THE ALPHA'S SUBSTITUTE LUNA

Chapter Ten

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

It was the third time Solana asked her that question, and for the third time, Ember just nodded and smiled at Solana.

“I’m good, Sol. You don’t have to go with me, you are needed at the camp. Don’t worry too much about me, Sol. No one’s interested in taking me down, I am not someone who is special to the Alpha. I’m just a substitute Luna.” Ember tapped Sol’s shoulder as she hopped inside her car.

She was summoned by her father to Devonlaire, and Ember wanted to go alone. Solana on the other hand was somehow worried about her security to which Ember just laugh. Having someone to protect her doesn’t make sense for Ember.

She doesn’t need protection since she’s so capable of defending herself, she’s a member of the King’s soldiers, and that alone was enough security for Ember.

Solana held the car’s door, preventing Ember from closing it. Ember looked up at Sol and smiled again. She appreciated her concern for her, and Ember is really thankful that Solana was here. She’s one of the people who always showed support for her.

Though she can sense the pack’s acceptance of her being the Luna, she can still see that some don’t approve of her.

“I know you can handle yourself, you’re a great fighter. But, it’s different now. You are the Luna of Bresmont now, Ember. The moment you become the Luna, your safety is already at stake. You knew what happened to Luna Natasha, right?” Solana’s face was filled with worried.

Solana was really worried about letting Ember travel alone going to Devonlaire. It was a two-hour drive, and they can’t be what will happen between that two hours. She doesn’t want another Luna to be killed.

“I promise I will be back before the day ends. I just need to go there to talk to my father.”

“Liam didn’t know, right?”

Ember bit her lower lip, she doesn’t want to bother Liam. This is just an ordinary trip to Devonlaire, and once they finished talking she will go back here to Bresmont.

Besides, after that incident in his room, she has no strength to face him yet. She’s the one avoiding him now since she doesn’t know how to react in front of him. Maybe she will just blush which will be more embarrassing.

Solana let out a sigh and looked at Ember hopelessly.

“Just be careful, Luna Ember.” Sol waved Ember goodbye as she maneuver the car.

Ember drove two hours going to Devenlaire. His father, Arnulf Jacobson was one of the privileged werewolves who gets to live near the palace. He’s a member of the Council of Claws, the body of law of Devonlaire, and he is also one of the wealthiest.

She’s actually excited to go home and see her cousins Jake and Rena. They were the only cousins she have after Natasha died. She’s not that close to Natasha but she’s quite close to these two.

Jake and Rena live with them since their parents were killed when they were just babies. Since then, her father adopted the two. They grew up together and they also shared some dirty secrets.

The Jacobson’s residence was a huge mansion with lots of workers running around. Her father is a very strict man who wanted everything to be in order.

Ember parked the car in front of the old fountain.

“Oh, god! You’re here!” Rena shrieked in happiness the moment she saw Ember enter the house. The blonde she-wolf run towards Ember and gave her tight hug.

Ember laughed at her cousin’s reaction. She already expected this since she was always whining on the phone whenever she called her, telling her that she missed her and that she wanted to see Ember. Rena was younger than Rena, so the younger one considered Ember as her older sister.

“Yes, I’m here. How are you, cous'?” Ember messed Rena's blonde hair.

If Ember has that striking red hair, Rena on the other side had this beautiful blonde hair.

“I’m really glad that you visited. I missed you so much, Luna Ember.”

“Oh, c’mon. Please, don’t start me with that Luna thing. I’m not yet the official Luna of Bresmont.”

Ember started walking inside the mansion.

The Jacobson Mansion is a three-story house with a massive size. Arnulf Jacobson is a wealthy man, and he wanted everyone to see that.

Her cousin frowned at her, confused. “What do you mean not official Luna of Bresmont.? The Alpha didn’t mark you yet? I thought you were supposed to be marked at the Marking ceremony after the wedding. What happened?” Rena shoved Ember’s hair behind her shoulder and inspected her neck. A shocked reaction was plastered in Rena’s face when she didn’t find any markings on her cousin’s neck.

