The Human Luna's Second Chance Mate

Chapter 6: Unexpected Saviour

Gloria POV

No! I could not believe this was happening. I did not have the strength to fight Charlotte off. These days of despair spent locked in this cage had completely drained me. How could I protect myself, let alone my baby? "Charlotte, please. I am no threat to you, and neither is my baby," I made one last attempt to plead. I felt so weak, so completely pathetic, exactly what she always called me. The irony was not lost on me. I was the exact embodiment of what this pack thought I was right now.

And where was my supposed mate? The one who promised to love and protect me? 'I am yours, and you are mine'... what utter f*****g bullshit. The man who whispered those vows was nowhere to be seen because, clearly, our bond meant nothing to him. Charlotte just gave me a sinister look that promised death. She violently grabbed me by my long, matted hair and lifted the syringe into the air with dramatic flare.

"I have waited so long for this day. I heard this serum is agonizing," she whispered, her eyes turning as black as night. "I will remember your screams when I am f*****g Hunter tonight on your bed." This was it. This was how I died. At the hands of the worst person I have ever met. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I clutched my belly and whispered a silent prayer. Please let my little one be born to a stronger mother in their next life. I closed my eyes, taking a deep, resigned breath.

Suddenly, my senses were completely flooded with the most captivating, unique scent I had ever smelled. What was that? I was only a human; my sense of smell was basic at best. Why was this scent so utterly overwhelming? Immediately, an intense presence filled the room. A powerful aura enveloped me completely, making me feel incredibly safe, yet triggering a strange need to submit. Submit to what? I had no idea. I could not explain the feeling. It was like the dominant aura Hunter exuded, but stronger, and more commanding.

I felt Charlotte's hand violently trembling against my hair, so I risked looking up. She stood completely frozen, the needle still poised in the air, her eyes wide with sudden terror. "What the fuck..." she muttered, slowly turning her head toward the cell door. I followed her gaze. My eyes locked onto a pair of beautifully bright green eyes. They looked ice-cold, yet they were filled with unmistakable concern as they looked at me. Concern for me? Surely not. The source of the powerful aura belonged to the most handsome man I had ever seen. Wait? What? What the f**k was wrong with me?

I was on death's doorstep, and I was admiring a stranger? Maybe I was delirious. The man let out a thunderous growl, the sheer force of it causing Charlotte to drop the syringe. It clattered to the floor, some of the dark liquid spurting out onto the stone. "Step away from her. Now," he commanded. His voice was deadly calm, promising nothing but pain. "I... who..." Charlotte stuttered, scrambling backward away from me. I took a deep, steadying breath the moment she let me go, keeping my hands protectively around my belly. The tall, imposing figure, my savior, noticed the movement.

He looked down at my stomach, tilting his head slightly, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Are you okay?" he asked, opening his eyes. The suffocating weight of his aura lightened significantly as he stepped fully into the cell. "No, but thank you for saving me, sir. But you should leave. It is not safe for you to be here," I said weakly. "Thank you for your concern, beautiful. But I can handle myself," he answered smoothly, completely ignoring a shaking, confused Charlotte who was glaring at our exchange. "What is your name?"

I was sure Charlotte was furious. Not just because he stopped her from killing me, but because he just called me beautiful when I probably looked like a drowned rat. I tried to ignore the sudden flutter in my stomach at his words. Now was not the time to question my reaction to this stranger, or my sanity. "My name is Gloria Reed. I am the Luna—or rather, I was the Luna of this pack," I answered, trying to shift into a more comfortable position. "And I assume this is the new Luna," he said, nodding toward Charlotte. I gave him a small, tight nod.

"Who the f**k are you? Get out of our prison. This does not concern you," Charlotte snapped, trying to regain her composure. He pinned her with a glare, letting his full aura out again. It filled the room, heavy and suffocating, but somehow it still made me feel safe. How I could withstand it when she was cowering was beyond me, but I did not complain. Charlotte, on the other hand, paled with fear. "Oh, this concerns me very much, but I do not have to explain myself to you," my savior said, looking down at her with pure disdain.

"You are insignificant to me. What you are doing here is a crime. You dare lay hands on her? You are not the Luna of this pack yet, she still is. Not only did you attack her, but you were trying to kill an unborn, innocent child. You are a vile disgrace who does not deserve to lead a pack." I blinked in shock. How did he know I was pregnant? Not even Hunter had picked up on it, though I had not been around him enough for him to notice lately. "She is a criminal! I can do as I please," Charlotte gritted out, her jaw clenched.

"The only criminal I see is you. I can sense Gloria is kind and pure, while all I get from you is darkness and malice. It is pathetic, really. I can literally smell the insecurity and jealousy rolling off you," he countered in that deadly, calm voice.

"Do you consider yourself the Alpha Council, or the leader of this pack to make such decisions? No wonder this pack is so pathetic. You will be punished for this, mark my words." Before Charlotte could fire back, heavy, echoing footfalls shattered the silence. Within seconds, Hunter burst into the prison corridor, flanked by several pack guards. Hunter glared at the stranger before his eyes hurriedly roamed the cell.

He looked at Charlotte in confusion, then down at me on the floor, before his gaze finally landed on the leaking syringe lying near Charlotte's feet. "What the f**k is going on here? And who the f**k are you?" Hunter bellowed, his chest heaving, though he did not move.