~Dante~
The moon glistens the lake below, providing an omniscience presence. The water appears almost magical, shimmering and showing a displayed reflection of everything above it. This is the best way for my day to end, staring at the scenery. The crickets and frogs chattering in an uneven harmony, silence would be better but it's far more acceptable than the noises made by people or the brainless.
Nothing can ruin my time now. My daughter is fast as sleep, she has a strict bed time. After a good meal and a sweet bed time story, Lynx clocks out for hours. Pack members are either on watch for intruders or snoozing from a hard day's work. They don't come along this path very often, unless someone triggers the traps, allowing me some privacy. The semblance I can only get at this late hour of the night.
The bushes behind me shake, my ears stick in attention. A honey coated scent fills the air, soaking everything up. It's delicious and tempts me to react.
Nearly being the keyword. I pick up with one sniff, a recently familiarized smell. There's no way….what would she been doing here? It's late, she should be asleep like the rest of them.
Oh shit, what is he doing here? Fuck, there goes my escape plan. I heard her grumble.
I rolled my eyes, shifting my weight to lean on my palms. I took a step into her mind to say something.
'You do know that your dog is with a veterinarian somewhere here that you have no clue where, and we took a boat to get here. You also bare my mark now, how on earth did you think trying to escape- even though you came willing?- would work? Are you dumb or something? I wouldn't be surprised, but you should tell me if you are.'
This is why I didn't kidnap her, it aids in statements like these.
She grumbled some insults to me, then proceeded to step out of the dark. Her bare feet crunched up the dry twigs, and leaves on the grassy floor. To my utter dismay, she crouched down right next to me, glaring with venom before planting her butt to the ground.
There goes my peaceful evening. What else will she take from me? My morning run?
I wouldn't put it past her to ruin that for me too.
"I'll have you know that prying into someone's mind when they don't want you in there is disrespectful and rude!" She scolded me like I was some child.
'I'll have you know that I couldn't care less about what you have to say'
Noelle gasped, I didn't have to turn to know that she had a frown on her face. She can mumble and be as fussy as she wants, I don't see how that's my problem or business.
I kept the mind space open, she was singing a song about 'the wheels on a bus' to prevent herself from thinking. But you see, the thing about the mind is there are inner and outer thoughts. Inner thoughts are quite faint, and sometimes come after the outer. Sometimes it feels like you're thinking about the same thing twice, or two different things at once. The outer thoughts are louder and mostly the first thing a telepath hears when they venture into the mind. Her singing a song at the loudest tune, doesn't prevent the inner thoughts from doing their own thing.
With great self control, I refrain from pointing this out. That would only lead to a conversation.
"So do I get to learn anything about whatever abilities come with this virus?" She inquires after minutes of blissful silence.
My eyes drift close as a gust of wind blows at my face and skin. Noelle's eyes bore holes into the side of my cheekbones, they drift down to my torso and her gaze intensifies to the point where I can almost feel it. I crane my head to stare right back at her, my expression in it's normal empty way.
'Stop staring'
She blushes, temperature rising and cheeks dusting pink. Her head snaps forward, peering over at the lake. Her hair falls to the front, blocking the rest of her face from my sight. I've never wanted to thank hair before in my life, but now I do. My orbs turn back to the lake, it's glow entrances me.
'I have an omega and gamma that are prepared to explain, and show you the basics of what you need to know and do. They'll explain the rules as well. But….(I can't believe I'm saying this) if you have any specific questions involving being a Luna, feel free to ask me when I'm not busy. Preferably when I'm bored. I'm the only one who knows anything about Lunas.'
"God, you are an asshole."
I don't respond to that. This is probably going to be how our interactions will play out. Her pouring insults at my lack of emotions, or my decision to talk telepathically, and me not really caring. It's not her, I'm sure Noelle is- honestly I can't find one good quality in her. But I suppose I should give her the benefit of the doubt because we're yet to know each other.
Nah, this woman is…I can't believe my daughter thought she would be a good mother. I mean no offense when I say this, but Noelle is young and not capable of handling a child or pack responsibilities. And that isn't her fault, it's simply the default setting of having to survive on your own for years. I was once like that, alone and happy, and now- I'm not alone but I have found some happiness with my pack members, and I have a daughter that fills my days with joy.
Do I miss being on my own? Honestly, after all these years, I didn't. Now with this woman here, I really wish I had that solitude back. Even her labored breathing is annoying.
As silence stretches out, I'm naive to believe she won't start talking again.
"I'm hungry."
'How is that my problem?'
She snorted, clenching her fingers together and jabbing me in the chest. It does nothing, she is weaker than I am.
Noelle releases a soft whimper, and curses. "What the fuck? Are you made of steel or some metal?" She groans, pain laced in her tone. Before I can even process a response, her hands fly back to my chest. I blink once, confused as the nimble fingers begin tracing the outline of my muscles.
Dragging from my pecs, where she gave a firm squeeze, down to my stomach. Then back up to grip, and test the contortions on my shoulders.
'um' what the hell she doing?
"Whoa! Okay, I haven't seen a lot of guys in person, or any that are well built. But dude, is this- are these fake or something? Is this part of being a werewolf alpha? Your chest is stronger, and thicker, than my life." Her voice changes, sounding a little short of breath and with a bit of a pitch to it.
And just like that, I have concluded that this woman is weird. She is weirder than weird. Who- what kind of person?
Next thing she'll be straddling me.
'Let's go back to the house, some food should help clear your head.'
Because this is too freaky. One minute she's trying to hit me for something stupid, and now, she molesting my pectorals with her deathtrap for fingers. She doesn't say anything, seemingly gobsmacked by my upper body.
"My goodness, are these arms even real?" she shoots me a glazed eyed look, and her fingers roll around my biceps.
