The Lady from the Moon

PATRICK

After Max and I got separated, I couldn’t reach him through our mind-link. I was worried.

I’d wanted to stick with him, but my dad had called me into his office the moment we arrived.

So, I dropped Max and Estella at his place and took off, knowing I was in for a lecture. It wasn’t hard to guess why he was mad. He’d had to pull some strings to bypass human laws, and he didn’t like that one bit.

He dealt with humans in business, but he was always careful not to flex his power too much.

Our pack was his world, and the fact that I’d made him risk our secrecy had him on edge.

I hadn’t planned on spilling the beans about Estella being Max’s mate, but seeing how upset he was, I figured he should know.

At the very least, it was a solid reason for risking our cover. My dad’s reaction when I told him was nothing short of stunned.

“This hasn’t happened…,” he began.

“In centuries,” I finished for him.

I told him he had to help. Max wasn’t just my best friend, he was my cousin too—his sister’s son.

My Aunt Leslie, the only aunt I have on both sides, met Howard Kinsky on a visit to an allied pack. He was the beta’s son and was studying to be a doctor.

Usually, the woman leaves her pack to join her mate’s (which isn’t fair, but that’s how it goes), but we’d lost a doctor in a recent attack, and there was an open spot in our clinic.

From what I heard, Uncle Howie didn’t hesitate to pack up and move here with Aunt Leslie.

Around that time, my dad found my mom, and both women got pregnant within two months of each other.

My dad was thrilled to have his only sister close by and adored Max.

As I’ve said before, I grew up with Max. He’s more than a cousin or a friend to me, and my dad knows that.

He even encouraged our bond, hoping Max would become my beta. That was before Max decided to follow in Uncle Howie’s footsteps and become a doctor.

Despite my pleas, my dad was hesitant to get involved. He thought it was wrong to meddle in human affairs.

If Estella had to be taken away by her relatives or human law, then she should go. If she was meant to be with Max, she would be, in time.

When she was old enough to understand the bond and accept it, if she would accept it, that is.

“You can’t be serious!” I yelled. “Could you stand being away from Mom?”

“No, I couldn’t. But I don’t think it works the same way for humans.

“We have to let her go, son. Maybe the Moon Goddess will bless Max with a more suitable mate if the little human doesn’t accept him when she’s older.”

“But Dad…”

He held up his hand to stop me.

“When you’re the alpha, you can make your own decisions. For now, you will obey me,” he said firmly.

“Now, help your mother gather some things for the girl from pups her age and take them to Howie’s house, like your aunt asked.”

After that, he dismissed me, and I knew one thing for sure: I wouldn’t want to be in Max’s shoes for a second.

UNKNOWN

It was early evening, and Max was still out. Leslie was worried and had asked Howie to stay with her, but he didn’t.

He gave her a soft kiss and headed for the clinic, leaving her alone. He told her not to worry, that Max just needed time to think and figure out what to do about Estella.

But she couldn’t stand seeing her son in pain, especially knowing he’d overheard their conversation in the kitchen.

The way he’d slammed the door when he left made it clear he knew about her talk with Howie.

When the doorbell rang, she jumped up, surprised. She opened the door to find Patrick standing there with a bag full of clothes.

“Aunt Leslie,” he greeted her. “I brought some clothes for Estella. Mom and I gathered them from the pups.”

“Come in, Patrick,” she said, taking the bag and stepping aside to let him in. “Estella is still asleep.”

He headed to the living room, and after closing the front door, she followed him.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“No, thanks, Auntie. Where is everyone?”

She sat in the armchair across from him, placing the bag on the floor next to her.

“Howie’s at the clinic, and Max is out… I don’t know where he went.”

Patrick looked at her, his brow furrowed slightly. Leslie looked away, trying to hide her worry and guilt. He must know everything. They’d found the girl together.

“Auntie, did Max tell you about Estella?” he asked gently.

“Tell us? No. He didn’t. We figured it out when he nearly attacked Howie for getting too close to the girl,” she said, her voice bitter.

Patrick nodded calmly. He didn’t look shocked or even surprised.

“Can you find him, Patrick? Talk to him? Bring him home?” she pleaded.

