Xavier POV
I stormed into my office, the heavy oak door slamming shut behind me with a thud that echoed my turmoil. My boots pounded against the polished floor as I paced, my mind a chaotic swirl of disbelief and frustration. What the hell had just happened? That tiny, infuriating human, my mate had made me laugh. On her first day in the pack house, no less. The sound had slipped out before I could stop it, raw and unguarded, a relic of a time long buried. I could still hear her voice, playful and nonsensical, as I'd passed by the foyer on my way to retrieve a forgotten file from my bedroom. Her words, something about a "child in heaven," had been so absurd, so unexpectedly charming, that they'd cracked through my carefully constructed walls. And that laugh.., my laugh had betrayed me.
I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of my desk, my knuckles whitening. Anabella, Ana was beyond beautiful. No, beautiful was too weak a word. She was breathtaking, a vision of soft curves and defiant eyes that sparked with fire. Her dark hair framed her face like a halo, and her scent, that intoxicating blend of wildflowers and starlight, lingered in my senses, driving Nat wild. My wolf was practically howling with delight, his voice reverberating in my mind. She's perfect, Xavier. Our mate. You can't deny the pull.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, arguing with him as I sank into my leather chair. "It's the mate bond, Nat. That's all. We can't help it." But even as I said it, I knew it was more than that. Ana wasn't what I'd expected, wasn't what I had wanted. I'd always envisioned my Luna as a fierce, commanding presence, a she-wolf as strong and intimidating as I was. Someone who could stand at my side, strike fear into our enemies, and command respect from the pack with a single glance. Instead, fate had given me a human. A human who was cute, gentle, charming, everything a Luna shouldn't be. How could someone so delicate rule the Moonlight Pack? How could she stand up to the chaos, the rival packs, the weight of our world?
You're wrong about her, Nat growled, his presence bristling in my mind. She's strong in her own way. You saw how she made you laugh. She's already changing you.
I scoffed, leaning back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the ceiling. "She's a liability, Nat. A human can't handle this life." But even as I said it, my thoughts drifted back to her, those fierce green eyes, the way she'd stood her ground in the hospital, yelling at me like I wasn't an Alpha who could crush her with a thought. She was fearless, I'd give her that. And that laugh... it had stirred something in me, something I hadn't felt since I was a boy, before the weight of leadership and loss had hardened me into the man I was now.
A sharp knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts, followed by the door swinging open without invitation. Only one person in the pack had the audacity to barge into my office like that, Daniel. My Beta strode in, his face lit up with a grin so wide it was practically blinding. "I've settled the Luna in your room," he announced, his tone smug. "And my mate's in mine. Thought you'd want to know."
I raised an eyebrow, my voice flat. "Okay." I wasn't in the mood for his cheerfulness, not when my head was still spinning from Ana's effect on me.
Daniel's grin faltered, and he tilted his head, studying me. "Wait... what? You're not gonna flip out about that?"
I froze, his words sinking in. "Hold on. You settled Ana in my room?" My voice rose, a growl rumbling in my chest as I shot to my feet. "Couldn't you have found another room for her, Daniel? What the hell were you thinking?"
He flinched, his usual bravado faltering under the weight of my anger. Even Daniel, my best friend and the one person who could push my buttons without losing his head, knew when to tread carefully. I could see him stiffen, his shoulders tensing as he tried to gauge how far he could push me. "Xavier, calm down," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I didn't..."
"Calm down?" I snapped, my eyes flashing as Nat stirred, feeding off my agitation. "You knew I wouldn't want this. Why would you put her in my room without asking me?" My voice was laced with menace, the air in the room thickening with the raw power of my Alpha aura. Most wolves would've cowered by now, but Daniel, damn him, just stood there, his jaw set.
"She asked me to," he said simply, meeting my gaze. "Ana insisted. Said it was the right thing for the Luna to share the Alpha's room."
I blinked, my anger faltering. "Ana said that?" The words felt foreign, like they didn't belong in the same sentence as my mate's name. She'd chosen to share my space? The thought sent a strange warmth through me, quickly drowned out by a fresh wave of irritation. Without another word, I stormed past Daniel, my boots pounding against the floor as I made a beeline for my room.
