~ Luciana's POV ~
[Three years later]
Luciana Garcia was in the middle of teaching the kindergarten class about the importance of sharing when she heard a commotion outside the room. As she turned to look, she saw a group of women approaching. They were all giggling and laughing happily, and Luciana recognized them immediately as members of the Blackmoon pack.
The Blackmoon pack held the title for the most substantial and populous werewolf pack in the country. Structured like a miniature city, it was more open to civilization than any other pack and situated closer to the big city. The pack boasted a wide array of amenities, such as schools, shops, and a medical center, and had the luxury of accessing the human city whenever necessary.
" What are they up to now" she groaned as she watched them wave excitedly at her.
Three years ago, Luciana had almost been killed by her own pack, her Alpha, her mate who had rejected her. She had been left for dead in the woods when the Alpha of the Blackmoon pack, Alpha Alister, had rescued her. He had taken her in and nursed her back to health, and since then, Luciana had become a part of their pack. She was grateful to them for saving her life and had dedicated herself to helping them in any way she could, Hence her teaching the little kids.
As the women entered the room, Luciana smiled and greeted them warmly. They surrounded her, pulling her into a group hug, all of them laughing and chatting excitedly. Luciana felt a warm sense of belonging wash over her. These women were her family now, and she loved them dearly.
After a few moments, one of the women, Anisha, stepped forward and addressed the kindergarten class. "Kids, we're here to take Miss Luciana away for a little while. Don't worry, she'll be back soon. We just need her help with something."
The children looked up at Luciana with wide eyes, Keita especially had a frown on his face, probably wondering where she was going to and she smiled reassuringly at them. "Don't worry, guys, I'll be back soon. Keep being good for your teacher, okay?" She told them as she nodded to the other teacher in the room to take over.
As Luciana was dragged away, still surrounded by the giggling women of the Blackmoon pack, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the life she had found with them. They had taken her in when she had nowhere else to go, and now, she was a valued member of their pack. She knew that no matter what happened in the future, she would always have a home with them.
" Where are you ladies taking me to now…" she grunted.
" hush… we're taking you somewhere your services are highly needed…" one of the women, Anisha, told her.
She groaned, she had a feeling that she knew where they were taking her to.
" I seriously need to be in class now, not goofing around somewhere, planning a party…" she whined.
Anisha rolled her eyes, " enough of your whining…today is the Alpha's birthday and we're throwing a surprise party for him. Plus, he's turning twenty one today…do you know what that means?!" She screeched.
Luciana had to cover her ears to avoid her eardrums from bursting. "Be quiet, Anisha. You'll scare the kids," she told her. She didn't understand why they were so insistent on involving her in the surprise party when they were perfectly capable of handling it themselves.
"I understand that it's the Alpha's birthday today, and the day he will also find his mate too but why do you need me specifically?" Luciana asked, trying to reason with the women.
"Because we need your help with the decorations and setting up the venue," Anisha replied, still excited about the party. "And besides, you're good at organizing things. We could use your expertise."
Luciana sighed. She couldn't argue with that. She did have a knack for organizing events and making things look pretty. "Fine, I'll help you with the decorations," she agreed. "But I can't stay for long. I have to attend my classes later."
The women nodded, satisfied with her answer. They left the kindergarten building and Luciana was not surprised when they dragged her into the car and drove her straight to Mama Ophelia's house which was close to the pack house. It was a large, cozy house with a beautifully decorated garden.
So this was where they were preparing for the Alpha's birthday party, she mused. She should have known that Ophelia was up to something, especially since she had been dropping hints about the Alpha finding his mate on his twenty-first birthday. Luciana rolled her eyes at the thought.
Ophelia greeted them with a wide smile as they approached the front porch. "I was starting to think that she ran away," Ophelia joked as they entered the house.
Luciana scoffed. "As if they would let me. They ambushed me while I was teaching. Your agents carried out a successful mission, Helia," she said, hugging Ophelia.
Ophelia, who was Beta Elijah's mother and one of the first women to welcome Luciana into the pack, had been the one to treat her when the Alpha had brought her to the pack that night, bloody and wounded. Ophelia was like a mother to everyone, and her orders were obeyed without question
" Excellent…now, let's begin!" Ophelia chirped as she clapped her hands.
Luciana joined the women in the kitchen as they prepared various dishes and drinks for the Alpha's birthday party. She marveled at the grandeur of the preparations, including the huge three-tier cake that Ophelia was decorating.
"I thought it was going to be a small party... this looks huge," she said.
Ophelia scoffed. "He's turning twenty-one and finding his mate today. It has to be special. I really can't wait for the moon goddess to seal what we all know," she said, wriggling her eyebrows.
Luciana arched a brow at her. "Seal what they all know?" She wanted Ophelia to explain what that meant, but she didn't want to be disappointed with what the woman would say.
