His Mute Luna
Chapter 15

June

I couldn’t control my silent laughter, I actually had tears in my eyes.

You seriously didn’t?! I typed out quickly, struggling with getting the right words because of the fits of laughter still wracking my body.

Morgan was laughing too, its sound was just as deep and silky as his voice. His beautiful face was flushed pink at the embarrassing memory.

“Yep, head first in the trash can, my legs flailing around and everything. When I saw you walking away, I was a little mortified thinking you’d seen the whole thing,” he admitted sheepishly, but at least he had the good humour to poke fun at himself.

And to think at the time, I thought he had just disappeared all mysteriously, when in actual fact he was just the world’s biggest derp!

Oh, if I had seen, I would’ve been over to you in a heartbeat to make sure you were ok. Then, I would’ve laughed!

He was most definitely my buffwuff; built in every way possible and every bit of him adorable.

Do you still skate? I asked.

“Not for a while now. Don’t really get much free time these days and usually when I do, I just work. It’s not like I had anything else to do…but I think I’ll be changing that from now on,” he replied, looking over each detail of my face with his bright diamond eyes, his thumb continuing to draw lazy circles on my hand.

We had been like this for hours, just talking, sharing sides of ourselves no-one else got to see. I knew from others that Morgan was highly respected by his pack, but I hadn’t actually known why. It wasn’t just because he was a good leader or because the pack had to respect him. In the two years after school, while he was waiting on his wolf to wake up, he had worked in virtually every section of the pack. From working with some of the Omegas that staffed the pack house and kitchens, to the pack’s farms and builders, where he met my brother. It was actually one of his first initiatives that allowed me to go to college. He had set up a scholarship for pack members who needed it, after fighting and proving to his dad that it could be funded and be of benefit to the pack. The downside to being a member in a pack is that you were ineligible for any financial aid from the college; if you wanted to go you had find your own funding and I wanted to go to Cornell, so I had a f**k-ton of funding to find.

“So if you’ve been doing your PhD with Southern Oregon University for two years, does that mean you went to Cornell at 17?” he asked, finally putting the math together.

I nodded proudly, not to sound full of myself, but I’m impressively intelligent. I’m also weird as f**k with a memory like a sieve. So, win some, lose some I guess, I typed out.

He grinned, reading my words, “I think I’ve amply demonstrated that you can look all charming, but be a huge dork.”

I silently crinkled up my nose, laughing, you think you look charming? I teased.

“Wow, that really hurts,” my mate spoke with a barely suppressed smile. I realised that was the first time I called him ‘my mate’ in my mind; not in a way that was an acknowledgement, but in a way that expressed what he meant to me.

You said you don’t get much free time, but would tomorrow be one of those rare occasions? I have the day off and I haven’t been kayaking in ages. Would you want to go?

I didn’t know whether he was into this kind of thing, but I went with my brother, and even Tipper, all the time. I preferred the calmer waters, but I knew Tom would go all ‘tough guy’ and paddle down the rougher parts of the river, obviously without Tipper in his kayak.

“Yeah, I’d love to. I’ve not been myself in months, I’ve got a couple of kayaks in the garage under the tarp. We could head straight out after breakfast?”

I nodded excitedly, this would be like our first date. But right now, I was getting tired and I wasn’t about to go to bed on my own this time.

Let me get Tipper’s bed and then we can go do the same?

“Did you just invite yourself to stay the night?” Morgan raised his brow.

“That doesn’t sound like much of a protest,” I typed out as I stood to get my things out of the car.

By the time I came back, he had already arranged a set up on the couch for himself. Like I was letting that happen. After placing Tipper’s bed down, which she instantly dove into making her own nest, I grabbed his hand to pull him up the stairs with me. I didn’t miss, either, how his breath hitched or his breathing increased. Had he really never slept beside someone?

I had cheekily nabbed one of his t-shirts to sleep in and was waiting for him to come out of the bathroom; I was pretty sure he was deliberately taking his time.

When he finally came out, there was a hint of pink to his cheeks. I wondered why he was shy all of a sudden. He wasn’t this nervous this morning when he burst into the room in those same dangerously thin shorts that hid nothing. Maybe it was because this morning wasn’t leading to sharing a bed…and now it was.

He stepped over to the bed, a little hesitantly, “are you sure you’re really comfortable with me being here? I don…”

I cut off his words with a k**s, snaking my arms around his neck and pulling him flush against me from where I knelt on the bed. It didn’t take long for him to respond, softly and quietly moaning into my lips with his thick, warm arms wrapping securely around my waist. His tongue, albeit ungracefully but nevertheless wonderfully, whirled round with my own in one of the few intimate acts he had initiated, like when he lifted me unexpectedly onto the kitchen counter. I pulled away when I began to feel something poking me in my lower stomach and looking down I saw just how excited he had gotten; wolves really could get turned on at the drop of a hat. As he came back to reality, his eyes followed the path mine had in my brief glance down and his cheeks turned that adorable shade of red, clearly embarrassed that there was no hiding his e******n. He covered himself quickly, mumbling an apology, but I pulled his hand away and brought his face back to meet mine with a soft smile. He had nothing to be sorry about for his body responding naturally and it was nice to know that it responded with impressive size and speed.

I pulled him into bed, turned off the light and snuggled into his side, almost snorting in laughter at how tense he felt. He really hadn’t ever slept next to someone like this before. I lightly kissed the skin of his pec that I laid against, smiling at the tingles that spread through my cheek and the tickling sensation from his chest hair. Eventually, I felt his breathing even out and his body start to relax.

All he needed was a little time, but he would absolutely be worth the wait.

———-

We were all packed and heading out bright and early to a quiet and uninhabited spot of the Rogue River; Tipper in the back had stuck her head out of the window in excitement as she knew what was coming.

