October 22nd

In the afternoon we were summoned by Rosa who was keen to see us. We took a long shower together with more soap and shampoo than necessary until we were squeaky clean and ready to present ourselves to Leo's mother.

She greeted us both with a warm soft hug before ushering us into her house and shutting the wintery air out.

"I've baked cookies for you Nelda," she said, taking my hand in both of hers, "And I want to hear all about how you have been."

I smiled, relaxing my hand into hers as she whisked me into the kitchen.

Mateo was visiting, sitting on the counter and eating (as usual), while Xavier poured coffee into the mugs. Both of their eyes landed on me, evoking opposite reactions. Xavier smiled at me, possibly for the first time ever, before nodding to Leo. Meanwhile, Mateo's face sunk as his shoulders slumped and he dropped his half-eaten sandwich back onto the plate.

As Xavier handed me my coffee, he smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. I couldn't bring myself to smile back, too ashamed and humiliated. How do they even know? Had Leo told them I was now his Luna or was it just yet another weird wolfy thing?

As the cookies came out of the oven, the buttery sugary scent drew Nola, Elora and Luca downstairs and soon the kitchen was full of smiles, giggles and cookie filled bellies.

"Mom, when will I find my mate?" Nola asked, as she watched Leo kiss my cheek and wipe a crumb of cookie from my lip.

"Probably not for a few years, honey," Rosa replied.

"Hopefully anyway. You're far too young," Xavier grumbled.

"I'm nearly eighteen. That's not so different to Nelda," she protested.

"Yes, but if you find yours now, he can wait until you're older. Your brother is Alpha. We have that option."

I glanced at Xavier and swallowed, remembering how against he had been about me having a choice only days ago.

"You will not move away from your family or be rushed into anything," Xavier continued, "Your brother and I will not allow it."

I bit my lip and shuffled to the sofa, away from everyone else. Mateo caught my eye and came over.

He plopped down beside me and smiled, "Are you alright?"

I sniffed my nose.

"I guess," I said with a shrug.

"One rule for a rogue and another for the Alpha's sister right?"

I nodded, "Yeah..."

He wrapped his arm around me and sighed.

"I'm happy for Nola that she will be able to do as she wants," I said, "I am."

"Of course you are. But it isn't fair, is it? To see Leo and Xavier treating her so differently to how they have treated you."

"I'm not their blood. I get it. And I'm Leo's mate. It's different."

Mateo shook his head, "You're allowed to be upset, Nels."

A tear rolled down my cheek.

"I guess I just wish my father and brother could have done the same for me. But Niko is dead and Conall had to move away. Not that either of them could haven defeated Leonidas anyway. Either way, he'd still be free to do whatever he likes to me."

Mateo squeezed me tighter.

"And seeing how much you guys all love and care for each other makes me realise how I don't have any of this. I don't have a big loving family."

"You speak as if you're not a part of our family, Nelda," he said.

I shook my head, "Because I'm not. Xavier hates me."

"He doesn't hate you. He doesn't like you, that's for sure, but his icy heart is already thawing. And besides, everyone else loves you. Even Elora and she's a hard woman to please."

"Xavier is warming up to me because I'm finally doing what he wants, right?"

Mateo swallowed, "Yes."

I shook my head, a tear rolling down my cheek.

"I'm getting weak. I'm giving in. I'm losing myself."

Mateo paused, biting his lip as he squeezed me tighter.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

As Leo glanced across the room at us, Mateo unravelled his arm from me. After examining the tears on my cheeks, Leo came and sat beside me on the sofa.

"I'm sorry about Xavier. He was being insensitive to say the least," he said.

"It's okay."

He nodded and lifted my hand to his mouth to gently kissed it.

"Dad was just saying what any father should. That's not why Nelda's upset," Mateo said, "She's upset because you didn't let her have the same thing."

"It's different," Leo said, kissing my forehead and tucking my hair behind my ear. He pulled my head onto his chest as I caught Mateo's eye and his gritted teeth. His eyes were sincere and unconvinced.

"How so, Leo?" Mateo asked, "How is it so different?"

Leo slowly turned to Mateo, his eyebrows raised high. I lifted my head off his chest, my eyes widening as Mateo swallowed and dared to hold his stare.

"Excuse me?" Leo said, his voice deep.

"I'm just wondering what this huge distinction between Nelda and Nola is? Why was it okay for you to abduct her, separate her from her family, go against her will, take away her freedom and imprison her. But if that Nola's future mate even tried to do any of that, Goddess help them."

My hand fell loose in Leo's as all eyes in the room fell on us.

"Mateo, don't you dare say another word," Xavier warned.

Leo raised his hand to his father.

"He's free to speak, Dad. He should watch his tone but he can say what he likes."

Xavier folded his arms and fixed his eyes on Mateo as he refused to back down.

"In fact, you are worse than that. You killed Nelda's ex-boyfriend and lied to her about her family."

I lowered my head. I was sitting between them and the heat of their glares on one another was intense.

"There are lines some men would cross that I would not," Leo said, "We don't know that about whoever Nola takes as a mate."

Mateo narrowed his eyes.

"Like what?"

"I'd never fucking rape her," Leo growled.

