Landon is so whipped. He shoots to me. I glare, shaking my head.
“Don’t be a jerk. You’re just jealous,” I say. Landon lets out a bark in agreement.
“Yeah, Mason! Just because you don’t have your mate, you shouldn’t make fun of Landon. You’re going to be whipped when you meet her,” Natalie says, pushing on Blondie’s wolf. He lets out a soft growl and nips at her hand. She lets out a mock gasp, jerking her hand away. “Now, Mason. That temper will only get you in trouble.”
Yeah? And who is going to carry out the punishment? Landon? He’d never hurt his best friend.
Landon scoffs, rolling his eyes, lowering his body, so he is lying next to me. He remains pressed up against my legs, keeping in contact with me.
“No. Me!” Natalie springs up and tackles Blondie. He holds her weight easily, not even wavering a bit at the impact. Natalie grunts, trying to push him to the ground. “Maaason! Submit!” she orders.
I laugh at her. She may be the late Alpha’s daughter and current Alpha’s sister, but she is too young to carry out orders. She is also too weak to inflict any sort of pain on a Beta of such strength. But Blondie plays along, and his blond wolf collapses to the ground, letting out a loud groan.
Forgive me, oh powerful Natalie! Spare me! he cries. Natalie sits on Blondie’s wolf, crossing her arms as she smiles in victory. I can’t tell if she truly believes she brought him down on her own or not. But either way, she is a character.
“Landon, I think this vile creature deserves death by fire,” Natalie says. I burst out laughing, doubling over. Was this how it used to be? Before the attack on the Prowler Pack?
I totally agree. Lana? Will you fetch the gasoline while I get the firewood? Landon asks, looking up at me and his tongue lolling out as he continues to pant.
I manage to contain my laughter as I nod. “Whatever the mighty Natalie wishes.” I give a curtsy and take a step to the outside grill. We keep a gallon of gasoline underneath for when we want to have a fire in the fire-pit.
“No!” I hear a girl scream. I look to see Sarah, Blondie’s sister, running out of the house towards the guilty criminal. She falls to her knees and hugs her brother’s neck. “Please, Miss Natalie, I beg you to spare his life!”
Is this for real? It’s as if this was rehearsed… Or is everyone so accustomed to this that they just play along?
Give the lad a break, sister. He should be given a second chance, Landon says, defending his best friend. Natalie lets out a huff and gets up from sitting on Blondie.
“Alright. You are free to go. But if you are to wrong me again, Mason Anthony Danielson, I will not hesitate to carry out your execution.” Natalie lifts her chin up high and struts back into the house as if she were the Queen of England.
Landon gets to his feet and gives my hand a sweet lick before he bounds in after his sister. Mason follows suit, and Sarah stands, brushing the dirt off her hands. She is quieter than Natalie, but I can tell that she has the same spirit and personality. Sarah is a replica of her older brother.
She gives me a smile as she follows her brother. When she reaches the door, Landon runs outside, effectively brushing past her. He adorns black basketball shorts and black Nike running shoes. He is in the process of pulling on his shirt before he stops in front of me. One would think he wasn’t blind with his grace and accuracy.
“That was incredible,” I say, referring to the whole performance that took place just a moment ago. Landon grabs hold of my hand and leads me to the back patio where we always keep an arrangement of chairs and tables. We sit down on a bench, and he pulls me closer beside him, draping his arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah. We used to always reenact scenarios like that. Natalie always has had a vivid imagination. Mason and I like to partake. We never want our sisters’ outlook on the world to fade. They see it with so much light and happiness,” Landon says, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
I smile. Landon is a wonderful brother. He has always put her needs before his own. He is selfless when it comes to her.
I just hope that he is able to share her with Trent. No. I know he will. Trent will take part in all the charades. He will be a brother-figure towards Natalie until the time comes that he will take up the mate role. Landon will see this.
Chapter 14
Lana
March 10, 2014
It’s been five days since Trent and Jesse have come to the Shadow Pack. Landon doesn’t seem to mind, and I’m glad because this is their new home. I keep telling Trent that he just needs to tell Landon that the longer he waits, the worse it will be. Trent’s just worried that Landon will keep Natalie away from him. And knowing Landon, that is a possibility… No, it’s a probability.
