Harry

I don’t know what possessed me.

Seeing my mate being shot - well, I didn’t see it exactly but I felt it - was the worst experience of my life so far. I thought losing so many pack and family members to a horrific attack was gonna be the lowest point of my life, but I was wrong.

I have lost many people I loved deeply: cousins, aunts / uncles, my dearest sister in law Jessica, not to mention Kevin, Spencer’s sweet mate. I hated that with all my might, I still do.

But all that pales in comparison to what I felt when I thought I was going to lose my mate right before my eyes. When my parents told me growing up there is no connection like the mate bond, I thought they were exaggerating a little. They weren’t, as it turns out.

Even though Landon and I aren’t properly mated, that is we haven’t completed the bond yet, still I felt his pain like my own. It doesn’t matter that I rejected him. The link between our souls doesn’t work according to our moods, once activated it is for life.

I thought I knew pain having lost so many people dear to my heart.

Yeah, I didn’t know pain like losing a mate. I can understand and appreciate Spencer even more so now. The fact that he put his personal feelings aside for my sake, honestly it makes me love him like a brother.

Actually, even more so. Because my own brother couldn’t do what he did. And he lost a great mate. I can certainly understand the anger someone might feel towards Landon. He is responsible for a genocide. There is no point in mincing words.

But that doesn’t really matter to my wolf or my soul. My whole being shook at seeing that much blood being poured out of my mate and when he passed out, I thought I was going to die from the heartache.

Words could not describe how relieved I am for his safety. I am so grateful that he survived, but so frightful that he might die. I could not bring myself to part from him, I just had to come along to his pack.

Literally, I marched to my parents and told them I was coming with him. They both looked at me surprised but fortunately they didn’t question my decision.

I know I am a grown man who doesn’t owe any explanation to anyone, but they are still my parents. I am glad my mate also offered no objections for my trip, though I didn’t really expect him to. I know he wants me.

He doesn’t say it flat out, nor does he covet me with his eyes. But I can feel it. It’s this pesky mate bond that cannot seem to leave us alone, even when people reject their mates.

I never thought I would be mated to an Alpha, especially not from the Regency Falls pack. I thought only (male) omegas were mated to Alphas, so I am at a loss as to what the hell happened with this pairing. What the Goddess was thinking?

But the truth is none of that matters now. He is my mate and I am his. It’s a simple yet universal truth among werewolves. Sorry bitch, you don’t get to pick the love of your life. You just have to accept him. And even if you don’t, he will never leave your mind.

Anyway, I have zero regrets about coming here. It’s just a small town with nothing much to offer but that doesn’t differ from my own hometown. Plus, I am on vacation after all. I deserve it.

In the dining room, I was back for lunch as if I was just another resident enjoying his summer off school. In my case, college.

"Did your sightseeing go well? What do you make of our little town?" Landon inquired in a light tone.

His family seemed to be intrigued about my presence here, but they are nice enough not to pry about it… much.

"It was great. Nobody knew who I was, so it was nice to blend in among the townies. I had a nice time." I replied in a good mood, which put a smile on his face.

"Excellent. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." He said, contently.

"And how was your first day back? Did you get reacquainted with your work? Are you in any pain or are you already healed?" I quizzed him, interested in his health.

"It was just like riding a bicycle. No, I'm not in any pain but I'm far from healed. The wound is still fresh." He replied, sincerely.

"It has been only four days, son. Give it time. Soon, this will be just a nightmare we can all move on from." His mom chimed in, feeling bad for him.

"I can't move on until they find the person who shot me." He declared in a serious tone and expression on his face.

His mom and siblings all gulped at that statement as I can feel some residual anger bubbling up to his surface.

"I couldn't agree with you more, mate." I surprised him, causing his head to turn to my side and baffle at my words.

"Of course, gentlemen. I want the bastard who shot my son caught too. I only meant we shouldn't dwell on it too much, it's not healthy." His mom frowned, peeved.

We all stared at each other uncomfortably and ate in silence for a while. I can understand her point, it's not healthy to focus your mind on the shooting. But right now it's too soon for anyone to move on.

I certainly don't want to be apart from Landon any time soon.

After lunch, his friend Gustavo stopped by to talk to him in his office. I wandered about the huge mansion and sniffed them together.

