Chapter 9 Luna #2
Alpha Hudson steps in, his presence filling the doorway. “Hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all,” I say, tugging at the hem of my oversized t-shirt. “Just getting acclimated.”
He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest. “I wanted to let you know we do supply runs into town. Every few weeks, usually Oli or Ethan makes the trip for supplies, groceries, and whatever else we need.”
“Oh, OK. Good to know.”
“Is there anything you need? Anything we can get for you?”
I shake my head. “Not right now, but I’ll need… um, female supplies soon.” My cheeks heat up despite myself.
“No problem,” Hudson says without missing a beat. “You can go with Oli. Get whatever you need.” He pauses, eyeing my near-empty duffel on the floor. “And clothes, Luna. You traveled extremely light.”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “I don’t need much.”
Hudson’s brow furrows. “I would have thought the institute would’ve provided more for their charges.”
I let out a dry laugh. “They supplied the basics, and the ceremonial gowns had to be returned. Most of my clothes were from the lost and found box or things left behind by other females.”
Something dark flashes across his face. “That’s unacceptable.”
I shrug. “I managed.”
“Well, you don’t have to just ‘manage’ anymore, whatever you need: clothing, toiletries, anything. We’ll get it for you.”
“I can’t pay you back,” I remind him. “That’s kind of why I’m here in the first place.”
“This isn’t about the debt, Luna. This is about taking care of the pack.”
“I don’t need charity,” I say, straightening my spine. “I could find a part-time job in town. Help pay for my things.”
“A job?”
“Yes, a job. You know, a place where you work and get paid?” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not completely useless.”
“Luna, that’s not—”
“Look, I know what I am,” I cut him off. “I’m a rejected female. I can’t shift, my legs are covered in scars, and I smell wrong. You paid way too much for damaged goods.”
Hudson steps fully into the room now, his brow furrowed. “Is that what you think?”
I shrug.
“Luna.” The alpha gently grabs my chin, and our eyes meet. His large calloused thumb grazes my jaw. My breath hitches despite myself.
“You’re not damaged goods. You are beautiful. Never think otherwise.” The intensity of his eyes makes it impossible to look away. “Those scars? They tell a story of survival. Of strength.”
I scoff, but he shakes his head.
“I mean it. We all have scars here, Luna. Some are just more visible than others. Each one of us carries something. Pain. Loss. Regret.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“It’s supposed to make you understand that you fit here.” His gaze is steady, unwavering. “The guys are happy you’re here. You bring something to this house we’ve been missing.”
“A vagina?” I deadpan.
Hudson laughs, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “Life. Energy. A challenge.” He smiles. “Well, except for Damien, but he’s a stubborn ass most days. He’ll come around.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
“I would.” Alpha Hudson stands, heading back towards the door. “He’s fighting his demons. Just like we all are.”
I nod, even though I’m not entirely convinced.
“Good. Now, let’s go to the kitchen. Dinner should be ready by now. Still, you might want to prepare yourself because sometimes Oli cooks when Ethan is busy with patients, and it can get experimental.”
I laugh softly, the tension breaking. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Alpha Hudson.”
“Call me Hudson, Luna. There’s no need for titles here,” he says as he turns, and I follow him downstairs.
The only empty chair is between Axel and Damien.
I hesitate.
“Problem, Luna?” Axel asks, patting the seat. “Promise I don’t bite.” He grins. “Unless you ask nicely.”
I sit, hyperaware of how close they both are, trying to make myself smaller. It’s impossible when Axel deliberately spreads his legs wider, his thigh pressing against mine.
“Comfortable?” he asks innocently.
On my other side, Damien’s entire body is rigid. I shift slightly, trying to escape Axel’s deliberate invasion of space, and brush against Damien. His fist clenches on the table, and his knuckles go white.
“Pass the… whatever that green stuff is,” I say, needing distraction.
Oli reaches for it at the same time as Axel.
“I got it,” Axel growls.
“I’m closer,” Oli counters.
A platter of neon green meatballs makes its way to me, followed by a bowl of purple mashed potatoes and something that might be a casserole under a layer of burnt cheese.
“Dig in, everyone!” Oli exclaims with pride, setting down a pitcher with suspiciously bright blue liquid. “I call this ‘Oli’s Jungle Juice.’ It packs a punch, so be warned.”
Axel reaches for the pitcher, pouring himself a generous glass. “Looks radioactive. I’m in.”
Ethan chuckles, shaking his head. “Oli, one of these days, your wild kitchen experiments will be the end of us.”
Oli grins. “But what a way to go, huh?”
I tentatively spoon some of the purple mash onto my plate, poking at a meatball with my fork. It feels crunchy, making me raise an eyebrow.
“It’s edible, I promise,” Oli says, noticing my hesitation. “I tested everything on myself first.”
“And you survived, so that’s reassuring,” I quip, taking a small bite of the meatball. It’s… good. Spicy, and the crunch must be broccoli.
I can feel all their eyes on me as we eat, wedged between two massive alphas, and I don’t know where to put my hands, my eyes, my entire damn body.
Axel leans over to me and whispers, “Relax, Wildcat. You look like you’re about to bolt. Don’t worry, I’ll catch you.”
He then takes a big swig of the jungle juice and coughs, his eyes watering. “Damn, Oli, what’s in this? Jet fuel?”
Oli winks, shoveling a massive bite of the casserole into his mouth.
“So, Luna, tell us a bit about yourself. What do you like to do for fun?”
I pause, my fork suspended in mid-air.
Fun? I can’t recall the last time I did something purely for fun.
“I like to read,” I manage. “And I used to draw before…” My voice trails off, but the unspoken words linger in the back of my mind.
Before the fire. Before everything turned to ash.
“What do you like to draw?” Ethan asks, his voice gentle.
I shrug, pushing the food around on my plate. “Anything, really. Nature, people, whatever caught my eye.”
“We’ve got some great views around here,” Hudson says. “Plenty of inspiration if you want to get back into it.”
I look up, meeting his gaze. “Maybe.”
After that, the conversation flows around me. The men talk and joke with an easy familiarity that makes my chest ache. I pick at my food, overwhelmed by the noise, the closeness, and the sheer presence of these large, intimidating males.
“You okay there, Luna?” Ethan’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
I nod, forcing a smile. “Just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”