Xander POV:

I sat in my office at my desk, covered in way too many piles of papers. Kaden and Renzo sat in the chairs directly across from me while everyone else stood, rounded around the desk as we talked.

"Tess is already at Lynn's pack. When did you want me to head to Marissa's?" Kaden asked.

"Not until she gets back," I said, shaking my head. "With Addie here I want one of you here at all times. I'm not taking any more chances."

Kaden nodded, giving me a sympathetic look. He also felt the guilt when we saw her wound again. Because we weren't fast enough or strong enough to protect her. Now she had this pain to carry until it healed and it ate me up inside. I guess it bothered him just as much since he was with her first and was our Beta.

"I want extra people on patrols and extra guards around the house. I want someone watching the house and Addie's balcony at all times," I said, directing my gaze to Leila, our lead sentinel that led the patrols.

She nodded in understanding and I turned to Renzo.

"You spoke to Charlie?" I asked.

Charlie was Mateo's Beta, the same ones who helped us get Addie and Kaden back.

Renzo nodded, sitting up straighter in his seat. "She said they've been keeping an eye on the warehouse but no one returned. They're also patrolling the Canadian border a little harder since there was some vamp movement there. It seems like they're hoping to find a way past the border without getting noticed."

"Something to bring up when you visit Marissa," I said to Kaden.

Her territory was also close to the border and she was a good ally. Kaden nodded and scribbled into a notebook.

"Do they want help with the patrols?" I asked.

"I'm sure they'd appreciate it," Renzo nodded.

"Can we spare any?" I asked Leila.

"In a few days," Leila nodded. "I'm almost done with a round of training. They show really great potential. There's actually a couple I wanted to point out to you, they might be worth considering as new Deltas."

"Let's make time for that sometime next week," I agreed. "Anything else?" I looked around the room but no one spoke up. "All right. Addie's in a wedding tomorrow. I'm not sure where I'll be in regards to the wedding but I am escorting her to the rehearsal tonight. I would like three people to come and hang around in the background. At least two women in case she needs to go to the bathroom. Nick, I need you nearby in case we need to take out any security cameras," I said, looking at Nick who never looked up from his laptop or stopped typing but nodded in acknowledgment. "We'll figure out a plan for the wedding when I have more details so expect another meeting later tonight or early in the morning."

"I'll go," Kaden volunteered.

"No," I shook my head. I knew his urge to protect his Luna amplified after seeing that cut but he was our Beta and I needed him for other things. "I need you to stay here while Tess and I are out. In fact, I need you to go over to Emily's and find out exactly how much supply she has and if she needs more."

Emily grew all the herbs that Cassie and Anna needed and I wasn't going to mess around with not having enough supplies when we were teetering on the edge of a war.

"I'll go with you tonight, Alpha," Beth volunteered.

"Me too," Katie chimed in.

"So will I. Does Luna know we're coming?" Felipe asked.

"No, I sighed. "Not yet. She has a lot on her mind and I'd like it if she could enjoy the evening without worrying too much."

They nodded in understanding and I gave a little more time for questions but they stayed silent, waiting to be dismissed.

"All right. Dismissed. Let me know if you need help, Leila," I said.

"I'll be fine," Leila assured. "Don't worry, Alpha."

Don't worry. Like that was going to happen.

They all filed out of the room and Kaden gave me an encouraging smile before going out as well, closing the door behind him. I set my elbows on the desk and dropped my head in my hands. I couldn't stop seeing that cut on Addie's arm. If I hadn't been so distracted when I first saw her I would've seen Alister coming. He never would've touched her. I let my distraction of her stand in the way of her safety and now she was in pain.

Because of me. Because I wasn't focused enough.

I was already failing her as a mate.

My mood lifted a little when I heard her. She was coming up the stairs. I could smell her getting closer. I lifted my head as she got closer and closer. She paused outside my door. I wasn't about to let her get away so I spoke before she could change her mind.

"Come in, Addie," I called out.

There was a moment of hesitance but then the door opened. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, her eyes scanning my desk.

"You're busy. I'll come back later," she said, turning to leave.

"No. Stay. I need a break," I insisted, rising from my desk and stepping around it to be closer to her. "What's on your mind?"

She hesitated, her eyes meeting mine only briefly before breaking away. I sat back against my desk and crossed my arms, waiting for her to speak.

"So... I have to be at Tasha's at four and I don't know what you want to do but I'll be getting ready there and we won't head to the church until about five-thirty," she said, chewing on her lip. "Until then you can't really be there while we get ready."

