His Luna’s Already A Luna
Chapter 72

Lucinda POV

Being bored for days on end was horrible. How could anyone just lay about and do nothing? Even just lying watching TV shows or movies had ended up annoying her. She'd actually looked forward to having Nick stroll into the suite to have lunch with her every day. Was itching to talk to someone other than Samantha.

The woman, it seemed, was more than happy to spend time cooking in the kitchen or sitting reading a book and keeping an eye on Lucinda at all times to make sure that she didn't do anything other than sit or lay on the lounge or in the bed. As per Dr Emerson's instructions.

Lucinda spent just one afternoon and part of the following morning choosing items for her office, had texted Lindy to get some advice on what should go in there. She was also actively getting along with Nick, which made Ky'ra happy with her when she was awake. It appeared he wasn't all that bad.

Though still on the demanding side of her staying on bed rest. Which annoyed her. Her wounds didn't even hurt, they just felt a bit irritated and needed a scratch when she moved when they were touched by furniture or herself. She constantly complained about it and even poked at one of her wounds to prove to him that they didn't hurt. But still he'd not let up, just raised that eyebrow of his and then said "No."

Lucinda had called the twins every day and talked to them. Tried not to sound upset when talking to them, though it pulled at her heartstrings every time. They both kept telling her how much they missed her, wished she was there with them. Found herself nearly in tears a couple of times, Nick had walked in and seen it. She couldn't hide it.

Not anymore, not with the knowledge she had. He had walked over to her and hugged her to him, when she'd told him she missed them and it just hurt so much. She'd hugged him back and leaned into him, buried her face into his chest.

Held back her tears. Lucinda had no idea how she was going to explain them to him. But she knew she was going to have to, and before that, conversation with Corey, Lindy, Gabby and James. She'd only known a few days herself, the truth of the matter. When she had called the twins over the last few days, Gabby hadn't sounded any different with her, which made Lucinda wonder if Alpha Corey had told them yet of her conversation with him. About her wanting to have them with her, she knew, he knew what she wanted.

Lucinda was more comfortable with Nick now, knowing that he didn't know or was affiliated in anyway with Darwin. That he had also been willing to give her his Alpha's oath that he wouldn't Mark her. That he hadn't tried anything on her at all. Occasionally, he had teased her, but that was it.

He was sticking to Dr Emerson's words. Lucinda had found it amusing to see and hear his reaction to her touching him. It had started out on her part as just absently touching his tattoo while waiting to fall asleep, and had turned into teasing him. When she'd realised, it increased his heart rate and he would clear his throat or s**k in a deep breath, sometimes hold his breath too.

She knew what a Mate's touch could do, but he did not, this was all new for him and she quite enjoyed annoying him with it, seeing as he wasn't allowed to touch her back, so she had taken a few liberties, touched his tattoo quite often, keeping her touch soft as a feather, slow and lingeringly on his skin. Her finger was a blaze with tingles. She could only imagine how it felt for him.

Ky'ra, when she was awake, wanted Lucinda to bite him playfully, a hard nip right to his n****e as she had done Rip. Wanted to see Nicks reaction to it. Lucinda was not game. The man would likely loose it. But she had, however, slid her finger right over his n***** and teased it, to Ky'ra's delight, he'd let out a low growl.

Lucinda had giggled and Ky'ra had chortled in happiness, got the desired response Lucinda guessed. He sounded very frustrated with her touching him in this way. She knew he wanted more but couldn't, heard him grind his teeth and take a deep breath and she would smile to herself and try not to giggle more, but he would feel her body as it gave away her stifled sound of amusement.

When he'd suddenly pinned her underneath him, she knew she'd pushed her teasing too far. The kiss that had followed, though only brief, it had been. Had in fact curled her toes and set her own heart racing. Damned man.

