His Moon

X | Luna

There were some disbelieving looks shot Grayson's way, as if such an accusation was preposterous. Lycanthrope didn't mate with humans, especially not Alphas. A human could not be an Alpha's mate. 

Other faces were solemn. Kaia could have sworn that she saw pity in some of their eyes as if they already knew it was true and such a thing was a crying shame in and of itself. Or perhaps it was instead pity for Kaia because she had so quickly gone from the pride of the Pack to a disgraced victim of prejudice. And it had just been a few words. 

"She is a disgrace, boy," Grayson said. Kaia bristled at the way Grayson said the word 'boy' as if it were an insult, an attack on Kaleb's youth; Grayson was trying to knock Kaleb down. "This," Grayson said, gesturing to the balcony where Kaia stood but looking around at his fellow lycanthrope, "Is an abomination. Humans are weak and ignorant." He uttered those words as if it were a mere reminder. Hello, lycanthrope. We are superior! Or had you forgotten?

Grayson turned back to Kaleb, looking up at him with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes were defiant. "You are just as weak if you would bow to their level and take one as your mate," Grayson growled, "And a weak Alpha is not an Alpha at all." 

Kaia recoiled internally, feeling weak suddenly. She hadn't realized how out of her element she'd been this entire time; the comfort she felt with Kaleb, with Rosy, and with Lionel had hidden the truth from her. But perhaps the reality was different. Maybe she would not be as readily accepted as she'd expected. She was a human, and this alone made her different, didn't it?

"I agree," Kaleb said, his voice not betraying any emotion. Kaia jolted, looking up at him desperately. Was he admitting defeat? Did he agree that Kaia was weak, that she didn't belong? The worst of scenarios spun through Kaia's mind...until she saw his eyes. They were dark, angry. Kaleb was furious at Grayson, even if he hid it from his voice. "An Alpha must be strong," Kaleb said, his voice lowering, his words fading into an animalistic growl. Kaia watched in admiration; compared to how he appeared now, the power he'd displayed earlier was as the moon is to the sun.

If before he was a king, now he was a god. 

Kaia's heart surged with pride and desire as he reached forward, taking his hand from hers and swinging his body lithely over the railing on one arm. Kaia pressed herself against the metal instantly so that she could watch him slice through the air, landing on the marble with a thud. He'd fallen twenty feet and stood again, unhurt. Kaia clutched her chest, her heart pounding as she observed the scene in front of her. 

The crowd parted in front of Kaleb as he advanced, some bowing their heads in reverence; despite the doubts that Grayson had sowed in them, they still respected Kaleb as their Alpha. Some of them, however, stared angrily at Kaleb like he'd wronged them somehow. Kaleb ignored them and stalked towards Grayson, slowly and surely, each step thunder in the silent room. Grayson stood tall as Kaleb approached him, but his presence was a candle next to Kaleb's bonfire. 

"My mother, beloved Luna," Kaleb finally started as he came to stand in front of Grayson. There were some whispers of reverence as Kaleb invoked his mother's name. Even the rebelliously angry Pack members bowed their heads at the mention of Kaleb's mother. 

Kaleb's eyes never left Grayson as he continued, "She once told me that the true test of strength is not fighting or proficiency in battle. It is not what rank you hold. We are truly strong if we find the courage to follow our hearts, our morals, even when the rest of the world pushes against us." 

There was a murmur in the crowd. Kaleb's words had struck a chord with them. "My parents made this Pack what it is today," Kaleb said, looking around him to address the others, "We do not harm humans. We are Guardians." Kaleb turned back to Grayson, staring him down, "They would be ashamed to see such hatred for humans brimming in you, protected by the name that they built."

Kaia's heart was light. She wanted to go to Kaleb, take him into her arms and thank him for showing everyone the truth. Kaia was human. She was different. But why should that mean that she was to be hated? To be treated as less? 

She'd been privileged, sheltered enough not to have to experience blind hatred before. She knew it wasn't uncommon in the human world, either. Now she knew that it felt terrible. She was glad that most of the Pack, that Kaleb, knew that it was wrong. 

Grayson looked like he'd taken a blow to the stomach. He was bursting with anger, a vein appearing in the center of his forehead. "Your parents were both lycanthrope," Grayson argued, but he was a declawed kitten now, pawing uselessly at Kaleb. Despite his size and his age, Grayson was, at that moment, weaker than Kaleb. The man hated his feebleness. Kaia relished it. 

"My parents," Kaleb said, his voice harsh as if he were scolding Grayson for attempting to use his parents against him, "Loved each other. And there is nothing braver than that. The girl standing above you is my mate, and I wouldn't change that fact even if I could. She is one of us now, no different from the humans we speak to at the Accords; you are to show her only respect." 

Their eyes were on her again, but Kaia felt calm this time, confident. The number of disapproving eyes had declined. She wondered if she and Kaleb could win them all over. Kaleb was strong, even if some of those in his presence might doubt him because of his youth or his inexperience, his loss, and, now, his human mate. Kaleb was not an ordinary Alpha, but, Kaia thought, maybe that wasn't a bad thing. She had faith in him. And besides, the Prowlers weren't an ordinary Pack, either. 

"She is to be your Luna," Kaleb said. There was no indication that anyone else had detected it, but Kaia heard his voice catch with feather-soft sentiment at those words. 

It was all Kaia could do not to melt right there in front of the crowd, to pool at the ground near her feet and drip off of the balcony to the floor below. She felt like collapsing to her knees under the emotions that ran through her. She knew in her heart that she would remember this moment for years, the moment that Kaleb accepted her, gave her a place to belong, a purpose. 

The ghosts that haunted Kaia drifted up into the sky; loneliness, her old enemy, was but a shadow in the darkest hour of the night. 

Kaia exhaled, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Kaleb glanced up at her briefly. The world faded around them for a moment, the speck of gold below was the only thing that Kaia could see. The look was more than just a meeting of eyes. It was an agreement, a shared understanding that whatever happened would happen to the both of them...together. Wherever one went, the other would be there, too. 

Kaleb looked away, turning back to Grayson who had seemed to accept his defeat in roiling agitation, an evident lack of grace. "You may remain in this Pack only if you abide by its rules and respect its Luna. If you disobey, you will receive exile as punishment. Lion, help him out." 

And with that, the moment was over. The scene broke, and people began to flow out of the hall. Some lycanthrope climbed the stairs behind Kaleb--those with a manner around them that implied higher rank--to make Kaia's acquaintance. But Kaleb ushered them away, said that it was for another time as Kaia was still wounded. 

They disappeared once again behind the double doors. 

So that was a rather long update for you guys. Very dramatic, right? Let me know what you thought and don't forget to vote if you can find it in your heart. Thanks for reading!