Talking to the Moon

“Are you ready, birthday girl?” Michael asks, as he winks and takes his stance in the fighting ring.

I chuckle. “Are you?” Michael advances toward me and lunges forward. I sidestep at the very last minute, and he keeps running past me a few steps.

“That was dirty,” Michael exclaims.

“No, that was smart. Let’s try again.”

I look around me trying to find something. I smell something wonderful: green apple and lemon. My mouth is watering; not for food, but for touch. Then a second scent hits me: rosewood and vanilla.

Michael takes my distraction as an opportunity and hits me in the jaw. I rub the spot and curse myself for getting distracted.

Michael takes his stance again and motions for me to attack. I take a step to my left and then two to my right, throwing him off before I then veer left again and sideswipe him on the ribs.

He lets out a loud groan, and I quickly step behind him. Before he has time to come back from my punch, I step on his leg under the back of his knee to gain height and lock his head between my arms in a chokehold.

I hold it tight until he taps my arm, signaling that he gives up. I let go, and he falls forward on his knees and starts coughing.

Alpha Darren and Greyson clap their hands outside the ring, and Alpha Darren’s laughter echoes in the clearing. “That’s my girl.”

“Alpha,” Michael and I say in unison and bare our necks in respect. Alpha Darren nods, and we relax again.

Greyson dismisses everyone from the training session, and all the trainees hurry toward the showers but not before patting me on the shoulder, congratulating me on my victory.

“Olivia, have you made a decision yet? I’m sending Michael, but as you can see, you would be a great addition.” Alpha Darren is getting impatient waiting for my decision.

I sense that he doesn’t just want me to be a better fighter but also wants me to keep some distance from his sons. He knows better than to order them to stay away from me and figures a more delicate approach is smarter.

“I’ll let you know soon, Alpha Darren,” I reply with uncertainty. I still don’t know what I should do. Do I take the safe route, or do I risk everything?

“All right, all right, but don’t wait too long,” he demands jokingly.

“I won’t, I promise. Have you seen the twins?”

He chuckles. “I have.”

“And?” I ask, a little irritated that he didn’t elaborate.

“And, I won’t tell you anything other than this: the birthday girl is expected to appear as her most beautiful self on the docks at exactly 7 p.m. tonight,” he teases.

“I will, thank you.” I start to jog toward the showers when Alpha Darren calls behind me.

“Oh, and Olivia…happy birthday.”

When I arrive in my room in the pack house, I find a small rectangular box sitting on my bed. I smile, knowing that it is a birthday gift from the twins, and hurry over to open it.

They didn’t bother wrapping it, so all I have to do is open the lid. It is a necklace with a full moon charm, and on the back, the words veni, ~vidi~, and ~amavi~ are inscribed.

“We came, we saw, we loved,” I whisper, as I run my thumb over the inscription.

My heart aches, knowing that this might be my last night with them. Finding my mate wouldn’t change how I feel about them. I will always love them, but I will have to push that love far back into my heart.

I take a long shower and spend the rest of the day reading and getting ready for the night.

I decide to wear white-washed jeans with more holes than fabric, a black T-shirt I have stolen from the twins, and my black high-top shoes.

I curl my long blonde hair in huge curls and French braid one side of my head, ending it in a ponytail. I add some light eye shadow, mascara, and lastly, a matte, dark-red lipstick.

I complete the look with the necklace they gave me.

I glance at my phone: 6:48 p.m. It’s time to head to the docks. I head downstairs and out the door and walk down the path to the lake.

The full moon is lighting my way down the path, and Greyson and Emma join me on the way. They both wish me a happy birthday, Greyson hugs me, and Emma awkwardly waves. She still doesn’t like me much.

“I heard they worked on this all day,” Emma says, jealousy evident in her voice.

“More like all month. I can’t count how many hours of planning I had to endure,” Greyson chimes in, as he wraps his arms over both of our shoulders. “Those boys sure know how to throw a party.”

A few minutes later, we reach the lake. Loud music can be heard and lights are strung in the trees, leading us toward the party.

I smell the unmistakable scent of beer, tequila, rum, soda, grenadine, pineapple, and many more drink ingredients.

Yet again I smell the scents that had distracted me earlier, green apple and lemon, rosewood and vanilla. My nipples harden, and I can feel my pussy clench.

The scents are delicious and turn me on without me even laying eyes on the owner.

