Shattered Bonds

Chapter 10: Rich

It's been a year since I realized that Emlyn was my mate. When's she's here, everything in my world feels right. When she's gone, no matter how much work I have, my days are long and always feel dreary. Thankfully, between the three packs, there are a lot of birthdays and celebrations so I get to see her on the off weeks and weekends.

After I "started" the new process of having the visiting Guardians stay in our packhouse, Emlyn spent every third week at Canyon Ridge. That put her closer to my pack lands than if she were in her own pack. My brilliant mate had the idea to meet at the canyon in between the packs when she stayed there. It wasn't perfect, but it helped to keep me and Finley from going out of our minds. I honestly don't know where we've had sex more often, my bedroom or the forest.

My biggest regret is that I can't treat her like the princess of my heart and future Luna of my pack that she is. When she's with me, especially when she's in my packhouse, I do what I can to show her how special she is to me.

It hasn't always been easy. I'm still constantly surrounded by she-wolves wanting my attention and wanting in my bed. Since I can't be open about Emlyn and I being together, she's had to watch others flirt shamelessly with me and not say a word.

It's probably easier for me, although it doesn't feel like it. At least I know my brothers, Emerson, Cohen and Clint keep interested males from sniffing around my mate. It's the only thing that has kept me from losing my shit a couple of times in the last year. We all protect our Guardians. It's an unspoken pact between the Alpha males.

Emerson will be sworn in as Alpha in a couple of days. I'm happy because, not only will I no longer be the 'new Alpha', but I'll also get a weekend with Emlyn. She's spent the last week in her packhouse. She's been so busy helping Aunt Grace prepare for this ceremony that I haven't been able to do more than text her in the evenings.

I'm interrupted from my thoughts of how I will get my mate into my bed under her parents' noses by a knock at my door. I sniff the air and tell Leana to come in.

When she walks in, she sits down in front of me, folding her hands in her lap. I take in her posture and the way she seems nervous to ask what she's come to talk about.

"Rich, I know I said I would be your acting Luna until you found your mate. And I was happy to do it. But honestly, I didn't think it would be this long."

I'm just waiting for Emlyn to turn 18 and recognize me. I think to myself.

"I don't think anyone did." I say instead.

"Well, you know how I am supposed to start training to take over mom's seat on the council in a few months?"

"Yes." I have no idea where she's going with this line of discussion.

"Lily and I want to go travel around before I have to do that."

I frown. "Travel around where?"

"I don't know. See someplace other than these three packs." She says spreading her arms to show she means our pack and our allies'.

"I hope one of those places is Araphyra and Lily finally decides to accept Aolis as her mate." I say it a bit more sharply than I probably should have. I truly don't understand Lily's unwillingness to accept Aolis. Yes, he's a fae prince and yes, she'd have to leave the pack. But it's not like she wouldn't leave if her mate was a werewolf from another pack.

"That's for Lily to decide, not me and certainly not you." She says, defending her best friend.

I get up and walk around my desk, coming to sit beside my sister. "If you want to go, I certainly can't stop you. You're an adult now. But do me a favor."

"What's that, Rich?"

I take her hand. We're so close in age, that she could almost be my twin. That is if she didn't look exactly like our mother. Where I look like our father and have our mother's gray eyes, Leana has our mother's white-blond hair and slight build, but she has our father's sage green eyes.

"If you find your mate, don't do what Lily is doing to Aolis. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. Trust her and accept your mate."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Knock it off." I say, standing and pulling her to her feet. "Be safe and if you need anything at all, let me know. I'm always here for you, Lea.

"I know." She turns to walk out of my office.

"Oh, and Rich, you could have kept me from leaving. I may be an adult, but you're still my Alpha." My sister's acceptance and proclamation that I'm her Alpha makes my heart soar. All I've ever wanted is to run this pack well and make my family proud. "I love you, Lea."

"Love you too, Rich." She says as she walks out.

After she leaves, I walk back around my desk. I love my mother, but I don't want her acting as Luna and I know my father won't want that either. It's a big job, a full-time job and it requires the right kind of person. A person that was born to be a Luna. A person like my mate.

I smile as a plan forms in my mind. I need an acting Luna. Emlyn is less than a year away from turning 18. What better way to have the pack acclimate to her style than to bring her in as acting Luna. And if she's my acting Luna, she'll have to move into my packhouse and become part of my pack. I'd have her here with me every day, working beside me, helping to run this pack. And I'd officially be her Alpha.

I'm so excited, I do something I never do. I pick up the phone and call Emlyn.

"Richie, is everything alright?" she asks, I can hear the noise in the background getting quieter. She's walking someplace more private so we can talk.

"Hey gorgeous. I have a proposition for you."Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Her voice lowers into a sexy purr. "Oh really. And what's that?"

"How would you like to be my acting Luna?"

It's quiet for a moment. "What about Leana?"

"She and Lily are apparently going to travel around before she begins training to take over mom's council seat." "Really?"

I smile at the excitement in her voice. "Really,"

"I'd love to be your acting Luna, Richie."

"Good. I'll talk to your dad this weekend. Start packing, lover. You're about to move to my packhouse for good."