The Unwanted Luna

-POV Charlie-

When I mean that dinner was awkward...it was awkward! I didn't know what to say after I checked her for being rude to the waiters. She didn't know what to say after I didn't respond to her apology. Then she stayed silent the whole ride back to her house. When I got back to the hotel, I received one message, thanking me for taking her to dinner.

I tossed and turned the whole night after giving the alphas an update. "Head Warrior. The witch is back at Donna's place of work."

"Find a way to get to her. We are running out of time and trying to entertain her daughter is getting old." I responded hurriedly. "So that's what the suit was for!"

I growled irritably and glared at the ceiling. "Bring her to an open space and send me coordinates. I will meet you there." "Sir!" I heard them call in confirmation before I cut the link.

I shook my head and finished my morning routine before I was sent a location to meet this witch. I'm happy these omegas are having fun at my expense, but the longer I'm here, the more detached I become to Malerie. That is the good side of this, but the hard part is, I cannot let her find out. I shrugged on a black hoodie, a pair of jeans, and some black logger boots, making sure I blended in. We are already surrounded by humans. By default, we stand out, but I'm doing my best to assess this situation covertly. Walking in dressed like a Mafioso is just going to exacerbate the problem.

I made it to my car and punched in the coordinates on my nav. Ten minutes...not bad. I sped through traffic to a small mom and pop pizza parlor. I could see my men watching her from afar while her back was facing me. I climbed out of my car and headed in. "Hi, can I help you?" The waitress asked.

I nodded to the table fitting the woman's description identified by my spies. Shoulder-length brown hair, around 5'4 - 5'5, and a magical aura to her scent. I couldn't really catch the scent as the overwhelming smell of garlic was assassinating my senses, but the woman seemed to meet two of the three requirements. "I'm meeting someone." I said before she guided me to the correct table.

Once we stepped outside, I sighed in relief as something sweet grazed over me. Or maybe it was tropical? Who knows? Anything is better than garlic. The woman did not look up from her menu while I sat across from her after telling the waiter to bring back some water. Once the menu fell from her face, I stared into her eyes and my wolf howled.

Oh shit.

Her almost translucent blue eyes immediately looked away as a blush fell over her soft porcelain skin. A subtle squeak fell from her lips before she looked back at her menu. "H-How can I help you?" She asked in barely a whisper while her hands tightened around the menu. I'm not sure if she is trying to act tough, knowing she has been caught by my men, but the instinctual timidness to her voice was still there and accounted for. It made my wolf backflip in my mind.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" He howled happily.

I sucked in a breath and pressed my wolf down immediately. "I am the Head warrior of the Tri-shifter Pack in Bodhi Cora."

Her mouth dropped in shock and now I had her full attention. "Wait, like the place of myth for the supernatural? It actually exists?!" She had completely forgotten her predicament as curiosity took over.

I nodded slowly. "Yes, it does, but that is beside the point because you are currently helping three women who were recently banished from our territory for threatening our new Luna."

Her breath hitched and she looked around worriedly. I'm sure she was looking for the men who brought her here...or maybe Donna herself, but my men were long gone and watching from afar. Donna was nowhere in sight and I made sure someone tailed her just in case. We will not be snuck up on. "I...I would never interfere with pack politics."

"Then why are you helping Luna Donna?" I asked, continuing to press my wolf down further.

"Who the fuck cares?! We are free! We are finally free!" He howled again. What happened to being a warrior first?!

"Weakling." I scoffed internally.

She opened her mouth then closed it again before a tear fell. Before I could even think, I brushed it away with my thumb and she whimpered, but did not pull away.

"Oh...and you're calling me a weakling?" He heckled while the taunting continued along with his solo celebration.

"She has my daughter." She whispered.

I growled lowly, not being able to control my overwhelming need to protect. "Your daughter?"

"I lost my mate after another coven attacked ours three years ago and now she has a target on my daughter. I...I have to help her. I...I love my baby girl more than anything in this world. She is all I have left."

"Let me OUT!" My wolf howled and I pushed him down further. All his celebrating came to an end and I had to force myself not to shift right here and now. I guess our instincts are one in the same. He wants to kill whomever this threat is as much as I did.

"I don't know how you are feeling. My mate decided I wasn't good enough and now I'm tortured with entertaining her for the next three days, but you should not live in fear of your child's safety. If I can promise you that your daughter will be protected until this is over, will you assist us with our plan?"

She furrowed her brow. "Y-you have a girlfriend?"

I couldn't help the laugh that fell from my lips. "No way in hell! She is selfish, deceitful, and full of arrogant pride. She has always looked down on people and does not deserve love. Or at least my love. I tried so hard to fight for her...for our bond, but now...I don't feel a thing towards her. I'm here on my alpha's orders."

She relaxed but only a small amount before looking up at me. "How will you protect my baby? She's my responsibility."

