Page 67 of A Luna's Revenge

She nods, smiling shyly. “Yes, let’s do that.”

Charlie

A month has passed since Xy's birthday party. Reggie and I are walking closely together, coming back from the playground. I have a sleeping pup cuddled to my chest while Reggie has his arms draped over us protectively.

I muse that life seems to have finally settledas we walk up the steps to our house. Once we moved back, we decided to build a home near Mom and Dad.

Reggie takes Xyran from my arms and walks up the steps to lay him down for a much-needed nap. I follow him up the stairs, looking over the banister at our home. The first floor is open and includes a modern kitchen, dining room, and living room, while our offices are tucked away under the second-story rooms. There's also a bathroom and laundry area on that side with our offices.

The wall behind the sofa features a mural of a tree with photos of our family members and ancestors, including ourgrandparents and great-grandparents. The back wall has floor-to-ceiling windows that lead to a large patio and the woods beyond.

The four upstairs bedrooms all line one side of the house with a walkway that looks over the great room. Each bedroom includes an ensuite.

Reggie opens Xy’s nursery door, depositing the sleeping bundle safely in his bed. Following behind, I remove his shoes and pull the blanket up around his shoulders. We both stare down at the proof of our love. Reggie turns to me, touching my slightly bulging stomach, and smiles. He pulls me into his arms, resting his chin atop my head.

A knock comes from downstairs. We break apart, sighing at the loss of this precious moment together. Softly closing the door behind us, we make our way to the door. I stand behind Reggie as he pulls the door open to find the Alpha Commander and Beta Ben on the other side.

“Gentlemen, please come inside,” Reggie offers. “What brings you by this afternoon?”

“Official business.” Beta Ben offers.

“Charlie, I need to speak to you and Reggie briefly. Can we go to your offices?”

“Sure. Come on in.” I gesture towards our office door.

You enter our office suite through one main door that leads to a conference room with a table and media screen on the far wall. On the opposite wall are two doors, one leading to my office and the other to Reggie’s. Reggie still works with the elite enforcers, but I don’t have any official pack position; this is where we run our business.

“Have a seat at the table.” I invite. We all gather around, pulling up a chair.

“Charlie, Reggie, I am not going to beat around the bush; we need you to take over the running of the pack.” AlphaCommander begins, getting right to the point. “I don’t know how much you know about Jenson’s mental state, Charlie, but as we want you to take over as Alpha, we need to make you aware.”

I nod. Assisting with the running of the pack is nothing new to me. I helped Jenson run it for five years before I left; I was an equal partner. Becoming Alpha is not a formidable task, especially with a partner like Reggie. “I will gladly accept that role, Alpha Commander, and it will be my honor.”

He looks to Reggie. “Are you willing to accept the role of Charlie’s helpmate? I don’t know what that title would be for a male; it’snot something we have experienced. Luna? Lunar? Lunar Consort?” He searches.

Reggie looks at me and smiles. “Charlie, as your Lunar or Lunar Consort, mate, and husband, I am the devoted moon that orbits around you, my Alpha. No matter where our journey takes us, standing by your side will always be a privilege.” He looks back to theAlpha Commander and nods.

Tears blind me as my heart warms. Never have I felt so loved or seen, cherished, and adored. With those simple words, Reggie tells me that pride will never get in the way of our relationship and that he’ll nourish our bond and always choose me. I will follow him anywhere, for he is my guiding star, and with him by my side, as equals, we can lead our pack to a brighter future.

“Well!” Alpha Commander grins. “That pretty much says it all.”

I turn to him and smile. “I guess it does. Now tell me about Jenson's mental state.”

“Right! As you know, he was institutionalized right after your pup's birth just over a year ago. He has been diagnosed with Lupine Dominance Disorder (LDD). It’s a condition where the wolf personality of a shifter becomes dominant due to extreme mental distress experienced by the human side. Thisstate of mindfulness is a means of coping that allows the symbiotic relationship to maintain mental balance, with the wolf identity managing daily life and social interactions. Meanwhile, the human psyche remains present but silent, in a catatonic-like state, subdued in the recesses of the mind.” Alpha Commander explains.

“So, you are saying that Asher is the main personality in Jenson’s human body?”

“Basically, yes.” He confirms. “And, since this is his pack, Asher, as he is now called, will come here to reside. Do either of you have any problems with that?”

He glances between Reggie and me, looking at each otherandshrugging. “I don’t,” I reply, shaking my head. “Are you okay with that, Babe?”

“I am.” Reggie simply states.

“Good. His parents and friends are here. It will be good for him to return to familiar surroundings and have that support.” Alpha Commander taps the table.

“What about his obsession with Charlie?” Reggie worries his lip.

“Asher has formed a bond with a doctor at the mental institution. She resigned from her position there so she and Asher could pursue a relationship; they were subsequently married in an intimate ceremony last month.” Alpha Commander assures us.

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