Morgan's POV
Ragnar had tried to warn me that she was human. My supposed mate. But I didn't listen.
Now, storming out and slamming the door behind me, I could feel my fangs digging painfully into my lower lip. I was too angry to care.
"She is still our mate," Ragnar whimpered.
"She's human, Ragnar."
"It doesn't matter. "She is mate," he insisted, low and whiny.
I ignored him, stalking off toward my office.
"There you are," a voice cut through my thoughts. Violet. My temporary Luna. She walked toward me with that overly bright smile she always wore when she was trying too hard.
Ragnar groaned inside my head and rolled his eyes. I stopped walking.
"Where have you been"? A strained smile tugged at her lips.
She could smell her on me. I knew she could. I felt it in the shift of her energy, the insecurity that flared every time another woman crossed my path. She was always like that. Always comparing. Always threatened.
She must've forgotten that her position beside me was only ever meant to be temporary.
Don't get me wrong, Violet was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Her red hair, which she liked to trim short to accentuate her model-like face, and those brown eyes that gave her an air of mystery complimented her thick curvy frame.
From a distance, she appeared graceful and confident, but those who knew her really knew her, and understood how fragile and insecure she was. Especially when her heart got involved.
I had never felt the pull of the mate's bond with her. The mate bond that I felt when I was with Alora, my weak human mate.
Her forced smile, her emotions had never tugged at my heartstrings the way Alora's did.
Violet's smile never reached me. Her emotions never pulled at my instincts the way Alora's did.
I barely knew Alora, but she'd already managed to unravel me in ways I didn't think possible. I hated how easily she affected me. Hated that she was human. Hated how effortlessly beautiful she was, with no enhancements, no effort.
Not like Violet, who clung to makeup like armor. I wasn't sure if she thought it made her more desirable, but honestly, it had the opposite effect on me.
I missed Violet from before. Before, the Luna title made her so obsessed with appearances. I preferred the girl who didn't need constant validation. The one who used to be my best friend. My confidant.
Now, I barely recognized her.
She sidled up to me with her smile that was too wide to be sincere. I was not in the mood to smile, but she was.
"Are you okay"? She asked, touching my chin, and searching my eyes.
"I'm fine Lettie" I replied even though that was the last place I wanted to be.
"You smell of her" she replied, sniffing at me.
"Stop it Lettie" I replied, trying to avert her gaze.
She stood on tiptoes and planted soft kisses on my lips.
I flinched, Ragnar growled softly.
She noticed.
"I'm sorry Lettie, i need to go".
She gritted her teeth and looked hurt and disappointed.
"I'm sorry" I repeated and stepped away from her and continued on my journey.
As soon as I got to the door to my office, my beta, Harry, was waiting for me, arms crossed over his chest.
One look at him and I knew he had overheard all my conversation with Violet through our mindlink. Harry was my tether, and sometimes I wished he didn't know so much about me.
He opened his mouth to speak but I stopped him.
"Dont"
"Fine, but she is still your Luna," he said through clenched teeth.
"I'm not exactly in a good mood right now, Harry" I responded, turning to head into my office.
He stepped in front of me.
"What happened"? He asked, opening the door and stepping aside to let me in. The memory of my time with Alora flooded back to me in waves.
"She is human," I muttered.
"Who?" Harry asked, brow furrowed.
"Alora. Alora is human."
Harry stared at me for a beat. "You're sure?"
I dragged my hand through my hair and dropped into the chair behind my desk. "Ragnar's been screaming it at me for days."
He stepped out and peered to his left and right before closing the door softly behind him with a click.
"Shit," he muttered, looking at me with wide eyes.
I didn't look at him. My fingers tapped the desk like they had a mind of their own.
"She's human, Harry," I said again, like saying it twice would make it less true. "A f**king human."
"But what about the other day, you know, the day you mistakenly pushed her"?
"What about that day, Harry?" I asked.
"Morgan, I felt something. "I don't think she is entirely human. "She may not be a werewolf, but she isn't just human," he insisted, drawing closer to me, almost whispering.
"What are you saying"?
He looked confused for a second before waving his hands dismissively. "Just…forget about what I said", he replied.
"So what if she is human"? He continued.
I shot him a look. "What do you mean if she is human?"
"I mean… So what? Your wolf still chose her."
"She's not a wolf," I snapped. "She's not strong enough for this life." For my life. The pack would never accept a human as their Luna.
"If only she would accept to be their Luna"
I turned to Harry. "She doesn't have a choice", I snapped.
"I highly doubt that," he smirked.
"What"?
"You seem to have forgotten so soon how she attacked you. "She may be human and look fragile, but she is sure a tough nut to crack…that one" he smiled fondly.
I felt a pang of jealousy and gritted my teeth.
Ragnar whimpered quietly at the back of my mind, agreeing with him.
I sighed
"She doesn't belong in our world," Harry, she's... fragile."
"So you're just going to walk away from the mate bond?"
"There is no bond"
Harry looked down at my trembling hands.
"Liar… You've been spiraling ever since she got here. Ragnar won't shut up. You barely sleep. You can't even look Violet in the eye anymore."
"She's human," I repeated, but it came out hollow this time. Like the excuse was losing power.
"She's yours," Harry countered. Fate didn't care what species she was. Why do you?"
I exhaled sharply. "An alpha cannot mate with a human. It's not just forbidden, it's suicide. The pack will never accept her. They'll tear her apart the moment she makes one wrong move. "They expect a Luna who can command a room, not someone who jumps when a door slams."
"Then train her."
"She's not ready."
"She doesn't have to be ready right now, Morgan, she just has to want to stand beside you. That's all."
"And what if she doesn't?" I whispered. "What if she finds out what I am…what we are, and runs?"
Harry looked at me for a long moment. "Then you let her run. But don't push her away before she even has the chance to choose you."
I looked away. I'll never let her go…not in this life.
"You said it yourself, she's different. "You're not just drawn to her, she grounds you," he continued. "Violet walks in and you shut down. Alora walks in, and suddenly you're not drowning anymore."
My throat tightened. He wasn't wrong. That was the part that scared me most.
"What do I do, Harry?"
He shrugged. "You start by being honest with yourself. Then maybe, just maybe... try being honest with her."
Just then, the door flung open. Violet stood there, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt.