CHP.14-Backstories

The large oak door opened again before Nyx walked into the room. His bright eyes immediately been drawn to the new she- wolf still feeding at the table.

Serenity was quick to look at the new wolf, her anxiety levels immediate rising at the prospect of a new threat, her eyes scanned his tattoos with curiosity before she quickly dropped her sight to the floor.

Zeke was the first to speak, drawing the oracles eyes to his Alpha;

"Nyx, this is Serenrity. She walked into our territory a few hours ago. I need your input on the situation." Nyx nodded before making his way to the table, sitting at the table across from myself and Zeke but made sure to leave a space between himself and Serenity.

Serenity tensed as he sat beside her. Her hands began to shake as she continued to pick at her food.

"I was visited by the Goddess last night, she approached me in my dream." Nyx's voice was a symphony, it flowed over the table and I was entranced by it.

"As usual she was generous in hints but lacked specific details. She spoke of the new Luna, told me her connection to her chosen one will allow she-wolves to flourish. Said males would be chosen and the she-wolves would cause a war unless a titan was chosen by a flower."

The possibility of a new war automatically created a flush of tension into Zeke's frame. I squeezed his hand, causing him to relax slightly. My eyebrows knocked together. A titan chosen by a flower? What did that even mean?

"So nothing specifically about her?" Zeke nodded toward Serenity. Nyx shook his head before responding;

"As I said generous on hints, but lacking in details."

Zeke nodded in response, "very well, Serenity, you may stay here. My pack will protect you. But if you are not who you say you are and you become a threat to my mate, I won't mind giving you back to the males you escaped from." Zeke's words were firm, harsh even. But it was the way of wolves, they would protect what's theirs before they supported a rogue.

Even if she was a female.

Serenity seemed to relax upon hearing his acceptance of her, but was quick to recoil at the mention of betraying us. Her eyes moved to mine, her anxiety at the thought of being returned to the males prevalent in her eyes. My hand reached across the table before I gently placed it in top of hers.

"You have nothing to fear from us." I squeezed her hand before releasing it. Tension seemed to release from her shoulders at my words. My eyes made contact with Zeke's who nodded at my words. He didn't want to threaten the female but would not put me in danger for her.

I understood his logic. She was my female. Mine to protect and mine to love. I was her Luna and it was in my nature to do so. But should she ever become a threat to Zeke I would not hesitate to rip her apart. It was just my instinct, our wolves drove us. And my wolf's instinct was to protect her male before she protected a female.

My male.

When had my thoughts turned to this?

I was still uncertain about Zeke, but subconsciously my feelings had begun to change as he begun to further prove and validate himself in my life. And I feared that soon my negative thoughts would eradicate completely, and I could fall for the aggressive Alpha male whose mark I bore upon my neck.

My internal musing was broken when my hand was squeezed by Zeke's whose eyes bore into mine. They were filled were concern at my disconnection from the conversation. I squeezed his hand in response, allowing him to comfort me.

Warrior Diesel walked into the room, waiting at the door before he spoke;

"Alpha, Luna." He nodded his head in respect, acknowledging the Alpha couple seated in the room. Zeke nodded in response.

"Diesel, this is Serenity, I'm sure you've heard of her presence. I want you to take her to spare room 3. She will remain there until it is decided what she will be doing. You will watch her. She is anxious around males and I expect you to make her as comfortable as possible." Zeke's words were strong and non negotiable. Diesel nodded before looking at Serenity, her eyes already taking his figure.

Scanning his physique. And for the first time since I had met her she did not become anxious at the arrival at a new male. Instead she appeared curious to meet him. Her shallow breathing indicated exitment rather than stress.

Diesel certainly was a male of power. Only bested by Zeke and perhaps Dion. He would be able to protect her from almost anyone and on top of that he was very handsome. His striking features and intimidating tattoos made him a male to behold. One worthy of her attention. And it seemed Serenity agreed as her eyes remained firmly on him.

I smirked at her response.

I hoped she could become very comfortable around Diesel. As far as I knew he didn't have a mate as he wasn't marked, but I would have to ask Zeke to confirm.

"Come." Diesel instructed Serenity gently, he seemed nervous to interact with her as he was obviously being cautious, as if he was trying to not spook her. Like a lion trying to talk to a kitten.

Serenity looked across to me, she seemed nervous to leave.

"Go with Diesel, I'll come see you soon." I nodded my encouragement to her. She rose from her seat, walking quietly across the room. She looked even smaller compared to Diesel when standing. His frame towering her small physique, her forehead only reached his pec muscles.

