Chapter 1

Aja was still wondering about her last conversation with Mikah. Afterward Yamiel finished her check up and was sure everything was okay, she helped her get to the kitchen because she was still feeling a little weak. She was only allowed to eat soft food for the first couple of days so she ate chicken soup while everyone else ate fried chicken with waffles. She kept giving Mikah death glares every time he taunted her with his food, and it just made him laugh harder. After everyone ate they just sat at the dining table talking and laughing so Aja thought it was a good time to ask the questions that kept nagging at her.

“So you were saying earlier that the supernatural board was involved because it was special circumstances, what did you mean?” she asked them.

Mikah looked nervously at Calian “Umm, well because she attacked….the future Luna….her punishment will be severe” He said slowly, looking down at his plate.

Aja furrowed her eyebrows in confusion “Future Luna…..I don’t understand” she said. And waited for a reply that didn’t come.

Instead Calian interjected “Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you, can we talk in my office” he said as he stood up, he went over to help Aja out of her chair before she could try to protest.

He helped her sit comfortably on the couch and brought her some water without saying a word the entire time.

“Okay where do I start?” Calian said while rubbing the back of his neck.

“Um, maybe with the supernatural board situation?” Aja she smiled nervously.

Calian chuckled “Okay, so the board doesn’t really get involved unless it's serious crimes, or things that affect multiple supernatural creatures.” he looked up at Aja to make sure she was following, she nodded her head in confirmation.

“We have strict laws about harming someone’s mate, especially an Alpha’s Luna and even more specifically if it's a destined mate.” he said, pausing again.

“O-okay” Aja understood but wasn’t sure where he was getting at.

“So, what Delany did is considered a serious crime because…..well she tried to kill you…..and...you are my destined mate….and my future Luna” he said looking away from her.

“But I’m not your Luna and we aren’t mates, I mean that's not-” Aja said shaking her head.

“Well, you are my destined mate and…” he sighed “I would like for you to be my Luna” Calian said.

Aja laughed in disbelief “Calian I’m not a Luna, are you crazy, no….. I can’t be Luna” she said.

Calian swallowed and in a low soft voice asked “May I ask, why not?”

Aja said “Well because….I’m not a Luna. I-I’m just a regular wolf, a part of the pack, I can’t be Luna and I can’t be your...Luna..I mean you’re an Alpha. You should be with a girl that's like….I don’t know, Luna-Like” she finished.

Calian chuckled, he grabbed her hand and looked at her seriously “Aja, the Goddess is never wrong, we were meant to be together. I feel it, like I’m at peace when I am near you, or when I touch your hand. Don’t you feel that?” he asked her.

Aja shook her head, she couldn’t speak. She couldn’t admit to any of that, she convinced herself over and over that things were just fine the way they are.

‘I don’t need anything else, I’m happy with what I’ve gotten so far. Being with Calian is asking for too much. He deserves someone better, someone who isn’t used and ruined. I just want him to be happy and live a great life, nothing more. I’m okay with just being friends, I’m okay with being rejected by him, I’m okay with just being seen as a sister or family. I want to think of it being anything else because that would be too much, I could never have that.’

“We deserve all that and more,” Sade said weakly, she has been in and out, still recovering from being poisoned, it affected her more than Aja. Aja swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep breath.

“Calian, you’re wrong” she whispered looking down, she removed her hand from his gently, “I’m not your Luna, you don’t know everything about me. Find yourself someone else, trust me, I am not what you want.” she tried to get up but Calian put his hand out blocking her from standing.

“No, I do know everything about you, you are kind and honest and a genuine person. I know you, you are a good lovable little wolf.“ he said with a chuckle, she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“You are hurt and dealing with a break up, you’re just a little confused right now. I understand, I do, and I won't hold it against you okay?” Aja said in a shaky voice.

Calian signed, he lifted Aja’s face and looked into her eyes. “Aja, I’ve liked you since I met you...I was just so..stupid. I-” Calian looked away from her “When my father died, Delany was there for me, she stayed by my side. That meant something to me you know. I thought I had to commit to her because she stood by me when I was struggling. But the truth is that when I met you, everything changed. I didn’t see her the same way or think of her how I used to. I found myself thinking about you all the time, caring if you were okay or if you needed anything. You have no idea how many times I passed by Moxies store just so that I could see you but I always chickened out and would leave.” he laughed at himself “...When I first started to visit you it was because I would get these sharp pains in my chest, I would wake up feeling this fear and I soon realized it was yours, I never thought twice. I just got up and went to make sure you were okay” he said. “But still, I kept telling myself that I couldn’t leave her for someone I had just met, but the more I got to know you the more I liked you.” he said.

“But..you don’t know everything Calian. Seriously you don’t want to be with someone like me” she said looking down, a tear came down her cheek.

Calian wiped the tear from her cheek then grabbed her face looking into her eyes “I do know, Aja...I know what happened to you in the past….I know everything. But none of it changes anything ” he said seriously.

“W-what do you mean by everything?” she asked slowly, searching his face.

“I-I” he looked down at his hands “You are going to hate me for this..but..I will tell you…. Because I want you to believe me and trust me” he said.

“Even though you have been having less nightmares, I still visited you every night to make sure. A few weeks ago I was walking over to aunty’s house to check on you and...well...you weren’t sleeping, you were in the living room with Leny and Aunty.” he said. “And you guys were talking, I didn’t mean to overhear but what I heard was so shocking that I couldn’t move” he told her. Aja froze in the realization of what he was saying, she looked up at him and could see the apologetic look in his eyes as he continued.

“I know it wasn’t my place, but I couldn’t leave, I heard everything. After I calmed myself down, I went straight to Delany’s place. I wanted to end things that night because what I was feeling, I never felt this way for anyone else. I want to protect you and be with you always. I want to kill anyone that hurts you…. And that's when I caught her cheating.” he said.

“So…... you knew?” she asked softly, he nodded his head “and y-you don’t care” she asked with her eyes watery.

He grabbed her face and placed his forehead on hers “No, princess, I don’t” he said gently.

“B-but I am ruined” she whispered so low that it could have been inatituble if he wasn’t sitting so close to her, and it made him upset. He pulled back to look at her and make sure she was listening “Don’t ever say that again, I don’t believe that and it's not true.”

‘No this is too much, he’s too nice, he’s too good for me’. Before she could say anything he added..

“You are strong and brave, I’ve seen it with my own eyes and I admire you.” he caressed her cheek “You’ve been through so much, you didn't deserve any of it” he said gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t accept you in the beginning, I was wrong. But I promise you that I will spend everyday making up for the lost time, I will protect you with my life” he declared.

Calian kissed her forehead then hugged her tightly, She felt so safe and protected, she always felt this way around him.

He held her hand and walked her to the guest room. It felt nice, he had large hands, they enveloped her own. And he gripped her hand soft but firm. She likes feeling his warm palm against her own. He was right, when he was near, she felt at peace. She was terrified but she couldn’t deny what she felt anymore. She was going to try, like she’s done before, one step at a time.