But Landon needs to know that we will be having two more people joining our pack. I would be more than willing to tell Landon if Trent wasn’t mated to Natalie. It’s not my place to tell Landon.
I sit beside Jesse on the back patio, watching Blondie and Zane train Jenny. She is strong, and she is learning quickly.
“She’s good,” Jesse says, her eyes taking in Jenny’s stance and the way she glides away from the swings Mason or Zane throws at her. Jesse was a warrior, a Gamma, at the Cossitt Pack. She is well-rehearsed in the matter of fighting.
“How are you settling in?” I ask her. Jesse doesn’t seem to listen as her eyes drift over to the shirtless Blondie. He is dripping with sweat as he stands in a fighting position, his toned stomach sucked in, his hands up by his face, and his legs slightly spread apart. He ducks at a swing Jenny throws and delivers a harsh one to the rib.
Jenny lets out a grunt but shakes it off, facing Zane. Blondie straightens his back and looks over at Jesse, offering her a smile. Her cheeks blush a slight pink as she bows her head, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
“You’ve got to be joking,” I whisper under my breath.
Jesse looks over, her eyebrows raising.
I point to Blondie. “He’s your mate?” I ask. By the look on her face and the way she opens and closes her mouth like a gaping fish, I knew my answer. I nod my head and press my lips together. “Blondie, get over here.” I growl.
Blondie, Zane, and Jenny all cease their fighting to look over at me. Blondie has a look of confusion before he walks over to stand in front of me. “Yes, Luna?”
I get to my feet and look him up and down before I grab the back of his neck and bring him down, so he’s eye level with me. His face turns to one of horror.
“Mark my words, Mason Anthony Danielson. If you so much as touch my best friend in a way she doesn’t want, I will murder you. If you break her heart, I will break your face, and then I will murder you. Are we clear?”
Blondie just stares at me with complete and utter fear. He nods his head and clears his throat. “Yes, Luna.”
I arch an eyebrow. I knew Blondie wouldn’t hurt her. He was too selfless. But I still needed to state my threat. I release Blondie’s neck, and he stands up straight, looking between Jesse and me. I hear Jesse laugh softly behind me.
“Landon, your mate is vicious,” Blondie mumbles, taking a few steps away from me. I look over to see Landon walk out of the house, wearing faded jeans and a simple black tee. He is also wearing sunglasses, much to my dismay.
Landon breathes, his head turning in my direction. He then walks over and wraps an arm around my shoulder, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Yes, she is. And I’m sure she had every right to be,” Landon says. I grin, raising my eyebrows at Blondie. He glares, sticking his tongue out at me.
“Oh, real mature.” I shake my head. “I was only giving him a tiny threat,” I tell Landon. He has a smile on his face, and I can tell that he knows I’m lying.
“She threatened to kill me, Landon!” What a tattletale.
“You must have done something wrong.”
Blondie gasps, placing a hand on his head. “You wound me, bro. I thought our relationship was more than that…” Blondie sniffles, pretending to wipe tears
away. I arch my right brow, taking in his charade. “Jesse’s my mate,” he says, his tone turning from teasing to serious.
Landon’s back straightens at this, tilting his head down to Jesse who is still seated in her chair. “Congratulations, Jesse. You are mated to the infamous Mason Danielson.”
Blondie’s ego multiplies at his best friend’s words. He gives Jesse a bow, followed by a wink. Landon then grabs my hand and pulls me away from the two. I look over my shoulder to see Blondie sitting in my old seat and chatting away with Jesse. Jenny and Zane are back to training as Landon leads me to the forest.
“Shift,” he says softly.
I pull off my clothes and quickly shift before he does. Landon falls suit soon after, his eyes taking me in. I realize this is the first time he’s seen me as a wolf, and I’m immediately ashamed. My wolf isn’t nearly as beautiful as his. My fur is matted and a muddy brown. I’m small since I was an Omega. I sink down slightly, bowing my head to avoid eye contact.