Diesel followed her closely, his eyes keenly following her movements and they ran the length of body. He subconsciously puffed his chest slightly and raised his head higher as soon as she got closer to him. He was trying to look more impressive for her, wether he knew it or not.

They left the room quietly, Nyx also excused himself before following.

"Does Diesel have a mate?" My question seemed to have taken Zeke off guard as he paused the chewing of meat in his mouth to look at me. He swallowed before speaking.

"No, but he is 26, so even before the war he believe his mate wasn't alive. It's uncommon to meet your mate past the age of 21."

"Why did he never select a bond mate?" Bond mates were wolves who were mates by marks, not by the gift of the goddess. Wolf life was hard, even before the war wolves dying young was not an uncommon thing.

So many wolves who hadn't met their mate by the time they were 21 believe their mates had died, and they chose a mate.

The bond was not as powerful between chosen mates and god given mates, and there have been cases of wolves having a bond mate when they met their true mate.

The true mate bond always overpowered.

"Guess he never found a female he wanted to claim." Zeke shrugged and continued to shovel more food into his mouth. God that man could eat.

"Maybe if him and Serenity get along well enough it could happen. He's the first male she didn't freak out about meeting." My voice was almost hopeful at the idea of Serenity healing enough to trust Diesel.

I looked across to Zeke who only offered the response of a shrug. He seemed quite old, maybe he had considered taking a bond mate at some point in his life.

"Wait how old are you?" I asked as I came to realisation I didn't know his age, or date of birth, or even his back story. It had just never been brought up.

"24. You?" I nearly laughed at the idea of having this conversation, it felt like we should be on a first date not marked and living together.

"20, I was 16 when the war ended. My two older brothers and father died fighting. So my mum, my sister Aphrodite and I went into hiding. Aphrodite was only 14 when it all happened. But she was trouble." I smiled at the memory of Aphrodite getting into trouble with my father, but she would always just bat her pretty eyes and get away scot free every time.

"What happened to them?" I looked up at Zeke, his blue eyes bearing into mine.

"About 2 years after the initial end, we were situated in a cottage, had been there for a few months, we knew we should've kept moving but mum was getting really sick. She couldn't keep changing locations every month like we had been doing. I was out hunting, Aphrodite stayed at home with mum to look after her. When I got back the home was torn apart, everything smashed and damaged. The scent of unknown wolves smothered the whole place. And mum and Aphrodite were gone."

I swallowed the lump in my throat before I continued on, "I always thought that maybe if I just didn't take so long, or if I had convinced mum to keep moving like I know we should've then they would still be here. But I was a coward, I ran from the scene as soon as I smelt the scent of wolves. I should've looked or tried to find them but I just panicked and ran." My eyes were filled with water, I had never shared this story before, and thinking back on the memory was painful.

"Wolves are supposed to protect each other, look after their own but I was a coward. I went back a few months later, but it had been to long and all the scents were gone." Zeke leaned across to gently peck my lips.

"It's not your fault. I don't know a single 18 year old that could fight against a pack of full grown wolves, let alone an 18 year old female doing it in the situation we're in. You were frightened and that's ok." He gently kissed me again before leaning back.

"My mum died when I was young, she got very sick when I was 6. My dad took it hard, and instead put all his thought and time into me and the pack. He seemed to just shut his emotions down, biding his time till I could take the Alpha position from him. So at the age of 19 I challenged him and won. The next day we found him in the forest, he'd hung himself. Couldn't handle being away from his mate for any longer.

"My brother took it hard, he never really knew my Dad. He was actually not my Dads' son, my Mum was raped by some rogue wolf and happened to fall pregnant. So when he was 2 and Mum died my Dad didn't have a reason to care for the child. It's harsh I know but I guess he just saw him as a reminder of the pain his mate endured. He just reminded him of his mate I guess.

"I tried to bond with him, he was my half brother after all. We were close till I was about 8. Then all my time went into preparing for the role of Alpha. I didn't really see him except for meals and as he got older he got distant, more quiet. He grew troubled, would start fights at school and was constantly having to be disciplined.

"A few months later and the war ended, he was 16 and he left the pack. Said he couldn't be around it anymore. Last I heard he was an Alpha of his own pack somewhere, but that was a few years ago now.." Zeke shrugged off the last sentence, while body posture suggested he was comfortable with the situation his eyes suggested emotional pain deep down. Mimicking his earlier actions I leaned across to kiss him gently.

How he could be so loving and caring when his childhood had been so void of emotion I didn't know.

"Did you want to head to bed soon?" Zeke changed the subject subtly.

"Sure I just need to check up on Serenity first. But I'll meet you there." I pecked him on the lips before standing from the table. I didn't really know my way around the house but I would just follow Diesels scent to her room.