She'd looked at him from under her lashes and wondered how long she was going to be able to resist him, now that she was willing to allow their Mate Bond to grow and was actually feeling closer to him, very comfortable around him. Chose to sleep right in the crook of his arm, wanted to be there. Enjoy the smell of him now. Liked how it felt when his arms were around her.

Didn't think it would take much to be honest.

She had moved over and put her head on his chest, right on that tattoo she loved annoying him with, when he'd practically demanded it of her, stating Rip wanted to be closer to Ky'ra. She couldn't deny his wolf that and Ky'ra had wanted it instantly. Rip had purred, showing he was happy that they were willing to please him, she guessed. Ky'ra had purred right back. Then each of them had gotten louder, their two little weirdo's, it seemed, were in some sort of contest again, as to who could be louder. Very amusing it

was.

Nick had told her she had to have one more day of bed rest, due to Ky'ra needing it. Lucinda couldn't very well argue with it. This was the first time she'd been so injured that Ky'ra had taken days to heal her. She had no idea how much it took out of her wolf. She knew Ky'ra was still resting in the back of her mind, so she had reluctantly agreed.

But tomorrow she was up and about, and out of this room. Nick had told her she could look at her office space after breakfast and that he wanted to sit down and have a real conversation about a few things.

Lucinda could only imagine what these things were. She figured Darwin was high on the list. Maybe the twins, likely Matthew would also be on that list. Though Nick had not said anything about Alpha Corey not knowing her family linage, she had no idea if he'd call the man about it or not. That could be on the list of things as well, she guessed.

Lucinda wanted to talk to him about being able to train again and the possibility of being assigned to border patrol. She knew he wasn't going to like it at all. Might get into an argument over it. But she couldn't just sit around and be useless all day, everyday. That was never going to happen, it was not who she was.

Though Lucinda knew Lindy did spent the majority of her time in her office, she had many Luna duties to do. Here there hadn't even been a real Luna in a very long time. Nick was 30 and he had older brothers, so like maybe 35 years or more even. So what Nick actually expected from her in that department she had no idea.

Lucinda knew that she had an actual role to do, that a Luna was responsible for a lot, but had never had any training in that area. Only being Mated for 2 days to Matthew, they hadn't started her training, had still been in her last year of high school, so Felecia had been going to wait to start her training on all the things she needed to learn and her responsibilities, until after she graduated.

Lucinda did know that she was responsible for the safety of the women and children of the pack. Especially when under attack.

She wanted to see the lock down mode in effect and was hoping Nick would initiate it for her. She also wanted access to it, so she could set it in motion. Otherwise, it was completely useless to have one. She also wanted to know and have access to the secret exit from the packhouse, in-case of the worst-case scenario.

Most Alphas never thought it would happen. But it did. She had seen it first hand. Lived through one and been lucky enough to have survived it. Did not wish to do it again, ever. The only reason that they had not used the secret exit earlier that day was because Luna Felecia had gone into labour due to the stress of losing her Mate and son and the twins had arrived very quickly. There had been no time to use it. Lucinda would not make that mistake. Send her women and children ahead of her if need be. Nick had told her that everyone here trained, and she was glad to hear it. Wanted to pick some women and train them herself, if he would allow it. To help her defend them if the lock down failed to protect them, she also wanted plenty of weapons on hand and to have the women know how to use them too. It wasn't an unreasonable request, but may sound unusual to him. She would have to wait and see.

Lucinda also wanted to organise the training she had promised those teens. She had won that duel and their bet, so Nick couldn't stop her. She did need to meet this Bean's to make sure the teens all got their bows and were ready for training. She also wanted them to all have training bows as well as the real thing so they could learn to move about with it attached to them and not damage it or have it hinder them. Once they could, then they would be allowed to carry the deal all the time.

Lucinda would also be getting all their sizes, she chuckled to herself, would be having outfits just like hers made for all of them. Though she wasn't going to tell him that. A little secret of her own for now.