Lana, don’t hide from me. Your wolf is beautiful. Just like you, my dear. I ignore the butterflies in my stomach and the uncontrollable urge to smile.
Why did you bring me out here? I ask, changing the subject. Landon walks over and nudges his nose against my shoulder. Then he starts walking, motioning for me to join him. I trot up to his side, and we walk through the forest.
The sun shines through the coverage of the leaves, showing off the beautiful, radiant colors of the blooming flowers. The terrain is gentle under my paws, mostly loose dirt, fallen leaves, and broken twigs. We walk along a barely trekked path, and I wonder if he even has a destination in mind.
Is that why Trent and Jesse have been here so long? Because Jesse found her mate? Landon asks. I keep my eyes away from Landon, so he doesn’t see the lies in my eyes.
I guess so. I didn’t find out until this morning, I tell him, hearing my voice rise an octave. Landon looks over at me, but I turn to look the other way. Please don’t question me. Trent is the one who needs to tell you, not me.
You’re a terrible liar, Lana.
Tell me something I don’t know, Landon. I continue walking, trying to ignore his eyes searing into the back of my head.
Your friends and family are welcome here as long as they wish. You do not need to keep secrets from me, he says.
I stop walking, turning to face Landon. His cobalt blue eyes meet mine.
Landon, it’s not my secret to tell. I lower myself, so I am laying on the forest ground. Landon walks over, circling around me a few times before he lies beside me to rest his head on my back.
Whose is it then?
Trent’s. And he will tell you when he’s ready. Just promise me you will be open-minded and calm when he tells you, I say, hoping to prepare Landon as much as I can. He will not know what hits him when Trent tells him the news.
You’re making it sound like it’s a life-changing situation.
That’s because it is. I don’t respond, closing my eyes as the sun beats down on us.
Landon and I lie down like that for what feels like hours. And it must have been since the sun is already setting. It’s so peaceful, to not have to worry about being touched or not having to be afraid of your own shadow. Being with Landon ensures that nothing will happen to me, that with him by my side, we are able to take on whatever is thrown our way.
Landon gently bites my ear, making me growl and whip around to sink my teeth into his neck. He easily pins me, biting into my own neck as well. I didn’t have to worry about hurting Landon. He is strong, capable of taking a bite.
I breathe in his earthy scent and close my eyes. Landon, I need to warn you about Castor, I whisper.
Landon steps off me, allowing me to roll back on my stomach and look up at him. His eyes hold questions as they stare back at me.
He’s going to come looking for Trent and Jesse. He’s going to find them here, and he’s going to attack, I tell him.
Lana, you don’t need to worry—
Yes, I do. This is my pack now, and I need to protect it. So, I am telling you that we need to prepare. Castor has a strong pack; they will destroy us if we don’t get help.
Landon lets out a frustrated sigh and turns his back on me, looking around the forest. Male wolves, especially Alphas, don’t like being told what to do when it comes to war. They’re stubborn and wish to figure it out on their own.
We don’t need help from other packs, he mutters.
I get to my feet. Yes, we do! We will not survive his attack! Landon, be reasonable—
No, you be reasonable! It is not your place to tell me how to run my pack! When it comes to war strategy, it is up to Mason and me to figure it out, not you. You’re a Luna. You tend to the women and children. Leave the fighting to the men. With that, Landon turns and runs back to the pack house. I stare after him, swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth. My heart sinks; what just happened?
I lower myself back to the ground, letting out a whimper as I watch my mate leave my sight. How could he be so harsh? All I was trying to do was help.
Chapter 15
Lana
March 10, 2014
After lying on the forest ground for a good twenty minutes, waiting to see if Landon would return to make things right, I make my way back to the pack house. The pain I feel is indescribable. He practically called me useless.
Ever since I was a child, I have been told that I was useless. That I was nothing but an Omega. Your mate is the last person on earth that should ever call you names. You’re supposed to feel safe and loved with them, not hurt and futile.
I love Landon, and I never want him to be disappointed in me. If he thinks that I am useless, then I want to talk to him and work on changing his opinion of me.
