The Luna Ultimatum

ZAREK

I silently watch her sprint away down the dusty track. My breath leaves my lungs in a harsh, jagged rush, catching in my throat. She is a real grown-up now. Far from the little girl with messy hair and pigtails who used to follow me and my friends around the territory. Now, she is so fucking sexy. The intoxicating image of her perfect curves, the rhythmic sway of her full ass in those tight workout pants, sears itself into my brain. The afternoon sun highlights the sweat glistening on her skin, making my blood burn with a fierce, undeniable heat. I am fighting a losing battle to conceal my raging erection. My cock is rock hard against the thick denim zipper of my jeans, throbbing with an intense pressure I cannot control. I shift my stance, desperate to hide the massive bulge straining against my pants.

Torin stands right beside me, his presence heavy and imposing. He breaks the suffocating silence, his voice cutting through the humid air.

"What was that, Zarek? Not Elowen, please. No messing up with pack members, remember? Especially not my sister."

I can hear the deep, protective disappointment dripping from his tone. He is my Gamma. He is doing his job, defending his blood from a predator like me. He crosses his muscular arms over his broad chest, his jaw clenched tight. He stares at the empty space where Elowen just disappeared, refusing to meet my eyes.

I paint a smooth, unaffected smirk on my face. I mockingly raise my hands in surrender, playing the part of the careless Alpha.

"I don't know what you're thinking, man. I just hugged Elowen. It's not like I'm fucking her."

A low, threatening growl rumbles from Torin's chest. I used that word near her name. Bad move. The sheer protective instinct of a brother flares up, and I know I pushed the boundary too far. I tap his tense shoulder and take a deliberate step back toward the main path.

I flash a quick, reassuring grin. "Don't think anything, man. You know I always think of her as my sister. And I know the rules I made, not breaking them."

I turn my back on him and head toward the packhouse. I am not in the mood to continue with training today. The truth is, I just lied smoothly to my Gamma's face. It is a massive lie. Every single sisterly thought I ever harbored vanished the exact moment she returned to my territory three days ago. I had set that strict rule myself—no touching pack females. It applied to me, my Beta, and my Gamma. As a certified fuckboy who never lusted after just one woman, it was usually incredibly easy to follow. I always had a willing female when I needed to get my dick wet, but none of them ever held my attention past the climax. I never took cold showers for the women I took to bed. I fucked them for pleasure, finished the deed, and forgot their names before they even managed to get dressed. I chased the temporary high, the fleeting release of a hard fuck, and then I moved on. No attachments. No lingering desires.

But Elowen is different. She relentlessly steals all my attention. Just the vivid memory of her bright sapphire eyes, her luscious lips, and that angelic voice sets my blood on raging fire. The specific way her hips move when she walks makes my shaft twitch against the thick fabric of my jeans. And when she gets angry, it turns me on even more. The raw, primal urge to claim her is driving me insane. I want to slam her against a wall, pin her arms above her head, and fuck her hard until she screams my name. I want to spread her thighs and bury my cock deep inside her tight pussy, claiming every inch of her body as mine. Damn it. Everything about her sets my dick on fire.

I walk down the long hallway of the packhouse, lost in the filthy, intoxicating fantasies of bending her over my desk and taking her roughly. I let out a low, vibrating growl. A few warriors walking past me stop in their tracks, staring at me in confusion.

"Alpha." They give me quick, nervous nods, stepping aside to clear the path.

I ignore them. I take the wooden stairs to my room two at a time, my boots thudding heavily against the floorboards. I need a shower. I rip off my shirt and jeans, tossing them carelessly onto the floor. I step into the large glass enclosure and turn the metal knob all the way to freezing cold. The icy water blasts my heated skin, but it does nothing to shrink my stiff cock. I lean my forehead against the wet ceramic tiles, gasping for air. I need a shred of sanity. I want a taste of her just to get it out of my system, but deep down, I know the brutal truth. Elowen is not a casual hookup. She is the kind of female you bring home as a loyal mate. She deserves devotion. She deserves a male who will stand by her side and cherish her. I have no idea how to be that kind of man. I am a feral beast fueled by lust, incapable of offering the pure loyalty a true mate requires.

After physically cooling off and forcing my arousal to subside, I wrap a towel around my waist and step out of the bathroom. I dress quickly in a clean black shirt and dark jeans, running a hand through my damp hair. I head down to the first floor. The pack Elders requested a sudden, tense meeting. I have no idea what they want, but I respect the old guard enough to attend without complaint.

Beta Bram and Gamma Torin wait for me by the heavy, carved oak doors of the meeting room. They stand like twin sentinels, their postures stiff and formal.

Bram gives me a respectful nod, his eyes scanning my face for any lingering frustration. "Alpha."

Torin adds, his voice neutral. He keeps his gaze fixed straight ahead, the earlier tension on the training ground buried beneath his professional duty. "Everyone who needs to be in this meeting is already inside."

I push the heavy oak doors open. I am surprised by the crowd gathered inside. The current Elders sit along the polished mahogany table, but former Beta Dominic, former Gamma Kaelen, and their respective mates, Odette and Valeria, are also present. The room smells of old paper, polished wood, and heavy political tension. They all rise from their high-backed leather seats out of respect.