“I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. He needs to be alone for a bit, Auntie. This is really hard for him, and the worst part is no one in the pack can guide him through this.”

“A human mate, Patrick? Why did it have to be my son?” she said, venting her frustration about her son’s predicament.

That was the one thing she couldn’t accept. She was adamant that humans couldn’t feel as deeply as werewolves.

Humans weren’t bad, but they were cowards. They wanted the ideal but couldn’t live up to it.

She was afraid that the sweet, traumatized little girl sleeping upstairs wouldn’t be an exception when it came down to it.

“Patrick, the Moon Goddess has her reasons. We can’t question her,” Leslie said, her voice heavy with seriousness.

“I’m not questioning the Goddess, Leslie. I’m just wondering why. Humans can’t be trusted with the bond.”

“Auntie, please don’t let Max hear you say that. He’s already confused enough.”

Leslie bit her lip, guilt washing over her.

“He overheard me talking to Howie. That’s why he left,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Patrick sighed, choosing not to say anything. What good would it do to scold her? He was the future alpha, but the Kinskys were still family. He doubted he’d ever use his authority over them. His father hadn’t, and they’d never shown any signs of disloyalty. They respected the alpha’s authority and never took advantage of their relationship.

“Oh, Patrick, I feel terrible!” Leslie whispered. “I don’t know what’s best. And I actually like this kid. But she’s human… she can’t truly bond with Max, can she?”

Just then, the sound of light footsteps caught their attention. Estella was coming down the stairs, still wearing Max’s T-shirt that almost completely covered her small frame.

She looked a little upset.

“Max?” she called out in her soft voice. “Max? Where are you, Max?”

“He’s out for a walk, sweetheart. He’ll be back soon,” Leslie replied, her voice soothing.

Estella jumped a little, she hadn’t noticed them sitting there.

“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Leslie asked.

Estella shook her head. “I’ll wait for Max. He’ll be hungry after his walk.”

Patrick took a moment to really look at Estella. She looked so small in Max’s T-shirt, and her big eyes made her look even more adorable.

“Little one,” he said, “Max might be late. Why don’t you eat something now, and he can eat when he gets back?”

Again, she shook her head. “I’ll wait for Max,” she repeated, her tone stubborn.

Patrick looked at Leslie.

~“Are you sure she can’t truly bond with your son?”~ he mind-linked her, but she just looked back at him, not responding.

Estella walked over to them and sat in the armchair Max usually occupied, facing Leslie. The room fell silent until Patrick decided to show Estella the clothes they’d gotten for her.

He got up, grabbed the bag Leslie had left near her chair, and knelt in front of Estella to show her the clothes. But no matter how much they insisted, she refused to take off Max’s oversized T-shirt.

After a while, Patrick decided to leave. Leslie stroked Estella’s hair and went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate. If Estella wouldn’t eat without Max, at least she could drink something. Who knew when she’d last eaten?

As soon as Leslie was out of sight, Estella quietly slid off the armchair and headed for the door. It was unlocked, and she just managed to reach the knob. She opened the door and slipped out.

MAX

I was so lost when I left home, it was a miracle I remembered to take off my clothes before I shifted. I held them in my mouth and ran as fast as I could, away from everything.

I had no idea how I ended up near the lake, and I didn’t really care.

Maybe what I needed was to just dive in and forget about everything that had happened in the last few hours. So, I shifted back and jumped in.

The cool water felt good against my skin, calming my nerves a little. But the thoughts were still there, and my mother’s words kept playing over and over in my head.

~“Humans always leave us in the end,”~ she’d said, and it had felt so true it hurt. Which made no sense because deep down, I knew I didn’t need a mate or a child to take care of.

“She’s wrong, you know,” a gentle voice said out of nowhere.

My eyes, which I hadn’t realized were closed, snapped open.

A clear, beautiful laugh echoed through the woods. It was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard, along with the melodic voice.

I looked into the semi-darkness, and it didn’t take me long to find the source.

The woman sitting lazily on the bank of the lake was stunning. She had pale, almost transparent skin, long opalescent black hair, and midnight-blue eyes that sparkled like stars.

Her smile was captivating. But despite her beauty, she had an air of elegance and authority that made me bow my head in respect.

