The Human Luna's Second Chance Mate

Chapter 4: A True Alpha's Rescue

Gloria POV

"Gloria!" Hunter's hand clamped around my arm, yanking me back. "Have you lost your mind?" "Probably." I shook him off, my palm stinging, my heart hammering. "I did not hit her before, but I sure as hell did now! If I am to be blamed anyway, then I might as well get the satisfaction of actually slapping that vile b***h!"

"You know what? That felt amazing. I've wanted to do that for three years," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me. I looked Hunter dead in the eyes, and something in my chest hardened into resolve. "You want to replace me with her? Fine. You want to destroy everything we built for your precious council seat? Go ahead. But know this; if our bond means so little to you that you would let them disrespect your fated mate in her own home, then it means nothing to me either. I am done being your Luna. I am done being the obedient little human who bends over backward for a pack that despises her. Consider this my resignation."

Charlotte touched her reddening cheek, her eyes narrowing into slits. A shrill laugh escaped her lips. "Did you hear that, Hunter? She just threatened to abandon the pack. Abandon you. This is exactly the kind of instability I warned you about." She pressed her hand to her stomach, her voice dripping with mock concern. "What kind of environment is this for your heir?" "She has lost all sense of duty," Sylvia cut in, her voice sharp as a blade. "A true Luna would never speak such words. She was never fit for the title." Henry stepped forward, his face grim.

"She assaulted your heir's mother, and now she threatens to destabilize the pack, Alpha. If word of this gets out, the other packs will see weakness. She cannot simply walk away after what she did to Charlotte. There must be consequences." Hunter looked at me, and for a heartbeat, I saw the man I used to love, conflicted, torn, drowning under the weight of their expectations. But then his jaw tightened, and that man disappeared behind the mask of the Alpha. "You leave me no choice," he said, his voice hollow. "Take her to the cells. She will remain in confinement until after the heir announcement."

I laughed, but it sounded bitter even to my own ears. "Of course. Why am I not surprised?" I pulled my arm free from Hunter's grip and straightened my spine. "You chose them. You chose your council seat over your mate. Remember this moment, Hunter Nick. Remember that when she finally gets everything she wants, it will be built on the grave of what we once had." Hunter turned his back on me and walked to his desk, taking what was left of my heart with him. Charlotte, Henry, Sylvia, and Annie trailed after him, casting one last mocking glance in my direction.

The guards grabbed my arms roughly. I did not have the energy to fight them. They dragged me down to the pack prison, shoving me roughly into a cell. I collapsed hard, a jarring pain shooting up my side and in my head, as my face hit the cold floor. I screamed for help, but the heavy door slammed shut, leaving me in darkness. I did not know how long I lay there before I passed out. Maybe from exhaustion, maybe from pure heartbreak. When I finally opened my eyes, a bottle of water and a tray of food sat on the floor. Hearing footsteps, I forced myself to sit up.

A spark of hope flared inside me, hoping Hunter had come to his senses. But it was Henry. The Beta leaned against the bars, looking down at me with a sneer. "So, you are finally awake. I came to share some news. We are currently very busy planning a ceremony to crown our new Luna, my beautiful daughter, Charlotte. She will be crowned Luna and celebrated as the mother of the future heir. You lost, you stupid human. Soon, Hunter will officially replace you. Enjoy your stay, you are going to be here a while. And do not expect Hunter to check on you. Charlotte is keeping him very busy."

Henry gave me a mock salute and walked away. I sank back against the wall. But before my fingers could even reach the water bottle, the edges of my vision darkened again. A familiar sensation washed over me, and my body slumped sideways onto the floor. f**k!

Leonard POV

The invitation had arrived three days ago, embossed with the Grey Wood Pack crest. Luna Crowning Ceremony. Charlotte Pope. Formal attire required. I'd thrown it across my office. "He's replacing his fated mate with a breeding surrogate, and he wants us to celebrate?" Cade, my Beta and the only person who could tolerate my moods, had picked it up without comment. He knew better than to engage when I got like this.

