The Unwanted Luna

-POV Jasper-

Seeing my little girl blossom into the spitfire I always thought she would be, was the greatest gift a father could have ever received. Who would have imagined almost 8 years ago I was trapped in the dungeons, only kept alive for the bitter torment of my captor. I'm so grateful I was given another chance to support her and be there for her. She may be all grown up now, but the fact that she made it, regardless of the trials and pain that had befallen over her life, was enough for me. "Dad?" My starlight asked. I turned to look down at the blushing bride and she "Her mother would have been proud of the beautiful, confident, and smart woman she has become." My bear huffed and I smiled in agreement.

smiled up at me.

"That she would be." Her hair was slicked back into a bun with a barrette of pearls above it and a veil just underneath. Her dress was stunning and I remember when she asked me to go with her to pick it out. It makes me chuckle at the memory. She was so annoyed about her height that day that she actually yelled at me because she should have a little of my genepool aside from her raven hair. Then she found the perfect lace dress that elongated her curves and the bright white color shinned just like she does. It had long sleeves, which was nice for February, and they were off the shoulders, so I could see her redden shoulders from embarrassment.Please visit Jo bnlb.com and search the book title to read the entire book for free. The lady even gave her a belt to add to the ensemble, but I just think she was trying to make us spend more money. It totally wasn't necessary.

She started to look around and her cheeks and shoulders became redder than a cherry. "Just like her mother." My bear added, feeling the loss of our mate on such an occasion.

"Maybe we will get lucky and find love again, but our beautiful fairy would not want us to be sad about missing her, but excited about seeing our daughter blossom." I shot back. "Maybe...." He huffed, before going silent. Yeah...maybe.

I sighed and grinned my pearly whites at my baby girl. "Are you ready?"

I chuckled and tapped her button nose. "Are you?" She asked, seeing my mind cluttered with thoughts. I swear this girl can see right through me.

She nodded excitedly and wrapped her arm around mine. "As ready as I'll ever be. Thank you for walking me down the aisle." She hummed and her grip tightened on her bundle of flowers. Why wouldn't I?! Nothing would stop me from coming to see her off today. Absolutely nothing. I've missed too much of her life to allow that to happen. "Sometimes, I wonder how mom would have looked at everything that has happened to us over the years." She mumbled softly. Again, the girl is reading minds now!

I pretended to think for a moment while we walked towards the large wooden doors to the grand hall. "She would be proud to call this crazy family her own. She would dote on your financés and both your Uncle, her, and I would be evenly matched against them." I grumbled and she giggled lightly. I mean, come on. It's always two against one. Well, sometimes Zyair chimes in to help along with his friends, but it's not the same. How are we supposed to intimidate them? That's how I know the moon goddess has a sense of humor. Either way, I want to see her smile on her special day. My little girl, all grown up.

"With that thought, I think it's time!" Emily called to us. We both took a breath before watching Ayame's bridesmaids walk down the aisle.

I wonder how my Cassandra would have been as a bride. Since I grew up with the knowledge of our kind and my sweet fairy grew up in Bodhi Cora, we never decided to get married. Too much of a hassle, but as I walked our baby down the aisle, kissed her cheek and watched the festivities begin, I realized that it would have been a great memory to have of the woman who sacrificed herself to protect our only gem in this world. Our little starlight.

As we toasted to the newlyweds...if you want to call them that...the most alluring smell graced my nose before disappearing again. I went rigid and looked around the room as if there was something I hadn't seen when I walked into the reception hall. I tend to be hyperaware of my surroundings, so that has to be the case. I took another deep breath and furrowed my brow. That's odd. I didn't think anything of it and continued throughout the night while my normally mellow bear huffed at me irritably. "What is it?" I asked, looking around the room again. "I guess our 'maybe' came faster than we expected." He grumbled and started to become more irritated. Our maybe? What the hell is he-?

"Dad...what is it?" Ayame asked, resting her arm on my shoulder, startling me out of my own thoughts before I could know what to make of them.

I blinked and turned my attention back to her. "Nothing really. I'm going to head out for some air. I'll be back." I kissed her forehead and stepped out of my castle to enjoy the gardens. It was quiet out here tonight and it seemed like the festivities maintained themselves within the confines of the grand hall.

I yawned and looked up at the moon shining brightly over this marvelous occasion. "Ah! Your highness!" Once again I was startled out of my daydreams by a voice that caught my attention and the minute I turned to see the source, she bowed to me and I rubbed the back of my head, still not used to that title.

"You're fine. Please raise your head." I called, trying to sound kingly. Ugh, I don't even know what that even means. Ugh, kingly.

