Kathrine’s mind was a mess after receiving the news that tomorrow she would meet Alpha Luciano, the Alpha of the notorious Dark Howlers pack, aka her future husband.
She still hasn’t recuperated from the event of finding (and rejecting) her mate, yet now she needs to think about another man. And this was not just any man. Alpha Luciano has a grim reputation on the battlefield and an even worse reputation related to women.
In search of solitude that would allow her to think, Kathrine went to her room.
To Kathrine’s horror, Nora was two steps behind her, cooing how this was the best thing ever.
Kathrine was exasperated when she saw that Nora came into her room. Why won’t Nora leave her alone?
“What do you know about Alpha Luciano?”, Kathrine asked irritably.
Nora whipped her phone out. “Very handsome! This one was taken two months ago when he visited the Silverburn pack. I have a friend there, so we exchange hottie-related information, and Luciano is a hottie, so… I can’t believe he is coming here!”
Kathrine looked at the photo Nora showed her. Well, he is handsome.
“I guess with you marrying him, I will have the hottest info on him.”, Nora grinned at Kathrine. “You will be OK with me reporting things to my friends about your hot husband, right? Luciano being married won’t make him any less handsome, and we are only talking and looking. Not touching.”
Kathrine let out an exasperated sigh. “Take as many photos as you want. It’s not like I own the guy. This is all my father’s doing, for the benefit of the pack. No one asked me how I feel about this.”
Nora cocked an eyebrow at Kathrine. “How do your feelings change the fact that you are set to marry the hottest werewolf in North America? He has looks money and thousands of warriors at his disposal. I can only imagine how lavish his mansion is. His territory is larger than ours and it has forests and lakes and mountains as far as your eyes can reach. It will be all yours.”
“What about his womanizing?”, Kathrine asked.
Nora rolled her eyes like Kathrine asked something silly. “Hello! Luciano is the Alpha of the largest pack in North America. He never lost a challenge, and he is young, handsome, and single. Do you expect him to be a monk? Women throw themselves at him. If he says a word, an endless line of beauties will form and wait for him to claim them.”
Kathrine groaned. “I was not talking about hookups. Didn’t you hear about numerous women offering themselves as brides and Alpha Luciano rejecting them?”
Nora shrugged. “One or a hundred, why does that matter? Do you put yourself on the same level as them? You are beautiful and well-educated, and your father is the Alpha of the Red Moon pack. Even if Alpha Luciano doesn’t fall for you right away, as long as he doesn’t reject you, you will get your chance to seduce him.”
Kathrine agreed with this, she is all what Nora said, and much more, and Kathrine didn’t meet a guy who would refuse her. No matter how many layers Alpha Luciano has around him, Kathrine is confident that she will be able to win him over.
At the mention of rejection, Kathrine remembered George, the Greek God who gave her a few minutes of bliss before the harsh truth plunged her into agony.
Does Luciano have a mate or someone he prefers? Kathrine was confident that a guy like Luciano probably had several women at home, willing to please him. What if he has a harem?
“Do you know if Alpha Luciano found his mate?”
“Maybe he did, and things didn’t work out…”, Nora mused. “But you should focus on the fact that he is available. After you complete the mating ceremony, it won’t matter if his mate is out there because the bond between the two of you will form and overshadow any others. You will be the Luna of the most powerful pack and he will adore you.”
Kathrine pursed her lips while thinking about Nora’s words.
Luna Kathrine, Luna of the most powerful pack in North America. It doesn’t sound bad. The fact that Alpha Luciano is young and good-looking is a bonus. Only a fool would pass such an opportunity.
Kathrine told herself that no matter what mate the Moon Goddess set for her, she could choose her mate. If they complete the mating process, any other bond will disappear, including this longing Kathrine feels for George.
Kathrine put her hand over her chest. She rejected him. Why does she still feel restless whenever she thinks of him?
“Are you OK?”, Nora asked with concern obvious in her voice.
“Yes, yes.”, Kathrine was quick to plaster a smile on her face. “Tomorrow is a big day. Help me pick what to wear. Unfortunately, I didn’t pack some of my favourite dresses and we might need to go shopping.”
Nora squealed at the possibility of shopping. That’s her favourite pastime.
…
~ The Dark Howlers pack ~
While Kathrine and Nora were going through Kathrine’s closet, at the same time, in the Dark Howlers pack…
Luciano exited the packhouse and just like whenever he left for longer than one day, he stopped and observed the three-story high majestic building.
On the first floor are common rooms, where pack members gather and they entertain guests.
On the second floor are offices, guest bedrooms, and Beta’s quarters.
The third floor is reserved for Alpha and his family.
Luciano remembers the time when the packhouse was lively. When he was a child, it was always buzzing with activity. His mother, Luna Violet, knew how to attract people. She was kind, with the warmest smile under the moon, and everyone loved her.
