The next day I woke with determination. I spent most of the evening feeling sorry for myself, but I was going to try not to let it get to me. I remember falling asleep last night watching movies with Sean and waking to him passed out along the width of my bed. I nudged him with my foot and he grumbled before pushing me away. I smirked to myself and nudged him again.

This time his eyes opened and he blinked back the sleep to look at what was touching him. His face crinkled in confusion before he pulled himself upright. His hand ran over his face as he grunted and stretched.

"Morning Novie. Sorry I fell asleep here." He smiled, his voice was heavy and scratchy.

I shrugged. "I didn't even realise that I fell asleep either."

I climbed out of bed and stretched my back. "I'm gonna go get ready for the day."

He nodded and glanced at his watch. "I'll meet you down there."

I smiled a nod in return and made my way into my bathroom. I got ready for the day and brushed my hair to hang down my face. I chose to be brave and wore some dark blue jeans with a white t-shirt. I could do this, I could wear something form-fitting. I had a body, just like everyone else. I needed to own it.

'You sure can.' Cel chirped.

I took in a steady breath and nodded to myself before slipping on some shoes. I preferred to be barefoot but decided I wanted to go for a walk this morning. It's been a while since I went out and explored.

I left my room and made my way down the hall and the flights of stairs. I passed a couple of others heading towards breakfast. I had woken at eight which is when most other wolves come down on a Sunday. I helped myself to orange juice and a waffle with golden syrup on it. I wandered my way to my usual table but was interrupted by a blur of pink in my eye-line.

"Nova! Where have you been? I've been trying to link you since you ran off yesterday." Molly grabbed my face and squished my cheeks.

I frowned to the best of my ability, and she let go. "Sorry, I had a rough ...time. I got told off rather bad for shifting."

She chuckled. "Yeah, most of us kind of know now. They've spread it around until Alpha told us all to stop."

"Brilliant," I muttered.

She chuckled but pulled me to her side and lead me away from the kitchen to the dining room. "Why do you stink so much of my brother?"

I rolled my eyes. "He slept in my room last night."

She stopped me part way to the dining room and looked at me with wide eyes. "No, you did not-"

I chuckled. "He just fell asleep in my room, we watched movies together."

She sighed in relief. "Thank goddess, honestly I don't see why you two aren't mates. He's never been so kind to anyone."

I smiled softly and didn't reply since we entered the dining room. Sean was already there eating his breakfast which was waffles with bacon, sausages and who knows what else. He smiled at us as we sat opposite him and Molly grimaced, holding her coffee close to her chest.

"You're such a pig." She frowned.

He chuckled and stuck his food-covered tongue out at her.

"And also a child." She rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink. "Honestly Nova, I don't see why you hang out with him."

I hummed in thought and eyed Sean too. "Me either. I suppose I just like the big cuddles he gives."

Sean frowned at me, swallowing his food. "You mean my manliness."

Swallowing most of his food, should I say.

I winced as the potato dropped down his chin. "Gross man."

He finished his mouthful completely and grinned. "You mean my manly body, right?"

I smirked and shrugged. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Like Nova's bed." Molly teased.

Sean grunted. "Nothing happened. But yeah Nova, your bed is really firm, I have to admit. No wonder you stretch and click so much."

I laughed. "Comfier than what I had before."

His face fell and he apologised but I just laughed him off. I hadn't been in his room before, but he told me that his bed was memory foam. We ate our breakfast surrounded by general small talk. It was Sunday, so we didn't have to rush around for anyone, which was a nice change.

The tension in the room grew when the aura of power came forwards. Most of the pack were here being it was Sunday, so the room was already pretty full.

Charlie walked in first, and the room fell to a respectful hush when he cleared his throat. Behind him came Phoenix and I tensed when I saw Lyra step up beside him.

I narrowed my eyes when his hand hovered near her lower back. I finished my last waffle as he spoke and stayed chewing for longer and messier than probably necessary. I felt petty, wanting to snap his arm right in half. I blamed Cel for this anger, my more moral brain being a pacifist of sorts.

"Everyone, this is Lyra Johnson, daughter of Alpha Johnson. She's visiting from Full Moon until Wednesday on pack business so please be respectful of her and her pack members." Phoenix announced. "That is all."

I stopped my glare when Sean sent me a look from over his shoulder. He had to turn to look at them since he was facing the wrong way. So how he knew I was shooting daggers baffled me.

A low grumble left my lips when I finished chewing so I kept my eyes on Charlie instead. It was probably disrespectful to chew whilst he was here talking, but I didn't care. He was being disrespectful to me all the time.

Charlie cleared his throat and began to make his way over to our table. His eyes were set on me and I mentally groaned. I wasn't in the mood for any of this bull today.

