My Pregnant Luna: Read Chapters 1-5

Harper's POV

I knew it was bad news when Daddy called me into the office to talk.

When we want to discuss something nicely as a family, we do it around the dinner table. We don't get called into the office unless we are in trouble. As I followed Beta Zack through the pack-house, I felt that heavy sense of foreboding weighing me down. I saw a sort of pity in Zack's face when paused to let me catch up, and glanced back at me. I was already searching my mind, trying to think of what I might have done to get myself in trouble... but I'm really a pretty boring girl. I couldn't think of anything that might have triggered my father so badly that he would call me into the office...except for that accident.

We came to a stop in front of the heavy oak door. Zack knocked twice, and my father promptly called,"Enter!"

Zack opened the door, and stood aside for me to precede him into the room. It was so formal, it felt all wrong. And then he closed the door again, shutting me inside with my father. Daddy was hunched at his desk, and he didn't look happy. His handsome face was haggard,and somehow, he looked older today than he had just a few days ago. "Sit down, Harper."

I limped to one of the leather wing backed chairs that faced his desk. I didn't limp because I had bad legs, just because I'm still having a hard time with the morning sickness.

I sank gingerly down on the leather,sitting on the very edge,because somehow it didn't feel safe to relax. Daddy wasn't looking at me... he was looking at papers on his desk.

He cleared his throat several times, as if he was struggling to find the right words. When he looked up, his face had hardened, and when he spoke, he spoke with his firm Alpha voice. Not his Daddy voice. That made me shrink back further into the chair.

"Harper, as part of the treaty negotiations with the River Bed Pack, I have agreed to a marriage alliance. You, Harper Laurier, will marry the Alpha's son, Wyatt Elliot on the next new moon."

I felt like someone had punched me, knocked the air out of me. "What? Daddy! How could you??" I ,whispered in shock. Arranged marriages were an archaic thing of the past. Nobody did that any more,did they?

My father's expression turned pained. "I did it for the sake of our pack, Harper. I tried to protect you, but you're having their Alpha heir. We are small and vulnerable, and we can't say no to them...This political alliance will ensure our safety and survival. This is a good opportunity for us..."

I felt so many emotions whipping through me, I couldn't grab a hold of them.

“But I don't remember what happened that night! I just want to raise my baby alone. If you want to take advantage of this chance, you have other options...” I had one older sister, who was smart and strong, and was the heir of Alpha. Neither of us had found our mates,we were all single and available.

I was almost sure if the Alpha had ever seen the three of us, he wouldn't choose me as his heir's mother. I am the most ordinary, nondescript, and insignificant of the Alpha's daughters...except for my fault. It hit me like a slap in the face.

Without my father answering me,I knew why he had sacrificed me. I'm the weak one. I'm the expendable one. And I'm the one who lost her virginity and became the humiliation of the pack...

"Its not what you think, Harper." My father said quietly. "It has nothing to do with your.. condition." He never knew quite how to refer to my fault but I knew everyone in my pack have cursed me behind my back. My father didn't elaborate further, and that irritated me.

"Don't I get a say in this? Don't you need my consent before you sell me off "for the sake of the pack"? What if I refuse?"

My father's face blanched for a moment, and then darkened. "If you refuse, I will disown you, and you will be exiled from the pack for your premarital preg."

His words hit me like a slap in the face. My own father would throw me out of the family and out of the pack and make me go rogue? Who was this man, behind the desk? Surely this wasn't my Daddy. He wouldn't have done this to me.

I felt a hot tear run down my cheek, and I could only think, if Mama had been here, she never, ever would have allowed him to do this to me. But she was locked up in her room a long time ago, and I haven't seen her for a long time.

For a few moments I seriously considered the option of refusing and being exiled. I didn't really stand a chance, as a lone she-wolf without a pack. I wasn't physically strong as usual with this baby, but more importantly...I couldn't stand the idea of marrying a stranger. That night was chaotic and I was drugged, I don't know anything about this Alpha.

This thought broke my heart. His responsibilities as Alpha had to come first... even if it meant sacrificing his own daughter. Although everything inside me was raging against it,l had to obey his order. Not only for him, but for the pack that I loved.

My shoulders slumped forward in defeat. I could no longer meet his eye,and stared down at my toes instead. I couldn't find the words to speak, so I simply nodded.

I didn't see his face, but I could hear the relief in his voice. I wonder if he'd secretly been worried that I would actually choose exile over a forced marriage. But when he spoke, it was the heartless, stern, Alpha voice again. "You will pack up your things. You will leave tomorrow in the morning."

My head jerked up. "So soon? But you said, on the new moon?"

"I said the marriage would take place on the new moon. The alpha has requested you to come immediately. Emma will come and help you pack" He shuffled the papers on his desk, as if they were suddenly more important than his daughter. "You are dismissed."

