“Did you inform their Alpha? Do you not lead them?” I ask, my frown deepening to his words.
“No, I do not lead them. They do not come under my wing. One of the ‘independent’ packs. I do not know of their Alpha. I have never met him.” He says.
“But why war?”
“Because that is the only option available. It was my proposal. Their thought that they can barge in here and murder my wolves must be burned. Our pack is in mourning and shall be for a few weeks.” He declares.
I swiftly look to my feet. I… I did not notice it at all. Have I been so indulged with my mate bond that I have grown blind to the misery of our pack? If so, then what kind of a Luna am I? If I have not mourned with them, if I have not shared their pain do I even have the right to be called as such?
“When did this happen?” My question whispered out painfully for I am doubting myself. I am doubting my soul.
“Last night.” He replies. Now that I truly notice it the dark bags that reside under his eyes show proof of his words. While I, the Luna was sleeping peacefully last night wolves were getting murdered with the Alpha left to deal with it alone. My fists tremble heavily and I grit my teeth to the fire burning me from within.
“I shall train you.” His mutters gathering my attention. His words are spoken out of the blue.
“What?”
“When I return from war, I shall train you personally. I shall aid you to become a master of knives.” He says putting his pen down leaning back sinking further into his chair eyes plunging into mine to gauge my reaction to his words.
“Why?” I inquire shifting forward. He moves back away from me, I move front closer to him. Push & Pull.
“If our heavily guarded pack has been infiltrated for the second time, it merely means with time many shall follow. I need you to become stronger so you can protect yourself and our male when I am not with you. And when I am here I will protect you Lumina, even if I have to give up my life. I will do it in a heartbeat. I swear by it.”
My eyes widen at his last words. A memory of us seeps into him as soft and pleasant as silk. The first time our pack was at war, I had whispered these exact words to him. He understands it now, the weight these words carry meant for whom they truly love.
“Who shall protect you?” I ask my unsettling eyes lifting to meet back with his.
He tilts his head to the side whilst he stares at me. Deimos does not know what to make of it. Am I asking with true concern?, am I asking with duty? Or am I playing my role as his Luna? These are the questions that run within the barriers of his mind. Barriers let down for me to seek his truth.
“I shall. I shall protect myself.” He says, the heat of his gaze burning my flesh goosebumps erupting spreading like wildfire across my skin.
“And if you cannot?” What is it that I wish to hear from his lips? What is it that I wish for him to answer? Say it. Say what I wish to hear, Deimos. He contemplates for a while eyes seeking mine, he opens his mouth as if he is preparing to say something but closes it back down the thought is stripped away and replaced by another. My heart pounds faster.
“Then may the moon welcome me.” He whispers. Anger surges through me and I look away from him. How can he easily say that? How can he easily utter these words to me? This is not the answer I wished to hear.
“You say these words without thinking. You never think before you speak to me.” If he only knew my sorrow when he was in a coma. If he was able to see the gut-wrenching misery I went through.
His eyebrows sink into a deep frown, “I merely answered your question. It is my truth. I need to protect myself, mate.”
“All right.” I answer, my voice low and quiet looking elsewhere all around to show I find something else interesting rather than speaking with him. He brings out my hidden pup like traits when I am with him. The way I pout, my actions, my words change. I become utterly spoilt and entitled. Only with him. Only him.
“Are you upset with me, that I brought Kal here? Did I frighten you?” He asks whilst getting up to stride around the table to come to where I sit. My teeth sink into my lower lip nervousness bubbling up within me with every step he takes.
“No, I am not upset. It was my fault, I overslept and it was your time with-” My breath is caught at the base of my throat to his sudden proximity. Squatting on the floor by my legs, his left palm clutching my chair handle. He looks up at me with a gentle smile. “Kal.” I finish breathlessly.
I lean back this time and he merely watches my movement, the seriousness in his eyes has disappeared replaced by a cute playfulness towards me. Kal tugs on the collar of Deimos’s shirt cooing and gargling being his usual self. A female cannot remain strong and not be swayed when her eyes are set on a father and his pup.
“I instructed Elriam to bring him to me, I did not step into that house you built.” Deimos says as I frown at his words.
“It is not a mere house. It is my home.” I declare.
“It is not your home, my female. Your home is with me.” He says eyes striking into mine daring me to go against his words, rather the truth he speaks. The truth we both are aware of.
“That is for me to decide, Deimos.” I strike back preparing to fight him on this matter. Not a serious fight but one merely just for the sake to prove my point.
He leans further into me barging into my personal space with no hesitation eyes dropping down to my lips and moving back up to meet my eyes. An action that speaks to me louder than words. His emeralds burn as wildfire and I hold my breath swallowing waiting for his next move. A cruel slow-burning anticipation he puts me through.
I lick my lower lip whilst his face leans to the side he peers into me, he is going to kiss me. I should kill him now before his lips touch mine, be done with it. But I cannot move, my body betrays me. Months of yearning and wet dreams have pushed me off the edge, I can fight only so much. Fingertips sink into my sweater for support. He sees my inner fight and he chuckles.
Lips swiftly turn direction to move towards my left ear. “You can keep running, my female. Run from our bond, run from our future, run from us. I shall hunt you down and bring you back to me. I shall tie you to my flesh. I shall make sure to earn you, to be worthy of you.” He whispers whilst the heat of his breath brushed against the shell of my ear and I shiver uncontrollably snapping my eyes shut clutching onto my sweater for dear life.
His warmth is stripped away from me quickly whilst he moves backwards rising putting space between us. The remains of his scent I pull into my lungs so it can stay and make its place inside.
“This war, must you go? Must you fight?” I question peeking up at him from beneath my lashes. The scar of the silver knife remains on his flesh, a reminder of the harsh journey we went through.