Chapter 9 Luna
Luna
Notebook: Step one: Learn the house rules. Step two: Pretend you’re not panicking about the sex clause. Step three: Survive dinner without choking on neon purple potatoes.
Back inside, Alpha Hudson motions for me to sit on the leather couch, while Ethan settles into a chair nearby.
“So,” Alpha Hudson begins, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, “let’s discuss your role here.”
I nod, my throat tightening with apprehension.
“As you know, the agreement stipulates that you will service the pack. Sexually.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “I understand.”
“However,” he continues, “that doesn’t mean you lack agency. We reject force or coercion. Everything that occurs must be with your full consent. Understood?”
“Yes,” I manage, relief loosening the knot in my gut.
“Good. So that you know, Axel was reprimanded for his behavior last night. He’ll be working double shifts in the fields for the foreseeable future.”
I suppress a smile. “Understood.”
“Also, it’s best to stay with someone else when Axel is around. He can be unpredictable.”
“What about Damien?” I ask, feeling a shiver at the thought. Axel may seem erratic, but Damien feels like a darker shadow lurking.
“Damien will stay away. There’s no need to worry about him.”
I nod.
“Now, regarding responsibilities outside the bedroom,” Alpha Hudson states, his tone shifting to a more serious note, “I expect you to contribute. Ethan and Oli manage the upkeep of the house. We all pitch in from time to time. Each of us has a role here. Damien’s my second, and Ethan here keeps us in one piece.
” Hudson glances at Ethan on his chair before proceeding, “He’s our medic; herbal remedies, first aid, and the best damn cook in the pack.
He ensures this madhouse stays alive and fed, so we let him run the kitchen as he pleases.
Oli will assist you, and he and Ethan will guide you through the tasks. ”
I blink at him. “You don’t have betas handling the cooking and cleaning?”
Hudson shakes his head. “No. We prefer doing things ourselves. Keeps us grounded.”
Ethan grins, leaning back in his chair. “Besides, I was raised by a single Korean mom who made sure I knew how to handle a kitchen. Trust me, she didn’t tolerate half-assed chores.”
A small smile tugs at my lips, the knot in my stomach loosening a little more. Manual labor, I can handle. It’s the other expectations that unsettle me.
“In terms of your interactions with the males of the pack,” Alpha Hudson continues, “I expect respect. No games, no manipulation. Should any issues arise, you come to me. Clear?”
“Crystal,” I reply, my voice steadier than I feel.
“Good. I think that covers the basics. Ethan, anything to add?”
Ethan shakes his head. “You’ve covered the main points. We can address specifics as they come up.”
Alpha Hudson nods, satisfied. “Alright then. Luna, any questions?”
I hesitate, the words sticking in my throat. “What if… what if I can’t do it? The sex stuff, I mean. What if I’m not good at it, or I freak out, or…”
Alpha Hudson’s expression softens. “Luna, we don’t expect you to be some expert.
We recognize this is new territory for you.
All we ask is that you attempt it. Communicate with us.
If something isn’t working, voice your concerns.
If you need to halt, say so. And if you’re not comfortable with something, say so too.
Axel has certain preferences, and we’ve asked him to temper them for now. ”
I exhale slowly. “Understood. Thank you.”
Ethan reaches over, briefly squeezing my knee. The warmth of his touch lingers far longer than it should, leaving my skin tingling where his hand was. I manage a small smile but can’t quite steady my breath.
“Alright,” Alpha Hudson states, rising from his seat. “I have matters to attend to. Ethan, please show Luna the areas of the house she’ll need to help you with.”
Ethan nods, standing as well. “On it.”
“Luna,” Alpha Hudson says before stepping out, his voice serious, “I know this isn’t the life you imagined for yourself. And I’m sorry for the circumstances that brought you here.”
I glance at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone.
“But I want you to know you’re safe with us. We take care of our own. You’re part of our family.”
“Family?” I echo.
Hudson nods. “You are now. By agreeing to come here, you became part of this pack. Part of this family.”
Right, because nothing says “family” like being purchased along with the furniture.
“Even if I’m your property? Were the others purchased too?”
“Regardless of how you got here, now that you are, you’re one of us.”
“I know it’s not conventional,” Ethan adds. “But we’re not conventional males.”
I nod, unsure how to feel.
Alpha Hudson gives me one last nod before striding out, the weight of his presence lingering.