Now, it’s just a handful of them staying in this huge mansion. Regular pack members have their dwellings in the area, and they come to the packhouse only when they have some business or when Alpha is hosting an event, which is not very often.
It’s quiet.
Luciano turned to the car where Caden and Maya waited for him.
It was time to head to the Red Moon pack and meet Kathrine, the next candidate for his Luna.
“Cheer up!”, Caden shouted from the car at Luciano. “You look like you are going to a funeral, and not to get laid! The mental image of a fine woman like Kathrine spreading her legs for you should make you happy!”
Maya slapped Caden over his shoulder.
“What?”, Caden asked Maya innocently and she rolled her eyes at him.
“Why can’t you pick your words a bit?”, Maya scolded Caden.
Caden smirked. “Since when do you mind when I talk dirty?”
“It’s fine when it’s only the two of us…”, Maya responded with a whisper and Caden chuckled before pulling her closer to give her a smacking kiss on the lips.
Luciano observed this lover’s banter, and he was not enthusiastic about the upcoming trip. It will be a long drive and he will be forced to watch the PDA between those two lovebirds.
“Wait!”, a breathy female voice was heard from the hallway and a second later a middle-aged woman appeared at the main door with a full head of curly red hair and food containers in her hands. “This is food for the road. I don’t want you kids to go hungry.”
Luciano stifled a laugh and shook his head. For her, they will always be kids.
Luciano accepted food containers without complaining. “Thank you, Steph.”
Stephanie takes care of the packhouse, handling tasks that are usually done by Luna, and Luciano often jokes that he will marry her.
Luna of the pack takes care of the packhouse, and she ensures that the pack members are happy, while Alpha is in charge of security and everything running smoothly within the pack, and with their external relationships (allies and enemies).
To explain Alpha and Luna's roles in simple language: Alpha takes care of the needs, while Luna takes care of the wants, and only when Alpha and Luna are working in harmony, the pack can grow and prosper.
Luciano doesn’t have a Luna, so those duties are split between Stephanie and Maya, with Stephanie focusing on the packhouse while Maya keeps an eye on the pack members.
Stephanie was Luciano’s mother’s best friend, and her mate was the Beta of the Dark Howlers pack when Luciano’s father, Alpha Jacob, was the Alpha. Stephanie’s mate died with Luciano’s parents.
Stephanie has a daughter, Lisa, who was eight years old at that time, and Luciano treats Lisa like his baby sister.
With the demise of Alpha and Luna of the Black Howlers pack, the situation was unstable, and Stephanie couldn’t leave Luciano on his own, so she decided to send her daughter to her sister, for safety reasons.
It took about two years for the peace to return to the Black Howlers pack and by then Lisa adapted to life with her aunt and uncle, and they decided that she would stay there. Lisa still visits occasionally, mostly during summer break and on holidays.
For the last decade, Stephanie has been treating Luciano as her child, and everyone in the pack loves and respects her.
(Power hungry ex-es)“Drive safely.”, Stephanie said to Caden when he started the car.The trio would save a lot of time if they went with a helicopter or a plane, but werewolves like to feel the ground below them and won’t fly unless it’s necessary.“Be back in three days.”, Stephanie added meaningfully.Caden paused while thinking about his and Luciano’s schedule. There was nothing that would require their presence for at least one week. Any work that was pending could be done via phone, email, or video chat.“What’s in three days?”, Caden asked.“Cassie is coming.”, Stephanie responded with an unhappy face.Caden stifled a laugh and Maya grimaced.“What? Why?”, Luciano asked dejectedly.Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him. “You should ask her and not me. Cassie wanted to come today, but I told her that you would be out for a few days on business, and then she changed her tune to how she would go to New York for three days and come here after that. Make sure you are back by then. I d
(Talia) ~ The Red Moon pack ~ “Out of the way!”, Anna spat angrily while carrying a stack of plates into the kitchen. Talia quickly stepped to the side, not wanting to attract attention. She never understood why Anna or other Omegas were treating her like trash, she was an Omega, just like they were. The only difference between them and Talia is that they all have families, while Talia is an orphan. No one will stand up for her and in the world of werewolves, one wins by strength or numbers. Unfortunately, Talia doesn’t have any of those, so she needs to submit or risk another beating. Talia read in a book that a good Luna should advocate for kindness and help the less fortunate ones, but Luna Layla is not one of those. Other than worrying about herself, Luna Layla cares about the flashy image of the Red Moon pack, and that’s where her concerns stop. Talia huddled in the corner, behind a big focus, and observed the commotion. The whole packhouse was buzzing with activity and she