"Of course, your highness." The young lady whimpered.

"Hey! What did I say about coming back here? We were hired to do a job, not wonder about." Another woman came around the corner and she seemed to be quite beside herself, but the shot of that scent from earlier overpowered my senses and I walked right past the young maid in front of me. I made a quick effort to stand toe-to-toe with the flustered woman.

She gasped and stepped back, but then the realization hit her almost as fast as it hit me. This was the maybe. Oh, sometimes I wish my spirit wasn't so cryptic. The two of us flashed our yellow eyes toward each other and joy rose from the depths of my spirit. The goddess really has given me a second chance. I looked over her auburn hair and curvy figure. She was quite tall and I knew she was a werebear, but she was still about a head shorter than me and that was perfect. Everything about her was perfect. "Mate." I rumbled and I felt the ground shake around

me.

A tear pricked on the sides of her eyes as she smiled up at me. "Mate." She whispered softly.

"Miss.Anderson!" The maid called as she ran over to us. That snapped my mate out of her shocked stupor.

She bowed to me immediately and I tilted her chin up so we were staring at each other eye to eye. "You will not lower your head to anyone anymore. You are mine." I growled as my bear started to take control. It's been almost twenty years and I will never forget Cassandra, but if I am to have a second chance, I will make the best of it.

"Y-Yes, your highness." She said, as the simply sweet honey tone lured from her lips.

"Jasper."

"Sir?!" She squeaked.

I smirked. "My name is Jasper."

She sighed and took my raised hand into hers and she intertwined our fingers together. "Jasper it is then. My name is Rylee. I never thought I would find my mate, but I hope you are not disappointed. I am much older than those who have been blessed with theirs already and-" I shook my head, stopping her cute rambling. "No, I'm not. You will come to find out that our family is not what you would expect from someone of our stature, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do."

"I'm looking forward to it, but I do have a job to finish. Mate or not, I will not allow the Luna that saved my niece and nephew to have anything less, but a beautiful wedding day." Oh...so her children were part of Prince Chaz's...wait staff.

I wrapped my arm over her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "My daughter will appreciate anything you do, but if you would like to keep working, please do so. If not, I think the party is running quite smoothly on its own. You and the others can relax. I was just about to tell Merita to let you all off the hook." I wasn't lying. My number one rule in my castle is everyone is equal and no one works unnecessarily.

"I will make that decision...your highness." She added smugly before tapping my chest and running back to the kitchens. I'm going to like her.

"Yeah, in our bed. Because of you, oh -great saint, I'm dying here!" My bear bellowed.

I ignored him promptly, and grinned proudly at my new mate. "Fine! But I hope to see you the minute this party is over!" I called. She hesitated before turning to me and letting the other maid slip in behind her.

"Count on it!" She called back before she disappeared and I faltered in my steps. Like Ayame always says, there is always room for more at the dinner table and it looks like she can add another to the list.

"Dad, why are you still out here?" Ayame asked, walking up to me. Speak of the princess.

I laughed breathlessly and just decided to sit on the grass. I think the shock was finally sinking in. I rested my arm over my knee and she squatted down to my level. "Would you believe it if I told you I had found my second chance?" I asked, expecting her to get angry or tell me to reject the woman, but also, knowing my daughter, expecting the reaction I actually got from her.

Her eyes grew misty and she shook her head. "I wouldn't, but if you have...I am so happy for you. I'm so happy you won't be alone here anymore." She cried. "I'm so relieved!" She shouted.

I got to my feet and pulled her up as well, burying her small frame into my chest. "Me too, starlight. I'm so...surprised that I found her. I...I think it's time. I'm tired of being alone."

She sniffed and forced out a laugh. "If anyone should understand that, it would be me."

She isn't wrong about that. "So then, I guess the both of us will get to enjoy the splendors of life with the ones we love coming along for the ride?"

"Well, of course we will.... Together!" She giggled excitedly and started running back to the hall. "You owe me an introduction!" She called over her shoulder, not even breaking for a second. I'm sure she wanted to tell her husbands the news.

I rubbed the back of my head and watched Ayame twirl in the moonlight. Freedom at her fingertips. Her shoes...long gone.

Everything seemed to fall into place while a star flew over my head. I dropped my head and a smirk fell from my lips before I decided to head back in and see if I could...taunt my new mate a little further. She's cute when she blushes. My bear groaned at my, as he calls it, cub nonsense, and I decided to ignore him then too. My bear needs to live a little! Either way, Ayame is right. We will conquer the world, together. THE END