"We have to go," he'd said simply. "Politics." Politics. The eternal excuse for moral cowardice. Now, twenty miles from Grey Wood territory, my knee bounced against the leather seat of the SUV. Outside—redwoods and mist and the occasional glimpse of the ocean. Beautiful country. Pity I'd rather be literally anywhere else. "Are you okay, man? You seem very distracted, and you are giving off seriously pissed-off vibes," Cade, my Beta, said from the driver's seat.

"I would rather be anywhere but where we are heading. Can you believe that asshole?" I asked, getting irritated all over again just by voicing the words. "I admit, it is a d**k move, but we have to maintain decorum. Attending this Luna ceremony is vital for our relations with the other packs. You do not have to like him or what he is doing. You just have to show your face," Cade answered.

I sighed, leaning back. "I know, I know. I know how to play the part." I looked back out the window. Since I took over as Alpha of the Dark Silver Pack five years ago, I have had to make many adjustments to how I viewed politics.

But what this Alpha was doing was simply wrong. When I received the invitation to a Luna ceremony at the Grey Wood Pack, I was utterly confused. The Alpha got the Beta's daughter pregnant and now plans to make her his new Luna. What about his fated mate? I thought the human was his destined mate. I was actually impressed when I first heard he made a human his Luna, against the wishes of his pack members. If he went through all that trouble back then, why throw away his destined mate now just for a chance to get into the Alpha Council?

I knew that was his endgame, and it was a pathetic, power-hungry move. It showed his lack of character, and it was a direct insult to the Moon Goddess. I had officially lost any respect I might have had for his bold choices in the past. I was twenty-seven this year, and I still had not met my fated mate. I would give anything to find her, and there he was, discarding his fated mate for status. My parents and the pack elders had been nagging me for years to just choose a Luna to stabilize leadership, but I refused. I was waiting for my fated mate, and no one would ever take her place.

The closer we got to Alpha Hunter's territory, the more restless my wolf became. Our animal spirits are deeply connected to us. I feel his emotions as if they are my own, which is how we communicate. He cannot speak to me in words, but we are completely in sync. Some werewolves, even Alphas, never truly bond with their wolves, which makes them unstable and far less effective in a fight.

I may be a werewolf, but I also carry traces of elven blood. My great-grandmother was an elf, and I gladly accept that part of my heritage. It gives me an extra advantage, making it much easier to bond with my wolf.

The moment we crossed the border into the Grey Wood Pack, my wolf's mood completely shifted. He felt happy, even excited. Excited about what? I did not want to be here at all. I rolled the window down for some fresh air to clear my head, and suddenly, I was hit with the sweetest scent. I sniffed the air again as my wolf's emotions went wild. He definitely wanted to be here, and after catching that scent, I did too. What was that smell? It was incredibly unique and captivating, like a direct call to my soul, my wolf, and my heart. Oh, my Goddess… Could it really be?

"Why the sudden mood change?" Cade asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I changed my mind. I think tonight will end much better than I ever imagined," I answered with a smirk. Cade glanced at me, rolled his eyes, and shook his head. He focused back on the road while I breathed in the calming scent. We pulled up to the gates leading to the packhouse, and Cade handed our invitation to the guards. They nodded and directed him where to park. I sat back, smiling as the captivating scent completely soothed my irritation. I got out of the car before Cade could even turn off the engine, earning a frown from him.

"Go ahead, I will be right there," I told him, and nodded at the warriors who traveled with us. I shook him off and moved. Fast. Through the kitchen, past the gardens, following that intoxicating trail of jasmine and honey. The estate sprawled behind the main house—outbuildings, training grounds, a heavily fortified structure that screamed prison. My steps faltered. The scent led directly to it. Why would my mate be in a prison? Unless... Unless Hunter hadn't just discarded his fated mate. Unless he'd imprisoned her.

Rage...pure, white-hot, Alpha-level rage, surged through my veins.

My claws extended before I could stop them, my fangs lengthening, my vision sharpening into predatory focus. Someone was going to die tonight. Slowly. Then I saw her. A woman in formal regalia and expensive jewels, too fancy for a prison visit, slipping through the side door. Charlotte. The new Luna. And she was alone. Whatever was happening in that building, it involved the woman who'd stolen another's place. And my instincts, sharpened by five years of Alpha leadership and elven heritage, screamed that my mate was in danger. I moved.