Dismissed? I don't ever remember my father speaking to me like that...like I was some underling to order about.

I made my way back to my room in a stupor, passing pack members in the hall but not really seeing anyone, or hearing their greetings. I shut the door in my room and managed to lean back against it before the strength left my legs and I sank to the floor. Being forced to marry a stranger was bad enough,but it had deeper, more far reaching implications.

I would be forever tied to a man I didn't love,and I would never get to experience the joy and completion of finding my mate.

That's what every wolf longed for, as soon as they came of age. To find your goddess-given soul mate, the magical person who would complete you and make you whole. All happiness and satisfaction was tied up in that one, fated person. And I would be denied it, forever. Great big tears of self pity rolled down my cheeks as I absorbed the unfairness of it all.

After awhile a knock came at the door, and Emma, a sweet little omega who worked in the pack house poked her head in. "I was told to come assist you, Miss Harper." I sighed and hauled myself to my feet. I might as well resign myself to my miserable fate.

"I need to pack,"' I said dully. "I'm leaving in the morning."

"Oh, of course." She was too submissive to dare to ask where or why. I wondered if my sisters knew already, or if they were being kept in the dark too. I wasn't sure I could face themn right now. I pulled two suitcases out of my closet that I had only used once when mother took us on a trip to Mexico. "What exactly do you want to pack?"

I sighed and pulled open my drawers."Just the absolute essentials Emma,"I said,pulling out my favorite clothes and throwing them on the bed. I was a no-nonsense kind of girl when it came to fashion. I wondered idly if there would be a real wedding dress for this farce of a marriage, or if we were just going to stand before the officiant in our street clothes while it was made legal.

I looked around my room,trying to gauge what other things I needed to take. I slipped my mother's delicate porcelain jewelry box into the bag. There was my leather bound journal,and my laptop. Other things seemed too childish to take to your marriage home.. like the old, worn stuffed bear that had graced my pillow since I was six years old.

After adding in the practical toiletries and other necessities,l sighed and declared the work finished. I felt a little sad that the entire of my 19 years of life could so easily be condensed into two suitcases, and another fat tear rolled down my cheek.

I'd never felt so worthless and unloved in all my life. But now I had to face the facts. My own father considered me expendable. The River Bed Pack had demanded a bride with their heir, and I had been,quite literally,thrown to the wolves.

I thanked Emma for her help, and quietly closed the door behind her. My suitcases were standing neatly by the door. I grabbed my old, well loved teddy bear and curled up on the bed,and tried to shut my mind to all the hurt and all the worries that were eating at me. My mother would have said,"Chin up,sweetheart. Face the world head-on."Thinking of my sweet mother only made me cry harder, until I fell into an exhausted sleep.

Harper's POV

I awoke to a timid knock on the door.Dawn was barely breaking outside my window,and I was still sprawled across my bed in yesterday's clothes. My eyes felt puffy and gritty from crying. I had never eaten dinner, and my stomach was complaining. "Miss Harper?" Emma called timidly."The Beta says you should be prepared to leave in one hour."

One hour. Jeezus, they weren't wasting any time in shipping me out of here. I dragged myself to the shower. The pain and weakness in my legs was always the worst first thing in the morning. I braced myself against the sink while I stripped down, and turned the shower on as hot as it could possibly go. I scrubbed and scrubbed at my skin as if I could wash away whatever fault,whatever weakness had made my father choose me. When my skin was pink and irritated, I washed my long, dark hair, and stepped out in a billow of herbal scented steam.

What were you supposed to wear when you were being traded off to another pack? I felt like I should wear something black and ugly. After all, I was mourning the loss of my life,my hope,my freedom. But I decided against the funeral garb, and opted for a sun dress that was pretty, but casual.

I pulled my hair up into a lose bun, and fastened my favorite turquoise beaded choker around my neck, with the dainty,matching earrings. I stared at my reflection critically in the mirror. No matter how flattering the clothes, or pretty the jewelry, the young woman staring back at me was still just... me. The epitome of ordinary. Neither tall nor short,fat nor skinny, pretty nor ugly. I was simply unremarkable in every way...unless today you counted the fact that my eyes were still red and swollen and I was more pale than usual.

At precisely 7:00 am there was a sharp knock on my door. I opened it, expecting to see my father, but instead it was his gamma, Noah. "Miss Harper, your father said I am to drive you to the River Bed Pack. Are you ready?"

It was a two hour drive from our small pack to the much larger River Bed Pack territory. But you know when you DON'T want to arrive somewhere, it seems like the journey goes in the blink of an eye. If I were looking forward to this meeting, the two hours would have seemed forever.

As it was, Noah drove silently, so I wondered if my father had given him orders not to talk to me because I'm a disgrace. That hurt. Hurt on top of hurt seemed to be the order of the day. And I was hungry.I never went down for dinner the night before, and I had been rushed out of the house before I had a chance to eat breakfast this morning.With every grumble of my empty stomach, my mood was growing a little darker.