(The red moon pack)It was late morning when Luciano, Caden, and Maya arrived at the Red Moon pack.Luna Layla apologized for the absence of her husband. “He is with the scouts who picked up suspicious movements on the eastern border of our territory before dawn. Alpha Edward is a hands-on leader and wants to personally ensure we are safe.”Luna Layla was welcoming enough to personally show them to their rooms on the second floor.‘Wow! This place is glitzy.’, Maya shared her thoughts with Luciano and Caden through their mind link.‘You can say that again.’, Caden responded.None of the three commented on two lines of Omegas who bowed to greet them in front of the packhouse.The floor of the entry hallway was made of white marble and the matching tall columns reached the three stories high ceiling. The marble staircase elegantly curved upward, looking pure and flawless, perfectly complimented by golden rails and the opulent crystal chandeliers that looked like they came from a fancy c
In the guestroom…Luciano sat in the comfy sofa chair and observed Kathrine smugly. She was standing three steps in front of Luciano with her hands crossed over her chest defensively.“You wanted privacy, so here we are.”, Luciano said while waving his hand, gesturing for Kathrine to start talking.“Considering our future relationship, I believe that we should be able to talk openly.”Luciano cocked an eyebrow. “Our future relationship?”Kathrine narrowed her eyes impatiently. Why is he pretending that he doesn’t understand? He wants her to spell it out? Fine!“We both know that you are here because I will be your Luna.”Luciano poked his cheek with his tongue while looking at Kathrine mockingly. He realized that Kathrine is impatient to clarify her status as his Luna. What’s with the rush? She didn’t seem to be desperate to get married, and if one was watching them during lunch, Nora seemed eager to put her hands on Luciano, while Kathrine was in a meh-mood.Luciano wondered if he sa
Luciano pushed Kathrine away from him and Kathrine fell on her butt unceremoniously.“Who is that girl?”, Luciano asked while buttoning up his pants.Kathrine was confused. “What girl?”“The one with towels! She left towels in the bathroom and left!”, Luciano roared and jabbed his hand into his hair. “Damn it!”Kathrine stared at Luciano and blinked rapidly while trying to understand what happened.Less than a minute ago…Kathrine was going down on him, and she was doing wonderfully, but then Luciano inhaled the most seductive sweet citrusy scent that reminded him of delicate freesia flowers and his cock lurched in response.‘Mate!’, Luciano’s wolf said.‘What?’, Luciano asked in disbelief while staring at Kathrine.If Kathrine is his mate, why was his wolf silent during lunch? And why did her scent change? Kathrine didn’t smell like freesia. Kathrine’s scent was coconut-like, and there were traces of it everywhere, but this new scent was gentle and seductive.His wolf growled. ‘Not h
How do I find her?’, Luciano asked his wolf as soon as he stepped out of Alpha Edward’s study.‘Follow your nose.’Luciano tried sniffing around. He went to the main floor, second floor, and… nothing.He wondered if the girl is even real, or if he imagined it.Luciano is an Alpha and his senses are sharper than the ones of a regular werewolf, yet he couldn’t pick up her scent. He was confused.Without any clues, he decided to wait for Kathrine who said that she will investigate which Omega was on the towel duty.Luciano plopped on the bed and took this opportunity to re-think the situation.His wolf told him that the girl is his mate, but she escaped. Shouldn’t mates be attracted to each other?‘Stupid!’, Luciano’s wolf growled. ‘What did you think she should do, when you had Miss Barbie between your legs? Did you expect her to jump into your arms happily?’‘Damn it! I forgot about it!’ He really did. The moment his eyes landed on Talia, Kathrine became not important.‘What if she hat
After dinner, they all moved to the living room where desserts and drinks were served.Caden and Maya had a mission, and after one drink they went to take a stroll in the garden before heading to bed.Before calling it a night, Caden and Maya will roam through the packhouse of the Red Moon pack, looking for an opportunity to eavesdrop on some conversations from the Omegas, or maybe even join in and ask questions.Luciano’s wolf was fidgety, craving to inhale the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and locate its source, despite Luciano telling him how that’s not going to happen.After an unknown measure of time, Luciano stood up abruptly. “I will retire for the night.”Everyone looked at Luciano with confusion obvious on their faces, but Luciano pretended like he didn’t notice.He turned to Alpha Edward. “I hope that after breakfast we can continue our discussion from this afternoon.”Without waiting for Alpha Edward to respond, Luciano went to his room.He opened the window of his room an
Luciano stared at the moon in silence for an unknown measure of time, when a knock on the door got his attention.‘Did Kathrine come to pick up what’s left of her panties, or did she change her mind?’, Luciano mused.No one else would come at this hour. Caden and Maya use mind links to communicate, like always, so that others don’t overhear them.Luciano went to open the door and to his surprise, Nora’s smiling face entered his vision.She took a deep breath of his masculine scent and her arousal swelled. She knew that he could smell her and she was not bashful about what she wanted.“Good evening, Alpha Luciano…”, she greeted him. “I noticed the light in your room, and since you left early wishing to rest, I wondered if you have trouble sleeping and if I can help you somehow.”Even without the scent of her arousal, Nora’s sultry look told Luciano what was on her mind, but he still asked, “How can you help me, Miss Nora?”Nora smiled when Luciano stepped into the room, silently giving