As we entered Alpha Jenson's office, the tension was palpable. The issue at hand, Eva's dramatic claim about Dominic taking her virginity and promising her the Luna title felt absurd. Yet here we were, ready to address it. I couldn't understand how a woman like Eva could stoop so low, clinging to a man who had already rejected her. If a man doesn't love you, forcing the issue is pointless unless what you want isn't love, but status. Was the Luna title really worth that much to her?
I still didn't fully grasp the hierarchy of this werewolf world. From what I gathered, the Alpha was the ultimate leader, akin to a president in my human world. However, in my world, the president's wife, the First Lady, was just a figurehead, respected, yes, but with no real power to make decisions. Maybe a Luna had more influence? I wasn't sure, and the uncertainty gnawed at me.
"Dom," I asked quietly, glancing up at him as we waited for Alpha Jenson, "can a Luna help make decisions in the pack?"
Dominic shook his head. "No," he said simply.
"Then what is a Luna's role?" I pressed, narrowing my eyes.
"To support the Alpha and… to bear heirs for the Alpha," he murmured, almost apologetically.
I froze, the implications of his words sinking in. "That's it?" I asked, my tone dripping with disbelief. "Nothing else? No role in empowering the she-wolves? No opportunity to contribute beyond serving her husband? Just the kitchen, the bedroom, and babies?"
Dominic nodded reluctantly.
I clenched my fists, irritation bubbling beneath my calm exterior. This wasn't the life I wanted. I wasn't built for a world where my worth was defined by my ability to cater to a man. The thought swirled in my head, and Dominic must have read the storm in my expression.
Dominic's eyes flickered with understanding, as if he could see right into my thoughts. He reached out, his hands cradling mine, his grip warm and steady. "Ella," he said softly, his voice tinged with determination, "you can change anything you want when you're my Luna. You'll be the first Luna in my world to redefine what it means to hold that title. You don't have to fit into anyone's mold, not the pack's, not my father's, not even mine. You'll make your own rules. Please don't give up yet. Give this a chance, like you promised me. Just one week. Okay?"
The way he looked at me, his eyes brimming with hope and vulnerability, melted the barriers I was building. I could never resist that gaze, the one that seemed to hold my very soul in its depths. With a small sigh, I nodded.
His face broke into a relieved smile, and he gave my hands a reassuring squeeze. "Thank you," he whispered.
For a moment, the chaos of this world faded away, and it was just the two of us, bound by a fragile thread of understanding and trust.
Alpha Jenson and Luna Martha entered the room with an air of authority, their presence making the atmosphere even more stifling. They sat at the head of the long table and gestured for Dominic to take a seat beside them. I was left to sit across from them, facing Eva as though we were on trial, waiting for the judgment to be passed.
I felt a pang of humiliation deep in my chest. As a woman, this entire ordeal was degrading. But for Dominic, for the love I felt for him, I was willing to endure it. Still, I silently vowed to myself: if they asked me to do anything that violated my principles, I wouldn't hesitate to walk away. I could always return to San Francisco and reclaim the life I had built for myself.
Alpha Jenson's deep, commanding voice broke the heavy silence. "Eva," he began, his tone sharp, "is it true what you've claimed that Dominic promised to make you his Luna after taking your virginity?"
Eva's high-pitched, nasal voice replied, her words grating on my ears. "He didn't say it outright. But we've been together since we were kids. So when he slept with me the first time, I assumed it meant he would make me his Luna."
Dominic's sharp, angry retort was immediate. "So by your logic, every woman I've been with should be Luna? That would mean dozens of women lining up for the title. You're delusional, Eva. And let me remind you, it was you who begged me to be your first, saying I was the only man you trusted to do it. Stop twisting the truth to suit your fantasies. I've always thought of you as my friend's little sister, but if you keep behaving like this, even that respect will be gone."
Eva's head hung low for a moment before she muttered, her voice trembling, "But Dom… she's human. You can't make a human your Luna. She'll never be good enough."
Her words were a knife to my pride, and I could no longer hold back. I wouldn't allow this brainless woman to diminish me without speaking my mind.
I leaned forward, my voice steady and strong as I met her gaze head-on. "If being a Luna only means cooking, cleaning, and spreading my legs for a man, then you're right, I'm not suited for the role. I'm more than that. I didn't earn my master's degree just to reduce myself to being someone's accessory. I have my own worth, my own strength, and I know I can offer more than that shallow vision you have of a Luna."
I turned to Dominic, my words now directed at him, my tone unwavering. "So now it's up to you, Dominic. Do you want a woman who only knows how to play house, or do you want someone who will stand beside you as your equal?"
The room fell silent. Alpha Jenson and Luna Martha exchanged a glance, and to my surprise, a faint smile tugged at Martha's lips. Dominic, however, was staring at me, his eyes filled with an emotion so raw and powerful it made my breath catch.
"You're everything I want," he said firmly, his voice low but resolute. "And everything I'll ever need."