I'd never been into River Bed Territory. I'd only heard stories of the notorious pack. They were big,and strong,and brutal. Their warriors were considered the best, the elite, and reportedly trained relentlessly. They had no mercy on their enemies,and had reportedly wiped out entire packs who had betrayed them in one way or another. But l always took these kinds of stories with a grain of salt. Every pack wanted to be known as the biggest and the baddest, and stories tended to be exaggerated to bolster that reputation.

My impression as we crossed the boundary and entered into their pack grounds was of absolutely beautiful,wild looking gardens, and a huge manor that would have fit our pack house inside it four times. It was T shaped and sprawled out into three wings,a beautiful structure built from native stone, with big windows framed by black shutters. It was fronted by a huge veranda and two big ornate doors that opened into the main hall.

Noah parked the SUV, and for the first time in the whole trip, Noah turned and spoke to me. He laid his big, rough hand on mine in mny lap. "Stay strong, Miss Harper. You can do this." That is all he said. He climbed out, and came around to open my door,as if l were someone important. He pulled my suitcases out of the boot, and then he escorted me up to the veranda,where a handful of people were waiting for me.

There was a huge man, and I mean HUGE, who seemed to be about my father's age.He should have been nearly seven feet tall, with arms like tree trunks. His ruddy face was framed by two overgrown sideburns and a crazy mop of hair that reminded me of the Wolverine from the X-men comics. His eyes were a piercing pale blue, and quite cold as they watched me approach.

Beside him, in sharp contrast, was a dainty little sprite of a woman.She barely cleared five foot, and was so petite it seemed like a strong wind might blow her away. She had long,curling blond hair, and beautiful green eyes, and a wide, friendly smile. I was so happy to see at least one smiling face, it eased my tension a bit. The other people stood back a bit from this couple,and seemed to be lower ranking pack members. They stared at me curiously.

I concentrated really hard on controlling my uneven gate. I did not want these people to see me limping, and if I worked really hard,I could pull it off, but it took a lot of effort, and l had to move slowly.

Under the circumstances, I thought it would seem appropriate that I approached a strange pack and strange people with slow caution. The pretty woman danced down the steps,and folded me into a warm and unexpected hug. "Welcome to River Bed,dear. I am Freyja, and my husband, Ozzy."

She gestured to the lumberjack-giant who still stood on the steps. She didn't refer to herself as Luna, or her husband as Alpha, but it was obvious enough that they were the leaders. I looked around and wondered where the son was, the Wyatt I was supposed to marry.

As if sensing my inquiry,the Luna shook her golden curls. "My sons are not here at the moment, but you will meet them soon. Come, lets get you inside and get you settled."

She looped her arm through mine, and with one last, helpless glance at Noah, I let her drag me inside. The great pack house was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside, tastefully decorated and thoroughly modern. She lead me through a maze of rooms and corridors in a sort of whirlwind tour.

"The conference room is there, and that is the entertainment room... and oh, that's the nursery for the pups... there is a guest bathroom here, and the kitchen is this way. Have you eaten?" She didn't even wait for me to answer, "I'm starving,lets go get some breakfast." She lead me into a huge dining hall,that easily could have seated a hundred people. She pulled me toward a table for two,and no sooner had our backside's hit the seat of the chairs than a uniformed waitress appeared. I recognized her as an omega, by her submissive posture.

"Vida dear, this is Harper Laurier, Wyatt's betrothed." The waitress peaked up at me in surprise, then quickly looked back down at her order pad. "Harper, this is Vida, one of our regular kitchen staff. So,what will you have?"

Before I could answer,she was putting in her order. "I'll have a four-egg omelette, with Swiss cheese and mushrooms, a blueberry muffin,toasted with butter, and four sausage links."

I blinked in surprise. How could such a tiny woman put away so much food??

Luna Freyja looked at me expectantly. "Um...I'll also have a muffin, and a cup of tea,please."

When the waitress had scampered away, Luna Freyja reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. "I'm sure this is a very difficult and uncomfortable transition for you, my dear. But I want you to know that I am here for you and your baby, you are most welcome in this family, and I will do everything in my power to make you comfortable. But Wyatt..." I swallowed... there was something ominous about that. But Wyatt what? I was too afraid to ask.

"Wyatt can be... difficult." She said vaguely. "His father and I, we hope that he will settle down now, and take up his responsibilities."

I frowned and fiddled with the silverware. Difficult? What did difficult mean? I wanted to ask more... I wanted to know more about what this future husband of mine was like. But l couldn't find the words, and I had a feeling that Freyja was done talking about her son.

She had moved on, saying how happy she was to have a woman in the family, that she had heard so many nice things about me... well I was sure that was a bunch of baloney. I bet she knew absolutely nothing about me, beyond my name and my marriagablility.