Suddenly, I had no doubt about who she was. I felt my cheeks heat up under the bright moonlight.

I was naked, but hopefully, she couldn’t see anything through the dark water.

I hoped she was a discreet Goddess.

“You don’t have to be ashamed,” she said softly. “You’re my child, like all nocturnal creatures. I’m your first mother.”

I nodded, but decided to stay in the water. I’d had enough exposure for one day.

“Suit yourself.” She looked amused, like she knew what I was thinking. “As I said before, your mother is wrong.”

I looked at her, a hope I shouldn’t have felt rising in me.

“So, humans can bond like we do?” I asked.

“If they can accept the reality of werewolves, yes, they can. The pull is too strong for them too.

“The problem is their inability to accept, not a lack of commitment. It’s hard to believe in something you’ve been taught doesn’t exist.”

My heart sank, and it shouldn’t have.

“They still fail, though,” I mumbled, unable to hide my disappointment as my wolf whimpered in my head.

“More often than not,” she admitted casually, as if it didn’t mean anything.

“Can I reject her and get a second shot with a werewolf mate?” I asked, not thrilled with the idea, but curious about my options. I mean, there might come a day when I’d want to settle down, and I knew my wolf would prefer a mate.

“No,” she replied instantly, her tone firm.

“Why not?” I pushed back, my wolf’s desperation creeping into my voice. “Is it because I’m not an alpha?

“I’ve heard you’ve given second mates on special occasions. I think I qualify. Estella is human and still a kid.”

“I know that, Max.” She sighed.

“Of course you do, you’re the one who paired us.”

She raised an eyebrow at my accusatory tone but didn’t scold me, probably because I was right.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Goddess,” I said. “But you understand this can’t happen. Please, let me reject her and give me a second chance in the future!”

I couldn’t believe I was begging, losing my usual cool demeanor, but I was. This was too much for me to handle, and it had only been one day. Less than a day, actually.

She shook her head, her eyes filled with sadness.

“Estella is your second chance, Max,” she said simply.

I stared at her, stunned, and she continued to explain, suddenly looking weary. Or maybe it was just the moonlight playing tricks.

“The reason human mates are so rare is that they’re not my first choice anymore.

“As I told you before, most of them can’t accept werewolves and the supernatural in general. They either deny our existence completely, or they react negatively upon turning.

“To reduce the rejections and keep our secret, it was decided that human mates should be avoided.”

“So how did I end up with Estella?”

“I said avoided, not forbidden. When you were born, I gave you a mate. One of your kind, the same age as you. But she was weak and sickly.

“She died when she was only five. It’s rare and tragic, but it happens. And since it did, you weren’t supposed to get a second chance until Estella was born six years ago.”

I stayed silent as she spoke, the water around me feeling colder, numbing me. I couldn’t begin to process what she’d just told me.

I tried to pull myself together and ignore my wolf who was trying to surface again because I knew there was more. There had to be.

I mean, why Estella? No, why a human?

“As you can see, Estella is your last shot at a perfect soulmate,” she said, and I frowned because I expected more.

I deserved a proper explanation.

“I still can’t accept her,” I finally said, my voice icy cold. “I won’t risk being rejected later.”

She looked at me with deep sorrow. My mother once told me that legend said the Moon Goddess is deeply hurt when mates reject each other.

That’s why she rarely gives second chances.

But when werewolves mess it up, and the rejections increase, she makes those rare exceptions, usually for alphas who haven’t managed to produce an heir for their packs before losing their mates.

I know very well that no sane person would willingly throw away their precious second chance. Hell, many beg for it. I even did it moments ago.

Despite her admittedly weak explanations, my mother’s words were the ones that stuck with me. If the Goddess had denied it, maybe I would reconsider.

But she hadn’t. In a roundabout way, she’d confirmed that humans couldn’t be trusted.

“Has anyone ever told you about the consequences of rejecting your mate?” she asked after a while.

“I’ve heard it’s not a pleasant process,” I replied cautiously.

Honestly, I never cared to know.

Before meeting Estella, I didn’t give a damn about the whole mate bond thing, as I’ve already said, and whenever someone tried to talk about it, I never really listened.

