His Scarred Luna

Chapter 8

Being the alpha didn’t excuse Jake from Sunday evening dinners with his parents, which was why he found himself sitting at the table in their small house that evening with his younger brother, James. His mother, Charlotte, had made a roast with red potatoes, carrots, and string beans.

“How are things going with Kylie?” his father, Christian, asked as he helped himself to the roast.

Jake shrugged and reached for the potatoes. “Good, I guess.”

He had met Kylie for lunch the day after their first coffee date. It had been fun, Kylie cracking jokes and making him laugh the whole time, but he still couldn’t see a future with her. There were no sparks, no real chemistry, and he didn’t know how to have a relationship without that.

Though, to be fair, he didn’t really know how to have a relationship at all.

“Good?” James scoffed as he grabbed the roast from their father. “Kylie is hot. How are you not thrilled that you can take her to bed whenever you want?”

“James!” Charlotte shot him a disgusted look. “Don’t talk about her that way. Jake can take the time he needs to get to know her.”

“There’s nothing to get to know,” James muttered, unfazed by his mother’s scolding. “We’ve all known Kylie our whole lives.”

James was twenty-two, close in age to Kylie. He had come back from the academy last year and taken up work as a trainer for their warriors.

“That’s part of the issue,” Jake said with a sigh. “She’s like family.”

“Hot family,” James mumbled under his breath.

“Stop, James,” Christian said, casting a sharp glare at his younger son. “That’s not how we talk about people.”

James didn’t look the least bit chastised, but at least he kept quiet after that.

“You need to have a luna,” Christian continued, directing his words to Jake. “And Kylie would be perfect for that role. She was raised in the pack house, she understands the pack and the politics.”

Jake shook his head. “I don’t think I need a mate to be a good alpha.”

“You don’t,” Christian admitted, “but your pack needs a strong luna. And you have to put the needs of the pack first.”

Jake wanted to argue, but he knew it was useless. He’d heard this same line since he was a child. The pack comes first. You must be willing to make any sacrifice for its well-being. But this wasn’t the kind of sacrifice he’d ever expected to make.

“What happens if I find my fated mate after I take Kylie as my chosen?” he asked, voicing the thought that had been gnawing at him.

“You hope that doesn’t happen.”

“That’s not much of an answer,” James said through a mouthful of carrots.

“I think Jake has a point,” Charlotte said quietly. “It’s something worth discussing with the elders. It would be good for both Jake and Kylie to know what to expect if that ever happens.”

Christian looked at his wife for a long moment. “Once a luna is established, it’s hard to break that bond with the pack. I worry they’ll say Jake would have to reject a fated mate.”

Jake suddenly lost his appetite. He pushed his plate away. “I don’t want to think about this tonight.”

“We’ll talk to the elders,” his father said, trying to sound reassuring.

Except it wasn’t reassuring at all. His words only made Jake’s stomach twist. The elders hadn’t been willing to listen to reason for months about the mate issue. Jake doubted they’d change their minds now.

“Maybe you’ll find your fated mate before the end of the month,” James offered.

“Stop talking with your mouth full,” Charlotte snapped.

“Unless she literally walks through the door, there’s no way I’m finding her,” Jake grumbled. “I know everyone in this pack, and I don’t have any visits scheduled.”

“Let’s not stress about it right now.” Charlotte reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Let your dad talk to the elders again. In the meantime, invite Kylie to dinner next week.”

“Do I have to?” Jake grimaced. That made it feel all the more official.

“Yes.” His mother gave him a firm look. “I need to start preparing her. She’ll have a big job as luna once you two mate. I need to start working with her.”

He nodded but didn’t meet his mother’s eyes. She was right. Charlotte had been the luna for over twenty-five years before stepping down when Jake became alpha. But the thought of his own mother training Kylie as luna made the whole thing feel much too real.

“I heard Lyra Hart came back,” James said cheerfully.

Jake gave him a grateful look for the change of subject, and James smirked.

“Really?” Christian looked up from his plate, glancing at Jake. “Had you heard that?”

Jake nodded. “She came back earlier this week.”

“Have you seen her?”

Jake’s eyebrows drew together. “No. I have no reason to.”

“The Harts need to be looked after.” His father’s tone turned serious, grating on Jake’s nerves.

“I know,” he said sharply. “I’ve made sure Lyle and Donovan have had everything they need since I took over. Just because I don’t visit them all the time like you did doesn’t mean I’m not keeping the promises you made to them.”

“You need to see Lyra,” Christian said firmly.

“Why?” Jake scoffed. “I have no reason to. We were never friends. I have no relationship with her or her family.”

“Does she have a mate? Pups?”

“Christian,” Charlotte said softly, giving him a tight smile. “Let it go.”

Jake looked between his parents. “What’s the big deal?” When no one answered, he sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I don’t think she has a mate. Callan came to me yesterday and said Lyra wants to officially leave the pack. She’s been working in the human world and wants to take Donovan with her. I have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss releasing them.”

“You’re not going to release them, are you?” Christian’s brow furrowed deeply.

Jake shrugged. “Yeah, I plan to. I don’t see why they should stay if they don’t want to.”

“No.” Christian’s stern tone caught Jake off guard. “They have to stay here.”

“Dad, seriously?” James leaned back, his eyebrows nearly vanishing into his hairline. “What’s the big deal? Neither of them really contributes to the pack. I like Donnie, but he’s a total liability in that chair. He can’t defend himself, let alone anyone else. And Lyra’s been gone for, what, eight years?”

“And the elders never wanted them here anyway,” Jake added. “You told me yourself how much they hated that Lyle mated with a human and how much they disliked having half-breeds in the pack. It should make everyone happy to let them go.”

Christian shook his head. “The Harts can’t just be left on their own. They need to be looked after.”

“They’re both adults,” Jake said. “If they want to leave, I’ll let them. It’s ultimately my decision.”

Christian’s face flushed. He opened his mouth to argue, but Charlotte placed a hand over his.

“Jake’s right. It’s his decision. He’s the alpha now. And I agree. If the Hart kids want to leave, maybe it’s for the best. My heart aches for poor Lyle, but Goddess knows those kids deserve a fresh start. They’ve never had it easy in this pack.”

Christian looked at his mate for a long time, then sighed and ran a hand down his face. He turned back to Jake. “I asked you for most of your childhood to show those two some kindness. I asked that of you, Callan, and Russ. But Russ was the only one who listened. They needed to feel like they belonged. They needed protection. I just wish you’d listened to me. They need to stay here. They’re safer here.”

“Safer from what?” Jake asked, shaking his head.

“From…” Christian looked away, clearly struggling for words. “They just need protection. Just trust me, okay?”