"Take your seats."

I walk to the head of the long table. I sit down, leaning back into my chair. I cross my legs and entwine my fingers on my lap, waiting in rigid silence. I scan the room, taking in the tired but determined faces of the older generation.

I project a harsh, monotone voice, masking the residual irritation burning in my veins. "Shall we start?"

Odette, the former Beta female, shifts nervously in her seat. Her mate Dominic reaches over and gently squeezes her hand, encouraging her to speak.

Odette starts tentatively, her voice soft but steady. "Alpha, with due respect, we know this is a topic you would rather avoid, but we are hoping that you would keep an open mind and listen to us first before you make any decision or cancel the meeting."

"I will do my best."

Odette smiles faintly, gripping Dominic's hand tighter. "As you are well aware, Alpha. The pack has been thriving all these years despite not having a Luna. All tasks that the Luna should be handling are well covered. We have kept the community stable and functioning without issue."

I scowl. I despise this topic. It always circles back to the same suffocating expectation. I sit up straight, resting my muscular forearms on the cool surface of the table. I cut her off.

"And for that reason alone, it means we don't need to have one. I'm not changing my mind."

The room temperature drops. The Elders shift uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances. But they refuse to back down today.

Former Gamma Kaelen leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. He turns to Odette. "Alpha, we respect your views on this. But can you hear us out more? Continue, Odette."

Odette lets out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as she gathers her thoughts. "As I mentioned, Alpha, the pack is thriving with all the Luna's duties because Valeria and I, together with some of the elders, have stepped up. We have been heavily carrying this immense burden since long before you even became Alpha at fourteen. We took on the mantle to ensure your reign began smoothly, shielding you from the domestic disputes and daily management of the pack members."

Valeria clears her throat. She folds her wrinkled hands neatly on the table, her eyes filled with a weary dedication. "And it would always be an honor to do it for you and the pack, Alpha. However, we thought that after our own mates stepped down from being Gamma and Beta, we could also step down and just enjoy our lives as pack members. The women and children in our pack desperately need guidance. The daycare center, the warriors' cafeteria, the women's hours, the pack celebrations—all the intricate, vital things a Luna works her magic with, we all need it. We continue to take the lead, but it breaks our hearts to want to retire when we know nobody else will step up to this immense responsibility."

Dominic looks at me with unyielding firmness. His eyes hold the weight of decades of loyal service, a silent demand for the rest he has earned. "We all agreed that instead of our mates, we should have a Luna that oversees this. We of course would offer our assistance to our Luna if she needs us. But we all believe that everything should be in the Luna's hands now. Odette and Valeria deserve peace."

Elder Opal leans into the light. She is sharp, practical, and never hesitates to press the knife deeper into the wound. She coldly reminds me of the passage of time. "And it's high time to have an heir, Alpha Zar. You are not getting any younger. Soon it might be too late for an heir, and a pack without a clear succession line is a weak pack."

I spit the words out, my face void of emotion. "I don't have a Luna."

Kaelen strokes his thick gray beard, his gaze locking onto mine. "We are aware of that. And your Beta and Gamma are mateless as well. Without a female in authority, it can lead to pack failure. You need to lead, Zar, but your Luna needs to ease the burden of little things around the pack. Unless you have other females around who will step up to this role, then I suggest you get yourself a Luna."

Dominic crosses his arms over his chest. Odette rests her head softly against his shoulder, looking exhausted. "And for all it's worth, I believe it's time that Kaelen and I take our mates away from these responsibilities. And most importantly, we need an heir. The next Alpha of this pack must be born to secure our future."

The grandfather clock in the corner of the meeting room ticks loudly, each second hammering against my skull. I angrily rub my face in deep frustration, my fingers pressing hard against my temples. The walls feel like they are closing in, suffocating me. They have cornered me. They are using their years of loyal service to trap me in a cage of guilt and obligation.

"I appreciate your honesty. Give me time to go over this. It isn't easy to find a Luna when I don't want one."

Elder Opal stares right through my defensive walls. She knows the truth. She knows I am deliberately avoiding the search for my true fated mate. "I know you have been avoiding meeting your mate, Alpha. If that is still the case up to now, then maybe we can go the other road. Pick a Chosen Luna."

The heavy words hang in the silent air. A Chosen Luna. A political stand-in. A female I pick to do the job without the sacred bond tying us together. To my own profound shock, the heavy words tumble right out of my mouth before I can even overthink the consequences.

I swallow hard, the bitter taste of political surrender coating my tongue. I look directly at the former Beta and Gamma females, feeling the massive weight of the decision I just made. "I will. Just give me time. Odette, Valeria, I would like to personally extend my deepest, most formal gratitude for all your help all these years. It will never go unnoticed. But I ask for just a little more patience. I hope you will continue with your duties until I find you your Luna."

Silence rings in my ears. I just made a sudden, binding promise to the pack Elders. I vowed to select a Chosen Luna, setting a ticking clock over my own head.

Odette beams, pure relief washing over her tired face. Valeria nods happily beside her, the heavy burden finally lifting from their shoulders. "With pleasure, Alpha. We will wait and make sure that we also assist the future Luna whenever she is finally ready to take her role."