The Rejected Full Moon

Storm Forest goes mad!

The Lupercalia Full Moon Festival is tonight, and it's already midday.

The women of the pack are making the final preparations to make this year's festival even more successful than last year's. The lunar festival is designed to increase the libido of mated wolves, driving them mad with the lust, to produce more pups. More pups, a bigger pack, a more powerful Alpha. The packhouse is buzzing with life, everyone eagerly awaiting the start in a few hours.

"Rain! Haven't you finished roasting all the meat yet?" my mother-in-law rages behind my back. She's been in a bad mood all day and is taking it out on me. And it's my job to make sure all the meat is ready when the starving mates return from their intensive collective mating.

"Yes, Mother, just the lamb and everything will be ready in half an hour," I reassure her.

When she hears me call her "mother," her face turns sour.

The former Luna hates it when I call her that, though she never told me. She doesn't dare because she knows Jasper would be terribly upset, and she avoids all discussions with her son. Especially when it comes to me.

"Okay, get everything ready on time. The wolves will gather here in half an hour and then the flight to the sacred cave will begin. Just like last year, of course, you will stay in the packhouse, no wolf has time today to wait for a human or carry it on their back," she tells me viciously.

I nod indifferently, this isn't the first time she's stressed that I don't have a wolf and that I'm a mere human. Over the years I have learned not to react to this in order to keep the peace in the house.

I put the bowl with the meat I prepared on the big table.

Next to me I see Anje, Gamma Kenrick's mate, serving the sauces and preparing the cutlery. She gives me a sideways glance and I expect her to make the usual snide remark.

And yes, she does not disappoint me.

"Rain, you're staying behind in the packhouse. Maybe you can help the unmated she-wolves look after the pups. At least then you'll get the chance to finally hold one in your arms. Nothing will come of you anyway."

I nod again and don't waste time arguing with her. When I have everything in order, I decide to go up to the apartment to freshen up first. I've been roasting and steaming meat all morning and can already smell my stinky self.

Before I can press the elevator button, the doors open.

J asper, my mate, steps out.

"Rain! I haven't seen you all day. I've been terribly busy, but you could have come to my office for a kiss. I missed you, little one," he reproaches me with a wink. I jump on him with a beaming smile and nuzzle his neck.

Jasper is the love of my life.

He's obviously madly in love with me too and protects me like a true mate. When he is around, no one dares to insult me.

"I've been busy too, my love. Everything must be ready when you return. You know how hungry wolves can get after a fierce mating," I laugh.

"Hmmm, is that right? I'm hungry too now, but you haven't taken care of me yet, mate," he whispers sultrily as he nips at my earlobe. He holds me tighter, gets us back into the elevator and presses the button to lock the doors.

Then he pushes me gently against the elevator wall and I wrap my legs around his hips. His boner presses against my core as he kisses me passionately.

"I stink, Jasper, let me shower first," I whisper to him. "I've been handling bloody meat all day. Blood is all over my body and my clothes." He bites my neck seductively, sending ripples of desire through my body.

"No problem. I'm an animal too, so I'm used to raw meat. And all I want this moment is to devour you."

And that's exactly what he does.

When he opens the elevator doors an hour later, he grins with satisfaction.

After one last kiss on my nose, he hurries off to his study while I head upstairs to our apartment. I walk into the bedroom while tearing the rest of the clothes off my body. In the bathroom, I take a refreshing bath to relax my muscles. The adventure in the elevator was mind-blowing but also a lot of exercise.

After half an hour in a warm bath, I am very much my old self.

I step back into the bedroom with a towel around my body and it immediately catches my eye.

On the bed lies a long red dress with a deep V-neck set with sparkling gemstones. The bodice is tight but falls loosely from the hips. I walk over to it and looking at the packaging I noticed it was from a prestigious fashion designer in human town.

There is also a velvet box in the middle of the dress.

Opening it, I find a platinum chain with a ruby pendant on the bed. The jewelry and the dress match perfectly.

I step back and find a pair of open shoes in the same color by the bed, completing my outfit for tonight.

Jasper is such a gentleman. He can go to great lengths to prove his love to me.

My mate!

And on this night of Lupercalia, he always comes back to spend the night with me, we celebrate this festival in our own way, just the two of us.

I smile, this night will be perfect after all.

Quickly I put on a pair of skinny jeans and a white top and dance my way out of the apartment, heading to the daycare where the unmated she-wolves are waiting for me.

They too are ready to pester me about not being able to join the festival. But I don't mind, I have my mate all to myself at eleven.

Nothing bothers me anymore....

Still in a state of euphoria, I say goodbye to the she-wolves at the daycare around ten o'clock. Few bother to return my greeting, but I really don't care.