"I'll have someone escort you and wait outside while you get ready then I'll meet you at the church," I said. "We'll leave in an hour. What's the story here?"

"Story?" She repeated, tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah. What do you plan to tell your friends about me?" I asked, gesturing between us.

A touch of pink hit her cheeks and it was clear she hadn't even thought about it. "Well I guess we'll just say you're a friend."

"I think boyfriend would be more believable," I countered.

"I have friends that are guys, it's not unbelievable that I'd bring one with me," she argued, narrowing her eyes.

"Have it your way. Just thought it would be an easier explanation," I shrugged. Dammit. I was hoping to play the role of a boyfriend tonight. "Friends it is."

She nodded in agreement and looked around the room again. I sensed that wasn't really why she was here.

"Was that all you wanted to ask?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Her eyes darted to me again. She played with the loose string on her sweater again, tugging at her sleeves before speaking.

"I have a lot of questions," she admitted, biting her lip.

"Ask away," I said, gesturing for her to continue.

"Can you explain the Luna thing?" She asked. "I mean, it seems like it means a lot."

"It does," I nodded, pausing as I tried to think of a way to explain it that didn't sound crazy to her. It wasn't her world. I didn't know how to explain it properly because I'd never had to. "Alphas and Lunas are pack leaders," I started. "They're equal leaders with the same roles and responsibilities. Some packs only have one pack leader but when a pack has both, they become stronger. You feel the connection, don't you? To Tess and Kaden?" I asked. And me, I hope.

She shrugged and nodded. "It's kind of weird," she frowned. "I do feel close to them but I don't know why."

"It's just the way it is with us," I said. "We're connected, kind of like family but... deeper. It's something you recognize inherently when you're around anyone in the pack and it's something they notice to. You know how the body can always tell when something's wrong? Even if it's just something small, a prick on the finger or something like that?"

Goddess, I was not the right person to explain this. She nodded slowly.

"Think of us like a body," I said. "Every little part is connected. The sensations you feel from touching or smelling something is something your skin or your nose is doing but your brain is making the translation, telling you it's something you like or don't like. Every part has a purpose and every part is connected. That's how the pack is. We all feel each other, sense each other, we're all connected and when one of us hurts or is happy, the rest feel it. The pack leaders are like... The brain and the heart. Filtering all those sensations and keeping everything in order, sending signals to the rest of the body. The heart keeps blood pumping, keeps everything functioning. Having only one leader is like not having a fully functioning body. That's why it's so important," I explained.

"Wow," she breathed. "That does sound important."

The nervous look on her face told me it might be too much. I didn't want it to be too much, it's why I was hesitant to give her all the information in the first place.

"Don't worry, Adira. I don't have any expectations and neither does anyone else," I said.

"But if I leave... That's it? There's no other Luna for them?" She asked, frowning.

"Not... Necessarily," I frowned. "If I was to take a chosen mate instead of my fated then they would still get a Luna."

"Chosen?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. If I were to choose someone that wasn't you, someone that wasn't my mate."

The thought was repulsive. She was the only one I wanted. The one I was meant to be with. I didn't want to mark someone else.

She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Okay, that's a lot. I just want answers about the whole mate thing," she finally said.

I tried my best to contain my excitement about her interest. I cleared my throat and dropped my arms to my sides, gripping the desk. "What do you want to know?"

"I guess whatever you know," she shrugged.

"But you're wondering about some specific things," I guessed.

She wouldn't have come in here if she didn't. She lifted her eyes to mine and shrugged.

"Well... After we met I had someone that I normally would've been fine being..." She blushed, darting her eyes away. "Intimate with... and when he touched me it kind of felt awful. Mentally but physically, too, like I felt sick and it burned to be touched by him."

"It's a mate thing," I confirmed, nodding. "Once we met it kind of... Set things in motion I guess you could say. Your body's basically rejecting anyone's touch with sexual intent unless it's me."

"So I can't ever be with anyone else without pain?" She asked, frowning.

Ouch. The thought of her with anyone that wasn't me had me on edge but I forced myself to simmer down. Patience, I reminded myself. She's a human, it wasn't like how it was with other werewolves. If she'd been a wolf this would be going a lot differently.

"Not necessarily. From what I understand, it goes away when you love someone or it's less intense with some distance," I admitted reluctantly.

"Why is it like that?" She asked.

I sighed and tried to think of a way to explain it to her without bringing up the Goddess. There wasn't really a way. She'd have to find out about our Goddess at some point I just didn't want it turning her off of me so soon.

