All Chapters of The Alpha and the Rental Luna: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

[Apple] The door to the Rental Luna facility doesn't look any more welcoming today than it did yesterday. If anything, it looks just as bad if not worse, as the bright medicinal-pink paint threatens me with degradation masked in toxic positivity. In other words, it promises to make me feel good about feeling back about myself. "Can't we just skip this today, Rudy?" I groan. "I'm tired and this place sucks." "Alpha's orders," he folds his arms. "Now come on, I'm staying with you today to make sure you get to your classes." The Beta handed me a blue button-up, "He also insisted you wear this today. He's worried that your scent will be too weak without him here to renew it." Wrapping it around me I feel much calmer, my body relaxing into his scent. It's crazy, just last week I was still running away from him, but now the smell of him brings me comfort and joy. Wearing his shirt is like having his arms around me and I smile. It all feels very sudden, while also feeling like

[Apple]Sylvester has been so patient and caring. When I first met this alpha wolf, I was terrified, convinced he'd see me as prey. I realize how stupid that is now--He'd never hurt me. Even then, when he didn't know me and was upset at me for saying no, he'd never have laid a harmful hand on me.He's only ever been gentle. Gentle touches, gentle kisses. Even when his words sting he's never been cruel.I wish I could be everything he needs, but after today, I doubt I ever will be. Alexis made sure that I saw exactly what he liked and didn't stop until I understood how I couldn't ever be enough. Because to care for all of his needs, I can't ignore one of his needs for physical connection. All wolves crave connection, but Alpha Wolves in particular NEED to feel connected to those they care about.I've always thought I'd wait for true love before I gave my body to anyone, but now I'm starting to wonder if maybe I'm not so different from Sly after all. Maybe I need it too. And yet, when

[Apple]Now that we are free of the dark woods, I can see that it is a beautiful autumn evening. The full moon is glowing overhead as families and couples mill around these fairgrounds holding cups of steaming cider or large caramel apples.On the surface, the "Cryptid Carnival" looked like any other carnival. There are fair rides, deep-fried snacks, side shows, and games. But once you look a bit more closely, you can see all the ways it isn't like a normal carnival at all. There is a touch of magic everywhere you look.Underneath the full moon, there are far more people walking around glowing like lightbulbs and wagging shaggy tails than I've seen in one place. Even in downtown Crescent City where the supernaturals outnumber the humans 3 to 1, they still pretend to try and appear to be less spectacular. Rather than hide behind a mask of faked normalcy, the patrons here are wearing their uniqueness like a badge of pride. Even Sylvester is letting Rufus sit closer to the surface, his e

[Sylvester]A virgin. She can't possibly mean to give me such an amazing gift. "Our mate waited for us," Rufus is preening with pride inside my mind, more pleased than ever that we found her first to claim her. "She knew she was meant for us." "She's just a frightened child," I argue with my wolf internally as I pull away from her, kissing her forehead and telling her to rest. "We need to leave before we do something we regret." "But she wants to mate with us," he whines, howling.Her warm apple and honey scent blended with my own is driving my desire skywards. Knowing she's untouched makes me want her even more than before, and I already found her irresistible.If I claim her, I will be her first. I will be her only. She will never want anyone else but me. I will love her so well it will be forever. No. I can't do that. I can't love her and leave her craving me for the rest of her life. Moonstruck. That's what they call it when a human or a witch mates with a wolf and becomes so

[Apple]"Congratulations...?"Why did her eyes shine for a moment? What is going on here?Nervously, I step back. "Apple," Hazel looks around. "We'll talk after." She gives Hawthorne a look and he nods, his expression still hard but his eyes strangely soft, like his face can't decide what it wants to feel. "It's a good thing, trust me," Hazel winks, and then leads the way into class.Looking back, I suddenly find comfort in Rudy being only a few steps away. Whatever Hazel has to say is going to change everything. I can feel it.The problem is, there have been so many changes in my life recently that I can't handle another. I'm already overwhelmed. "Let's just get through today and worry about everything else later," I try to pep myself up as I enter the classroom.Today is a lab day, and I'm excited to see how my seedlings are doing. We planted peas in various soils to see how they'd grow, or not, depending on the environment. The professor is already speaking by the time I take m