Right now all I'm thinking about is my date with my mate. Two hours ago, a large part of the pack departed en masse for the sacred cave.

From the loud howling I conclude that the animal sacrifice to the Moon Goddess has been accepted by her. And then preparations are made for the hunt and Jasper will watch that the rules are read correctly by his Beta.

The hunt starts with a ten-minute lead for the she-wolves, after which their mates start looking for them. When they find their fated, the forest turns into one big party of mating wolves, the cries of ecstasy increasing the couples' sex drive among themselves.

The moment the first cries are heard, I know that Jasper is on his way back to the packhouse to meet me.

Many she-wolves have tried to seduce and mate with him in hopes of giving birth to his heir, but my faithful mate consistently refuses.

He is absolutely loyal to me.

This makes me so proud of him. The first year of our mating I participated in this festival but when it turned out that I wasn't pregnant the following year and my wolf hadn't showed up either, the Elders decided it was better if I stayed behind. In addition, it was difficult to participate in the run or hunt without a wolf.

In good spirits, I now wander into the packhouse, but as I approach the elevator, I hear voices behind a closed door. This is our entertainment area where unmarried pack members often watch movies or play indoor games. But the voices I hear there belong to the Alpha family.

I sharpen my hearing and hear Jasper's mother muttering, but I can't quite make out what she's saying. But then I hear my name and I walk closer.

"We have a pathetic human for a Luna. If she had only given birth to a single pup, we could have tolerated her not being able to shift," my mother-in-law complains agitated. "Now she just eats our food but is worth zero. She only costs us money but brings us nothing".

"If only we could find a way to get rid of her, Jasper could be given a second chance. Much better, get a chosen mate. Then we won't have to wait long for a pup, the successor to our Alpha," I hear Louise, Jasper's sister, add. "A barren Luna. Bah!" she lets out disgustedly. "Why didn't her parents push her to death at birth? She's nobody!"

Tears well up in my eyes as I listen to the harsh words.

I knew the Alpha family wasn't happy with me, but for them to hate me to the point of wishing me dead is heartbreaking. The pain that shoots through my heart almost suffocates me.

Slowly I walk to the elevator to take me to my residence. Tears are streaming down my cheeks now. I step into our apartment, in the bedroom I fall on the bed. I feel myself falling into a pitch black pit from which I can't crawl out. The tears keep coming, I now hold my chest tight and try to clear my mind. But this time it doesn't work. This raw rejection is hard to come by.

And then I know: I have to get out of here. I must free Jasper to find the Luna he needs.

His family is right, I'm not helping the pack. Everyone here hates me, there's no point in annoying them any longer with my presence. Jasper and the pack need pups to continue the bloodline, ensuring the survival of Storm Forest. And I can't give that to them.

Jasper loves me, but I can't be selfish. Tonight I want to be with my mate and then it's time to go. I know he won't let me in so I have to find a way to leave without him stopping me. And I already know how.

I get up from the bed and go back to the bathroom.

This time I'm in the shower until I come to my senses. However, the cruel words of my in-laws will not spoil the evening with my mate.

Back in the bedroom, I put on the dress Jasper had prepared for me and put the necklace around my neck. As soon as I have my make-up in order, I check the result in the mirror. No matter what everyone in the pack says about me, no one can deny that I have a distinct beauty. My features are striking, and my long black hair cascades down my back like a waterfall. My greatest treasures, however, are my almond-shaped large silver eyes and thick eyebrows in a slightly tanned face. Many spend thousands of dollars in beauty salons to have all this. Mine are all natural.

I feel two hands on my shoulders and from the sparks running through me, I know that Jasper has arrived.

"You are gorgeous. I thank the Moon Goddess for pairing me up with you, Rain," he whispers in my ear. "You are so pure of heart. No one can be like you and you are mine". I look at his reflection in the mirror and I see the sincerity in his eyes. Happily, I stare at him.

"Not you, but I am the lucky one here. So many she-wolves dream of mating you, but you chose me. I love you, Jasper".

Slowly he turns me to face him so I can look him in his amazing blue eyes.

"I love you more, Rain."

He takes my hand and places it on his heart.

"Without you, breathing is not possible for me. You are the reason my heart beats, my mate". He leans forward slightly and his lips brush over mine before kissing them tenderly. And when I parted them to give him access, he deepened the kiss. A shiver of pleasure runs down my spine and I lean closer to him.

"Come, let's go. Otherwise, we won't get out of this room tonight," Jasper whispers to me. And then I notice that he has already changed and is dressed in a nice tuxedo.

"My mate!" I exclaim. "You're so handsome!"

And with our arms around each other, we step out of the apartment toward the packhouse exit. ...