It's an interesting fact about us werewolves: our sense of smell is much more powerful than our eyesight. That means even if we can't see something, we can scent it. And our noses are never wrong.

The corridors led me to the Alpha and Luna offices, the guest dining room, the playroom, even an old service room now dusty and abandoned.

The maids didn't seem to mind my presence despite my origin. In fact, no one seems to mind me being here except maybe for that prick Grayson, but his opinion counts less than my instagram followers.

Funny though, no matter where I went all roads seemed to lead towards my mate. I kept circling back to his office, though his door was closed when I passed it by.

"Can I help you?" A short latina emerged from her office next to Landon's to inquire about me.

"No, thank you. I'm just getting to know the place. I didn't mean to disturb you." I blushed as she stared at me curiously.

"You didn't disturb me, Luna." She said, causing a small gasp to escape me.

"I'm not Luna, ma'am." I refuted, still blushing.

"Are you not mated to the Alpha?" She asked me in a matter of fact tone.

"Well, yes. But…"

"If you are mated to the Alpha, then you are the rightful Luna of the pack. Or am I mistaken?" She deadpanned with a deep stare that had me flustered.

She was so serious that it was impossible to refute her.

"No, you're not mistaken. But I'm no Luna." I muttered, nervously.

"It is not up to us to question the Goddess' decision. If she chose you, then you are our Luna, Mr. Staedler." She stated with conviction.

I'm baffled by her resolve. Her tone doesn't leave room for doubt. I'm mesmerized by her, honestly. She seems feisty.

"I guess you're right, ma'am." I admitted after a while of uncomfortable silence.

"I usually am." She smirked.

"I am Lourdes Calderon-Levy. Nice to meet you, Harrison." She reached out her hand with a polite smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Levy. Harrison Staedler." I shook her hand cordially.

"Please call me Lourdes. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask, Luna." She offered me with a polite smile.

"Thank you, I will." I smiled back at her.

After this awkward encounter, I made my way back to my room for some soul searching.

I guess she is right. I am the rightful Luna of this pack. I am also next in line for Alpha of my own, but to ask my mate to abdicate his position to be my Luna seems unfathomable.

Not only would he be forfeiting his birthright, but I seriously doubt my pack would ever accept him in any capacity, much less their Luna.

I mean, they tried to have him killed so it's not like the writing isn't on the wall. If ever we were to be properly bonded, I would have to move here.

Oh my Goddess, what about college? Would he be okay with me getting a degree? More importantly, would he be fine with waiting for me all the years necessary for me to become a doctor? It's like 8 years of education plus internship…

Though to be fair, I wasn't so sure I wanted to pursue this career anymore… It's exhausting studying upon studying.

On the other hand, I watched as my mate got hurt right in front of me and couldn't do anything to help, to save him.

Ironically, that put a fire under my belly to finish my degree and continue studying until I can help anyone in that position. Hopefully, not my mate. Not again, please.

I guess there is some more talking to be had between the two of us. I am so glad to be here with him. However, I don't need to talk about any of those things if I maintain the rejection.

Goddess, this is hard. Everytime I think about accepting anything, images of my pack genocide keep popping up in my head as if reminding me to stay strong and carry on.

Right. Sure, I get it. There is too much damage done, too much blood that has been shed. This will never get off my mind. I'll never forget about what he has done to my pack.

Just as he'll never forget what my pack did to him and his family. Not that thousands of lives can equate one Alpha, but I can understand how grief is a beast and I can definitely relate to how angry he felt about his father.

I felt rage too over losing my loved ones, but I was mostly angry at Aaron for giving them a reason to do that in the first place.

My mind is so confused with too many feelings and thoughts all at once. This isn’t an easy decision to make, though technically I already made it. But no matter what, someone will be hurt by it. I know I am already dreading having to leave his side and we are not even…

My mind gets so foggy that I decide to take a nap, maybe that’s what I need to clear my head. I woke up late for dinner and rushed out of my bedroom to the dining room.

“Sorry I’m late, my nap took longer than I anticipated.” I said, entering the room where the Barnetts were already eating. They all turned to look at me.

“It’s fine, Harrison. We just began eating. Please help yourself.” Luna told me with a polite smile, gesturing for me to serve myself some food.

“Thank you.” I grinned awkwardly, taking my seat.

“Are you alright, Harry? I sensed your turmoil this afternoon.” Landon asked me, sounding concerned.