He stood at the edge of the table for a moment, but I chose to ignore him. Sean spun around and glanced up at him, not saying anything either.

Molly cleared her throat. "I'm just gonna go get more coffee."

Coward! Leaving me here all alone with them.

I watched her go with a frown, feeling betrayed. She narrowly dodged walking past Phoenix and the intruder. They were walking back into the kitchen too, no doubt to get food as well.

"Have a seat," Sean grumbled.

I turned my attention to Charlie who shook his head.

"What's up?" Sean wondered, crossing his arms.

I raised my eyebrow in agreement but kept quiet. I sipped at my orange juice, wishing I had some ice in it. I loved freezing cold orange juice.

"I want you both in my office right now," Charlie ordered.

Sean sighed and stood to his feet. I watched him stand with a pout and groaned when I knew I couldn't get out of this. I was taking my juice with me, not spoiling that.

We followed Charlie out of the dining room and I stared longingly at Molly who stood leaning against the kitchen counters. She grinned at me, mockingly waving.

I grumbled but trudged behind the two steaming men. Why did I have to go? What did I do to Charlie?

Charlie opened the door and gestured for us to go in. Sean entered first with me behind and Charlie's eyes followed me as I entered. I sat in one of the comfy blue accent chairs and looked around.

I much preferred his office to Phoenix's. It had cream walls and carpets with blue accent chairs, a large glass desk, and blue and white pillows. A huge window faced the back of the house and I could see the vegetable patch from here. It was nice and modern.

"Alpha isn't happy about you showing him up in front of the visitors yesterday." Charlie kept his voice stern and level.

He walked around his desk to sit in his armchair. I looked from the chair to look at Sean but in my office daydream, I realised he wasn't sitting beside me. Keeping both hands on my orange juice, I followed my senses to see he was standing directly behind me. I blinked up at him, bending almost in half to look up at him.

Sneaky, this one.

"And?" Sean copied his attitude, ignoring me.

"It made them ask questions." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "They were hinting that Alpha doesn't have control of his pack members."

Sean scoffed. "I had more important things than proofreading the treaty yet again."

My eyebrow quirked in curiosity. What treaty?

I continued to look around the office instead and noticed an alcohol stand. There was an ice maker beside it and my eyes widened in delight.

"Is there ice in that?" I asked.

Charlie's eyes snapped to me in surprise. I didn't realise I had cut him off. I smiled shyly but he nodded with a sceptical brow raise. I practically skipped over to the ice machine and took out an entire scoop of the tiny ball ice cubes. I've never seen spherical ones before. How exciting.

Cel groaned. 'It's just ice.'

Yeah. Circle ice.

I sat back down in my chair, happy with my cold drink and waved my hand. "Continue telling Sean off."

Charlie blinked at me, his eyebrows furrowing. "Okay..."

Sean grunted behind me. "She likes ice in her juice."

I suddenly felt like Sean was my dad and my eyes widened at the realisation that the whole situation was childlike...

Charlie nodded and cleared his throat. "He wanted to handle this meeting, but I told him he was rather biased, with it involving Nova."

"It is nothing to do with Nova really," Sean replied.

"It does. You left your duties to deal with her. And you smell strongly of her today. Even with a change of clothes." Charlie accused. "Whatever is going on between you two needs to stop."

I frowned, my happiness about my ice vanishing. My morning was just getting better until now.

"Please." Sean scoffed. "Whatever goes on between Nova and I does not concern you or Alpha."

"Actually it does." Charlie snapped, hands fisted on his desk. "They're mates! If they for together as people know of your closeness..."

I was starting to think glass as a desk may not be the best material in situations like this. But then again Charlie rarely lost his temper...

"Oh yeah, how's that? Because last time I checked he wanted nothing to do with her and I was her bodyguard, not him. Which guess what, I still am." Sean growled.

'Down boy.' Cel barked, mockingly.

"Nova is his mate, Gamma Sean. You need to realise your place is not beside her but behind her watching her back." Charlie grumbled.

"Not gonna happen." Sean scoffed.

"And why's that! You know mate bonds are sacred Sean, Nova is his mate."

Sean rolled his eyes. "He wants nothing to do with her. Nothing like that is going in! I am merely making sure she has someone to rely on. She's a small, weak wolf, Charlie. I cannot let her live her life in solitude and loneliness just because Alpha doesn't like people being around her. She deserves to have answers and her freedom. He kept her wolf locked up for months!"

I frowned at Sean calling me weak. I thought I was doing well and now he was downright insulting me.

Charlie sighed, anger vanishing immediately. "I understand."

"No, I don't think you do." Sean shuffled behind me. "He leaves her with no answers and expects her to just train every day for what? She could barely talk. If it wasn't for me, Molly and Kate she would still be a stuttering mess! Nova is too gentle for him; her heart is too soft. Someone as murderous and harsh as Titan does not deserve her."