"Ana!" I bellowed as I threw open the door, my voice echoing through the spacious bedroom. She was there, standing by the window, her silhouette framed against the fading light of dusk. She turned, her expression a mix of surprise and defiance, and I felt that damn pull again, the mate bond tugging at my chest like a leash.
"Yes?" she said, her tone calm but with an edge that told me she wasn't intimidated. Not even a little.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?" I demanded, crossing my arms and glaring down at her. She was so small compared to me, barely reaching my chest, but the fire in her eyes made her seem ten feet tall.
She tilted her head, her lips curving into a smile that was equal parts innocent and infuriating. "Well, you see, Xavier," she said, drawing out my name like she was savoring it, "I happen to be your mate and the Luna of this pack. What would the pack members think if they knew their Alpha King and Luna were sleeping in separate rooms? Not exactly a great look for unity, is it?"
"I don't care what they think," I growled, stepping closer. "No one questions my actions. No one."
She didn't flinch, didn't back down. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with challenge. "Oh, really? So you're fine with other packs hearing that the mighty Alpha King can't even share a bed with his mate? They might start to wonder if you're... I don't know, weak. Or maybe they'll think I'm the problem. Either way, it's not a good look."
I stared at her, my blood simmering. "Listen, woman," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "I don't care what anyone thinks. Pack your things and find another room. Now."
Ana's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "No, you listen, Xavier," she said, her voice steady but laced with a fierceness that made Nat perk up in approval. "I don't tolerate people ordering me around. I don't care if you're the Alpha or my so-called mate-you don't get to talk to me like that. I'm staying right here, because this is where I belong. Deal with it."
The room seemed to pulse with the weight of her words. Nobody-nobody-had ever spoken to me like that. Not my pack, not my enemies, not even Daniel in his boldest moments. My blood boiled, my eyes flashing red as Nat surged to the surface, his power radiating from me in waves. The air crackled with my Alpha aura, strong enough to bring entire armies to their knees. She should've been terrified. She should've run.
But Ana didn't run. Instead, she did the unthinkable. She stepped closer, her small hands reaching out to grasp my clenched fists. Before I could react, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to each of my cheeks. The touch was like a shockwave, gentle but electric, and just like that, the fire in my veins cooled. My eyes faded back to gray, my wolf retreating with a contented sigh. I stood there, stunned, as the rage that had defined me for years dissolved under her touch.
"Xavier," she said softly, her voice like a balm. "I want us to live peacefully. Be friends, at least. Can we try that?"
I blinked, my mind scrambling to catch up. "You're not scared of me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, raw and vulnerable. It baffled me-how could this human, this fragile creature, stand up to an Alpha without a hint of fear?
She grinned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Of course, dude. It'll take more than your grumpy growling to scare me."
I didn't know what to say. For the first time in years, I was at a loss. Without a word, I turned and walked out, leaving her in my room-our room, apparently. My head was a mess, my heart pounding with a mix of frustration and something dangerously close to admiration.
Hours later, I was back in my office, trying to bury myself in pack business, when one of the elders knocked and entered. "Alpha," he said, his voice respectful but firm, "the ceremony will begin soon. Please inform the Luna."
I nodded curtly. "Sure." The elder left, and I steeled myself for another encounter with Ana. I found her in the kitchen, of all places, scooping ice cream into a bowl like she owned the place. Her casual confidence was infuriating-and, damn it, endearing.
"Ana," I said, my voice gruff. "Get ready. There's a ceremony in a few hours. The maids will bring you the dress you're supposed to wear."
She looked up, a spoonful of ice cream halfway to her mouth. "What's the ceremony about?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't deal with another round of her questions, not when I was still reeling from our earlier clash. I turned to leave, but not before I caught her muttering under her breath, "Asshole." My wolf ears picked it up clear as day, and despite myself, a smirk tugged at my lips. She was impossible. And yet, as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that this human-this fearless, infuriating human was about to turn my world upside down.