Still,I liked Freyja, I appreciated her friendliness. I tried to hide my smile as an enormous platter of food was set before the tiny woman, and she dug into her eggs with gusto.I was feeling very hungry, and probably could have put away nearly as much food, but l didn't want to seem like a glutton, so I tried to nibble at my muffin and act lady-like.

After we finished, she lead me up the stairs. I swallowed down my horror as I looked at the flights of elegantly curving staircase that l would have to traverse to get to my guest room on the third floor. Navigating stairs were very difficult for my heavy, clumsy body, and it made my legs and my waist ache something fierce.

Was it too much to hope that somewhere in this gigantic house there was a service elevator? Desperately trying to hide my pain and discomfort, I grasped the hand rail,and pulled myself up the stairs behind the spritely woman as fast as I could without falling flat on my face. When we got to the third floor, she looked back at me, struggling up the last few steps, and frowned, but said nothing.

She lead me down a long hall,and opened the door to a beautiful guest suite, with a big bed, and a private en-suite bathroom. My suitcases had already been deposited inside. "Make yourself comfortable mny dear. I'll send Annie to you when she's done cleaning up from breakfast. If there is anything you need, she can be of assistance. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.." And just like that, she left me alone in the beautiful room, in the big,strange house.

Harper's POV

Annie was a delightful young Omega who was assigned to be my maid. Not that I really needed a maid,mind you, but I was happy to have her as a companion.

Her smile was too wide for her little face, her nose turned up, and her dark blond hair was an uncontrollable riot of curls. Her blue eyes danced with good humor, and she just seemed like the kind of person that was genuinely happy right down to the core of her being. I loved her right away. She helped me unpack my few things, and then we sat together on the bed and we talked for a few minutes.

"What is life like in the pack?"I asked her.

She smiled, "Oh its a good life," She said sincerely."The Alpha runs a tight ship, we work hard, we train hard, but its a very fair pack, and we have a lot of fun too. We can't wait for your marriage celebration. I hear the Luna is planning a big party, and the whole pack will be invited. I love parties and I love baby! Even if I have to work in the kitchen, we are allowed to take shifts so we all get to have a turn taking part in the festivities."

I smiled. I already liked the way the Luna ran her household. In some packs, omegas were treated like slaves. I think at home we treated them fairly. They were paid wages for the work they did, but Daddy didn't exactly go out of his way to make them feel like they were valued members of our family. They were definitely looked down upon, and that had never really sat well with me. Not every member of the pack could be a warrior,and the omega's performed really valuable services by taking care of the children and providing domestic services that the hunters simply didn't have time for.

"And what what about Wyatt. What is he like?"

For the first time, Annie's perpetual smile faltered. She pasted it back on, but it wasn't quite as real as it had been before. "Oh he's very handsome." She said. "He's so tall, like the Alpha, but not so burly."

"Okay, he's nice to look at, but what is he LIKE? What is his personality like."

Annie pushed herself off the bed. "I think its better if you get to know him for yourself, mistress. I don't want your impressions of him to be influenced by my opinions. I need to go see about preparing the food. If you need anything just call me." And she slipped away, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Oh boy. I stared at my hands, at the short trimmed nails that hadn't seen a polish since my thirteenth birthday. All the things that Annie HADN'T said spoke more loudly than the words she DID say. If Wyatt was truly a great guy,she would have been eager to extol his virtues,right?

She would have said,"He's really kind. He's really gentle. He's really just." But she didn't say anything. I suppose it was commendable that she chose silence over lies,but I was growing increasingly uneasy.

The Luna called him "difficult", and my new friend wouldn't call him anything,except handsome. But it wouldn't matter if he was the most handsome man in the world if he was a complete asshole.

I felt a little nervous going down to dinner, knowing that I would meet my husband-to-be. I tried to pick out a pretty outfit, without being overtly over dressed. I brushed out my hair and left it loose,as the long chocolate colored waves were maybe one of my best assets.l even tried to put on a little make up, just to add some definition to my eyes. I sighed at my reflection, dissatisfied but knowing that it was the best I could do.

I grimaced at the prospect of going down all those stairs, and reminded myself that I needed to ask Annie if there was a service elevator in the house. The way how it was all decked out with modern appliances, it seemed like it must have a lift hidden somewhere. But then again,they probably hadn't figured in the possibility of a pregnant werewolf when they designed the manor.

I can't describe to you what an ordeal it is for me to navigate a set of stairs.I have to creep down one step at a time.

Left foot down, right foot down onto the same stair. And then repeat. If I try to march down the steps like a normal person, alternating feet on alternating stairs, I'll take an ugly tumble down.

So I have to go down the stairs like a little kid, clinging to the rail, one step at a time, praying that no one is watching me. Luckily I seem to be the only guest on the third floor at the moment, and I'm nearly at the bottom before I start seeing other people scurrying around in preparation for dinner.