“Come on,” Ethan says, offering me a hand. “Let’s get you acquainted with the rest of your home.”
I grasp his hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. His palm is warm and callused, and its strength is reassuring.
As we walk through the house, Ethan points out various rooms and amenities: their bedrooms, all located on the second floor, and the spacious second living room with its plush couches and massive fireplace, less formal than the one downstairs.
It looks like a man cave with large TV screens, gaming consoles, and a pool table.
Then there’s Alpha Hudson’s office, lined with bookshelves, which I’m told to stay out of.
It’s all so normal, so domestic—a stark contrast to the wild, rugged world outside.
“And this,” Ethan says, opening a door at the end of the hall, “is the training room.”
I step inside, my eyes widening. The room is enormous, with padded floors and mirrored walls. Various workout equipment lines the perimeter—weights, punching bags, and a sparring ring in the corner.
“Training for what, exactly?” I inquire, running my hand along the cool leather of a punching bag.
“Combat, mostly. Self-defense. We like to stay sharp and be prepared for anything.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Expecting trouble?”
Ethan shrugs. “It’s a harsh world out there, Luna. Especially for our kind. Better to be safe than sorry.”
I nod, knowing exactly what he means.
“You’ll begin training too,” he continues. “Basic exercises initially, until we assess your fitness level. Then we’ll intensify the regimen.”
“I look forward to it,” I say.
Ethan’s eyebrow shoots up, apparently surprised by my answer.
He shows me a few more rooms—a small library, a couple of guest bedrooms, and the door to the basement, which he tells me never to enter.
It’s my turn to have my eyebrows rocket sky-high.
Then we circle back to the kitchen, where Oli is wiping down the counters and humming softly.
“All done with the grand tour?” he asks, flashing a grin.
I nod. “It’s a lovely home. Much nicer than I expected, to be honest.”
Oli laughs. “What, you thought we’d be living in caves, eating raw meat off the bone?”
I shrug. “I didn’t know what to expect. This is all new to me.”
“I get it. It’s a lot to take in. But you’ll get used to it. We’re not so bad once you get to know us.”
“Even Damien?” I blurt out.
Oli laughs. “My brother is complicated. Just give him time; he’ll come around.”
I nod, not entirely convinced.
“Well,” Ethan says, clapping his hands, “I think that concludes the tour. Luna, why don’t you take some time to rest? We’ll reconvene later to go over your schedule and duties.”
“Sounds good,” I reply, suddenly aware of the exhaustion settling over me. The past day’s events are catching up, and the adrenaline is fading. “I’d like to take a shower if that’s okay.”
“Luna, this is your home now. You can do whatever you like,” Ethan says with a smile.
I head back up the stairs, trying to wrap my mind around this new reality of living with five males bound by a debt. It’s daunting and overwhelming. But beneath the uncertainty, there’s another feeling lurking.
Curiosity, maybe even excitement.
For better or worse, this is my life now.
At least for the next three years.
I’m lost in thought as I round the landing and collide with a solid wall of muscle. The impact knocks the air from my lungs, and I stumble backward, my hand grasping for the railing to steady myself.
Looking up, I find myself face-to-chest with Damien. His massive frame blocks the entire hallway, and he makes no move to step aside. No apology for nearly knocking me over. No acknowledgment at all beyond the cold stare that pins me in place.
His jaw tightens as he looks down at me, nostrils flaring. Something flickers in his eyes. Anger? Curiosity? It’s gone before I can decipher it.
“You sure you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?” His voice is low, almost a growl, vibrating with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
I lift my chin, refusing to shrink under his gaze even as my heart hammers against my ribs. “No clue. Do you?”
Something flickers across his expression before his mask of indifference slips back into place again.
“No,” he admits. “I don’t think any of us do.”
He steps aside and disappears down the stairs, leaving me staring after him.
Somehow, the honesty terrifies me more than his hostility.
My wolf stirs within me, curious and alert. She’s not afraid… she’s intrigued.
And that might be the most unsettling realization of all.
***
After my shower, I settle onto the bed and gaze out the window at the rugged landscape.
Towering mountains with jagged peaks still capped with snow even in June rise in the distance.
Endless pine forests stretch in every direction.
It’s nothing like the Institute with its manicured gardens and artificial perfection.
There, everything was controlled, sanitized, fake.
Here, the landscape is honest.
Beautiful and wild, just like the males I’m now tied to.
A knock at the door startles me. “Come in,” I call.