Emerson was hoping that the rushing of children would scare Madeline away and make her terminate this arrangement.

He was wrong.

Instead of doing what he believed she would do, Madeline just kneeled on the ground and opened her arms to them. They all rushed to her, babbling and pulling and touching. Their high-pitched voices made his head hurt.

But she didn't seem to mind. She didn't shove them away as they pulled on her blonde hair. She didn't yell at them to stop talking. Instead, she gently pulled their hands away from her hair when they pulled too hard and she softly responded to their questions.

Emerson trailed behind as the pups all but dragged her into the daycare.

He leaned against the wall, watching, as they kept pulling her in all different directions, trying to make her play with them, showing her their terrible crayon pictures.

He didn't understand how she could stand it. Not after having her mate ripped away and the chance to have children, gone. He could barely stand looking at them. His pups were supposed to be among them, running around and making horrible finger paintings. But they're not because Abigail is dead and Emerson was left alone, without a mate and childless.

But Madeline pushed through it. She went around, playing with each pup, looking at their pictures and praising them, and then painting along with them. She didn't seem to care that her pale skirt and white button up got paint splatters on it.

He would've thought that she was truly happy if he hadn't seen that sad, longing glint in her eyes. One had to really look, to see, that glint. One had to have one similar in their own eyes to recognize it.

And then all the children demanded that she read them a story. Only it didn't just stop with one, they shoved books after books into her hands. Madeline would only laugh softly and begin reading the next. The pups took turns sitting her lap and would cry when it was time to get off and let another sit on her.

They stayed until the last of the children had left with their parents. He didn't mind this, however, because it allowed him to get a closer look at Madeline. See how she worked, how she moved around. How she interacted with the children and then the parents that came to pick them up. He stood in the back and watched and waited.

What he learned was that his father was correct in the matter of how she has Luna traits. She was motherly with the pups. She looked after them and took a sharp pencil out of the hands of the little boy running with it.

She spoke kindly and softly, but firmly. She had a loving hand. It was clear that she cared.

But that didn't mean that she was right for that pack. she could be too soft and easy to push around and manipulate. She could still fall apart the moment something bad happens. There are many things that could prove that she is not fit for Luna. Today meant nothing. It did not decide that she was right for the role.

When the last of the pups were gone, and he had said goodbye to Edna, he began the track back to the Pack House. Emerson didn't bother to check to see if Madeline was following and he didn't slow his fast pace.

He walked up the steps to the House and headed in the direction of the food. He normally didn't eat with his pack, rather eating in his office or in his Wing. But they had guests and he had to dine with them or who knows what his father would try and do.

He stopped before entering the dining area. He turned to look at a disheveled Madeline. "Dinner starts in fifteen. Your things have been taken to the Alpha Wing. Go freshen up. Don't be late." That was all he said before walking past the doors and into the dining room.

He was harsh and rude, he knew. He didn't care. If she was to be Luna, she needed to toughen up, as she would receive a lot of that from him. he was not nice or kind or loving. Not anymore. He was cruel and callous and unforgiving. He would not change, especially not for a girl.

When he came across his father and Alpha Sebastian, his mood worsened. Besides the fact that he was being blackmailed into being mated, he couldn't even discuss the terms of this arrangement!

His father was up to something, what, he didn't know yet.

"Where's Madeline?" Benjamin asked.

"Freshening up."

He didn't offer any more words as he headed to the head of the table. He sat down and watched as wolves filed in, taking a seat at the long table. His father sat down on his left, Sebastian next to him. He listened to their conversation, hoping to hear something informative about Mystic Peak or Madeline. But all they spoke about was when Madeline was a young girl.

"Wait, so, she actually did it?" His father had asked in disbelief.

Sebastian laughed loudly. "She did. Our parents were so mad, I swear there was steam coming out of their ears." There was a cheerful smile on his face, one Emerson had not had in years. "Madeline got grounded for a month. She was escorted everywhere for three months to make sure she wouldn't do it again"

"So, she really set off fireworks inside some grumpy old man's house?" Benjamin asked again. "Just because you and Ezra dared her?"

"Yes." Sebastian laughed. "We didn't think she would actually do it. but then again, she was a rebellious twelve-year-old, who was also very gullible. She would do almost anything she was told as long as it wasn't chores or school work."

Benjamin threw his head back and laughed. He laughed so hard that there were actual tears coming out of his eyes.

Emerson didn't understand what was so humorous about it. Madeline did something stupid and got in trouble for it. What was so funny about that?

"There was also this other time where she got stuck in a tree. She was putting a baby bird back in its nest. She was climbing back down when she fell and her shirt got caught on a tree branch. She was hanging there for hours before my dad finally got her down."

Before Emerson's father could say another word, a figure sat down on his right and said, "What are we talking about?"

"You getting stuck in that tree." Her brother teased.

Madeline groaned. "Why of all things do you have to talk about that? It was a terrible day."

"Not for me."

She glowered at him. "Oh yeah, how would you like it if I talked about how you met Natalie?" Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Don't you dare."

Despite the threat that laid in her brother's words, she continued on. "The moment my dear brother here saw his mate, he tackled her. Which resulted in a lot of chaos, you see. Because she was the daughter of a Beta of another pack. Long story short, we almost had a war with them because they thought Sebastian here attacked poor Natalie."