Annie came around the corner,her face split in a smile, and her eyes lighting up as she saw me,"Ah there you are mistress! Luna had just sent me to go fetch you. The meal is nearly ready. You look very nice, I love that top."

She bubbled cheerfully,and took my elbow to guide me back toward the dining room. Unlike this morning,when the room had been empty, this evening it was crammed full. I swallowed nervously and did my best to straighten my spine and walk normally. From every table, heads turned and looked at me, and people whispered, and I felt the blood rush to my face. I'm not normally shy, but I can't say that I really like being the center of attention either.

"Harper darling,over here!" The Luna stood, and gestured to an empty seat at what appeared to be the Alpha's table. Annie patted me on the shoulder and went back to the kitchen, while I made my way to the Luna. I reminded myself that from now on, this was my family, and these were my people. I sat in the empty seat, and looked around,but I still didn't see anyone "tall and handsome" that should be Wyatt.

There was a slim and slight black man sitting opposite the Alpha, and next to the black man,a pretty and slightly plump white woman.

"Our Beta,Mac,and his wife, Moira."the Luna made the introductions. The beta gave me a look. It was not a nice look. Somehow I imagined it was the look a spectator would give a condemned prisoner. His wife Moira gave me a small, friendly smile,and offered her hand. "Welcome to the family, dear." she said. She had a beautiful,lilting voice.

The waitstaff started going around the room serving the food. "Its Italian night," the Luna explained, as bowls of salads, plates of meat and cheese lasagna,and carving boards of hot sourdough bread where arranged at each table. The food smelled delicious,and the Luna did not hesitate to compliment the kitchen staff on their excellent work.

"Oh Smiths, please come and meet Harper Laurier. Harper, this is Smiths, she is the manager of our kitchen, an absolute geniuIs with food and hospitality." Smiths flushed happily and bobbed in a curtsy.

"Thank you,Luna. Nice to meet you Mistress.Welcome. If you'll excuse me,the dessert..." and he hurried off again.

There was the quiet and content murmur of a room full of people where were eating and enjoying casual conversations...when the door suddenly slammed open, and all conversation ground to an abrupt halt.

Into the now silent hall,two young men entered... and I immediately felt a strange and dizzy sensation over take me. I held my head at the temples and peaked through my hands at what must surely be Wyatt...and his brother Zayn.

Annie was right. He was handsome. He looked like some Roman god,with his shoulders squared, his jaw set, his hair flowing around his shoulders, a little rough stubble on his finely carved jawline. He was all muscle. But his eyes... oh his eyes... even from across the room I could see the unique blue-grey color of his irises, and they were cold. Ice cold and furious. And somehow I just knew that that fury was directed at me. I felt the childish urge to slide down in my chair and hide under the table.

At the same time, I was bombarded by the sweetest and most intoxicating aroma... of what? Was that his aftershave? A cologne? He didn't look like the kind of man who would douse himself in cologne, but he smelled really, really good. Like fragrant cedar and something sweet and musky. While I was on one hand tempted to hide from those cold, angry eyes...

On the other hand I had the insane urge to run to him, to bury my head in his neck,and inhale that sweet, sexy smell. His mouth pressed into a flat,hard line...which totally ruined the effect of his full, sensual lips, as he stalked over to the family table.

Harper's POV

Belatedly,I noted his brother. Both the Luna and Annie and mentioned that there was a younger brother, Banks.

Banks seemed to favor his mother's genetics. He was not as big or as intimidating as Wyatt, His blond hair was neatly trimmed, and he had a more willowy,graceful figure. His eyes were very blue, and very amused. As much as his brother had eyed me with hatred, I had the distinct feeling that this one was laughing at me,and I didn't like it. If there is one thing I can not tolerate, its being laughed at.

I didn't worry about the younger brother for long,because the closer Wyatt stalked,the stranger I began to feel. I felt like I couldn't get enough oxygen in my body, and I wondered if I might actually pass out. I'm not one of those weak, fainting girls. I've never passed out in my life. But at that moment I was seeing funny little black spots around the edge of my vision,and I was awfully dizzy.

"Wyatt," Luna spoke, a sharp edge of disapproval in her voice, "Its nice of you to join us. Come and meet Harper, your heir's..." Wyatt jerked out a chair, and instead of offering me a hand,or a greeting or a good old-fashioned "nice to meet you," he growled at me.

He growled at me.

No. Oh no no no. He hates us. He doesn't want us.

I picked up my fork and tried to push my sluggish mind into some coherent thought.What were the odds that I get thrown into an arranged marriage, and the husband forced on me is actually hate me? Like one in a billion, right?

He hasn't said the words, but I can feel the aura of rejection wafting off of him almost as surely as I can smell his cedar-scent. How utterly cruel and unfair was that? Its like the universe having some great cosmic laugh at my expense.Well, what am I going to do?

