"Will you be my Luna?"
Arya had thought about it for the past few days, and without hesitating, she said, "Yes, I will."
There was silence, and Alfa processed what Arya had said. He didn't believe his ears. She just said 'yes'.
Arya looked at him and saw happiness and confusion. "What's wrong?" Arya asked.
"Um... I.. I can't believe it. You actually said yes!" Alfa blurted out.
"I just want the safe return of my team... but before that, I need to speak with them... try to explain everything as best as I could. I don't want them here for the marking," Arya said, turning to look outside. "And I want to speak with my aunt and uncle as well, before everything happens. I don't want them to think I betrayed them."
He looked at her, looking for any signs of betrayal. Was Arya really saying the truth? Or was this her plan to get out?
"I know what you're thinking... I can't run away, at least not now that you have my necklace and my friends and family's address. Not to mention my scent," Arya said, somehow sensing his discomfort. "Besides, I won't go alone; you're coming with me."
"I... " "Eversince I got my wolf, life seems different. She had told me that Braxen could not stop himself from following my scent. Patricia had also told me that a mate is very important in a wolfs life, and living alone could make anyone go insane," Arya continued. "Whatever your father did was not your fault."
Finally, someone who understands this. Alfa had always hated his father, and the first thing he did was to cancel all his rules and set all the slaves free.
Some decided to join the Moonsglow pack, while others decided to return to whatever was left of their old pack.
Flowerew had even helped rebuild the broken packs, and they became allies, living under the protection of Moonsglow pack.
"Thank you," Alfa said slowly. "It means a lot coming from you. All my life, people who I barely knew hated me for what my father did. Some even called me 'the spawn of the devil', and I always hated it. That day, I promised my mother that whatever happens, I'll never become Kane Flowerew," Alfa said, tears threatening to flow.
"I know it will take time for us to properly get to know each other, but this is a great start," Arya said as she walked towards the bathroom. I really need a bath, I smell like cleaning chemicals."
Alfa pulled a new towel out of the closet and gave it to her. Then he mindlinked Gretchen, 'I need some women's clothes in here, now!'
"My parents are coming tonight to meet you, Arya," Alfa said after she had put on the dress that Gretchen managed to get within 20 minutes.
Arya froze. She knew her heart was beating fast, and she hoped Alfa wouldn't ask her what was wrong. She knew she wouldn't be able to lie to him.
Alfa came near Arya and put a hand on her shoulder. Her body instantly relaxed as she felt a sense of safety. Something in her (probably Bella) stired, and her body instantly welcomed the touch.
"I know you're not keen on meeting my father, Arya. But it's formality. You will love my mother though," He whispered into her ear.
Arya nodded, and Alfa stepped aside. Immediately, Arya felt a longing. For his touch.
"That's strange!" Arya said, her voice a whisper, yet Alfa heard her.
"What happened?" He asked.
"You've touched me before, but I never felt this way!" Arya said.
Alfa just smiled. "What?" Arya asked.
"That was your wolf. She loves my touch."
They went down to have dinner, and she saw the important ranked members of the pack were there, with their mates.
As they entered the dining area, they all stood up and bowed. Alfa sat at his seat, and Arya sat next to him.
"Thank you all for coming. All of you have either seen her, Aria Moonstone, my long lost mate, or heard about her... and today, I'd like to formally introduce her to you all," Alfa began. "And we have another special guest arriving, my parents. They shall be here soon."
Arya noticed that most men cringed, and their mates also looked uncomfortable. Was alfa Kane this worst?
"For now, we shall start eating," Alfa added. "My parents will be a little late."
Arya felt eyes on her, and she knew everyone was glancing at her. She saw Sinclair and Gretchen, who were sitting on Alfa's left side, and there were others she had seen but didn't recognize.
Everyone was talking with each other, while a young girl served their meal. It was clear by the way her hands shook, that she was a servant. She seemed to be really afraid of everyone, especially the alfa and Arya.
She accidentally dropped a fork and almost had a heart attack. A young man, the one nearest to her, suddenly grabbed her hair, and before he could do anything, Arya stood up and looked at him angrily, "Let her go."
Everyone looked towards her, then the young man, who was obviously shocked.
He stood there, still holding on to the girl's hair, but stopped.
"What kind of manners is this?" Arya was very annoyed.
"I'm sorry, luna, but this bi..." "Language!" By now, Arya was fuming. "Who are you?" She asked, between gritted teeth.
"I'm Garry Maddock, the future gamma of this pack, Luna," the man said.
"Garry! If you want to become gamma in the future, you will learn respect; whether it's your alfa or just a servant. Do you understand?"
"Yes... yes Luna," Garry said, before letting go of her and taking his seat.
"Luna, with all my respect, please forgive my son," an older man said. "That servant is a rejected wolf... her mate rejected her..."
"So? Did she turn into some sort of wash cloth?" Arya shot back, and the man lowered his eyes.
"My Luna, rejected wolves are considered disgraced. They are nothing in our world."
"Everyone deserves a life. Everyone deserves happiness. Tell me, if your son gets rejected by his mate, would you treat him like garbage too?"
There was silence.
"I thought so!"
After dinner, Arya went into the kitchen to look for the girl. To see if she was all right.
All the kitchen staff bowed to her, and she asked the nearest one if she knew about the girl.
"Oh her, she went to her room," the woman said, pointing to a small opening in the wall.
"Hey, can we talk?" Arya asked peaking in, at what looked like a broom closet.
"I...I.. m... sorry... I... I"
"It's OK. I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to check on you!" Arya said calmly. "Can you come out, please." The girl stared, shocked, she slowly came out.
"What's your name?"
"V...v...Vivien," she answered, her voice shaking.