura powerful and intimidating, while he announced the news of my pregnancy. The thought made me blush and Nat nudged me in the ribs as if she knew what I was thinking.

"Good afternoon, fellow pack members!" Sebastian's voice rang out into the Hall, making everyone stop their idle chatter. "I have an important announcement to make today."

I could practically feel the energy in his voice. "You all know how me and my mate have tried to conceive again and again but failed to do so." My gaze snapped to Eva who looked solemn all of a sudden and old beyond her age. I sent a small prayer to the heavens hoping for a different path for Harper and me.

"We had lost all hope after Eva conceived Harper but we have been finally blessed by another pup by the moon goddess." A rare smile broke out on Sebastian's face which mirrored my own. Excited murmurs broke out throughout the hall and a wave of happiness washed over me.

I felt Harper squeeze my hand and I grinned at him.

"That's right." Sebastian continued, pleased with the crowd's reaction to the news. "Your Luna is expecting again." 

The excited crowd cheered and I felt a wave of euphoria wash over me. I felt someone's eyes on me and I looked up at the stage to find out Eva looking at me. She smiled genially at me as if she too, could also feel the giant waves of satisfaction now and then.

Sebastian raised a hand and then everyone immediately quoted down. "I have another important news." His gaze snapped to me and Harper. His gaze lingered for a moment at our joined hands and I swear I saw his hard gaze soften at the sight.

I frowned while Harper was tense beside me. Where was Sebastian going with this? What other announcement did he have to make?

"I know you all felt the energy last night and so did your wolves." My eyes widened at his words and I gaped at him. He wouldn't! I was not ready for this.

"I swear I didn't know anything about it," Harper whispered harshly in my ear and his grip on my hand tightened. I nodded absentmindedly, not liking the turn this meeting had taken.

Excited murmurs broke out again, apparently everyone wanted to know who their future Luna was. Damn, their curiosity!

"What you all think is true. Our future alpha has indeed found his mate, the Luna of this pack." A few wolves howled in pure joy while I could feel myself grow sweaty every minute.

"I would like our future alpha, Harper Cain to step up on the stage with his mate, the future Luna of The Red Lakes Pack, Zara Hemming."

Harper tensed beside me and I felt like my feet had grown roots because they seemed planted firmly on the ground. I could still see excited cheers and hollers but it all faded in the background.

I was breathing heavily now and I was sure I would hyperventilate soon. I wasn't ready for this. I was so not ready for this. This was thrown at me out of nowhere.

My eyes glazed and they couldn't focus on anything. Till Harper's face came into view. My eyes focused on his green ones and a sense of calm washed over me. He cupped my cheeks and I leaned into his touch, enjoying the sparks that danced across my skin.

"Trust me, okay." I nodded at once. I did trust him. With that, he took my hand in his and led me onto the stage.

Everything seemed to blur now. Wolves were cheering and howling in joy while I stood on the stage like a stiff board, unable to do or say anything. Was I even supposed to say anything?!

My eyes casually roamed over everyone. Some so many teenagers went to the same high school as me and were less surprised than the rest of the pack.

My gaze traveled and landed on the school's principal, Mr. Powers. His eyes had widened and he seemed to be in more of a shock than me.

Guess I won't be cleaning the cafeteria floor anytime soon!