The docks come into view. The docks and the surrounding area are full of people. From the looks of it, every pack member over sixteen and under twenty-five is here, which still makes it well over one hundred wolves.

I am greeted by most people that I pass, and they wish me a happy birthday. Some congratulate me on being old enough to find a mate; others are just happy to have a reason to drink.

I follow the intoxicating scents all the way to the end of the docks only to find Jameson and Liam standing there with their back to me.

Even from behind, they are gorgeous, and the realization hits me as I sniff the air—the scents are coming from them. The green apple and lemon scent belongs to Jameson, and the rosewood and vanilla comes from Liam.

Mates echoes in the back of my mind, and I know that I have found him, or them. I’m elated; my best friends from childhood and boyfriends of three years are my mates.

I love them already and know it won’t just be because of the mate bond. They are everything I have ever wanted or needed. My wish has come true, and I feel happiness swell inside my heart.

Their backs are still toward me, as they are talking and watching the moon reflecting off the still lake water. They both sniff the air and grin.

“Mate,” they both declare right before they turn around with the biggest smiles they can muster. They lock eyes with mine.

As soon as their eyes meet mine, the mate bond snaps in place, and I am happier than I think I have ever been. That is, until I look at their frowning faces.

The smile drops from my lips as I take in their uneasy appearance. “What’s wrong?”

“No,” quietly leaves Liam’s lips. Jameson is no longer looking at me and finds the wood slats of the dock more interesting than I am.

I knit my eyebrows. “What do you mean, no?” Jameson steps toward me, grabs my arm, and leads me off the dock. Liam trails not far behind us. “Jameson, you’re scaring me.”

The electric surge flowing through my body coming from my arm where Jameson is touching me is adding to my confusion. Why is he dragging me away? Why is he mad, and why will he not look at me? Why is Liam letting him do this?

“Let’s go up to the pack house and talk, Olivia,” Jameson demands, as he continues to drag me toward the path leading to the pack house.

“Jameson, ease up,” Liam pleads, catching up with us with a somber look on his face. “She can walk on her own.”

Jameson doesn’t let go, and the questioning looks from the party guests do nothing but add to my distress. What did I do wrong?

“What’s going on?” I beg for an answer but neither one of them gives it to me.

We are on the path in the woods, far away from the party and any ears listening in. I yank my arm free from Jameson’s hold and wrap my arms around myself. They both stop and look at me.

“Come on, let’s go inside,” Liam tries to coax me, but I’m not so easily compliant. I want answers.

“Why are you acting like this? You’re both my mates. I love you. Don’t you love me?” I question with tears dangerously close to spilling.

They don’t answer. The only sounds around us are the rustling of the wind in the grass and insects chirping. It dawns on me. “You’re rejecting me?”

“Olivia…” Jameson reaches for me, but I step out of his reach before he can grab me. “We don’t have a choice.”

“We never wanted this,” Liam admits, rubbing the back of his neck.

I start shaking, and the tears flow freely down my face. I don’t cry very often, and this is probably the first time I have since my dad died. “Why?”

“You’re an omega,” Jameson admits, while yet again not being able to look me in the eyes.

I knew that Alpha Darren wouldn’t want an omega as a luna, but I thought the twins didn’t care. I thought they loved me and saw the potential in me.

I’m a strong warrior, smart at tactics, good at arranging events, and knowledgeable in all sorts of topics. I have always been considered beautiful and smart, liked by most.

“Then why spend all these years with me if I wasn’t good enough?” Their downcast eyes give me the answer I didn’t want to hear. I was just entertainment, a way to pass the time. “Go on then, do it,” I dare them.

They both let out a long sigh. “I, Liam Alexander Murphy, alpha of the White Oak Pack, reject you, Olivia Beth Wilson, as my luna. Do you accept?”

“Yes.” I feel the mate bond snap as pain rips through me, and I fall to one knee while clutching my chest. My breathing is ragged, but I carefully stand back up, awaiting the next hurdle. I will remain strong, even through this.

“I, Jameson Gabriel Murphy, alpha of the White Oak Pack, reject you, Olivia Beth Wilson, as my luna. Do you accept?”

“Yes.” The same pain courses through my body, and the last mate bond breaks. This time I fall on all fours and start dry heaving.

The twins rush toward me, trying to aid me, but I push them back, ignoring the electric surge going through the fingertips that connected with their skin. With much effort, I stand up, turn around, and run off.