Maybe have a little fun later on with Nick, laughed out loud at the thought of him, thinking he was seeing her everywhere. Lots of fun probably. Til he figured it out that was. She wondered if the girls would all be in on a bit of mischief. Maybe if she, their Luna promised to protect them against punishment, they might. Probably would have to involve Jeremy to help out with a fool proof plan.

Nick arrived in the suite that night carrying Chinese take away. He told Samantha she could go for the evening. She'd frowned up at him, but then had left the suite. He put the Chinese food down on the coffee table and then handed her a book.

"Please read this chapter for me. While I get dinner sorted out," he'd opened the book to the place he'd had marked.

"Okay." she'd nodded and taken the book from him.

The chapter was an eye opener. There was such a thing as a Luna Wolf, a direct descendant of the Moon Goddess Selena herself.

'Special. Ky'ra told her.

Lucinda reread the chapter, it was relatively short. Ky'ra seemed not phased by the information. But it did worry Lucinda a little bit, she hadn't felt her wounds all that much, there had been some pain while actually fighting the bear. But clearly nothing like what she was probably supposed to feel. Ky'ra hadn't seemed to mind, those wounds had not hindered her fighting abilities at all. Nick had told her that she was healing faster than a normal wolf would have done as well.

The part about her being here meant that lots of pups would be born surprised her. She pointed it out to Nick. He shrugged at her.

"Kevin's mate is in heat right now, started the day after you got out of the hospital, and there are 6 other pairs of mated wolves in heat as of this afternoon." he told her, shocking her completely.

"What? But it states after I become the Luna." she stated confused, it started the day after she'd gotten out of the hospital, the day she'd actively stopped fighting their Mate Bond, she wondered if that was a coincidence.

"You are the Luna, Lucinda. It's just a formality right now, our Mating and Marking. I guess the Goddess is already happy with our pairing."

Lucinda frowned, "It's weird," she stated, though Ky'ra did love babies, maybe that was why.

"What's so weird? Which part?" he asked her.

"The pups thing. How can I effect a pack that much?"

Nick shrugged "You'll have plenty of Luna Blessings to give, it seems."

Lucinda frowned, this whole thing was new to her. The information he'd come across was freaking her out just a little bit, the thought of fighting without knowing how injured she was bothered her too. Nick was probably now going to be more unlikely to allow her to patrol or join in rogue attacks, she thought. Though was probably going to be more open to her training the women around her.

"What do you make of it?" she asked him. Curious about his thoughts.

"Still thinking about it. It's a lot to take in," he commented.

Lucinda sighed and looked right at him, bit the bullet, so to speak, "Border patrol?"

"Not on your own," he replied without hesitation. So he had already thought about things.

"So, not a no then?" Lucinda asked hopefully.

"I will consider it. A proper discussion needs to be had. Rules will be laid down and you will have to agree to them all. Both you and Ky'ra." He told her flatly. Definitely had thought about it, probably knew she was going to ask about it.

She sat and ate. They were both silent for a long time.

"Lucinda...I'm curious about your mating with Matthew. The book said Ky'ra wouldn't appear until she came across her Mate."

"I read that." she nodded. Didn't know what to make of it herself.

"Was he your destined Mate, gifted by the Goddess?" he asked, and tried to sound casual about it, but she knew he was curious had always been.

"Yes." she answered him, "On my 18th birthday. He found me, on the way home from school. Marked me on the spot. In front of all my friends."

Nick was frowning at her now. "Middle of the afternoon?" he queried,

Lucinda nodded. "Yes, it was one of those days when the moon was already in the sky. It was also a full moon that day. Everything just lined up, I guess."

His frown deepened "But you didn't get Ky'ra?"

"No!" she admitted "A bit odd."

"Not if he or your wolf was not her Mate."

It was Lucinda's turn to frown now. "How is that possible? I was his Mate, but Ky'ra wasn't! We are one and the same."