"Because coercing her is so different, right?"

"And I'd never beat her."

Mateo scoffed.

"But dragging her around like a sack of potatoes is fine? You've still used your strength against her. You've still been rough with her."

Leo's fists were clenched as his eyes turned icy. Rosa beckoned to me, and I was all too glad to slip out from between them and into her arms. Elora slipped her hand into mine and squeezed, giving me a sympathetic smile.

"Boys please don't fight," Rosa pleaded, "We have enough violence in this pack."

"You don't know shit about our relationship, Mateo, so you are in no position to criticise it."

"You have taken a determined, compassionate woman and crushed her," he said, "That's all I need to know."

With that, Leo seized Mateo's shirt and pulled him to his feet.

"I am doing what is best for this pack and its people," Leo spat, "I have a reputation to maintain and an heir to produce or we will crumble. If you love this pack, you will shut up and let me do my job."

"Then you are only doing what is good for you, the family and the pack without regard for Nelda. My point is proven."

Leo brought his face inches from his brother's.

"The difference is Astra and our family always come first. That's what we live by. Nothing else matters."

He dropped Mateo back onto the sofa, breathing heavily.

"Mateo, get out," Xavier ordered, "Don't come back until you have your priorities straight. You are Beta of this pack, and you will act like it."

Mateo got up and marched toward the door. I gave him a meek smile, but he was too busy glaring at his father and Leo to return it.

He slammed the door behind him, leaving the room in silence.

Rosa hugged me tighter as a tear dropped down my cheek.

Nothing else matters. Not even his mate.

Leo cleared his throat and beckoned to me and Rosa to let me go to him.

"We better go too. We both need some air."

As we walked out into the forest, we didn't speak. I just held his hand loose in mine and walked in silence. The breeze was refreshing on my cheeks and the air fresh and crisp but a shadow hung over us as we walked. The sort that clings to your lungs and pushes down on your shoulders.

"I do care about you, Nelda," Leo said, "I'm sorry if it doesn't always appear that way. But I really do."

I bit my lip, "Okay."

"In fact, I've organised for the Doctor to call this evening."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why?"

"I want her to have you fully checked out," he said, looking me up and down, "Nothing to worry about."

"But I'm perfectly healthy."

He nodded and gave my hand a small squeeze.

"I'm sure you are, but I want to know sooner rather than later if anything isn't... normal."

My breath hitched, "Everything is normal."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about," he said, a mechanical smile on his lips, "Just a few tests. That's all."

He gave me a lasting glance before turning back to the forest ahead. I hoped he couldn't feel the sweat on my palms or the fast beating of my heart, but the tense silence that fell over us for the rest of the walk home suggested he did.

An hour later, the chief pack doctor arrived. She was a slender silver-haired woman with a kind smile and cold hands.

I lay on the sofa as she prodded and poked me, listened to my heart, recorded my measurements and took samples of pretty much everything all while Leo watched intently. His arms stayed folded across his chest and he kept the same hard expression even when I looked back at him.

"Your vitals and measurements are all perfectly normal, Luna," she said, looking down at her notes.

Leo's eyes narrowed as he put a smile on his face, "Excellent news."

The Doctor turned back to me and put her clipboard down.

"I'll just check your mark and get these samples off to the lab."

As she swept my hair off my neck, her eyes widened.

"You went very deep, Alpha," she said.

"I wanted to ensure it never fades," Leo said.

She nodded as her eyes flickered to mine.

"Must have hurt, Luna?"

I nodded.

More than she could ever imagine.

"And your fangs didn't quite go in straight. Did you move, Luna?"

I swallowed.

I was struggling with every ounce of strength in my body.

"A little," I said.

"You have been lucky. It seems to be healing perfectly regardless but keep an eye on it."

She swept my hair back over my neck and reached into her bag.

"Okay, that's everything."

Leo held his eyes on me for a few more seconds before standing up.

"What other tests can you run? Maybe a brain scan or an x-ray or performance tests. Just to ensure everything is absolutely fine."

The Doctor nodded, although her forehead creased a little, "I can run all of those if you wish, Alpha. But rest assured your Luna is as healthy as they come. They aren't necessary."

"She's going to carry and birth my heir," he said, "We can't be too careful."

The doctor nodded, "Of course, Alpha. I'll organise them for the next couple of days."

Leo smiled and nodded, "Let me show you out."

When Leo came back into the living room he just stared at me again. I shuffled my feet on the floor and shrugged.

"What?"

"So... everything came back normal," he said, clapping his hands "Fantastic."

I nodded slowly, "I told you it would."

"Unless she missed something," he continued, "And if there is something, I'd like to know. And I'd also like to know before I make you have every test under the sun."

I bit my lip.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"Yes, you do, Nelda. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I will find out so let's not waste everybody's time."

I took a deep breath and nodded.

My mother told me not to tell another soul about my wolf. But Leo is my mate and that means we're supposed to share a soul so does it really count?

"Okay, there is one thing-"

Inside Leo's pocket, his phone rang.

"Hold that thought," he said, bringing it to his ear, "General Raven?"

"You need to come to the pack house immediately," General Raven said, his voice low and sincere, "And bring your Luna. Liliana has returned."