"A lot of forces go into putting mates together. Especially pack leaders. Pack leaders finding mates is very sacred. Packs that have both their pack leaders are infinitely stronger than ones that don't. It's the reason Kaden recognized you as Luna before I even identified you as my mate. Since he's in my pack he would recognize his Luna anywhere. The Goddess will always try to push mates together to make packs stronger. So once the mates meet and recognize each other, they recognize their need for one another and start rejecting anything that's less and craving what will complete them."

"I see..." she said, biting down on her lip. "So... You feel it too? The weird draw to me?"

"I wouldn't call it weird but yes, I feel it," I nodded, unable to stop my eyes from drifting up and down her body. "I definitely feel it."

Admitting she was drawn to me had my heart racing and now, more than ever, I wanted to be close to her. To feel her. Taste her. Hold her so nothing would ever hurt her again.

"Does that mean instead of feeling uncomfortable being touched it feels... extra good to be touched by your mate?" She asked.

I couldn't help but smile at her question. I wondered how curious she was, how far I could push this. I pushed off the desk and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Let's test that theory," I suggested, walking over to her.

It was a half-lie. I knew for a fact it felt amazing to be touched by your mate, or at least, that's how it was with wolves. I'd already experienced something different from touching her but I wasn't sure how much she felt. She backed into the wall as I approached and I stopped close to her, not quite touching. I reached my hand up and ran my fingers down the length of her neck.

"You tell me. How does that feel?" I asked, dragging my fingers up and down her neck.

She breathed out unevenly, her eyes sliding closed briefly.

"It... It feels fine," she said shakily.

I narrowed my eyes at her and brought my other hand to her arm, brushing my fingers down the length of her arm.

"Don't lie, Adira," I said, leaning my mouth close to her ear. "Not to me."

She inhaled sharply and her hands landed on my chest. "Why don't you tell me how it feels for you instead?" She suggested, her hands sliding down my torso.

I sucked in a breath and leaned in closer to her. "It feels fucking amazing," I said, pressing a kiss to her ear.

Her hands stilled and her breathing came out harsher. Her hands slowly made their way back up to my chest, then my shoulders. I groaned and leaned into her, pressing my body into hers. She let out a small whimper and I nipped at her ear.

"You're driving me crazy," I growled, dropping my hand down to her waist then around to her lower back, sucking her earlobe into my mouth and dragging my teeth along it.

She groaned and dropped her head back against the wall. Her sounds were intoxicating. I could smell how much she was responding to me and it brought my need for her out even more. I cupped her cheek and brought my lips over to hers, just barely brushing against them.

"Addie," I whispered against her mouth, threading my hand through her hair.

There was a loud knock at the door that sent her eyes flying open. I felt her drifting from me and panicked, not wanting to lose this moment of closeness with her. I pulled her more against me and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. I felt her relax into me again and sighed in relief. The knock came again and I growled, dropping my head into her neck.

"You should probably get that," she whispered, moving her hands down to my chest and giving me a gentle push.

Goddess help the fool on the other side of that fucking door. I reluctantly backed away from her, staring into her eyes for a moment before moving her to the side and opening the door. She slipped out quickly, dodging Felipe on her way out and making a beeline for her bedroom.

Felipe looked after her then returned his eyes to me, putting his head down when he saw how pissed off I was.

"You better have a good fucking reason for knocking on that door," I warned.

He swallowed hard and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He swallowed again and stepped back.

"I just came to see what time we were leaving," he admitted, bowing his head.

You've got to be fucking kidding me. I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes to try to control the rage I felt at that ridiculous reason. It wasn't really his fault, except Addie and I were alone and he should've felt that. I opened my eyes again but he wouldn't meet my gaze.

"Next time the Luna is in any room with me and we're alone, do not knock on the door," I growled. "I don't care what your reason is. Unless the pack is under attack you do not knock on the fucking door, got it?"

"Yes, Alpha," he nodded, backing away towards the stairs.

"We leave in an hour. You'll take her to her friend's house then follow them to the church. I'll meet you at the church."

He nodded again and quickly spun around, practically running down the stairs. My gaze went from the stairs to her bedroom door. I could hear her heart racing, smell her arousal. I groaned in frustration and went back in my office, slamming the door shut behind me.

A/N:

Hi guys :D I had to update a little early today because I'll be busy later. As always, thanks for reading and voting and commenting! Your comments always make my day :) Let me know what you thought of this chapter!

So we finally have some answers and more insight into how the pack and Luna and mate thing works! What did you think?

We almost had some first kiss action there :O So close!

Until next week, awesome readers :D