“Okay.” Phoebe nodded already nervous. She tended to avoid her pack’s warriors so had no experience in interacting with them. On top of that she wasn’t sure what these wolves would expect from someone proclaimed to be their Luna.
“They’ll love you,” Jason whispered kissing her temple before heading to the front door.
As Jason stepped out onto the porch Cam and Noah cautiously entered the garden. Noah seemed confused by the situation though Cam had a knowing smile on his face. It was clear Jason hadn’t spent the night outside which meant he at least earned a place inside, probably the bed.
“Alpha,” they both greeted with a respectful nod baring their necks to appease the sudden wave of his territorial aura.
“Have you been told what is expected of you?” Jason asked.
“Beta said to report to you,” Noah answered with a shrug
“I’m pulling you two off the patrols today,” Jason announced.
Cam expected as much but Noah was taken aback by the news. He opened his mouth to protest but Jason signed for quiet.
“Instead. You two will be guarding your Luna.”
Cam nodded. Noah’s next question spilled out of him, “Alpha, when you say our Luna…does that mean?”
“Yes.” Jason answered with a smile he couldn’t control.
Before he said anything else Phoebe stepped out of the cottage with a duffle bag on one shoulder. Though the pups usually brought their own towels she always brought extras. Sensing the tension between the three males she looked up and gave the warriors a nervous smile.
“Luna,” Cam smiled and bowed. Since he had been debriefed previously none of this surprised him.
Noah was slower to respond his eyes wide as he studied the petite she-wolf. Jason growled reminding him of his propriety. Noah quickly averted his eyes and followed Cam’s example.
“Phoebe,” Jason pulled her into his arms standing forehead-to-forehead with her. “Please be careful.”
“I think you worry too much,” Phoebe smiled stroking his cheek.
“I can never worry too much when it comes to you,” Jason kissed her palm before capturing her lips. “You are my everything, Phoebe.”
Her cheeks turned pink at his confession. No one had ever said such things to her before. It both pained him but also made him grateful to be the first who noticed her.
“Cam, Noah, I don’t have to tell you what I’m asking of you, do I?” Jason asked his gaze sliding to the waiting warriors.
“No Alpha,” Cam assured him. “We’ll guard Luna with our lives.”
“Good.” Jason tried to breathe easier as Phoebe stepped off the porch. “Phoebe…”
She paused looking up at him with a curious rise of her eyebrow. He hesitated. Despite his worry she seemed wholly carefree and happy. He didn’t want her to be afraid just because he was anxious.
Her eye shimmered silver and she chuckled, “I’ll be fine, Jason. Promise.”
Jason smiled despite his lingering doubts. Swallowing a lump in his throat Jason managed a nod as she turned away and continued to the gate. Cam and Noah nodded to their Alpha before following. Whether their Luna realized it or not she already had Jason wrapped around her fingers. The thought of their stern, businesslike Alpha brought to heel by such a petite and unassuming Luna made both warriors fight smiles of amusement.
“Luna, let me carry that for you,” Noah suddenly said as they made their way toward the packhouse.
“Carry?” Phoebe paused unsure what he referred to.
Noah nodded to the duffle bag and held out a hand. Phoebe hesitated. It wasn’t that heavy and she had carried it plenty of times before. Yet the warrior seemed earnest so she handed the bag over. With a smile Noah slung it over his shoulder and they continued on.
Nearing the packhouse Phoebe slowed saying, “Could you two hang back a moment. I don’t want to scare the pups.”
Sharing a look the pair nodded and slowed their pace allowing her to approach the packhouse on her own. Phoebe avoided the front making her way to the backdoor that came off the kitchen. There she found the pups already waiting with bathing suits under their clothes and towels over their shoulders.
The pups let out a cheer as they quickly surrounded her eager to be off. Because of the distance they didn’t get to swim often. Phoebe chuckled at their exuberance taking the two-year-old from its mother.
“I’m glad you’re taking them today,” the mother she-wolf said as she handed off her young pup.
“Oh?”
“Luna is a ripe mood. She’s annoyed the visiting alpha isn’t paying her any attention,” the she-wolf explained. “And Alpha has been drinking heavier than usual.”
Phoebe frowned. It wasn’t unusual for Luna Kristie’s mood to fluctuate suddenly and without warning especially if she was frustrated. But the thought she was trying to catch Jason’s eye made Phoebe uncomfortable.
‘That b***h better stay away from our Mate,’ Máni growled stirring deep within her mind.
‘Máni!’
Her wolf offered no apology. Phoebe’s thoughts turned to their alpha as she herded the pups away from the packhouse. He’d always had a drinking problem but he usually managed to keep it under control at least when there were visitors. But as of late it seemed he was getting worse.
‘It’s because he’s at odds with his wolf,’ Máni explained as if it should be obvious. ‘This is what happens when you reject your fated Mate.’
‘Is it?’
‘It would have been different if he marked and mated his chosen Luna before rejecting us,’ Máni took a rare moment to explain. ‘His wolf didn’t want to reject us so it put them at odds with each other.’
Phoebe pondered her wolf’s explanation. It wasn’t often Máni offered information for things she deemed obvious especially when it came to mate bonds. It seemed meeting their second chance mate opened her wolf up. She had a lot of questions but for now she had to focus on the pups.
“Um…Miss Phoebe.”
“Yes Kyle?” Phoebe looked at the oldest of the pups at thirteen.
“There are two wolves following us.”
Phoebe gave him a questioning look before glancing over her shoulder at Cam and Noah. She had forgotten about her guards. Knowing how curious pups were she assumed it wouldn’t take them long to notice the pair so she had come up with an excuse she hoped they wouldn’t mind.
“Those are Cam and Noah. They are two of Alpha Jason’s warriors.”
The pups’ eyes widened as they listened glancing shyly at their escorts.
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