Jonathan’s POV
After Anna’s breakdown, I held her on the bed for almost an hour. It was calming. Having my mate in my arms. Knowing that she was safe. It made me feel at ease. “Can you help me put it on?” Anna asked and held up her locket.
I gently took the necklace and pushed her hair to the right side of her neck. I clasped the necklace and kissed her shoulder. She shivered and I smirked against her skin.
“You know-” kiss. “I really-” kiss. “Really-” kiss. “Want to-” kiss. “Mark you” I parted my lips and ran my tongue along her skin.
“Jonathan” Anna whispered breathlessly.
“Yes?” I asked innocently.
“We should head back now” my mate suggested.
I kissed the sensitive space between her neck and shoulder where I would eventually mark her. “That’s not what you really want, is it?” I questioned.
“No” she said instantly, then cursed at herself and groaned. “Let’s just go” she decided. I smiled at my mate and followed her out the room. We were walking back to the castle when Daniel mind-linked me.
‘How’s Anna?’ Daniel asked. As my mate, Anna is technically the Luna. So of course my Beta would be worried about her, as well as the other pack members.
‘She’s good. We’re walking around right now’ I informed him.
‘Good. When’s she meeting the pack?’
I gently grabbed Anna’s hand and pulled her closer to me. “Do you wanna meet my pack?” I asked, straight-forward.
“Sure”
“Really?” I inquired. I thought she would want to wait a while.
She’s been through a lot these past few weeks- I’m to blame for that. I thought meeting the pack would just add onto the stress. “Yeah. We’re mates, so I would have to meet them eventually” she said with a shrug. I pulled her to a stop and turned so we were face to face. “What?” she questioned.
“You just said we’re mates” I beamed at her.
“So?” she dragged on.
“You’ve just never really said it out loud” I said and continued to walk again. She practically denied me as her mate after I rejected her. And I deserved it.
“When will I meet them?” Anna asked.
“Whenever you’re ready”
*****
Annabelle’s POV
When we got back to the castle, Jonathan walked me to my room. We agreed that I would meet the pack tomorrow. Its Friday, so we can stay for the weekend. I figured that Ford could get out the castle, so we’re gonna take him with us. Jonathan went to his guest room, and I fell asleep.
I woke up around five a.m. Since we’re taking Ford with us, we have to drive to the pack house. I quickly got changed and went into my little brother’s room. He was still sleeping with his leg hanging out of the toy story covers.
Deciding not to wake him, I put a hoodie on him and carried him out the room. I grabbed the duffle bag that had the clothes and Ford’s backpack that had his toys. I went to Jonathan’s room and knocked on the door.
Jonathan opened the door. He was already dressed and had a duffle bag on his shoulder. “Ready?” I nodded and started walking away, but I dropped Ford’s backpack. Jonathan chuckled as I failed to pick up the bag. “Here” he said as he took the duffle bag as well as Ford’s backpack.
“Thanks” I whispered. He nodded in response and we went to the car. I buckled Ford in the seat while Jonathan put the bags in the trunk. I quickly mind-linked Elliot and told him that we were leaving.
I sat in the passenger’s seat while Jonathan drove. I wanted to stay awake, but I kept yawning and my eyes struggled to stay open. Jonathan noticed and grabbed a wool blanket from the back seat.
He placed it around me and told me to sleep. I shook my head with another yawn. “Just sleep. I’ll wake you up when we enter the territory” he said softly.
I nodded and looked back at Ford. “Wake me up if he wakes up too” I said. Jonathan nodded and I fell asleep again.
*****
“Anna” Jonathan cooed and gently shook me. I groaned and covered my face with the blanket. “Anna… The pack house is a few minutes away” he informed me.
I slowly lifted my head up and rubbed my eyes. I turned around and saw Ford still sleeping. “What time is it?” I asked while stretching my arms in front of me.
“7:30” Jonathan answered. I nodded and we fell into a relaxing silence, until Jonathan decided to open his mouth. “I told the pack that I’m introducing the Luna tonight” Jonathan blurted.
“You what?!” I exclaimed. Ford mumbled and stirred in his sleep. “You what?!” I whisper-yelled.
A ceremony?! We haven’t even fixed everything between us, now he wants me to just help him lead a pack. I can’t lead a pack and be a Queen. That’s too much. Too dangerous. If someone found out that I’m Queen, they would come after the pack. They would use the pack to get to me. I don’t want them to get hurt because of me.
“I didn’t tell them who you are yet. I just set up the ceremony. The pack will come and a few Alphas from neighboring packs” Jonathan informed me.
“I’m gonna be a Luna and a Queen?” I said slowly. How will I manage doing that?!
Jonathan grabbed my hand in his and drove with his left hand. “I don’t want to give up my pack. I know that’s a lot of responsibility, but we can figure it out” he declared. So he’ll have to balance being an Alpha and being a King.
Well, at least we’re in the same boat. “Okay. Just don’t tell them that I’m a Royal”
“But they’ll see it when we complete the ceremony” he reminded me.
During a Luna ceremony, the pack introduces themselves to the Luna. Then they all shift and howl. Like in Lion King, but we howl instead of roaring.
“Can we just do that some other time?” I asked sweetly. Jonathan kept his eyes on the road and shook his head. “Look, its not that I don’t want to be Luna” I assured him. “I just think its dangerous”
“My pack won’t hurt you” he stated.
“I’m not worried about them hurting me. If word gets out that the future Queen is a Luna, people will come after the pack. I don’t want them to get hurt” I explained.
“No one is gonna get hurt” Jonathan said as we turned onto the driveway. “We don’t have to complete the ceremony tonight”
Jonathan parked and turned off the car. I unbuckled my my seat-belt and leaned over the center console to hug my mate. The tingles started on my skin, causing me to smile. “Thank you” I whispered to Jonathan.
“You’re welcome. Let’s go inside. Daniel has been waiting for me to bring you back” he informed me with an eye-roll.
I chuckled and got Ford out the car. The three of us walked into the pack house. Daniel ran downstairs and hugged me. “Thank the Goddess you’re okay!” he exclaimed.
“Shh!” I motioned to Ford. Daniel mouthed ‘sorry’. I nodded and asked where the guest bedroom is. Jonathan led me upstairs to the second floor. He had a guest room set up for me and Ford. We are in the room across from his.
I put Ford in the bed and left the door open. We went back down stairs to Daniel. “Who’s the kid?” Daniel asked.
“My little brother, Ford” I said. Daniel kept asking questions about Ford, which I answered with a few words. Then, he left to get his mate. Jonathan and I went into his office and talked about random things.
He has a younger sister, who lives with his aunt. His mom was killed by rogues, and his dad couldn’t survive without his mate. Needless to say, I avoided all topics about family after that.
We talked for hours, we stopped when the door opened. “Baby!” a girl squealed.
I watched as the familiar red head sauntered over to my mate and kissed him.