“I’m fine, Landon. I am just confused about some stuff. But mostly I’m in my head.” I replied, filling my plate with their delicious cooking.

“If there’s anything I can help to clear the air, let me know.” He offered, gently.

“Thank you, I will. Maybe we can talk after dinner.” I proposed, to which he grinned widely.

“Excellent idea!” He agreed enthusiastically.

After dinner, we were supposed to go to the living room but it was already occupied by other residents. We didn’t want to intrude, so he invited me to go to his room in the Alpha wing. Honestly, I didn’t even bat an eye before accepting the invitation.

We entered the slightly larger room and he offered me a chair to take my seat. He sat on his bed comfortably and looked at me to start the conversation.

There was so much I wanted to ask him, so many topics I could shed a light on. In the end, I was in my head again and did something completely unexpected.

“Would it be weird if I asked you to let me see your scar?” I inquired, taking him by surprise. He got wide eyed for a second, then…

“No, not at all.” He expressed, trying his best to sound nonchalant.

Landon took off his shirt promptly. I approached him on the bed to inspect it closely. The bandage had come off, probably in the shower, so now it’s just the scar. I felt weird looking at it but at the same time drawn to it somehow.

“Is it okay if I touch your chest?” I asked, to which he replied ‘that is fine’.

My fingers touched the surrounding area of the scar causing a shiver to run through his entire body. The hair on his arm bristled as if a gust of cold wind had hit his bare chest. But it’s summer in Texas, so no cold wind in sight.

When I touched the scar, I asked him if that was hurting him.

“No, on the contrary. I think you have a healing touch.” He said in a playful tone. I giggled at this, couldn’t help it.

My curious fingers couldn’t help themselves to graze his bare skin as if searching for something. My touch was delicate, soft, curious even. I felt as if I had never touched another body before, it was so weird yet so enchanting.

Landon let me touch his skin freely with no complaint or restraint, I admired his six pack while my wolf howled at the close contact with its mate.

“Do I have your permission to–”

“Yes.” He cut me off, eagerly.

I kissed his scar and my eyes glowed with blinding desire as if my lust for him suddenly got activated by the kiss. My lips softly touched his skin, setting both our bodies ablaze.

Landon remained immobile, fearful of advancing any signal or acting inappropriately. Though if anyone is acting a little inappropriate it is me.

When I was within an inch from losing control over my actions, I stepped back to my chair panting. Landon’s eyes are also glowing just like mine, pheromones filling the room as well as a myriad of inappropriate thoughts.

“I’m sorry if I took it too far. I didn’t mean to tease you like this.” I apologized, flustered.

“You have nothing to apologize for, mate. You asked for my consent. No harm done.” He put me at ease, heaving from the action.

I couldn’t help but notice the impressive bulge on his pants, but I tried to ignore it just as he was ignoring mine.

I took a deep breath, trying to get my act together and recollect my thoughts. But the room was filled with his intoxicating sweet scent. I jumped back into his bed in a swift move and surprised him with a deep, passionate kiss on the lips.

I yearned for it, kissing him hungrily. I only ever kissed him once back in my house, but that was chaste compared to this. My hands roamed his body in excitement, both our bodies entangled in a loving embrace.

He rolled me over to get on top of me while kissing me, my hands continued caressing his bare skin. We made out for quite a while, both drunk in lust for each other.

I could tell he wanted to do more. He could sense I wanted to go further. Neither of us made the first move. We just kissed for the longest time, I rolled him back to stay on top of him, showing I am not going to submit to the Alpha.

He relished in my action and before I lost control of my hands and how far they could go, I parted from the kiss and returned to my chair.

“So much for the talking.” I snickered, gathering my thoughts. He snorted.

“I loved our conversation.” He winked at me playfully.

“All I wanted was to see your scar and the progress of your healing.” I said, as if apologizing for my actions.

“I think we need to complete the bond for it to heal properly.” He suggested with a mischievous grin.

“Good one, mate.” I glared at him, though my thoughts are not that far right now.

After a moment, I excused myself from his room and thanked him for the ‘conversation’.

“Any time, Harry. My door is always open to you.” He winked at me with a naughty grin and I had to resist the urge to go back inside his room and start all over again.

A|N: The heat is on, next one comes w/ major developments.

Love,

Léo.