Ember shook her head. “It’s a good thing, actually. He’s a jerk, Rena. I really don’t like him. And you know how much I disagreed with this marriage, if not for the King I really wouldn’t marry him.” That’s a total lie.

“Oh, my god! Uncle Arnulf was expecting you to be marked already by now. He’s talking about it almost every day since after the wedding. It’s been almost a month since supposed the Marking Ceremony.” No, Rena was worried. His uncle would definitely be disappointed of her cousin.

“Is that the reason why he summoned me here? To ask if I was marked already? Why?” Ember finds it weird and inappropriate since it’s a private matter between mated werewolves. Why was his father interested in the mark?

Rena shrugged her shoulders, she also don’t have any answers to that.

“He’s at the study. I think he’s waiting for you, Ember.”

Ember went to the study room of their house which was located on the second floor. She knocked on the carved door before twisting the knob.

Her father was sitting behind his mahogany desk reading something.

“Father.” Ember greeted Arnulf.

Arnulf Jacobson was in his seventies but he looked younger than his age. His hair was still black as the night and there were no traces of wrinkles on his face. If one would look at him, one will think he’s still in his thirties.

He looked at what he was reading and nodded at Ember. He didn’t even smile at her or show excitement upon seeing his daughter. His face was void of any emotions, and Ember was already used to it.

“You’re here. Have a seat, I want to talk to you.”

His father was always a straightforward man. Ember grew up doing everything her father wanted her to do. When he told her to become part of the king’s soldiers, she obeyed him without any hesitation.

Arnulf went back to reading the papers as soon as Ember took the seat in front of the table.

Ember and her father didn't have that bond most daughters have with fathers. Arnulf is distant to her and to her cousins.

“Are you officially the Luna of Bresmont?” Arnulf asked Ember without much pretense. He’s just scanning the pages of what appears to be a ledger.

Ember knew she was not summoned because his father wanted to see her. She was summoned to know if she already hold the power of the pack.

Once she will be marked, a bond will be formed between her and the pack members. They will share the same strength together. And as for Liam, they will become each other’s weaknesses.

Arnulf lift his head to look at her when she didn’t answer the question. He even glanced at the part of her neck where the mark should be placed. Good thing she covered her neck with her hair.

“Liam and I are getting there, father. We may know each other from the very beginning, but Liam still mourns for the death of Natasha. I think he’s not yet ready.”

Ember saw how her father’s face became red. At that moment she knew that he was angry. The color of his eyes changed to golden yellow and he growled.

Arnulf slammed his fist on the top of the table and stood up, he was breathing heavily because of anger. The table was almost split into two by the force of his fist.

“It’s just a simple task! You just have to let that Alpha mark you, and yet you can’t do it. You are such a useless piece of s**t!”

Arnulf turned the table, and all of the things on top of it flew to the other side of the room.

Ember pursed her lips not to answer her father. This has happened a million times already. He will insult her very existence in the realm whenever things will not go according to his plan.

“I’m so sorry, father. Please, give me some time.”

Without any remorse, Arnulf’s clawed hand gripped Ember’s neck and pulled her up in the air.

Ember on the other hand didn’t show any sign of emotion as she let her father hurt her.

“Do whatever you need to do. Force him! Seduce him! I will tell you this, the next time I summoned you and you still don’t have the mark, I will send Rena away.” Arnulf yanked Ember and threw her on the floor.

Ember balled her fist as she controlled not to react to what her father did. He has been using Rena to blackmail her to do what he wants.

“I will do it, father. You don’t have to send her away.”

Ember left Devenlaire with a heavy heart. She needed that mark or else her cousin will suffer the consequences.

She gripped the stirring wheel of the car and stepped on the gas hard.