I nodded and was about to say something when the waiter came to take our order. The little witch scrambled to look at the menu again and I pulled my hand away from her cheek. "I will have the small tomato mozzarella pizza please." She replied politely. "And, umm...for you sir?" The girl said, giggling. I'm sure she noticed she surprised us...a bit.

I nodded and looked down at the menu. "Medium combo is fine." I said, grabbing the menu from the witch gently, and handing our menus to the waitress.

She nodded and hurriedly grabbed our menus before running off towards the kitchen. I winced as my wolf continued to fight me. "I...I know she is your responsibility, but if you really aren't working with them voluntarily, work for us willingly." I pressed through gritted teeth. "Why? Why would I help you? Why would you help me?" I growled and her cheeks reddened. I know she can feel this, but I know I can't rush this. She may be lying. She may be guarded. Hell, I'm guarded. I need to have patience. I can't do this twice without dangerous repercussions. "I'm nothing important. I'm just a low-class witch and I'm okay quietly living out my life after I do what she asks. I just want to live in peace."

I slipped my hand onto hers as it held tightly to the napkin underneath it. "You are not nothing." I cooed softly. Could she be lying? There is no way. She is terrified.

She looked into my eyes and a flash of gold flicked through them before disappearing completely. "How could you know that? I have nothing to show for my life. I had something to build before, but now...."

And my control completely snapped as my normally brown eyes shifted to orange and back again. "Because no mate of mine will ever be considered as nothing." "Mate?" She squeaked and my wolf growled lowly.

"Surprisingly, yes. I'm not sure if I can trust you since you are working for the mother of the girl I was talking about before, but something in me is telling me to give it a try!"

"But...But that's not possible. I already had a mate and the goddess took him from me. I...I have his child." She started to heave a bit and I pushed the untouched glass of water to her. She held her breath and looked at me again before releasing it slowly and taking a sip of water. She is right though. This really is a rarity and, to top it off, I don't think I've even heard of a wolf mating with a witch before.

"What is your name?"

"My name?" She asked, looking away from me again. I hummed in acknowledgement and she shivered. "Zelena...Zelena Vega."

"Charlie." She shot her eyes my way and her brows furrowed again. I chuckled and she eased up a bit. "My name is Charlie Fenris."

She shook her head. "But isn't it customary to call ranked pack members by their title, Head Warrior?"

I stiffened as our food arrived. "Here you are. Enjoy." The waitress said, none the wiser to our conversation.

"Never. To you, I am always Charlie."

"Because I am your mate." She whispered as if she needed to confirm it for herself. The goddess can be quite the comedian sometimes. This is not how I expected to meet my real mate.

"Yes."

"Then what about your mission? I...I don't know if I'm okay with you dating another girl...even if it's fake. Is...is that wrong?"

"Who said anything about dating her? I'm purely here to make sure she is watched. That family is going to do something really bad at the Luna Ceremony coming up this weekend. I came down yesterday to take her on a few dates. Make her think she has a chance. The only way to these women is through their own delusions."

Zelena took a bite of her pizza and blushed when the cheese went along with her. I smiled and grabbed a bite of my own. That made her giggle as I jammed half the slice in my mouth at once. What...? I was hungry. Once she wiped her face clean, she nodded. "Okay...if you can keep my daughter safe and prove to me that all you are doing is for work and you will never do this again, I agree. Just...don't treat me as badly as those girls do."

I growled angrily. We can just add that to the list of transgressions they have committed. "I swear to all of these things and I will never hurt you. That is a promise."

-POV Ayame-

I was pacing through the office trying to remember everything the guys were telling me while the stress of the Luna ceremony continued to build. "Little one?" Conri said, blocking my path. "Y-Yes?" I asked.

"You cannot get yourself riled up like this." He warned.

"I can't help it. I'm so anxious and, not to mention, we haven't heard from Charlie in three days. What if the witch transfigured him into a goat or something?"

Vil snorted as he tried his best to hold back a laugh. "A goat?"

I huffed and turned to him. "Aren't you concerned?! The ceremony is tomorrow, Vil. I want to make sure he is alright."

"No news is good news, princess."

"Then why doesn't it feel like that? I feel like I'm missing something!"

"Because you are letting it get to you. Just stay calm, little one. How about we go...take a break?" Conri slipped his arms around my waist and I leaned back almost instinctually.

"I can't. I have to remember the ceremony instructions." I whispered.

"You have it memorized. Just let us take care of you." His hands slid up my back and over my shoulders before squeezing gently. I moaned, feeling the purest form of pleasure cascading over my skin. "Mmmm, that's it." He growled gently and I pressed further into him. He took that opportunity and picked me up with Vil trailing behind him. "Finally, it's time for your punishment." Vil hummed and I froze in Conri's arms while Edon chuckled from the desk. What happened to relaxing?!

"Don't break her." Edon called.

"No promises!" Vil shouted back.

Seriously?! Oh Goddess....