Page 47 of The Barren Luna

“See, proving my point!”

“One needs to have balance,” I said while stroking my chin as if I were an ancient philosopher with a long beard. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all that, so I like to not take myself too seriously whenever I can.”

“I think I actually like that.”

“You know what it’s like to be part of a pack’s leadership,” I was back to completely serious now. “And you’ve seen firsthand what can happen if you make it your sole identity, if you make the title the center of your life.”

It was as if a dark cloud had fallen over our breakfast table, but we needed to keep these topics part of our conversations. I took her hand and tugged on it.

“Go put your traffic cone jacket on and meet me at the main entrance.”

I hoped she would like our town. I found it very charming, but I was extremely biased. The shops had intricate holiday decorations still adorning the windows, and Gina stopped to admire almost each and every one of them, while I studied all of her different expressions and the items she looked at the longest. She kept sniffing the air, and I didn’t know whether she could scent me yet.

“Can we stop at a bakery? You can probably recommend a good one.”

“Sure, depends on what you want to get?”

“Something sweet. I specifically saved room at breakfast after you told me you’d be taking me into town.”

“I know just the place.”

I led her to my favorite bakery,Miller’s. A bell rang when we entered, and the familiar middle-aged she-wolf that always smelled of yeast and sugar came out of the back rooms to stand behind the till.

“Hello, Alpha David,” she greeted me warmly while baring her neck slightly.

“Hello, Margaret,” I greeted back. “This is Regina.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Regina,” she peered at her, clearly curious but knowing better than to pry.

“You too, Margaret,” Regina was in what I imagined to be her Luna mode.

“What can I get you two?”

“These éclairs, the ones with powdered sugar on top, what are they filled with?” Regina pointed at the glass, her lips pursed in concentration.

“Those have a custard filling.”

“Great, I’ll take one, please.”

“Anything else?”

I looked at Gina and she shook her head.

“That’ll be all, Margaret, thank you,” I said and pulled my wallet out. I could tell Gina wanted to argue but clearly decided not to do it in front of a pack member. Ever the Luna.

When we exited the bakery, however, she immediately objected, “I wanted to buy my own éclair!”

“And I wanted to introduce you as my mate but I figured you wouldn’t like it, so I had to let my wolf do something!”

I tried to rationalize my actions instead of scaring her with how intense my need to care for her was. I knew she was strong and she didn’t need it or me, but I also wanted her to know that she now had a place to rest her head and her heart if it ever got too much for her.

No one was strong all the time, and relying on your team was what saved lives. The military had taught me that. I wanted to be on her team.

“I get the feeling you’re just using your wolf to justify whatever,” she frowned at me, and I looked away.

“He wants to feed you,” I decided to give her the truth. “And I want to, too. Look, not to darken the nice day that we’ve been having, but in the interest of being honest and open with each other, he kind of went crazy when we found you. You were weak and malnourished and he feels better knowing you’re fed, I’m sorry if it’s stressing you out.”

She looked deep into my eyes and my wolf tried coming out. He felt her wolf stronger than ever before.

---