I'm not going to cry in front of all these people. Most importantly, I'm not going to cry in front of that insufferable man.

I pushed my shoulders back, I shut off my whimpering wolf, I lifted my chin, and I looked him straight in the eye, as I took a bite of the lasagna. I'm sure it was as delicious as it smelled, but in that moment it tasted like dirt in my mouth. But I'd be damned if I let that man know that I had lost my appetite over him. I chewed and swallowed,and washed it down with a swig of water.

He met my eyes briefly, and then he turned to his brother and completely ignored me. His brother however, at least had the decent manners to greet me, and to welcome me to the pack.

His keen blue eyes traveled back and forth between his older brother,then across the table to me, and back again. Then he shrugged and dug into his food.He made polite conversation with his mother, and sometimes he included me. "How are you finding it here, Harper? Is your room comfortable? Do you need anything?"

"Oh yes, everything is great."I said, forcing more enthusiasm into my voice than I actually felt. Oh yes, everything is peachy. I've just been yanked out of my childhood home for the sake of some stupid treaty. Yes, your home is very nice, and most of the people have been very friendly, but the man I'm supposed to marry hates me. Everything is great.

I forced myself to eat mechanically, and made it through half the lasagna on my plate before I gave up and sat back in my chair. I stared at Wyatt. He looks like Jason I thought. Without the beard and with better hair. I wonder if he had any tattoos hiding under his clothes. My sisters would be jealous... until they realized that he's an absolute tool.

Dinner plates were cleared away, and I was eager to excuse myself,but before l could push away from the table, a decadent dessert of tiramisu was brought out. I was no longer hungry.Even the prospect of sugar wasn't appealing at the moment, but I was painfully aware that I was new, I was a guest, and I needed to behave accordingly. I took a couple of bites, and really wished I had the appetite to enjoy the dessert, but I was far too aware of the man across the table. It annoyed me that he was completely unaffected. He shoveled in his food, carried on conversation,and acted like I wasn't even there. When our eyes did meet,I was met with icy, angry daggers and some silent warning that I didn't really understand.

Finally, when I saw a few other people excusing themnselves around the room,I saw my opportunity to escape. "Luna, thank you for a lovely meal," I said politely. "Please excuse me,"I pushed back my chair, said goodnight to the rest of the table, and did my best to make a dignified exit, but it was getting harder and harder to walk normally and my stress and my exhaustion seemed to be compounding on me. But the absolute last thing l wanted at that moment was for that arrogant bastard to see that I'm weak.

He already hated me for no reason,how much more would he despise me for my weakness? I had just barely exited the room, when I felt an iron grip bite painfully into my arm,and spin me into the wall. If I hadn't had the support of the wall behind me, I would have fallen over myself. I found myself face to face with Wyatt. Where his hand bit painfully into my arm,I felt the sparks.

"Let me make something perfectly clear," he growled. "I do not want you, and I do not need you. You are only here in this house because my father is an old-fashioned pig-headed fool and you! Have my baby! I will marry you to fulfill the treaty contract, but you will never be the Luna, and you will never be my mate." As if to punctuate his rejection, he gave me an extra shove against the wall, and then he stalked off in the other direction... and I was left staring after him... my mouth open,my face pale,and my arm aching.

It wasn't a real rejection,right? I mean if he was formally rejecting me, I have to be his mate and he would have to say the words."I Wyatt Elliot of the River Bed Pack,do hereby reject you Harper..." And then the treaty would break.

But I'm not his mate and he hadn't said those words,exactly. Still there was a pain in my chest like something was ripping away. It was powerful enough that I had to hold my chest and gasp for breath.

A few other people were trailing out of the dining room now, casting curious glances at me, and I knew I had to get upstairs before anyone started asking me questions that I couldn't answer. I was tired now,and I dragged myself to the stairs and made my slow, painful climb up three flights.

"Are you all right madam?" someone asked. I didn't even look at them, just ground out,"I'm fine." and kept climbing. Once I was at my floor,my legs and waist were so bad I could barely walk at all. I used the wall to balance as I made my way down the hall to my own door. Once inside I turned the lock, and fell across the bed.

"I will not cry." I chanted. "I will not cry." And I didn't. Damn Wyatt Elliot to hell,I wasn't going to shed a tear for him, nor was I going to wallow in self-pity. He didn't want me? Well l didn't want his arrogant ass either. I would play nice until the new moon. When the marriage ceremony was completed, and I give birth to this baby, I will leave myself!

But...then what? What the hell do you do with the rest of your life?

Harper's POV

Well,I would worry about the rest of my life another day. For today I settled for hot bath.I soaked my aching legs, and scrubbed the make-up off my face. I tried to dismiss Wyatt from my thoughts, but I couldn't help but wonder what had made him hate me so much, right from the start.