"I don't know." Nick shook his head "Jeremy has a weird theory. About me not wanting to attend mating balls, which I didn't even from a young age, not after seeing how Alex and Liam acted during them. Disgusted me to be honest. By the time I was 18, I already knew I was not interested in them. There for it appeared I didn't want a Mate. So the goddess gifted you another."

"Hmm could be...Did you really not want a Mate?" Lucinda asked him, curious about that now.

"It wasn't that I didn't want one. I just wasn't actively looking for one."

She looked at him. Her frown deepened now. "How would you ever get an Heir then? Chose a Mate?"

"No. I intended to mate with one of the higher ranking warriors to produce an Heir at 35 and not before. Hoping for a surrogate in all honesty. Would have raised the child myself."

Lucinda was staring at him now, was he crazy, no she-wolf she knew would just give up her pup, not even to an Alpha wolf, to raise as an Heir to the pack. The moment a pup was born, they were instantly bonded to their mother, heck bonded in utero for that matter. "Do you know how insane that sounds? What she-wolf would give up their pup willingly? None that I know of," she told him.

Nick just shrugged at her. "I would have made a contract with them I suppose."

Lucinda shook her head, he was insane, a contracted pregnancy. "You're weird, really weird, you know that, right."

"Not exactly brought up the right way, remember." he reminded her.

"Hmm...I guess not." she nodded.

"Does it bother you? Knowing that is what I intended?"

Lucinda thought about that for a long while and then shook her head. "Not really, you had your reasons I guess."

"And what do you think those reasons are?" he was frowning at her now.

"I don't know. You tell me."

"I didn't want to be like my father or brothers before me. Is all. This way, no one could get hurt, I suppose." he shrugged.

"You mean, you wouldn't have a Luna to annoy you, or reject later?"

"No. I always intended to claim my mate if I found them and I knew I would not treat them as my father or brothers would."

She nodded, not much else she could say, it was his way, she supposed, but it did make her wonder which she-wolf in the pack he had his eye on. What did she look like? What his type was? "So which warrior were you thinking?"

"What?" he asked, seeming completely shocked by her question.

"Oh, come on Nick. If you were wanting a high-ranking warrior from your own pack, you must have a preference. Someone in particular in mind."

"I didn't. Not even once looked at them like that. No point til I was ready. They could all be mated off by then."

Lucinda snorted, shook her head. A little dismayed by his attitude around the matter, how could he be so blase about it, how could he not have already been thinking about and looking for that one that was good and strong. Now that she was hearing this from him, that she-wolf from breakfast and training sizing her up, made way more sense to her. Probably thought she had a shot at giving him that heir he wanted.

"I've not so much as looked at another she-wolf since scenting you, Lucinda." he told her, sounded like he was trying to convince or reassure her of his intentions.

"Alright." she nodded, acknowledging his statement, but was not ready to let it go yet "that she-wolf from training? And breakfast?"

"Was a long time ago. Well, over a year ago," he told her without hesitation.

"Hmm, does the pack know...what your previous intentions were?"

"Yes in all likeliest."

Lucinda said nothing. It was likely she was right, that she-wolf thought she was going to be his baby mama and now that Lucinda was here, was likely pissed off about it.

"I have announced you as the future Luna. Did that through a pack wide Mind-Link the day you arrived, while you were getting breakfast."

"Must have caused you a headache." she stated, still thinking about that she-wolf. Was she going to be trouble? Lucinda thought so, if he'd announced her and she'd still challenged her, she was likely trying to show Nick she was stronger than his Mate, that she would breed a better child for his Heir.

"You're worth it." he smiled at her.

"You're hoping," she snorted back.

"I know. So does Rip. We want no other. Ever."

"Hmm." was all she said, though Ky'ra was very happy to hear him say it. Lucinda was too, if she was honest with herself. But they still had stuff to work out. Once that was done, she would give him her undivided attention. That she-wolf was bothering her too much to respond to him the way he wanted her too.