She has lost her fucking mind. But something inside me stirs, like a beast within me is reaching for her. Noelle must feel it too, she leans her body into mine, pressing her nose into the center of my chest. She sucks in sharply, filling her nose with my musk. I allowed her to do that for a few minutes, just sitting still as she relaxes her Luna with the warmth and aroma of her alpha.
Gross, her alpha. It'll take some getting used too.
'You can stop now'
She flinches in surprise, scooting back away from me almost repulsed. But her thoughts and face are saying something else. Her cheeks bright cheery red, and the words coursing through her brain is….well let's just say I've never thought of myself as a full course meal but hey, this woman has a way with words.
She doesn't even understand why she finds me enticing, and I have no intention of explaining things right now. Or ever. Call me a jerk but I'm doing this for her own good, and for my patience to not trip off. Lunas, aren't used for good things. They're forced to increase an alpha's power, and bare them children. Any child born of an alpha and Luna end up quite powerful. But there's a catch. Though no one has that knowledge but me. The virus- it truly is the end of the world and the beginning of a new age combined.
Fifty years and people still have no clue what it completely does. Or how it came to be. One day, everything just changed. For the better, we aren't so sure. I know the answer though, it's definitely not a good thing.
Shaking those vile thoughts away, I push up to my feet. Brushing the bits of rocks, sand and grass from my pants. I question ditching the shirt, Noelle's scent is all over it. It's a lovely, very sweet smell.
Yeah, it definitely needs to go. With one hand, I chuck the shirt over my head and dump it on the mountain floor. Then I turn, heading down the path to my home. The breeze is cool, perching on my skin and running it's cool hands through my hair.
Lynx had fallen asleep before the story was done, I snuck out here to rest. I thought Noelle had gone to bed after she eavesdropped on our story time. How long was she walking around the forest?
Noelle follows with small steps, her scent is still potent. So evident to anyone who breathed in or maybe it's because I'm an alpha, her alpha to be specific. The smell is more effective on me.
In her mind, I heard her grumbling about how I shouldn't be so attractive with my shirt off. Her eyes are burning through my skin as they marvel at my back. When I tell you this woman is confusing, I'm not joking. She's weird, and seems to struggle with the concept of so many things. Attraction being one of them. After living alone for so long, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she can't understand why her body is reacting that way. She has mentioned having no contact with people.
This must be a new turf for her.
'What would you like to eat?' I inquire as soon as we enter the kitchen through the back door.
"Anything edible." She answers. Her pert body slides into one of the stool behind the counter. She's so small. Or maybe it's me, I'm too big. I feel like I can break her by just being around her. She's at my stomach level in height, and she's slim but curved to a certain degree. The width of my form blocks her completely when we stand together.
And even now that she's sitting, I feel I'm taking up more space in my own kitchen.
I could almost sigh. I like that she's small...
'Anything specific?'
"No. I grew up in a way of surviving, Dante. I don't complain about the food."
I hummed, that's understandable. She looks healthy though. I cornered my stare to her. Black hair rolled up into a messy bun with blonde strands falling out from the front. A large shirt swallowing most of her body, and shorts that swung low, and almost, off her hip. Her half Asian skin with a lovely pale tone made each blush vibrant in its color. The half moon in her eyes shined with a bright neon purple, if I had to tell the truth, whatever this virus does to a Luna, it does it well. They're exceptionally beautiful.
Noelle is not exempted from this. She could be my exact type, if I had one.
But she's just....i would be happier wedded to a rock.
I shrugged my shoulders and got to preparing dinner for her. She had slept all throughout the day in her room while lynx and I were eating. I shouldn't be surprised that she's famished.
She might not complain about what to eat, but this is my pack. We eat good food here.
Wow, feels like he just judged my whole life from that stare alone. She says with a visible shiver that I can see from the corner of my eyes.
She's not wrong, I did scrutinize her with my gaze.
Once the meal was done, I plated it in front her with a glass of water. She sniffed it two times, like she can smell poison or something.
"Uh thank you."
'Eat up and go to bed, you have a busy day ahead of you.'
And after sleeping for twenty four hours, you're going to need more if you plan on keeping up with Kiki tomorrow.
"I do?" She poked at her plate with the fork, waiting for the chicken to do something. Jump at her maybe. "This smells better than anything I've ever eaten." She mutters quietly to herself.
'Yes you do. Your body is undergoing a lot of changes, heat and some more will be one of them. So as I mentioned several times, I have someone prepared to explain and show you around the whole pack. You will also have your duties because I will not harbor a lazy luna.'
"I wouldn't be a Luna if your daughter didn't play match maker because she thought you were lonely. So good on you for being a great dad."
My palms make contact with the cold ceramic tiles of the kitchen's island, another flat stare graces my cheekbones. The counter nearly breaks, and I didn't even put any strength behind it. My eyes are daring her to repeat those words.
Refusing to look up, Noelle focuses all her energy on the food. The first bite touches her tongue and a strange sound flees, her eyes roll and her shoulders slump. For a second, I thought she had died or was having an allergic reaction, until I picked up that the sound was very similar to a moan.
I don't think that's an appropriate response to food. Is it? No, definitely not.
"This is sooooo gooooodd. What is it?!" She squeaked, like knowing the name of the meal would solve all her major problems. I take it she had no seasoning when she lived alone, or the knowledge of how to use any.
'Teriyaki Chicken and sweet potato fries'
"WOW!"
That's enough weirdness for me, I need to get as far away from this woman as possible. Her behavior might be contagious.
'Goodnight, I'm going to get some sleep. Wash and Rinse off your plate when you're done.'
She mumbles an okay and goes back to devouring the chicken.
Lynx, what have you gotten me into?