Lana? Are you okay? Blondie asks through the mind link. I pick up my pace to get back home, not wanting to be in the forest for another minute.
I’m fine, I say, blocking my mind as I reach the forest line. I shift back to my human form and grab the clothes that I left on the ground for the run. I pull them on and hastily walk to the house, pulling open the back door to see Mason and Jesse sitting on the couch, watching TV. They turn their heads when they hear me come in.
“Hey, what happened to you?” Jesse asks.
I just shake my head, silently telling her that we will discuss this later. I grab an apple from the bowl of fruit in the middle of the kitchen table. I bite into it as I make my way upstairs to take a hot bath and change into my pajamas.
As I soak in the tub, chewing down on the honey crisp apple, I contemplate on what I should say to Landon when he comes back upstairs. Should I just go on as if what he said didn’t wound me? No. Landon hurt me, and he deserves to understand that what he said was not okay. I am his mate, and by accepting me, he has accepted that I am to be a part of the pack’s decisions. This is my pack too. I am the Luna, and “tending to the women” is not my only job.
Once the water starts to get cold, I pull the plug and step out, wrapping a plush towel around my body. I look in the mirror, grabbing Neutrogena makeup wipes to remove all my makeup. Then I grab a bottle of facial lotion and lather my face with the vanilla-scented lotion. I then brush my teeth and use mouthwash before I exit the bathroom to grab clothes from my dresser.
Landon placed my dresser right beside the closet and bathroom, while his was on the other side of the room, closer to the bed.
I put on pink pajama shorts with a white night shirt, tossing my hair up into a high bun before I crawl in bed. I pull the brown and gold comforter up around my shoulders, cuddling into the warm bed. I look to see that it is only eight o’clock. Landon won’t be coming to bed for another two or three hours.
I close my eyes and will myself to go to sleep. I just want today to be over. I want tomorrow to come.
Before I know it, I am whisked into a deep dream filled with Landon and me, our friends, and even our future children. In my dream, Landon doesn’t have any weight on his shoulders. He is completely, blissfully happy.
The pack survived Castor’s assault, Landon has been able to call upon his wolf more easily so he can see. We have parented two beautiful children, a six-year-old blonde little girl, and a three-year-old dark-haired boy.
The dream was light and happy, no one was sad. Natalie was happy with my brother as Jesse was with Mason. Jenny found her own mate, and I pictured him as a dark-haired man with a subtle beard. Other than those features, he was pretty much faceless.
I am taken away from my dream when the bed gives in behind me, making me groan a little. Landon places a hand on my arm, but I make no move to get closer to him. He tries to pull me closer, but I tense and shake his hand off me.
“I’m tired, Landon,” I grumble, burying my face into my pillow. That isn’t true, however. I am completely awake now.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. What’s wrong? He has the nerve to ask that? How could he not realize that what he said to me hurt?
I sit up and flick on the lamp beside the bed. I look down at him, my anger evident on my face. Landon props up on his elbows, his eyes intense with curiosity.
“What’s wrong is the way you spoke to me. All I was trying to do was help you, Landon, and you all but rendered me useless!”
Landon seems taken back by the infliction on my voice. “What? I did not.”
“Really? Because you told me that all I am to do is tend to the women, to keep out of any other pack business.”
Landon lets out a heavy sigh.
“I’m your equal, Landon. You even told me from the beginning that it is my job to help with pack decisions. But your mind changes when I suggest something you don’t like?”
Landon grabs my hand and shifts so he is closer to me, our legs brushing against each other. “Lana, I just don’t want you to worry about—”
“It’s my job to worry about this pack, Landon! It’s my pack too now, and it’s my home. I want to protect it.” I pull my hand from his and swing my legs off the bed. I stand, looking over at Landon as he drops his head into his hands. I must rid myself of contact with him. If I don’t, he will somehow change my mind on the matter, and all I want to do is settle it. “I’ve grown up with Castor. I know how he fights, I know his strengths and his weaknesses. And I know that he will murder us if we do not prepare. We have allies with a few of the neighboring packs. They will stand with us against the Cossitt Pack.”
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