Was it me or the baby? Or was it the forced marriage? I mean, I know I'm not much to look at but I don't think he even realized that yet. I hadn't even had enough time to truly piss him off yet. So what was it that had him in such a yank?

I sighed and pulled the plug out of the tub, letting the water drain down. Men were like aliens. Who could understand them anyway? And who would want to? I slipped into my pajamas and crawled into the bed, totally overwhelmed with everything my brain had had to process in just one day.

I awoke to a knock on my door. I was pretty sure I had locked it the night before, but still the handle turned and the door opened. I was expecting Annie's smiling face,but instead it was Banks. "Hey," he smiled at me, and it seemed like a genuine smile this time. "Mama wanted me to come call you down for breakfast."

"Oh,"I said sleepily, propping myself up on my elbows. "I guess I overslept. Give me a few minutes to get ready."

"Okay." Instead of leaving, he sprawled himself in the corner seat by the window and waited. I glared at him and wondered if it was entirely appropriate for your future brother- in-law to be making himself comfortable in your bedroom when you aren't even dressed. I thought about demanding he leave,but then changed my mind. Who cared if he saw me in my nightgown? It wasn't like I was indecent. And it wasn't like I owed his brother any kind of fidelity.

I flipped back the covers and hauled my heavy body out of bed. I knew his keen eyes were seeing everything. But l didn't care. Let him see. Let him see every god damned thing and report it back to his brother.I slammed the door to the bathroom just to punctuate my own cranky thoughts. I turned on the water to brush my teeth and wash my face,but I heard his voice over the faucet.

"So that was pretty intense last night." He was commenting. I heard the door to my closet open. What the hell, was he going through my things? "'ve never seen anyone stare down my brother before." There was the definite sound of a drawer opening and closing. "This is going to be a very, very interesting marriage."

I spit out my tooth paste, and yanked the door open to find that he had set out a set of clothes for me, along with clean underwear and a bra. "What the hell are you doing in my clothes?"

"No worries, just hurrying along. You have nothing to fear from me. You aren't my type."

I narrowed my eyes,"And what exactly IS your type?"

Banks sighed. "Tall, dark and handsome." I stared at him, not quite comprehending. "Men,Harper. I'm gay."

"Oh." Was all I could say. Well, I suppose that probably explained his excellent fashion sense. I scooped up the clothes off the bed and retreated back into the bathroom to change. He continued to talk to me through the closed door. "Wyatt didn't want to get married. Dad told him if he didn't get married, he would pass the Alpha title to his beta." "Why his beta?" I poked my head out of the bathroom again. "Why not to you?"

Banks laughed,"Sweetheart,my dad seriously struggles with my orientation. Mostly he just tries to ignore it. And besides, I don't want it. I don't have the constitution of an Alpha." I wondered exactly what that meant, but he didn't elaborate, and I didn't feel it was polite to ask. I did think it was pretty shitty that his father would pass him up as Alpha because of his sexuality. The fact that Banks was kind of the black sheep of the family made me like him a little more.

"So? I didn't want to get married either. Its not like it was my idea. What's he got against me?"

"Wyatt is always angry, don't take it personally. You just do you, and let him growl and snarl and spit all he wants. I'm sure he'll get over it eventually."

"Right." He'll get over it eventually. That sounded so promising, I thought sarcastically. I dragged a brush through my tangled hair and sighed. "Okay,ready. Let's go."

He held open the door for me and held out his elbow like a gentleman, which was weird, but nice. I expected him to take me down the stairs, but instead he turned down a different corridor. "Um,where are we going?"

"There is an elevator at the end of the wing. Its private, for the Alphas to access the 4th floor.But you are marrying the future alpha, so I think you are permitted to use it." At that moment I could have kissed him. He produced a key from his pocket and handed it to me. "This is my key, but you can use it until you get your own. I can always take the stairs."

I breathed a sigh of relief as the elevator carried us down to the ground floor. It opened into an unfamiliar area behind the kitchens, but Banks led me through the maze of halls back to the dining room.

"Ah there you are!"Luna Freyja called from the table. "I'm sorry Luna,I overslept."

"Think nothing of it dear, but I wanted to go over some details of the wedding ceremony with you."

Well,there went my appetite for breakfast. I didn't want to think about a wedding, let alone plan the details. "Your father sent over a dress," She was saying, and passed me a white box that was getting a little yellowed around the edges. I lifted the cover and felt tears burn behind my eyes.

"Oh...my mother's dress." I whispered. I touched the delicate silk and lace. That was a strangely thoughtful and sentimental gesture on my father's part.

Who forces their daughter into an arranged marriage, and then sends them a precious family heirloom? But it only made me feel more sad and distraught. I had dreamed that one day I would marry my soul mate,the love of my life,and I would wear my mama's dress, which had been HER mama's dress. It seemed wrong and perverted to wear such a special garment to a farce of marriage with a man who despised me.

