Mercy

Dimitri watched his Alpha storm into his office with an irritated look. He sighed and shifted his sitting position on his Alpha’s desk so that he can see Nikolai when he sat down in his office chair. The man had major mood swings.

“What happened?” Dimitri asked.

Nikolai scoffed. “She wants to go back home.”

Dimitri sighed again. “Why don’t you tell her how you really feel?”

Nikolai rolled his eyes and turned on his computer to look through some proposals, regulations, and contracts but nothing registered in his mind. All he could think about was Roza.

“She wouldn’t believe me.” Nikolai exhaled and stood up. He moved to stand by the window. “I don’t know what to do. A part of me thinks it is better to let her go but-”

“You can’t.” Dimitri said.

Nikolai growled and ran a hand through his hair. How can he? He wanted them near him and he was too damn selfish to let them go. Was it wrong for him to deny her the right to go home? He knows he doesn’t deserve her forgiveness — that’s if she even gives it to him.

“How do you know she will not listen to you?”

“Because I see that look in her eyes.” Nikolai answered. “It’s the same look I saw when I saw her at the Alpha games. She hates me.”

Nikolai knew without a doubt that he couldn’t let her go. He ran all his options over in his head and the thought of just losing them pained him so badly.

“What if she stays here and ends up finding another mate?” Dimitri asked.

Wrong question to ask.

Nikolai growled and pinned his Beta against the wall so fast that Dimitri didn’t get a chance to blink. He snarled and his bared his canines. The thought of another man touching Roza rose an anger in him that was imaginable. Just the thought had him seeing red and wanting to kill.

“Whoa!” Dimitri quickly raised up his hands. “I am just saying.”

"Unless that person wants to die, no one goes near her. She’s mine!” Nikolai roared and threw his best friend across the room. Dimitri was used to Nikolai’s angry fits. The man threw a tantrum like there was no tomorrow and gets angry so easily.

A dent was made in the wall that Nikolai threw his friend through. Dimitri chuckled a little and scratched at his head awkwardly.

“10-4, Alpha.” He confirmed his Alpha’s message. “No one is to go near her.”

Nikolai was breathing hard and he fought to control his anger. He turned away from his friend and slowly tried to get rid of the images of her in the arms of another man. He muttered a curse and paced the floor.

“Don’t get me riled up, Dimitri. I’m already fucked up as is.” Nikolai growled.

Dimitri chortled at his friend’s dilemma. Why was love so complicated for everyone? When Dimitri found his mate, he took her and made her his immediately.

A knock on the door got their attention and both men looked up to see who it was. Slowly the door opened and Anna appeared behind it. She smiled at them before walking over to her mate.

“What is going on?” She looked between them and noticed how her mate was clutching at his side. She frowned and touched his side and saw him grimace.

“Just a little rough play.” Dimitri stated.

“You mean, you got yourself thrown again.” Anna sighed in exasperation.

“We were just talking.” Dimitri reasoned.

“Uh huh, yeah, I believe you.” She said sarcastically before turning to Nikolai.

“Alpha, the preparation for the full moon tonight has been made. Everyone’s excited for the run. Will you and the Luna be leading tonight?” She asked.

The full moon run was in celebration to the Moon Goddess. Everyone shifts into their wolves and run around the territory and a feast will follow in celebration. Nikolai completely forgot about it and although he wanted to run with Roza, he knew she wouldn’t approve. Shaking his head, he looked at Dimitri.

“You two can lead tonight.”

Dimitri and Anna looked surprise. “What? But it is customary for the Luna and Alpha to run.”

Nikolai nodded as he knew it was the custom, but the Beta and Beta’s mate were next in line and can also lead the run if the Alpha was not mated. Anna looked like she wanted to argue but she knew not to press her Alpha much. Nodding she walked out of the office.

“If you aren’t leading tonight, what will you be doing?” Dimitri asked.

“I’ll stay back and wait for you guys to return.”

“What if Luna wants to run?”

“Then she can.” Nikolai replied and waved his hand in dismissal. Tired of the conversation and wanting to be alone. He could already feel the ache in his chest as his wolf whimpered in protest. He wanted to run with his mate tonight but they both knew it wasn’t the time nor the place.

Roza walked downstairs and found Anna preparing food. There was a mass amount of food being prepared and people were moving around trying to get things ready. She walked up to Anna.

“What is the occasion?” She asked.

“It’s the full moon tonight, Luna.” Anna answered.

“I told you already, Anna. I am not your Luna. Please call me by my name.” Roza scolded.

“Unfortunately, I can’t use the informality. You are my Luna and I should give you the respect you deserve.” Anna replied.

Roza knew it was useless to talk to Anna regarding calling her by her name. She has repeatedly told the woman over and over to stop calling her Luna but it was useless. She stepped forward.

“Let me help.” She said.

“That would be great. We are a little shorthanded and feeding a bunch of werewolves takes a lot of work.” Anna said thankfully.

Soon the two women were working hard in cooking and preparing the food. The sun has set and the moon now appeared, shining the brightest for tonight. Roza helped Anna carry another tray of meat out to the buffet table.

Everyone was gathering and many walked up to talk to Roza casually. Most have already heard who Roza was to Nikolai because their Alpha had indiscreetly been staring all the men down to stop their advances on her. It was clear to everyone that she was not just anybody. She was somebody and that somebody was very important to their Alpha.

Nikolai stepped out of the pack house to watch his pack talk happily and excitedly as they waited for the run to start. Walking over to where Maksim was sitting and playing with some children, he picked up his son and walked to where Roza and Anna were.

“Where is Dimitri? The run is starting soon. You two should go get ready. Get the pack lined up.” Nikolai ordered.

Roza frowned. She knew for a fact that the Alpha should be leading the run. Why were Dimitri and Anna leading it?

“Why aren’t you running?” She asked.

“It is nothing.” Nikolai replied.

“Alpha should always run along with his pack. This is the way we have always done things.” Roza reasoned. “You shouldn’t let your pack down.”

“Let it go, Roza.” Nikolai warned.

Roza should let it go. She knew she shouldn’t care, but she found herself unable to stop herself from making him go on the run. She was acting in the role of a Luna and that was the last thing she wanted to give people the impression of.

“I think you should go.” She said again and wanted to slap a hand over her mouth.

“I think so too.” Anna stated. “Actually, I think you two should lead the run. It is the custom, after all.”

Roza’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Me?”

“Yes. If you are asking for our Alpha to run, you should run too.” Anna encouraged.

Nikolai watched as Roza struggled for an answer. He could see she didn’t want to run, but also didn’t want him to not run. Finally, she huffed in frustration.

She turned to look at him. “Fine. I will run if you run.”

Nikolai was glad it was dark because he nearly gave away what he felt at that moment. Roza was actually going to run next to him. His wolf was thrilled and he was just as excited. Hiding his excitement with a cough he shrugged.

“I’ll run.” He answered.

Anna clapped her hands together. “Well then, it’s settled.”