It was not a new thing to her that she had feelings for the unmated Alpha. She had fallen for him at first sight when he saved her, and since then, she had wished for him as a mate, but she knew it was impossible.
The moon goddess would not give her a second chance at a mate, and definitely not the Alpha. He deserved someone who was good for him and the pack and would love him endlessly, not some washed-up mate who had been rejected by her mate and was also carrying an extra burden.
"Earth to Lucia!" Ophelia said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Help me out here, will you? I need to check on what those women are doing at the back," she said, handing the bowl over to Luciana before leaving.
As Ophelia snuck out of the door to the backyard, Luciana caught her staring back at her with a suspicious look.
Sighing, she continued decorating the cake from where Ophelia stopped. She was engrossed in decorating the cake
until she heard the doorbell. "Were they expecting anyone?" she thought, wiping her hands on her trousers as she headed to the front door." How can I help you?" she asked immediately as she opened the door.
Well, the person standing there has not been who she was expecting to see.
To her surprise, Alpha Alister stood outside, his hand raised midair to knock. He arched a brow and asked, "Luciana? What are you doing here? You should be in school now…" He took in her disheveled appearance.
Thinking of the perfect lie, she blinked and said, "Oh, I...uhm...I came to help Ophelia with something."
He nodded, preparing to enter the house. Oh no, she thought, realizing that his unexpected presence would spoil the surprise party they were planning for him. She quickly positioned herself to block his path.
"Um...Ophelia is a little busy right now. Can you come back later?" she muttered.
He gave her a stern look that made her heart race and her feet feel jittery. She was once again reminded that the man standing in front of her was the Alpha she loved.
"Alright then, let her know I came by," he said, turning to leave.
She let out a soft sigh, relieved that he was leaving. But her relief was short-lived as he turned back to face her. She could tell that he was hesitant to speak at first, but then he cleared his throat.
how you are?" he inquired.
She was taken aback by the unexpected question. How was she? Sad. In a few hours, he would be claiming his mate, another woman who wasn't her.
"I'm fine," she stammered.
He nodded and then asked, "And Keita? It's been a while since I last saw him."
She smiled, thinking of her beloved son. "He's doing well, always full of energy...always eager to see the big bad Alpha," she chuckled, using the nickname Keita had for Alpha Alister.
The Alpha let out a hearty laugh, his voice booming and stirring something within her. She longed for him to laugh and smile at her that way.
" I miss him too" Alister whispered back to her.
Knowing that by midnight he would belong to another woman made her feel sick.
He sensed her unease and nodded before turning to leave.
"By the way, happy birthday," she told him.
He grinned widely, revealing a perfect set of teeth. "Thanks," he muttered before getting into his car.
Luciana let out a sigh and closed the front door, that went well, she mused. As she turned around, she gasped in shock at the sight of Ophelia standing there with her arms crossed.
" Please don't blame me, I didn't know it was him at the door. And he didn't see anything, I swear. Your surprise is still intact," Luciana defended herself.
Ophelia smirked and held Luciana's shoulders. "I never said anything," she mumbled.
"You know the moon goddess works in mysterious ways, right? Anything can happen tonight. Have faith, Luciana," Ophelia reassured her.
Why would Ophelia say that to her? She thought. Luciana had always suspected that Ophelia knew about her feelings for the Alpha, but she had never mentioned it before. Ophelia's words confirmed her suspicions, and she felt embarrassed.
"Let's just get this party over with," she said to herself.
~ Alister's POV ~Alister left Ophelia's house feeling uneasy. The brief conversation he had with Luciana had left him with more questions than answers. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He had wanted to talk to Ophelia about one of their pack members but Luciana's body language, especially when she tried to block his path and stop him from entering the house, Indicated that something was going on in that house and he was not to come in. He had respected her wishes, knowing that she wouldn't do that if Ophelia was not in support.Her scent still lingered where they had touched and it was doing something to him. He grunted, shifting in his car seat as he started the car.He drove straight to his office and was not surprised when he entered his office and saw Elijah, his Beta and best friend sitting on his desk with his eyes fixed on the computer in front of him." There's a reason why the door is there Alister" Elijah said dryly." …Yes, to prevent people like
~ Luciana's POV ~The party was in full swing after they had surprised the Alpha later that evening. Alister had acted like he was surprised, but she knew better, that was not the face of someone who was surprised. He probably found out that they were planning something when he came to Ophelia's house earlier. As she discreetly looked at him, Luciana noted his appearance: a dark green shirt with rolled-up sleeves and worn jeans, bathed in the moon's glow, he looked almost otherworldly.Luciana's heart ached, knowing that in a few minutes, at midnight, the Alpha would discover his mate, who could be any of the many women enjoying the party. She scanned the crowd of women around them, knowing one of them would soon be fortunate enough to be chosen by the Alpha.While sipping his drink, Alister found something Beta Elijah had said amusing and let out a laugh. Luciana noticed his laughter and their eyes met briefly. She thought she saw a hint of affection in his eyes before he looked awa
Alister's POVAlister and Elijah were making their way towards the gates when Alister caught a strange scent. The scent was so strange that Alister grunted, indicating his discomfort. He did not want to take any chances with the stranger who carried that strange scent. He was worried that the person might be a threat to his pack, his home. He asked Elijah, "Any idea who we're meeting?" Elijah was walking beside him with a scowl, indicating that he was also not pleased with the situation. Alister's timing could not be worse. It was the night of the full moon, and he had just found his mate. The last thing he wanted to do was to meet a stranger when he could be spending his night with his mate. He was reminded of his duties as a mate, and he knew he should be marking her right now. Instead, he found himself marching towards the gates to meet a stranger. As they neared the gates, Alister couldn't help but feel uneasy about the meeting. He was unsure of what was going to happen, and h
"I'm Noah and these are my sons. It's a long story…we just need help" the man said with pleading eyes.Alister stood there, his expression contorted into a frown as he listened to the man before him. The idea of offering asylum to strangers he knew nothing about was a foreign concept to him, especially since the council was supposed to be the ones responsible for assisting those in need. Why come to his pack when they could just go to the council? It didn't make any sense.“ Then go to the council… that’s their job. To offer assistance…” he said, turning around to leave and ready to put an end to the conversation. But before he could take more than a few steps, the man's voice stopped him in his tracks."Please," Noah said, desperation lacing his tone.Alister hesitated for a moment before turning back around to face the three wolves. The man's words had piqued his curiosity, and he couldn't help but wonder why they were so insistent on seeking asylum with his pack and not many other
Luciana's POVLuciana, who was sitting on the couch, observed the scene in front of her with great interest. Ophelia, her friend and fellow pack member, was cradling one of the babies who had been crying inconsolably until Ophelia took charge. She was amazed by how effortlessly Ophelia was able to soothe the little one. She had always been a natural caregiver, even though it's been long since she was a mother. Her son Elijah was no longer a child. The baby's cries slowly subsided as Ophelia rocked him gently in her arms. After a few minutes, the baby had calmed down completely and was now sleeping soundly.Ophelia carefully handed the baby back to his mother, who was grateful for the brief respite from the constant demands of motherhood.Ophelia then turned her attention to Lucia and asked, "How are you feeling?" as she sat down beside her on the couch. Lucia shifted her weight, trying to find a comfortable position while holding Keita, her own son. "Not exactly the kind of mating
Luciana's POV"I’m sorry… I get carried away sometimes…" Ophelia apologized for crying."No, you're allowed to remember him. You don't have to apologize," Luciana said kindly.Feeling grateful for her understanding, Ophelia sighed, "Well, I'm fine. I was just thinking that Alister would be glad to have Keita as his son. He loves the boy, you could see it in his eyes." She responded.Lucia was surprised to hear this and asked, "You think so?"Ophelia nodded, "Yes, absolutely. I've seen the way he looks at Keita since the day the kid was born and the way he looks at you since the day he brought you both into the pack. He loves you and damn well loves Keita too." She said.Luciana sighed, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. She had been worried about how Alister would react to Keita, as he was not his biological son. She knew that he liked Keita, but to accept another man's child as his own son and future heir was a lot to ask, especially from an Alpha.She also worried about the rest o
Alister's POVAlister sat at his desk, his laptop screen open on the desk, as he spoke with Elder Wilson about a recent incident involving rogue wolves and the strangers he was currently helping. As he was deep in conversation, his beta Elijah entered the room, signaling that he had helped Lucia move into Alister's house. Alister couldn't help but feel guilty that he wasn't able to assist in the move due to being swamped with paperwork. He sighed, massaging his temples in frustration."I followed procedure here... they were being chased by rogues, there was no way I would have asked them to continue their journey to the council, for all we know, the rogue wolves might have followed them here…" Alister explained to the man whose face was on the screen, frustration evident in his voice.He couldn't help but feel responsible for the safety of those in his territory, and the thought of rogue wolves wreaking havoc sent shivers down his spine.Elder Wilson listened attentively on the other
Alister's POVAlister had been enjoying his peaceful slumber, wrapped in the warmth of his mate Lucia. He cherished the comfort she brought him, especially during the cold nights. However, the blaring sound of the pack alarm shattered his peaceful slumber, and he was instantly jolted awake. He had hoped that the night would go smoothly, just like the previous few nights when he had held Lucia close in his arms. Alister had never experienced such a luxurious and comforting feeling before, and he wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible, perhaps even for eternity.Lucia stirred beside him, groggily rubbing her eyes as she took note of his alarmed state. Concern etched her features as she asked "What's going on?" her voice laced with concern tooAlister quickly got out of bed, grabbing the closest pair of joggers he could find and putting them on. "I'm not sure," he replied, his voice grave. "But I'm about to find out."The night had started off with such passion and excitemen