Page 80 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

Under the cloche are a few misshapen muffins and two perfectly crisp blueberry Danishes. I pick up a muffin and offer her the plate, but she shakes her head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be the brave one,” I say with a wink, breaking off a small piece as her eyes widen.

“I’m kidding,” I add, taking a bite. “Oh my God!” The overload of blueberries and the sprinkle of sugar on top are brilliant. “This is outstanding, Lana.”

She leans across the table. “You know when I share stories about how you…” She suddenly scrunches her nose and bites her tongue.

“Oh! So, you’ve been gossiping about me?” I giggle. She is the complete opposite of Ella.

“No! I mean, you’re so nice and you treat everyone equally. In my previous pack, it wasn’t like this. The luna there was a nightmare.” She shudders.

“Is your family also here now?” I ask, pouring tea for both of us, ignoring the luna remark.

“Kinda,” she smiles, taking her cup. “My mate is here.”

Over tea, we start chatting about her mate and her new life here at Mammoth Lakes, when she suddenly says, “You know everyone in the pack is waiting to meet you. They want to welcome their luna home. Some have even started planning a party.”

My lips twitch to the side, and I clench my jaw. “I don’t know how everyone got that idea, but I’m not the luna. Did Alpha Theron say that’s what I am?"

She gasps again, her palms cupping her cheeks. “Oh no! We all found out on our own. The alpha never named you. When he was addressing the pack about the loss of Titan…”

“Wait, what?” I push my teacup away.

“You didn’t know?” She looks at me wide-eyed. “Alpha Theron lost his wolf during his mating ceremony with Luna Vanessa. Even though he kept getting weaker, he didn’t tell anyone. It was only six months after the passing of his chosen mate, when the elders started pushing him to take another one, when he came clean to everyone. He shared how his fated mate left because of his actions, and he refused to take another mate. He said he was quitting the pack because how he treated her made him unfit to rule.”

“What?” I whisper as my heart slams against my ribs. Being an alpha had always meant everything to him. But he was ready to quit the pack when Titan left him?

“But Titan’s here,” I say, knowing I’ve talked to him. “What do you mean his wolf left him?”

“His wolf went away. The alpha was...like a human. He couldn’t shift. Couldn’t heal.” Leaning in, she whispers, “We thought he wouldn’t survive.”

A sharp pain shoots through my chest. Theron’s earlier words suddenly make sense.

“We kept getting attacked. We all worried Alpha Landon would take over. Titan returned the day Leon arrived. Everything got better after that.”

I feel a jolt of electricity course through me.

“Everyone in the pack is so grateful to you for your kindness. They’d love to meet you. You are their luna, even if Alpha Theron hasn’t marked you.”

Remembering how the guards, cooks, and everyone I’ve met so far has bowed to me, I realize they weren’t acting on Theron’s orders. They chose to respect me of their own free will.

“I can’t be a luna. I’m human,” I answer with a small smile.

“But you are our luna. You made the ultimate sacrifice. You held the pack together. That’s what a luna does.”

I can’t wrap my head around the implications of that. My phone rings, and I take the opportunity to slip away.

An overwhelming urge to see Theron takes me straight to him. Thankfully, the lights are off and he is deeply asleep.

His hair is overgrown. His face is peaceful, without any trace of a frown. Soft snores escape him.

I gently push away the hair from his face. I can’t believe hewent through so much all alone. Even in his sleep, he sighs when I touch his face.

My heartbeat picks up. I don’t even think before leaning in to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

Just as I’m moving away, he turns his face, presenting me with his other cheek. “Don’t be partial.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were awake?” I whisper, swiftly trying to move away, but he grabs my arm.

---