It had been about a month since the deal that transformed my life. I'd gone from being a regular college student to Luna of King Alpha, Jacques Caldwell.
My days on the werewolf king's huge estate were weird, filled with luxury I had never imagined, as well as a peculiar sense of belonging I didn't fully comprehend.
My days in the sprawling estate of the werewolf king were surreal, filled with luxury I never imagined but also with a strange sense of belonging I didn’t quite understand.
Despite being human, Jacques and his pack treated me with the utmost respect. His Beta, Hale Roberts, was the first to bow to me as their Luna, and the others quickly followed suit.
They deferred to me in ways that were overwhelming at first, calling me “Luna Cestia” as though it were a title I’d always carried. Jacques himself treated me like a queen, his actions and words always protective, though he remained an enigma.
That day, Elder James came on the estate. Jacques had told me very little about the council of elders, save that they were ancient and knowledgeable wolves who advised King Alpha.
“Greetings to the King and the Luna,” he said.
Elder James was the leader of the pack's elders and consutants, a man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through me.
When he entered the big hall, Jacques and Hale lowered their heads in reverence, and I did the same. To my astonishment, Elder James smiled warmly at me and said, "Rise, my child," in a calm but gentle voice.
I stood hesitantly, unsure of what to expect. “It’s an honor to meet you, Elder James,” I said, my voice soft.
“The honor is mine, Luna Cestia,” he replied, his gaze gentle but probing. “You remind me of someone very dear to this pack.”
I tilted my head curiously. “R-Really? Who is it?”
“The previous Luna,” he said, a hint of sadness in his tone. “She had a kindness about her, a strength that came not from power but from her heart. You carry that same spirit.”
I wasn't sure what to say. I had never met the prior Luna, but the way Elder James described her made me feel the weight of her heritage.
Elder James turned to Jacques and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Take care of her, Jacques," he said firmly. "The link between partners is a gift. Protect it and cherish your Luna.”
Jacques nodded, his expression unreadable. “I will, Elder.”