That’s not so strange, really. I’m eighteen, and settling down this early wasn’t in my plans, and it shouldn’t be for anyone my age.

It’s way too soon to be eternally committed to one person.

“People usually focus on the fate of the rejected mate. But rejection can be agonizing for both parties, as it truly means permanently cutting off a part of your existence.

“Mates, coming from the word soulmate, signify completion. By giving up your mate, you give up the chance to feel whole. Have you felt the sparks between you and her yet?”

I nodded.

“That’s the effect of the bond. The first sign that your soul and your wolf welcome the completion her presence brings.

“If you break the bond, the pain for both of you will be immense because you’re meant to be together.”

“I’m willing to endure the pain,” I said bravely. “And you, my lady, are powerful. You can take away her pain, make her forget all about me, and help her live a normal human life.”

She laughed bitterly.

“We both know it would kill you to see her with someone else, Max. And yes. I can erase her memory of you.

“But still, she won’t be able to feel complete for as long as she lives. She’ll know something is missing. She’ll feel it every time she tries to be with someone.”

“It wouldn’t kill me to see her with someone else because she’s a child,” I argued.

“I know who you made her to be to me, but I’m not in love with her, which would be sickeningly wrong right now. Besides, if we had never met—”

“That’s a different story, Max,” she interrupted. “You could avoid the pain and be fairly happy with other people, her as a human at least.

“But now that you’ve met, no spell can undo the effect you have on each other, regardless of her current age.

“She won’t remember your name, but she’ll miss your smell, the sense of safety you give her.”

“She’s very young. Surely it’s easier.”

For the first time, the Moon Goddess seemed irritated. “Your fear makes you a cruel coward, Max,” she said harshly.

I glanced up, surprised. Her lovely face was twisted into a frown. Her words made me want to snap back, but I held my tongue out of respect.

“You two are already forming a bond, and you know you need each other. You’ll never be completely happy without her.

“I know she’s young, but instead of seeing that as a hurdle, you can use it as a chance to strengthen your bond.

“She’s already accepting you. Soon, you’ll see it.”

I scoffed at her words, but she didn’t seem bothered anymore.

“She’s a special human, you know.” She flashed a grin at me. “That’s why she became your second chance.

“All you have to do is wait for her. Your love for each other will naturally grow and deepen over time.”

She stood up and walked away gracefully, leaving behind the scent of spring flowers and morning dew.

I didn’t have time to get out of the water and dress before Estella showed up.

For the second time that weird night, I was stuck naked in the lake with a woman present.

“Max,” she called out softly, coming into view. She looked like a small ghost in the moonlight, barefoot and still wearing my shirt.

Her face lit up when she saw me. Goddess! She was so beautiful it made me want to weep for the misfortune of having waited for her for so long.

Damn, it was all so confusing… I wished in that moment that I was human. Life is so much simpler for them. No pull, no bond unless they want it.

They have the freedom to choose their own destinies. Why shouldn’t I have the same?

She rushed over to me, not caring about the twigs hurting her small feet or the thoughts running through my mind at the sight of her.

“Hey, why did you come here all by yourself?” I asked gently, not wanting to frighten her.

“You were here.” She shrugged, not saying more, as if further explanation was unnecessary.

“Come closer. Let me see your feet.”

She complied, and sitting down, she stretched out her feet for me to examine. There were a few cuts, but nothing serious as far as I could tell.

She was more dirty than injured. I told her I needed to wash her feet in the water, warning her it was cold, and she nodded. She didn’t even flinch at the chill of the water.

Holding her tiny feet in my hands, I couldn’t resist the urge to plant a soft kiss on each one.

Her skin instantly shivered, and she looked at me wide-eyed but not horrified. Finally, she smiled shyly, and my heart soared with happiness.

“Now, I want you to go and stand on that rock,” I directed her, pointing to a flat rock next to her, “and close your eyes.”

She looked puzzled.

“I need to get out of the water,” I explained. “Then I’ll change into my wolf form and take you back home, okay?”

“Okay.”

She did as she was told without another word. When I was ready, I nudged her hand with my snout, and she opened her eyes. I lowered my back, and she climbed on easily.

Then we headed back.

Home...