Chapter 2 My life

At the edges of civilization, werewolf packs could be found in deep forests, along forgotten trails and where places have been faded from the geographical map. In America, there are four werewolf packs.

The Northern moon pack.

The Southern Moon pack.

The Eastern Moon pack.

The Western Moon pack.

The Northern Moon is located in the deep forests of Minnesota, so basically, I am based there.

'I hope I can enter this time.' I trudge down the familiar dark streets of the pack at the moment leading to my home....my family. That is, if we could still be called a family when neither my parent nor my elder brother wanted to look me in the eye or even initiate a conversation.

Anyway, today's the birthday of my mother. The same day I found out the existence of my unborn child. If nothing had happened, this day would have been perfect for double good news, but life was never easy for anyone. Even for werewolves.

*knock*

*knock*

I knock on the door and wait patiently, in hopes that I would be allowed inside my home. Home that I have not stepped in since that incident.

By now, my family should have detected my scent, but as always, I remain outside until one of them answers. Normally, my elder brother, Simone Monroe, has mostly been the one who answered, and sneered in my face with his sharp-tongue and sarcastic insults.

So, imagine my surprise when my mother was the one who opened the door.

''M-Mum...'' I stutter at the sight of her. It was obvious I was quite startled, but then slowly grin in relief since it has been a while that I've seen her.

''H-Happy birthday, mother.'' I start with an awkward stutter and gesture to the wrapped up present in my hand. ''I bought you a gift...''

''The Monroe family is not worthy of accommodating you, Luna Henderson.'' My mother's voice comes out indifferent, void of warmth unlike her affectionate tone in the past.

It was different from my father's disappointing silence, and my elder brother's mocking words. At least, I could tell their feelings, but my mother was plainly indifferent as if staring at a stranger who was her youngest daughter.

''O-Oh...um...I-I see.'' I try to laugh off the tensed atmosphere between us. '''W-Well, today's your birthday and I just wanted to give you this.'' I remain persistent with the present. Even if it got tossed in the trash like Simone had always done before I leave, it never changed that I still thought of my family.

Even if they have stopped thinking of me as one.

''.....Aren't you shameless, Luna Henderson?'' My mother suddenly calls out after a moment of silence. ''My husband, son and I have made it clear that we don't want your visits, especially that of a murderer.''

I flinch at the word 'murderer'

''Leave our family alone in peace.'' She demands with choked-up feelings, visible from her voice. ''We remain mourning for our only daughter who nearly died by your hands and battles for her life at the pack hospital.'' Her voice cracks at the ending.

''......'' Under her sharp glare, I lower the present, understanding that my presence must have been painful for my family to bear.

''I-I understand.'' This time, I did not address my mother as mother. As she wanted, I turned around and left my family that wasn't mine anymore. A father that stopped being mine. A mother that stopped being mine, and an elder brother that stopped being mine. They have thoroughly cut me out of their lives.

'I didn't even do a thing back then.' I almost yell back, feeling unjust, but forcefully held on and carried my steps that felt very heavy at the moment away from my former home.

****

It didn't take long for me to arrive at where I stayed in the pack. It was a building with two rooms enough for two werewolves. My mate and I.

However, my mate had another house to himself in the pack, and only came to our house when he was in rut or when I am in heat.

Basically, our primal desires and sexual urges.

As long as either of us sensed this from our scent or mate bond, we have no way to control it other than intercourse.

In other words, lust without true feelings.

I may have strong feelings of love for Jared, but he has strong feelings of hate for me.

His true love was my twin sister, whom he and the entire pack saw her as their Luna. Someone that was not his mate.

I, on the other hand was like a substitute, a replacement Luna, even though I was the true mate. An Alpha was incapable of living sane without his true mate, and a pack could never prosper fully without its true Luna.

Although, I have been wearing the title of Luna and Alpha's mate for two years now, no one in this pack has ever treated me like one. I didn't even have the so-called Luna duties. Everything was handled by Jared and other superiors in the pack.

Life of Luna was typically a title without power.

My werewolf with the primal instincts of a Luna has always been displeased by the outright disrespect, but she knew nothing could be done other than to endure.

After all, I was seen as a murderer in the pack, and there was no evidence to prove my own claims.

*click*

My ears peer up at the sound of the door closing from the entrance. Right now, I was clearing the dirty dishes of my dinner after taking a shower.

''Jared?'' I hesitantly call out and let go of the plate in the sink. There was no one other than Jared who had the key to this house. None of the pack members have ever dared to trespassed into the house of their Alpha.

That could also explain why my mate's scent suddenly grew stronger a moment ago.

Wiping my hands on my apron, I step out of the kitchen, and almost collide to a hard chest on my way. Strong arms wrapped around my waist strongly and pull me closer. My body was practically flushed against Jared's

Growl

He nuzzles his face in my neck, breathing in my scent, and graze his teeth on my skin.

''...You're in rut.'' My words were a statement and not a question. Jared's scent smelled much sweeter and tempting in the atmosphere like an aphrodisiac. He only acted like a true mate and was willing to interact and act intimate with me when in rut. Jared also could not control the temptation to mark me, and complete our mate bond.

In the rut of male werewolves, their states are akin to a true werewolf. In short, a beast who could not control its raw primal desires for its partner. It was much stronger for Alphas who were the leaders of a packs and dominated all werewolves with their intimidating presence.

As an Alpha, Jared should have been taken over by his werewolf, but he seemed to have a strong will and mind not to be taking over.

Or else I would have been marked in the last two years.

Normally, I would be feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside with the rare intimacy of my mate, but now, I have another worry in mind.

The baby.

''J-Jared, I have to tell you something.'' My breath becomes heavier from the light kisses and marks that Jared normally made on my neck. Although this was not a great moment to announce the existence of our child, but I had to do it no matter what.

The doctor had specifically repeated not to have intercourse until the pregnancy was stable.

This baby must remain safe at any cost.

''Ja-Ah!'' I squeal in surprise as Jared bit my neck deeply quite. My resistance seemed to have angered his Alpha instincts and he revealed his displeasure by biting down my neck. He wanted my submission as his mate and Luna.

''W-Wait...'' I try to escape, but Jared's embrace was too strong. He even used the opportunity of my struggles to lift my body from my butt, and I unconsciously wound my arms around his neck.

Eyes wide, I look down at the dark eyes of my mate that deepened more and more. A sign of his werewolf almost taking over.

''Please listen to me, I went...'' My words were swallowed us by Jared's lips as he moved to my bedroom.

'The baby...' With my eyes closed, I try to resist the kiss, but Jared seemed to have anticipated my move that he placed at the back of my head and deepened his kiss, leaving no way out for me.

My scent suddenly grew stronger and I knew that we were already in my bed room. Jared did not let go of the kiss as we got on the bed.

''W-Wait...'' When I had the chance to breathe, I try once again with my heavy gasps, and this time Jared did not make a move, but continued undressing himself with my flushed body reflecting on his dark eyes.

''Í-I have to tell you something, Jared.'' Fortunately, I wasn't stopped and stare up at him from the bed. ''I went to the hospital, a human one and....''

''Does that matter?''