Page 9 of A Luna's Dynasty
“Thank you, daddy. Don’t be worried. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know you are … I know.” He looked over at Asher and nodded his head. “Be good to her.”
“I’ll be better to her. She is my princess.”
“Yes … she is.” Nathon’s bottom lip quivered as he stepped back. He watched her get into the car, then turned away. It was hard for him to watch her go, even if it was the order of things in the supernatural world. Mates were like instant marriages.
As she settled into the plush leather seat, Asher slid in beside her. Caden started the engine, the low rumble filling the silence as they pulled away from the pack meeting.
Asher's silver eyes studied Lita's face. He couldn’t stop himself from looking at her. He wanted to know everything about her. “Tell me about your pack's rejection,” he said softly, his deep voice laced with a hint of anger. “I want to understand.”
Lita nodded solemnly. “I was never truly accepted, despite being the alpha's daughter. They saw me as an outsider, someone who didn't belong. My family and Teo were the only ones who treated me normally.”
As the car wound its way through the forest, Lita turned her gaze to the window. The trees blurred into a tapestry of reds and golds. She wouldn’t miss her pack, but she would miss her family.
“Black Ice will feel like home in no time, and you won’t miss Red Grove.” Caden’s voice rang out from the front seat.
“I won’t miss it. Only my brother, my father, and Teo. I’ll miss them, but our separation was inevitable. That chapter in my lifewas coming to an end. Once they started their own families, they would have drifted away, and I wouldn’t have been welcomed with their mates.”
Asher's hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with her own. “You have a new family now, Lita,” he said, his voice filled with a fierce protectiveness that made her heart flutter. “The Black Ice Pack will be your home, and I promise you'll never feel like an outsider again.”
Lita turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "I want to believe that," she said, her voice quiet as she shrugged. "But I've learned to be cautious with my heart."
Asher's thumb traced soothing circles on the back of her hand. “I understand,” he said, his gaze intense. “But I'm not asking you to trust an entire pack right away. Just trust me, Lita. Give me a chance to show you what it means to truly belong.”
“Teo’s in love with you,” Caden blurted from the front, causing a low growl to escape from Asher’s throat.
Lita's soft smile was full of understanding as she said, "Once he finds his mate, everything will change." That was just the way it worked. No matter how strong your feelings were for someone, once you met your mate, they were the only one that truly mattered. They completed you in a way no one else could.
Caden chuckled in agreement. “Ain't that the way it goes?”
“Caden,” Asher said, his voice low and dangerous, “I suggest you focus on the road.” The sharp glare Asher shot at his beta could have frozen hell itself. Caden's lips twitched, but he wisely remained silent, turning his attention back to driving.
“I'd love to meet your wolf sometime soon,” he said, his tone casual but laced with genuine interest. “Bo said her name is Mira.”
“Sometime … we’ll see. Mira is … well, she can be challenging.”
A low rumble of understanding emanated from Asher's chest. “Most strong wolves are.”
He gently lifted Lita's chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. His reassuring grin was warm enough to melt the ice in his pack's name. “Hey,” he said softly. “I promise you, both you and Mira are wanted here. My wolf, Bo, is already smitten with you. He’s excited to meet Mira in the flesh … his luna, a leader equal to me at Black Ice.”
“Equal?” Lita watched as he smiled.
“Of course. Lita, we’re going to have a great life. There’s so much I want to show you. So much I can’t wait to share with you.”
It sounds too good to be true,Lita thought to herself.
I agree. I know it’s strange to think that strangers will accept us when our own pack didn’t.But … I want to believe him,Mira quietly admitted.
“I hope you're right,” she murmured, her tone belying her skepticism.
Asher squeezed her hand. “I know I am,” he insisted. “You'll see. Let me tell you about your new home,” he said, his words painting a vivid picture. “The territory is vast, with forests so dense you can lose yourself in their beauty. There's a crystal-clear lake that reflects the sky like a mirror, and in the winter, it freezes over, solid enough to skate on.”
Lita found herself smiling despite her doubts, captivated by the warmth in Asher's voice. She could almost see the majestic pines and smell the crisp mountain air.
“And the pack house,” Asher continued, his silver eyes dancing, “is a mansion built from local stone and timber. Wait until you see the wildflower meadow in spring. I can't wait to show you everything.”
The hum of the car's engine and Asher's soothing baritone created a cocoon of comfort around Lita. Her eyelids grew heavy, the stress of the day catching up with her. As Asher's voicewove tales of moonlit runs and pack bonfires, Lita's head slowly drooped, eventually coming to rest on his lap.
