Page 35 of Fated
An image materialized: her and Kai bathed in moonlight as they stood hand in hand on Moonshadow’s sacred grounds, golden wristbands pulsing with Selene’s blessing. Lena’s breath hitched, cheeks flushing as her thoughts veered toward what cemented the bond—the claiming.
She was thrust back into her fantasies again. Elara’s energy coiled with hunger, sharpening each imagined sensation: Kai’s hands exploring her body, his lips pressing against her neck, then the exquisite sting of his bite marking her as his own.
She envisioned Kai’s alpha aura blazing to full brilliance after the marking, her bite the key that unlocked his true power. Her skin tingled at the thought of his wolf surging forward to claim her—not just as possession, but as equal.
“Yes,”Elara purred.“Ours. As we are his.”
“...and, of course, the luna helps to preside over all pack ceremonies, from the first shift to the crowning of a new alpha and his beta and gamma,” Eden continued, her words jolting Lena back to reality.
Lena sat up straighter, mortified at her wandering thoughts, though Elara remained contentedly lost in their shared vision. Flipping her pen nervously between her fingers, she tried to catch up, but her focus remained scattered, the phantom sensation of Kai’s imagined claiming still tingling on her skin.
Lena made her way to the dining hall once the morning sessions concluded. She saw her brother and Beta Aiden seated with an alpha and beta pair that she didn’t recognize. Ryker didn’t appear to be with them.
She scanned the rest of the room in search of her friend, secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of Kai as well. Neither one of them was there. Disappointment surged as realized that she didn’t know when she’d see Kai again—she didn’t know where his room was, and she had zero interest in engaging Alpha Darius to find him.
Elara whined in the back of her mind as dejection chilled their bond and frosted the edges of Lena’s thoughts.
Lena swallowed her disappointment, refusing to let it ruin her day. She spotted Luna Eden sitting at a small table near the windows, something about the older she-wolf’s calm presence drawing her forward. Eden’s inviting smile and attentive gaze promised the wisdom Lena craved, offering a welcome distraction from her spiraling thoughts.
“Luna Eden?” she tentatively asked. “Would you mind if I joined you for lunch?”
Eden’s smile brightened. “Of course, dear. Please, sit.”
Lena slid into the chair, tension easing from her shoulders as Luna Eden leaned forward with genuine interest.
“Tell me about your first summit experience,” Eden prompted, questions flowing naturally, punctuated with knowing nods and comments about Moonshadow’s history that made Lena sit taller with pack pride even as Elara remained increasingly aware of Kai’s absence.
As their plates emptied, Lena hesitated before voicing the thoughts that had been gnawing at her all morning, thoughts that even quieted Elara with uncertainty.
As an alpha’s daughter, Lena knew the expectations: tradition, patience, submission. Either let destiny chart her course andwait for her fated mate or marry well to strengthen pack alliances. But she’d always wanted more, and thankfully her father had encouraged her ambitions—allowing her to train alongside warriors and learn leadership beside Cian. A chance to prove herself beyond bloodlines and gender norms.
“Luna Eden,” she began timidly, “can I ask you something…personal?”
Eden set down her teacup with a gentle clink. “Of course, Lena.” She leaned forward slightly, clearly ready to listen. “What’s on your mind?”
“I… I guess I’m struggling to find my place,” Lena admitted, fingers twisting the edge of her napkin. “I know I’m the daughter of an alpha, but my future is tied to this bond—this fated connection I didn’t choose. I’ve always wanted to be strong and independent, but…everything feels like it’s out of my control. What if I’m not ready? Or…what if I’m not enough? There’s a lot of pressure, considering the prestige of Bloodstone. I desperately want to be a great luna to Kai, to his pack.”
Elara shifted uneasily at the admission of their fears, but Eden reached across the table, warm hand covering Lena’s restless fingers.
“Oh, my dear. Let me tell you something I’ve learned in my years as Luna. The most important job we do—our truest purpose—is to support our alpha. But don’t mistake that for subservience.”
Lena looked up, brow furrowing in confusion, both she and Elara caught by the strength in Eden’s words.
“The alpha may be the head of the pack,” Eden continued, voice rich with experience, “but the luna is the neck that turns the head. We lend strength, not because we complete them, but because we amplify them. We keep them focused on a good path, remind them of their humanity when their wolf instinctsthreaten to take over, and help them make decisions that serve not just themselves but the pack and the region.”
Lena felt something shift within her as Eden spoke, Elara rising closer to the surface, standing at attention.
Eden’s smile softened. “It’s not about being perfect, Lena. It’s about beingpresent. Your strength doesn’t come from knowing all the answers—it comes from being willing to ask the right questions and standing beside your alpha as an equal partner, not a shadow.”
Lena swallowed hard, understanding dawning as she nodded. Elara’s purr vibrated through her bones, straightening her spine with growing confidence.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I needed to hear that.”
Eden’s eyes twinkled as she patted Lena’s hand. “You’ll do just fine, Lena. I can see it already.”
Lena lingered for a moment after lunch ended, hoping Ryker would appear. She smiled to herself when he didn’t, imagining he was off charming—or aggravating—other beta heirs.
She headed back to her room to change for her afternoon sessions, Elara’s energy building with anticipation. Today, she’d chosen to attend the beta-female training, curious about how these strong she-wolves balanced their roles within their packs. While it might not directly apply to her future, their experiences could provide valuable insight.
