His eyes are blue like the sky that has just dawned, clear and cold like icy water. I felt as if I could drown in them and lose myself forever. Beautiful, I had never qualified a man that way before; they all seemed the same to me, violent and cruel, but he was pleasant to my eyes.
The Alpha has the morning sky in his gaze and the night darkness in his hair. It was long like a female's, tied back in a braid at the back of his head. I didn't know males could have long hair, how did I not notice before?
Before, he was a monster; I was so scared that I didn't notice his features.
He was tall even in his human form, his bare chest covered in tattoos, words from an unfamiliar language. Only a pair of animal-hide pants adorned his legs.
Doesn't he feel cold?
I was shivering even in the coziness of the room while he came in from outside with nothing to warm his skin.
Strong, well-built muscles throughout his body and chest. He seemed to be holding back tremendous rage, but his voice, though authoritative, became gentle as he drew close.
When I least expected it, he was so near that the heat of his body touched my skin.
— How old are you, Nadja?
He asked. His voice was different, the warm breath touched my ear, causing a shiver that was not out of fear. I closed my eyes as he spoke those few words, savoring the new sensation he was causing in me.
The fact that I took a while to respond must have been funny, for he let out a low chuckle before touching my neck with his nose and inhaling deeply. He held a strand of my hair between his fingers and stepped back, just a step separating us.
— A female who is not yet a woman, whose body reacts so readily, must be nearly mature.
There was satisfaction in his voice, a contentment with the belief that my body was nearing maturity. He looked at me, curious and daring, but his eyes were not lustful like those of the guards from the other tribe.
If i was not so scared, i would say his eyes had sweetness…
— I believe she must be about fourteen or fifteen cycles at least, Alpha. I would bet on fifteen or more. I don't understand why she's not mature yet….
He turned his back to me and faced Tabita.
— Her body is like a boy's, how is that possible?
Tabita walked past the Alpha and stopped by my side with a worried expression.
— Poor nutrition, she was obviously mistreated in the past… — The concern faded, and she showed a huge smile. — Did you notice she got excited with…
— Enough, Tabita! Help her get dressed!
*****
I had to cut off Tabita's speech before she embarrassed the girl further. I leaned close to test her age with my scent, but I couldn't detect any ready eggs. She was still unqualified for reproduction, which meant, she was still a puppy. Skinny and small, her body had no curves, nor any noticeable breasts or rear, another indication that she was not yet of age; however, the beast of my nature disagreed, screaming that she was ready for a mating ceremony.
I felt like an evil predator, but i was never like this, for the great Goddess, whats was happening to me?
" We already have a Luna, the ceremony has already taken place!"
I shouted mentally to my nature. The problem with my words is that the beast had never accepted Hira, and now, obsessed with this Luna as I was, would never accept her. My chest burned, and it was hard to remain rational when even my human form recognized her as mine.
The idea of stealing a Luna from some inferior Alpha was not entirely dismissed, but there was much more to consider, like the fact that she was just a child!
I turned my back to her, so she could get dressed, respecting her age, nudity, and… damn, it was impossible for her to be a child; my beast was instinctive, there was no way to fool it. If my beast was right, she must have the age allowed by the mother goddess, her eggs should already be ready and fertile with each full moon…
Except if….
Could a true Luna be infertile?
With each piece of information about Nadja, I became even more confused. My mate died, and here was a young female I could swear was mine with all my senses. She had no curves like a woman should have, but still a woman.
There was a female in my pack who could find the answers; it was her job to take care of the other females, but I couldn't trust leaving Nadja in her hands.
Hira had always been strong, a warrior, the former beta female of our pack. If she even suspected what my beast felt for Nadja...
"She is ready, Alpha, you can look now."
Tabita was strangely happy, her voice tone did not hide the satisfaction with the situation. A Luna in our lands increased the chance of her getting pregnant and maintaining the pregnancy. In fact, if Nadja's presence spread among my people, the females would go into a frenzy and the males would have much to thank for.
She stood before me, dressed in a tunic that was a bit too large for her body. It would have to do until the females of the harem prepared clothing for her.
"Come here, little Luna."
Without lifting her head, she took a single step forward. She was scared, I could smell her fear. I approached her, and she took a step back, hiding part of her body behind Tabita.
"Are you scared, Luna?" Tabita asked.
Her breathing was quickening along with her heartbeat. She was terrified, shut her eyes tightly but did not answer.
"Tabita, wait for me outside, I need to speak with our guest."
"But Alpha, what if she—"
Tabita was my Beta's mate, which was the closest I had to a friend, and as such, she had the irritating habit of questioning me.
"Leave!"
I didn't have the patience or the time to explain. I needed to talk to Nadja as the Alpha, but also, as a man, and she was getting in the way.
Nadja flinched when I ordered the Beta to leave. The stench of fear grew stronger, and she shrank into the corner of the wall, as if she wanted to hide in herself.
Hide from me.
"Why are you so afraid of me, little Luna?"
"I... I don't..."
"Don't lie to me!"
I hated to hear a lie come from her lips.
"You—" She stopped speaking and took a deep breath before correcting herself and continuing, "You are an Alpha."
"How about telling me something I don't know yet? Why are you afraid of me?"
"Alphas hurt the females and the omegas, they force the Lunas and—"
I couldn't control the snarl that came from within my chest. I was irritated by all the meanings of what she was saying. The drink controlled my third form, but it was the wolf that was enraged. Lunas are sacred; no alpha has the right to force a Luna!
I held her face in my hands and looked into her eyes, so she could see the truth in mine.
"Alphas do not force females!"
"I've seen it, more than once... the omegas and the Lunas when they became mature... They bought them, and they cried a lot!"
I had heard rumors of barbaric groups that captured females to enslave them, but I had never come across any miscreant of that sort. Due to the wars, Lunas were increasingly valued in the packs, respected and loved. She referred to Lunas in the plural. And omegas, so rare... What pack would have so many to sell? How many alphas would be involved in such a sordid scheme? I needed to get in touch with my allies; we have to investigate this matter further, but...
"Look at me, Little one, I am not a barbarian. We do not force our females. If one day you lie with me, it will be by your will, and I assure you it will be pleasurable for both of us, and you will be satisfied."
Her cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head once again. I shouldn't be saying these things to a girl... but my beast insisted that she was not what her body suggested.
— I have a question for you, Nadja. Would you like to be a part of my pack?
— Yes…I can be a good servant for you, I know how to cook and clean and-
— I don't want you in my clan as a servant, Luna, I want you to be one of us.
My clan desperately needed a miracle to avoid extinction, and that little Luna could save the future of my people for a while. Soon, I could lie with her so that the females would become fertile, and being a Luna by birth, there was hope that the pregnancy would proceed to the end.
Hira did not have that power, but a Luna by birth would.
Maybe, when she matures could be my female in the harem until her mate found her…
"Mine!"
My third form could not accept the possibility of her being with another male, the desire to have her as mine was so intense that I had to embrace her. She remained still as I inhaled her scent, calming my nature.
"Mine!"
Emotion x Reason, Instinct x social hierarchy, Desire x Reality.
Paradoxes that tormented me as I held her hand and led her out of the room. Nadja needed to eat and the wolf within needed to provide for the little female, a mission more important for him than the dilemmas that tormented me.