Charlie's eyes flashed and he growled. "Do not disrespect your Alpha. I know he is not the most emotional man, but he has done what he had to to survive."

"And banishing Nova to one form without friends or even a job is necessary?"

Charlie stood silently for a moment, but I stayed quiet. He seemed to be discussing something with himself. Part of me was insulted at the way I was being described and the other part was flattered at Sean defending me. It was a hard thought to process.

"I do agree... he has gone about this wrong. If Nova wants to work, it is something she will, unfortunately, have to battle with him herself. He is stubborn in his ways, he doesn't want her to do anything to stand out or hurt herself." Charlie spoke calmly.

"She's already shifted into a black wolf, a little late for that don't you think?" Sean chuckled darkly. "And now he prances round with Miss Johnson in front of her? She's sleeping on the high level of the house!"

"And you didn't sleep in Nova's bed last night?" Charlie rose an eyebrow.

"That's different. We are just friends and it was an accident."

"Look, I don't want to argue about this anymore. I just want to remind you to control yourself when around pack members and visitors. They are started to question things." Charlie sighed. "People are thinking that you two are mates and if Phoenix hears that, it won't go well. For either of you."

I looked up from my juice to see him staring at me this time. I grimaced and looked away again.

"Now do I get to know the whole reason for last night or not?"

"It's up to Nova to disclose that, not me."

I looked up into Charlie's warm brown eyes and sighed. "I thought he was going to reject me"

He blinked a few times, spluttering as he tried to form words. "He didn't- he wouldn't... He respects the mate bond, he-"

"He does?" I snapped. "We shouted and fought and then he kissed me in frustration. Then we were back to arguing and he basically claims he cannot accept me nor reject me and won't tell me why. Then the next thing I know he's with another woman and she's what did you say- sleeping on his level? I thought that level was only for Phoenix."

Charlie tensed at my accusations. "It is... Look, I'm sorry he did that to you. As his Beta, I have been told more than anyone else but even so, there are things he won't disclose to me. I believe their relationship is nothing but professional. They have known each other for over twelve years. He always told me of the hope to find his mate, so I don't believe he would reject you. And Lyra is not on his floor."

"But am I suited for him Charlie? For this pack as their Luna." I interrupted with a whisper. "Look at me, honestly and tell me if I showed up as a pack recruit you would take me in."

He frowned.

"Exactly. I don't belong here. I don't have muscle, I don't have the beauty that every dang person seems to have." I laughed to myself before sighing. "I d-don't like to fight and I don't like to argue. I was told to be warned about your pack, to not confront any of you because I wouldn't survive. I'm not meant to be here. I don't even know Phoenix. He was a different man when I met him at my old pack, he took me from a d-dark place. A-and now he's changed. And he-he's mean and cold. And rude."

He sighed. "I see."

"If he rejected me then I can move on, but I don't even know what he's doing."

"If you'd survive the rejection," Sean interjected.

"Not the point," I grumbled. "If he accepts me, what am I going to do? Plan wars and test out mark seventy of wolfy armour? That's not me."

"You're doing well in training, Nova," Charlie stated. "There I more to being a Luna."

"I grew up without one." I frowned. "I have nothing else to do."

"Well, what do you like to do?"

"I like to draw. To paint..." I smiled softly. "I like nature, and flowers and going for long walks. I like to swim too."

He hummed in thought. "Okay, I'll see what I can do. I'll talk to Phoenix about it."

My eyes widened. "I don't want to cause any trouble! I'll get kicked out of the pack-"

"You're his mate, Nova." Charlie chuckled. "You could burn the house down and I think he'd still roll over if you demand it of him."

Yeah right...

"Besides, he was listening to this whole conversation." He shrugged, leaning back in his chair.

"He what?" Sean snapped.

Charlie appeared bashful. "I apologise but he demanded it of me to keep my mind link open."

My eyes widened. So much had been said, from both me and Sean. I turned to look up at Sean to see him frowning down at me. We must be thinking the same thing- we said too much too comfortably about the Alpha.

'Least he knows now.' Cel sighed.

Yeah, and he knows about how much I dislike him too.

She huffed. 'Could be worse.'

How could it be worse?

'You could've said that Sean was more than a friend.'

I groaned, knowing that the information of our friendship would be an interesting feat to receive backlash on, even if it was just a friendship.

••••

wc: 3088

Do you have a dream pet? What is it?

Do you have any pets now?

I love animals, I'm a crazy pet lady for sure. I only have rats & a cat atm but I did have a dog who passed last year and a bearded dragon. I'd own a zoo if I could. But my dream is to have two dogs maybe 3, one scruffy one like gnasher, a Dalmatian & a Aussie shepherd 😂 will keep me on my toes for sure

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