Choosing My Mate, My King

His hands brushed over my thighs, higher and higher, while our hips swayed in sync, following the music that surrounded us. I wanted more, wanted to let go of everything, but that wasn’t in the cards. The warmth of his body disappeared, making my wolf, Nyx, whimper inside my mind. I was about to turn around when a familiar scent surrounded me, covering me like a blanket, claiming me as his even though I wasn’t. I would never be his. I leaned back, resting my head on his shoulder. His hands wandered over my hips, tugging me closer, ensuring I would feel the bulge in his pants. He groaned when I rubbed against him. His grip tightened, and I smiled. “You’re such a tease,” he whispered against my ear, making goosebumps rise. I tilted my head to the side. My lips slightly parted when his brushed down my neck, nibbling on the spot my mate would mark me. I knew I shouldn’t have been there. I shouldn’t have let him touch me like that. He was my Beta, my best friend, nothing more. However, how long did I have to wait? We were supposed to find our mates when we turned eighteen. But that wasn’t the case for me. I was already twenty and still hadn’t found mine. I was struggling to save myself for him or her, and I knew my pack was getting anxious that their Luna didn’t have a mate yet. They were waiting for their Alpha, and I heard the whispers. They wanted to challenge me, thinking I wasn’t suitable to lead our pack. I got the Luna position pretty early. My parents died when I was thirteen. With the help of the remaining elders, I got the position of Luna at fourteen. Three years ago, we finally found our new home. I still had the elders close if I needed advice or if I was planning on expanding and other stuff. Everything would have been so much easier if Lucas were my mate. We both hoped we were, but it seemed the moon goddess had other plans for us. The one difference between Lucas and I was that he didn’t save himself for his mate. Bringing a new she-wolf home every week, sating his urges. I wanted to do the same, to feel his body against mine. Letting everything go. I moaned when Lucas cupped my breast, not caring where we were. Nyx edged forward, trying to take over, forcing me to snap out of my moment with Lucas. A moment that happened more often than I would like. I peeled myself from Lucas, turned, and met his light green eyes. “You want to go home?” he mind linked. I nodded, and mind linked back, “You can stay, see you tomorrow at training. Don’t be late.” I gave him a small smile and moved to the bar where I left my bodyguard and signaled for him to follow me outside to our car. I sighed, hating that I was leaving, eager to have Lucas’s body against mine, but I knew if I stayed, I wouldn’t stop. I waited for Jax to open the door of my beautiful red SUV. I stepped inside and glanced out the window. I didn’t have to say a word, Jax knew I wanted to go home. He was more than a bodyguard, we grew up together, making him almost my brother. He drove in silence, and after fifteen minutes, we arrived at the border of my pack. The forest surrounded the road beautifully, it was dark, but you could see all the eyes of the patrols looking and guarding. Proudness rushed through me at the sight of a dozen wolves surrounding us. Just close enough for me and Jax to notice them but far enough that humans or other creatures wouldn’t. After another twenty minutes, we got to the packhouse, my home. It was huge. Way too big for just me and my Beta. But I still had this need for the extra room. Besides my and Lucas’s offices, we had a huge conference room. We used it for meetings with the elders and with the warriors. The packhouse was only two stories high. But it had six bedrooms and three bathrooms. There was also a little hospital room on the ground floor next to the kitchen. If I was injured in battle, I didn’t want to go to the “normal” hospital, so I made sure the packhouse had a room for me to patch myself up. This room didn’t see much action. Even though I don’t have a mate and my pack didn’t have an Alpha, I didn’t run from battle. I sought it out. I wanted to grow as a pack so that nobody dared to challenge us. So yes, I was a skilled warrior. I got out of the car just before Jax could open my door. “It’s fine, Jax. I just want to go inside. I will see you tomorrow at training. Send my love to Kimberly,” I said to Jax with a smile. Jax relaxed and nodded, “Goodnight Luna.” He closed the car and walked away to his house. “You can take the car if you want,” I said while looking at him with a slightly lifted eyebrow. I knew his home was a bit further away. If he walked, it would take him fifteen minutes. “Thanks, Luna, but I don’t mind the walk.” I nodded and went inside the packhouse. Nyx instantly purred, feeling the warmth on our skin. “Lucas always takes care of us,” she said. I chuckled and closed the door behind me, “yes, Nyx he always does, almost perfect.” I walked up the stairs and stopped. I glanced back at the door and wondered how late Lucas would be home. “Don’t do this, he will sense it. You have to let him enjoy himself. He also has needs.” I snorted and continued my path. We were running for so long in search of a home I never had a room for myself not as big as this one. It had beautiful black and red tones. I liked the darkness of it. I quickly got