Whatever Sebastian was about to say was cut off when the kitchen staff entered with dishes. They were set down at the table and the wolves could barely contain themselves. But as Emerson was Alpha, he got the first plate. Then the rest could eat.

But one look from his father made him clench his jaw and pick up, not his plate, but Madeline's. The shock on her face made it almost worth it. Almost.

Many of his pack sitting at the table watched him in shock as well, as he filled up the plate with lasagna, a few slices of garlic bread, and Italian stuffed mushrooms. Then he filled her glass with wine. Emerson filled up his own plate and filled his glass before nodding at his wolves to signal they could eat.

They acted as if they hadn't had a meal in days, when in fact they had lunch just a few hours later ago. It made him want to snort, as they were stuffing their faces. Though he couldn't blame them. Their cook's lasagna was the best he had ever had.

He cut up his food and took a bite, watching Madeline from the corner of his eye. She was hesitant to eat, watching those around her that were watching her. She was out of her comfort zone, that much was clear. He couldn't blame her in the fact that almost a hundred pairs kept looking his way. But if she was too be Luna she would have to get used to it, because more would be watching her.

Emerson watched as she conversed with her brother and as she engaged with some of the pack members around her. She was a little shy when talking to the wolves and she seemed warry talking to his father. But she was perfectly at ease wither her brother. They talked and laughed and smiled all through dinner. And when it was time for Sebastian to leave, there were tears in their eyes and their hug lasted longer than it should've been.

Madeline stood on the front porch, watching her brother leave. She stayed there afterward too, tears freely falling down her cheeks. A good person would've gone to her and comforted her, but Emerson was not a good person so he watched her from the window of his Wing, watched his father eventually go to her and bring her back inside.

A few minutes later, the door to the Wing opened, and Benjamin and Madeline walked in. She had her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes were trained on the floor. His father had his arm around her shoulders and was speaking to her quietly.

"Rest up tonight dear, and tomorrow we will discuss the mating ceremony over breakfast," Benjamin said as a goodbye. He gave Emerson a look that told him to behave before his father walked out.

Emerson turned and headed to his room. He pointed towards a bedroom. "As you are not my mate yet, you will be staying in there. Though if you wish to stay there after we are mated I won't stop you"

He didn't offer a good night as he strode into his room and all but slammed the door behind him. Let her know she wasn't welcome here. Let her know that she could back home anytime and he would not stop her. His father only said he could not bully her out, he said nothing about intimidation. He also said nothing about preventing Madeline from leaving. So, Emerson would let her know she was free to leave anytime.

***

Madeline stood in the foyer longer than she would care to admit.

She stared at the door that Emerson had disappeared behind dumbfounded.

Never in her twenty-three years of living had she ever been treated so awfully. Just because he was hurting didn't mean he had the right to be so insolent.

She eventually shook off whatever it was holding her there and walked to her.

The first thing she noticed that is was bare. White walls, white bed, white dresser. There was nothing spectacular about it like the rest of the Pack House. It was plain, boring, and simple. Though it did not surprise her. Emerson was simple enough so why would he make his Wing anything but simple.

She walked to her suitcase and grabbed some nightwear. She showered and brushed her teeth and braided her blonde hair. She crawled into bed, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't fall asleep.

So she got out of bed and found herself walking outside. Being under the night sky had always calmed her, even as a child.

Her eyes closed at the soft breeze that tangled her stray hairs. Tranquil, peaceful. She let go of time and worry and sorrow. She let go of her failures and mourning. And she became one with the breeze and the stars. She traveled far and wide, seeing places that had never been seen before, at least none on Earth. Calm, quiet, perfect. This was her happy place.

When Madeline woke up the morning, she was tucked into bed, soft, fluffy blankets over her. The sun was peeking through the blinds of the window. She slowly sat up and took in her surroundings.

How did she get here?

The last thing Madeline remembered was watching the stars last night. She had no recollection of going back to bed.

She didn't imagine walking outside did she? No, she couldn't have. There was still dirt on her bare feet. So that meant it happened. But how did she get back here?

"Patrol found you passed out on one of the porch chairs and brought you back to bed."

Emerson must have read the confusion on her face when she came down for breakfast, late of all things.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as the wolves around began to talk about her in hushed voices. Not quiet enough though because she picked up on some of their conversations.

"Who is......she here......Luna?!......arriving late? What kind of....please, he wouldn't choose her......"

To say they made her uncomfortable would be an understatement. But she did her best to block them out. She tentatively piled a small stack of pancakes onto her plate. She buttered and then began to cut them.

She was halfway done eating her breakfast when Benjamin began to speak. "The Mating Ceremony will be when you are officially introduced to the pack, but you may mingle as you want before then. Many here are curious about you and will wish to get to know you." He said.

Why here of all places? Could they not talk about the mating in a private office? Where there will be far fewer ears to hear?

Emerson, thankfully either caught onto her dismay or felt uneasy with speaking about this in front of so many, said, "Can we not enjoy breakfast before speaking about such things father?"

"Yes, yes, of course. But we will be speaking about it. Today. Best to get this done as fast as possible." His father replied, not seeming to notice either his child's or Madeline's discomfort about the topic.

After that, they ate in silence. They didn't speak to each other or other pack members.

Madeline tried so hard to block their words but it began to become difficult. She was thankfully saved by Emerson ending the meal and sending everyone on their way.

Though, as Madeline headed towards the office with Emerson and Benjamin, she began to prefer that table then going into that office.