Maxim’s POV
Adrian's being careful with Eden. Always the perfect gentleman. I get it - she's still adjusting to everything.
She's sitting up in bed, watching us. Her eyes move between Adrian and me, uncertain. Just yesterday she was living a normal life. Now she's here with us.
"You need to eat," Adrian said quietly.
"Don't worry about the fancy stuff," I said, watching Eden stare at the array of silverware like it was some kind of puzzle. "Just use whatever fork feels right. Adrian's the one who freaks out about proper etiquette and shit."
My brother shot me one of his patented "behave yourself" looks from across the table, but I ignored it. The way Eden's shoulders relaxed slightly was worth it.
Eleanor had really outdone herself with lunch. The massive table in the moon suite was loaded with everything - prime cuts of steak, roasted chicken, fresh bread, and enough sides to feed a small army. The old-school silverware and fancy china probably looked like something out of a movie to Eden.
"Try the steak first," Adrian suggested, his voice doing that gentle thing he usually reserved for spooking humans. "You need to build up your strength."
Eden picked up a fork (the wrong one, but who cares) and carefully cut a small piece. The moment she tasted it, her eyes went wide. "This is... amazing."
"Wait till you try Eleanor's chocolate cake," I grinned. "She's a genius in the kitchen. Pretty sure that's why Adrian hasn't fired her for babying us all these years."
"As if you don't enjoy being babied," Adrian muttered, but I caught his slight smile. He was just as pleased as I was to see Eden actually eating. Eden looked like she hadn't had a proper meal in years.
While she focused on her food, I studied her more carefully. She was still way too thin though - we'd have to fix that.
"So," I said, keeping my tone casual, "ready for Supernatural 101? Crash course in all things wolfy?"
Eden looked up, curiosity winning over anxiety. "Please. I have so many questions..."
"Well, it all starts with the Moon Goddess," Adrian began, slipping into his professor mode. I let him handle the history lesson - he was better at all that formal stuff anyway.
I watched Eden's reactions as Adrian talked. The way she leaned forward when something caught her interest. How her eyes lit up at certain parts of the story. The little furrow between her brows when she was processing new information. She was smart - picking up on details most people would miss.
"And the packs today?" she asked after Adrian finished explaining about our sacred bloodline. "How does that work?"
"There are three main packs. The rest are just small groups, or clusters of five or six people." I jumped in. "The three packs - the Silver Fangs, aka the cool kids. Shadow Claws - the ones who seriously need therapy. And Greywinds - nature loving hippies with territorial issues."
"Maxim," Adrian warned, but Eden actually smiled.
"And you're both Alphas? How does that work?"
"Twin thing," I explained, reaching for more bread. "Alpha twins share everything, including their Luna. It's rare, but it happens.""
"A very rare occurrence," Adrian added. "The last time Silver Fang had twin Alphas was over three centuries ago."
Eden's fork paused halfway to her mouth. "That's... a lot of pressure."
"Hey, no pressure," I said quickly. "You just focus on getting healthy and adjusting. Everything else can wait."
But she was already diving into her next question. "What exactly am I to you both? I mean... how does this mate thing work?"
"You're our Luna," Adrian said softly. The temperature dropped a few degrees - my brother's specialty when he gets emotional. "Our mate. We've been waiting for you."
"How did you know?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "That it was me?"
"We felt it," I said, remembering that first pull six months ago. "Like something was missing, but we didn't know what until we found you."
Eden looked down at her plate, pushing food around with her fork. "At the auction..." she started, then stopped.
My hands clenched under the table. The image of her in that cage still made my blood boil.
"That's never happening again," I promised, letting some of my Alpha energy leak into my voice. "No one's ever going to hurt you like that again."
"It was my birthday," she said quietly. "Eighteen."
Something in my chest tightened. I caught Adrian's eye across the table. He gave me a slight nod.
"Well, that settles it," I declared. "We're throwing you the biggest belated birthday bash ever. And before you say we don't have to - yes, we do. You're our Luna now. Plus, I throw amazing parties. Just ask anyone except Adrian. His idea of fun is color-coding spreadsheets."
That got a real laugh out of her - small and surprised, like she wasn't used to making the sound. It made my wolf want to howl with joy.
"Everything we have is yours now," Adrian said seriously. "The pack, the estate, our resources - all of it."
Eden's eyes widened. "I don't know anything about being a Luna. I don't even know what that really means."
"You'll learn," I assured her. "We've got time. Right now, just focus on getting stronger. Eleanor's already planning your meals for the next month - girl's gonna fatten you up proper."
"And the rest?" she asked. "The whole... supernatural thing?"
"One step at a time," Adrian said. "You're safe here. Protected. That's what matters most right now."
I reached across the table, offering my hand palm up. After a moment's hesitation, Eden placed her small hand in mine. The contact sent warmth through our growing bond.
"Besides," I grinned, trying to lighten the mood, "you hit the mate lottery. Two for one deal - can't beat that."
A soft knock interrupted us. Eleanor poked her head in, all business. "Are you done eating?"
Eleanor entered with a cart, her quiet efficiency a testament to years of service. "I'll clear these away for you, sirs."
The sight of her going about her usual routine gave me an idea.
"Perfect timing," I stretched casually, catching Adrian's eye. "Bro, we should probably handle that thing downstairs."
Adrian caught my meaning immediately. "Eden, please excuse us briefly. Eleanor will take good care of you."
Eden nodded, still looking a bit uncertain. We headed downstairs, and I waited until we were in Adrian's study before turning to Eleanor who had followed us down.
"Eleanor," Adrian began, "we'd like to arrange a birthday celebration for Eden. Yesterday was her eighteenth birthday."
Eleanor's eyes widened slightly. "The poor dear. And she's still in that awful auction dress..."
"Exactly what I was thinking," I said. "She needs a whole new wardrobe, some nice jewelry – you know, the works."
Eleanor nodded thoughtfully. "It would be appropriate to get her properly outfitted before any celebration. Our Luna should have attire befitting her position."
"Hey, Adrian," I turned to my brother, "How about we take her shopping today? Most of the high-end boutiques downtown should be open."