We were able to get out of the packhouse unseen.

Hand in hand we walk to the waiting Rolls Royce. Like a true gentleman, Jasper holds the door open for me before getting behind the wheel. Once we're on our way, he takes my hand in his again, kisses the backside, still looking straight ahead.

'Did you have a good time today, Rain? I think we're a bit short-handed to get the pack's finances in order. And I know you excel at business administration,' he says. "Can you spare some time to help us out? I know you do a lot of cooking and training with my mother. But I need you closer to me." His words warm my heart and for a moment I doubt whether my departure is the right decision. Jasper says he needs me, maybe I should focus more on my relationship with my mate than listening to small talk.

"Hmmm, let me check with Mom first. She's made a work schedule for things that need to be done in the pack," I informed him. "I'd like to spend more time with you too," I reply softly as I lean in and kiss his ear. A smile crosses his face. "Then we have an appointment. Ask my mother if you are free to come to my office at least once a week. I prefer Wednesday, then it is less busy and I can spend more time with you." he suggests dubiously.

"Focus on me? I thought you said I'd be working on the books, Alpha," I interrupt teasingly.

He chuckles.

"When I'm in the office, I have so many fantasies about you and me on my desk, on the couch, against the wall...". Before he can finish his sentence, I tap him playfully on the shoulder.

"Jasper!" I exclaim. "Are you a sex maniac? We have so much sex, sometimes I don't know where you get the energy from after hours of office work". Jasper smiles and brings my hand to his lips again. "You are so seductive. Every time I see you, you are more beautiful than the last time and I want to own you again. It is something deeper than the mate pull".

Smiling happily, I look ahead.

Jasper is always showering me with compliments, openly expressing his love for me. We are so happy together, but I can't forget that I can't give him the most crucial thing in his life; an heir. I take a deep breath and slowly release it. Thinking carefully and making the right decision is now of vital importance. Above all, I cannot be selfish and claim his love without fulfilling his need.

I look sideways at him, my manly and attractive mate. He could so easily find another woman who would gratefully give him all he needed.

Just the thought of another in his bed and arms almost suffocates me. Still I can't be selfish, I remind myself again.

We arrive at an exquisite riverside restaurant.

As the festival is in progress, only a few unmated wolves and an elderly couple are present. Jasper holds my elbow and leads me to a table overlooking the water. My mouth falls open when I scan the setup. It looks like Valentine's Day, everything is set in red, our table is in the middle and beautifully decorated. The lights are dimmed, creating a romantic ambiance. I'm sure this is Jasper's doing, he had this made up so beautifully, especially for me.

"Do you like it, Rain?" Jasper asks softly. I turn to him, my eyes sparkling with joy.

"Thank you, Jasper. You don't know what this means to me on this day. I feel less guilty now that you had to leave the festival to be with me."

Immediately his face turns serious.

"It's not a sacrifice at all, Rain. I feel guilty for spending so little time with you," he confesses. "The pack business takes up almost all of my attention. Sometimes I think I'm neglecting you. But today I'm spending quality time with my mate. I've missed you so much." I lean against his shoulders as we walk further to the table. Jasper holds my chair out for me and when he sits down opposite me, we look into each other's eyes.

"What do you want to eat? The chef is ready to prepare anything you want. But I know you love the French steak and the Italian Lasagna, so I ordered those in advance," says my mate. Together we decide to add some meat dishes and another bottle of the best red wine. The cool breeze blowing in our direction from the river completes the whole atmosphere on the terrace.

Jasper and I reminisce about the start of our mating when we discovered each other as destined mates and the unforgettable Luna ceremony attended by all the leaders of the surrounding packs. How happy we were then and full of plans for the future.

A shadow falls over my face as I recall our conversations about having pups.

Jasper wanted five, at least one boy who could take over the pack when the time came. The other four, for his part, could be girls, copies of their mother, so he would have not only a queen in the house but some princesses as well. He sounded so dreamy when we talked about it back then.

Three years later we are sitting here on the terrace and the first pup is still nowhere to be seen. And I don't dare to go to the gynecologist for an examination, the confirmation of my infertility could be unpalatable for me. So I put it off as long as I can.

I look up at Jasper and scan his face for any clue that he remembers our talk about pups. But all I can read in his eyes is the love he has for me. I sigh happily. "Moon Goddess, why? Why me? I would do anything to make this man happy. All he needs is a puppy, at least one,' I pray to myself.

When we're done, we walk to the railing of the terrace. Jasper takes me from behind and holds me in his arms as we look out over the mirror-smooth river.

Life without him will be difficult, but my decision is made.

I love this man too much to be a burden to him, I have to go...