Damien's POV
***
As I stepped out of the room, I sensed my Beta's presence, he has never been one good at masking his scent from him. He must have been eavesdropping on the conversation between my mate and I.
"Come around Xander," I said while walking toward the passageway that led directly to the balcony.
"Alpha" he greeted as he came out of the shadow and kept his pace with mine
"Afternoon" I acknowledge
"So..." he said and I guessed he didn't know how to approach the matter, just as how I didn't
"Yes, I'm also speechless and I do not know what to say" I said, answering his unasked question with a tired smile
If only that woman knew how much she was driving me crazy, maybe she wouldn't have as much questions as she had
But I know that her confusion and fear is all because of her human nature, but her response to my wolf nature is what I didn't understand.
She had asked what I was doing to her when I spoke in my Alpha voice, it only meant she heard it and it had an effect on her, maybe not as strong as with wolves, but stronger than that of any human I've encountered
It may be because of the bond between us, a bond I do not understand
"This is just so complicated. I thought hard about it this morning but I just couldn't place a reasonable reason as to why this is happening" Xander said and I could hear the distress in his voice
Just like every other Alpha should, I love my Beta. We didn't grow up as friends but ever since I knew him, he's proved to be the best companion and the most intelligent person I and this pack needed and him saying he had no reasonable thought as to why I was bestowed a human Luna was not only disturbing but discouraging.
"You know, I wonder if the Moon Goddess is still angry at this pack. Maybe that's why she decided to give us this problem, something to disrupt the peace we've known" I said moving my hand down my face
Reality just wouldn't go away no matter how hard I try
A human mate sounded almost like a taboo to my ears and I have no doubt it will sound the same way to every werewolf alive
"No, I don't think so. Ever since your father and the elders did the ritual, everything has been good with this pack, so I can say with full confidence that the Goddess has nothing against us. If she does, we wouldn't be where we are, other packs would have trampled over us just like they did before. That I know" he said, once again proving how intelligent he is
"You want to know the most frustrating thing right now?" I asked and he nodded
"Guy has been whimpering and has not said or done anything since our mate became scared of him," I said
"Really?" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with amusement and I couldn't hold back my smile
It does feel a bit peaceful in my head with my wolf's sadness
Guy is the name I call my wolf and he is known for some specific things, always energetic and always angry.
Guy has always been easily ticked off by the smallest things which is the main reason why it took me 18 years before I could control it.
An unusual tale for a great Alpha who should've learnt how to control his wolf before maturity.
My wolf surfaced for most of my years, unlike every other werewolf. He was the only personality people knew when I was growing up.
People tried to give excuses for this weakness on my behalf. They said he was like that because he was born an Alpha, a true Alpha, not made one, but that didn't mean they didn't see me as weak despite fearing me.
"Yes," I replied without bothering to mention that my feelings were hurt by her reactions too.
The pain I felt was so sharp that I wondered if she could see my hurt in my eyes, if she felt it too.
My eyes were one of the things she looked at the most and that made me feel self conscious and vulnerable.
It made me wonder if she could read everything that was in my mind, if she could tell how hard the bond between us was pulling me closer and how her getting aroused affected me.
Maybe she would've seen me or even feel me, if she were a wolf.
"Alpha, I know this is not the right time to say this considering your plight but I have to say it" Xander started and I could tell he was about to break a distressing news
"Some Elders and other pack members submitted a petition against your mate. They said they don't want a human Luna" he said
"If I will to be honest, their reasons are reasonable. They said she's weak and this pack needs a strong Luna beside their Alpha, and before you ask, I haven't taken any action against it."
"Who signed the Elder's petition?" I asked because that would help me know how great my problem might be
"Elder Monterio" he replied
I just knew he would be the one. He has always taken any opportunity to undermine my authority under the guile of protocols and rules.
Hypocrite
"Where are the petitions?" I asked as I made my way down the stairs and towards my office which is on the second floor.
The building we were in is the pack's central house, a place built for pack members to come together, gather and be together before going back to their various houses
If they do not feel like going home or if their situation called for it, they stay there overnight.
Over 20% of pack members sleeps in the Pack's house daily and some live here permanently.
I am one of such people.
I have a house I wish I could live most of my time in, but my duty always calls for me always, and going from one place to another all the time wasn't easy so I chose to stay on the fifth and last floor while my office and some other people's office is on the second floor.
"It's on your desk." he replied, following closely behind me
"Very good. Now call your mate, tell her to bring clean clothes for my mate, a pair of shoes, toothbrush, comb, body cream and whatever it is she might need, she would know."
"Okay Alpha."
"Also tell her to keep her company till I get back and tell her to make sure my mate is always under her watch and she should not say anything unnecessary to her."
"Tell her that my mate should not be allowed out of the house and that all her needs are to be tended to accordingly, all needs except her going home." I said trying my best to make sure I remember everything that could go wrong so I would tell him to tell his 'wife' as he always called her.
"Okay Alpha." he said as we stopped in front of my office. I gave him a nod of approval and he went on his way
As I entered my office I saw a pile of letters on the table and the weight of the words I was yet to read began to weigh heavily on my mind.,
If I said I didn't understand where my people were coming from, I'd be lying.
We've been staying peacefully under the shadow of greatness for ages and now we're about to have a weakness, all thanks to the moon and I.
To think I always thought I didn't want a mate. I would not have been the first not to have one neither did I mind the possibility of never having one.
I spent 28 wolf years alone. I spent 4 wolf years hoping that if I at all I would have a mate, it should be a powerful one.
I even intentionally traveled far and wide to other powerful packs with Alphas who have unmated daughters in search for her and found nothing, so naturally, I had given up.
Only to see her right in front of me, on a rite day.
How pleasantly shocking.
From not wanting a mate to wanting a powerful one, only to get the weakest one possible, one who came with more liabilities than I've had in years.
I felt a migraine already settling in but I decided to read through all the letters submitted to my desk.
It was a good way to cleanse my mind of the thought of claiming my involuntary and confused mate.
The Elder's petition emphasized on our 'cover' being blown and our security being breached while some other people emphasized on the pack's safety, claiming someone like that would bring danger to them.
Some even said she could be a bait because of how suspicious her appearance was
Flimsy excuses made so they wouldn't have a weak Luna.
I understood them all though.
Our pack's greatest strength was invisibility, and a human finding her way into pack perimeters without hindrance only undermined the strength and fear we had maintained over the years.
But I knew we were still as strong as ever, I just have to convince and remind my pack that we are.
Her making her way into the pack felt more like the Goddess's doing than a threat.
I had five more agonizing letters to finish up but I gave up.
With all that I had read and all the complaints I got, I guessed I would have to do
what seemed most reasonable
Break the bond with my mate before things gets too complicated between us.
It seemed like the only way to get back the peace that her presence disrupted