ready for bed, washing my face and pinning my hair, struggling slightly, cursing under my breath when I couldn’t get it to stay. Sometimes I wanted to cut it short, but it reminded me of my mother. The same long blond locks as she had. And as a bonus, the elders also liked it because it also reminded them of my mother. I brushed my teeth, hopped into bed, and waited for sleep to take me. After a while, I heard the front door opening, and my ears perked, listening closely. I peeked at the clock, and it was already 5:30. Is he just coming home now? I shifted around, my eyes locked on the door, and I heard Lucas stop at the top of the stairs. My breathing changed when I realized he was coming my way. He opened the door and went inside. He lifted the sheets, but before he moved beside me, he said, “If you want me lying next to you, you have to give me more space.” I rumbled and moved. His cold feet rubbed against my legs. “Aah, you’re cold!” I yelled, kicking him away. “Yes, that happens when you turn down the heat when you get home, I thought it was nice of me to turn on the heat when you left the club, but no, the first thing you do when you get home is turn it down, so I get home in a cold house,” he said with a sigh. “I’m pretty sure you had someone with you to keep you warm,” I chuckled and placed my head on his chest. “Yeah, that’s true, but not anymore now,” he pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. “Almost perfect,” he said before I dozed off again. I woke up to the scent of blueberry pancakes. Groaning, I got out of bed, needing to get ready for the day. I grabbed some training clothes and made my way to the shower. I froze and smiled when I heard the water running. I eyed the bed and saw that Lucas wasn’t there anymore. I sneaked into the bathroom, and there he was, showering and humming to some song. “Eyes up here Luna,” he said, pointing two fingers to his eyes. I laughed and put my clothes on the sink. “I can’t help it. You look so captivating,” I said with a small smile. “Are you just going to stand there or join me?” I shook my head, fighting the flutter in my core. Why couldn’t we be together? “Get out of your head and get in,” he grinned, holding the shower door open. I sighed and joined him. His body was perfection in my eyes—beautiful dark blond hair, light green eyes, and a smile that made every she-wolf swoon. I was soaping myself in when I noticed something poking me from behind. “Oops,” he said. “Really, Lucas, we’re not even doing anything,” I said, feeling my cheeks redden. “I can’t help it,” he shrugged, moving closer. “Touch him,” Nyx urged. It seemed I was cursed with the horniest wolf in existence. “Your wolf doesn’t mind,” Lucas smirked, his finger moving over my arm while his eyes never left mine, waiting for me to make the first move. He inched closer and pressed his lips on my forehead. I sighed, closing my eyes, savoring this moment. He leaned back, rinsed out his hair, and left the shower taking his warmth with him. “I’m going to take care of this and see you downstairs,” he winked. I finished up, trying to push my urges down, but my wolf wasn’t having it. “You can always help him, you know,” Nyx said. “Aah shut up Nyx, we have other things to do.” I walked into the kitchen, dressed in my all-black training outfit. “Good morning, Luna.” Sarah nodded to me. “Good morning, Sarah. Thank you for making breakfast.” I smiled. “Luna, did something happen? You smell like Lucas,” she said with a bit of worry on her face, but also a hint of excitement. She was also eager to see an Alpha by my side, and she knew how much Lucas and I cared for each other. “Nothing happened, Sarah. You know we like sleepovers,” Lucas said while walking in with only his pants on. “Get that grin off your face then,” I told him with an eye roll. “Is that what you’re wearing for training?” “Oh, sorry, Luna. I will change immediately. I thought you might like the view,” Lucas said sarcastically while bowing with a smirk. “I do enjoy the view, but we have a big day today, so I would really appreciate it if you could be a tad more serious,” I teased. I brushed past him, out of the kitchen, and to the front door. “Bye, Sarah, and don’t be late, Lucas,” I pointed at Lucas with a narrowed gaze. I jogged to the training ground. I always wanted to be the first one there. And I needed to clear my head. I knew that my pack members were getting anxious, so I thought today would be a good day to discuss expanding the pack and absorbing some packs nearby. It would mean that there would be a battle if the surrounding packs didn’t want to merge. But it was time to grow. And people needed to take me more seriously and see that we don’t need an Alpha. There were some whispers from some warriors that they wanted to test me. So today is also the day for that. “We’re going to kick some ass,” Nyx growled, eager to sink her claws into someone. I laughed, “yes, Nyx, we’re going to kick some ass today.” I always liked these runs. Sure it was different from shifting but close enough. I couldn’t come to the training ground naked. After a run of twenty minutes, I arrived at the training ground. Nobody was there yet. But I could smell that I wasn’t alone. I couldn’t pinpoint whose scent it was. “I’m here, I’m here. See, I’m not late,” Lucas said with a big smile as if he had just won something.