"Oooh, it was your mother's? How very special! Take it out dear, lets see it!" I didn't really wvant to take it out of the box, but I did. It was a simple and beautiful dress, with afitted bodice,off-the shoulder sleeves, and a long, full skirt. The bodice was decorated with lace and tiny pearls, and the same lace edged the bottom of the long skirt. I was not as pretty or shapely as my mother, but we were a similar size,and I thought the dress would fit me well enough without needing any alterations.

The Luna fawned over the dress. "Its very pretty, so elegent. You will look absolutely beautiful." She said kindly.I swallowed the knot in my throat and carefully folded it back into the box. Mama would have hated all of this. She would never have let this marriage happen, especially if she got a glimpse of the black-and-blue fingerprints that Wyatt had left on my arm last night.

I took a deep breath and set the box aside as breakfast arrived. I sipped my tea and listened as the Luna went over other details. Flowers and seating and ceremonial nuances. I didn't care, but I tried my best to act interested. When she asked me questions, I answered. "What is your favorite flower,dear?"

"Lily." I said without hesitation. "And your favorite color?"

"Blue."

She went on about bringing a stylist to do my hair and make up, and I swirled a spoon around in my yogurt. Really I just wanted this to be over. Banks came and sat and occasionally added his two cents to the conversation. The wedding ceremony would be on the back lawn, with seating for private guests only. The gazebo would be decorated out for the occasion. After it was all official, we would move to the pack meeting house, where we would be publicly celebrated, and Wyatt would be presented as the new Alpha of the pack,and I would be presented as Luna.

I choked on my tea.Wyatt had said emphatically that I would "never be Luna." But it seemed that his parents had other ideas. What was I supposed to do? "Luna, I don't think- "

The Luna gave me a hard look. "You are his wife. You will be the Luna. No matter what he says." That made me wonder if Wyatt had already taken this argument to his mother. Would I still be the Luna after I rejected him? Would he divorce me once he had all his political ducks in a row? I wanted to bury my head in my hands. I gave Banks a pleading look, but he only shrugged back at me. So much for having an ally in the house.

I didn't see Wyatt again for the whole week leading up to the wedding.

He didn't take his meals in the dining room with the family, something that really annoyed his mother. And we never passed in the house or on the grounds. I can't say I was sorry he was avoiding me. Being close to him, smelling him,looking at him all the time while knowing that he didn't want me... well that would have just made a horrible situation that much worse. Banks was kind to me, and Annie was fast becoming my best friend.

I talked to my sisters a few times on the phone, but I wasn't really comfortable telling them all the details of what was going on. I was very vague. Yes, the house was beautiful. Yes, the Luna and Alpha were kind to me. What was my fiancée like? Well, I followed Annie's diplomatic answer and told them truthfully,"He's very handsome."

Like all things that I dread, the new moon came at me too fast. I didn't sleep well the night before,my mind was busy ruminating over all the horrible possibilities of this marriage... and I woke up looking like the bride of Frankenstein. My eyes were puffy,my face was pale,my hair was doing crazy things.

As I looked at the dark shadows smeared under my eyes,I thought...I should just show up at the alter just like this. If I didn't like and respect the Luna so much,I might have done it.Before I got finished in the shower, her team of stylists and miscellaneous useless people descended on my room. She flitted around giving orders, and it was obvious that she was delighted with her new role of wedding- planner and soon-to-be mother-in-law.

"Oh no no, that color is atrocious," she told the manicurist,"Something soft,feminine and understated.... A mean woman came with hot wax and reshaped my eyebrows. I winced as she ripped the waxed cloth off my brows. "Geez,really?" I growled.

"Enjoy it my dear.You only get married once." Luna laughed. Enjoy it? Seriously??

My sisters sent me a box of pretty lingerie to wear under the wedding dress. The strapless bustier pushed my breasts up and cinched my waist,giving me the illusion of an hourglass shape.

The lacy underwear connected to garter belts that held up a pair of opaque

stockings. My mother's dress fit almost perfectly, and a couple of quick stitches fixed the bust that was a little too big. A hairdresser and a florist went to work on my mess of hair, curling and weaving miniature sunflowers and other delicate flowers and baby's breath into a crown around the topof my head. Then the makeup artist pounced on me. I was afraid with all her palettes and brushes she would make me look like a clown. But she was really quite good, and the end effect was subtle and alluring. My eyes looked bigger, my lips soft and full,my cheeks naturally flushed... and the dark circles had been expertly hidden.

"Oh Harper,you look absolutely ravishing," Annie generously sighed,her clenched hands under her chin.

I looked at myself critically. I wouldn't say I was ravishing. Or even beautiful. But under the skillful hands of the Luna's beauty team, I at least looked passably pretty. I even fancied I looked a little bit like my mother.

"Its time dear. Are you ready?"