With our spot picked out and myself and Tipper secure in my kayak, Morgan launched us into the water, following suit afterwards. We paddled together in comfortable silence, only pausing when I spotted something I wanted to look at through my binoculars; once a bird nerd, always a bird nerd.

Tipper must’ve seen something she wanted to chase in the water, because without warning she leapt in, doggy paddling around. But she didn’t try to get back into my kayak…she aimed for Morgan’s.

“Oh s**t, Tip no!” He called out, but it was too late.

She tried to jump into his boat but capsized him instead, dunking him into the water. His head broke through the water’s surface as did Tipper’s who swam straight over to the bank, shaking out her fur.

I struggled to control my laughter as I typed out my words, “I hope you brought some towels in your truck.”

“Very funny,” he grinned as he treaded water.

Heading over to the bank ourselves, Tip was already rubbing herself up and down on the grass as she usually did after swimming or having a bath trying to dry off. I helped drag Morgan’s kayak out and up the bank along with my own, the two of us sitting afterwards as he poured the water out of his boots. I had hung his sweater and t-shirt over the boats to dry, a little disappointed that he had stopped there but very much enjoying the sight of him topless yet again. Tipper seemed content with the rawhide chew I’d packed for her, which had successfully distracted her from the hole she was sniffing around that Morgan warned definitely had a skunk living in it; I had dealt with her before when she got sprayed and I wasn’t in a hurry for a repeat.

I looked over to my mate, catching him staring at me with that dreamy look written all over his face. I had never thanked him for what he had done for me, for saving me, for accepting me when he could have just walked away. I realised I had just been suppressing all my memories of what happened, the exhilaration of the mate bond had eclipsed everything else but that rush of oxytocin, which solidified the bond in other wolves, couldn’t last forever.

I took out my phone from its waterproof pouch and typed out a message for Morgan.

Thank you. For everything you and the pack did to bring me home safe. I know a lot of you could’ve been hurt but you came anyway. I’m sorry I’ve not said it sooner.

“It’s ok, I know you’ve been avoiding thinking about it. I didn’t want to ask, till I knew you were ready,” he said as he scooted over to me.

“Do you still feel guilty about that guy?” He asked. I didn’t need to clarify who he meant.

I nodded, looking down, remembering seeing his lifeless face and that I was the cause. Morgan reached out, cupping my cheek to lift my face.

“You really shouldn’t, not just because whatever the hell he was part of was horrific, but because he would have died anyway. I need you to promise you won’t repeat this, it’s still confidential information,” I nodded to his request. “There were eight men in total and we caught three of them alive. We were going to question them but they were equipped with some sort of suicide pill. My dad’s still looking into it, but they all had this weird tattoo so we think they were part of some group or syndicate.”

My brows shot up in surprise. What the hell sort of people goes to these sorts of lengths?!

His eyes for a split second glanced down to my neck, his features briefly looking sombre and his jaw ticked as though there was something else he wanted to say. Did he think there was a connection? The attack I had no memory of and now these men come looking for women with my description…was it me they were after? Or did I simply have the misfortune of possessing the features they were after? Why would anyone specifically want me? There wasn’t anything special.

No, this was supposed to be a day for us, not thinking about unpleasant things, mysteries, or crazy conspiracy theories.

I stroked the damp curls out of his face and moved to straddle his lap, not caring his damp jeans were soaking my own. He grasped the side of my neck, pulling me down to meet his lips, devouring my gasp. This was the first time he had made the first move and it was a surprise I wanted more of.

All of a sudden, he pulled back, groaning and rested his forehead against my own.

“I’m sorry, I need to go. A rogue’s been found and there’s no-one else available to deal with it. My dad’s busy, my twin brothers have never done an interrogation before and my mom mind-linked me this morning that Michael’s mate is in heat, so he’s not going anywhere for the next couple of days,” he sighed.

But I shook my head, giving him a small smile. I understood, he had responsibilities that he couldn’t just ignore as he wanted for anyone, including me.

“I can drive you home and I’ll come back later for everything,” he offered.

No, it’s ok, I can paddle the boats back up stream and load them on the truck just fine.

“Are you sure? That’s a lot to carry, I don’t want you hurting yourself,” he said in what I assumed he thought was a caring tone, but I found it a little patronising.

I smacked his shoulder, hard, earning a stunned expression.

I’ll have you know a lot of the equipment I haul around is like 30 or 40 lbs. I’m not some dainty girl that needs a man around to carry stuff for her. When I say I’m fine, it means I’m fine! I typed out, glaring at him while he read it.

“Ok, ok,” he raised his hands in surrender. “I take it I was an a*s. Remind me not to piss you off again.”

He lifted me off of him and stood, pulling me up with him.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’ll grab my phone from home on the way and text you when I’m done,” he smiled, pecking me on the lips.

He took off running barefoot and shifted midair, ripping through his jeans. His wolf gave me a glance over his shoulder, looking forlorn but pressed on running ahead. I forgot there was another individual in this relationship that I had been neglecting. I hadn’t even asked about his wolf or his name.

He looked beautiful, an iridescent white that shone brightly under the midday sun. And I would make sure I met him tonight.

Morgan

I arrived at the prison, after a quick stop by my home, to see my dad’s Beta, Terrence, already waiting for me. His dark grey eyes were furrowed in concentration, most likely mind-linking my father.

“Your brothers are on their way. I’ll send them through to the viewing room, when they finally get their asses down here,” he held that same tired tone my dad had when he spoke about the twins.

“You not coming in too?” It wasn’t often I was left solo to do an interrogation.

“Nah, you’ll be fine. He’s definitely nothing to do with those bastards you dealt with. No weird tattoo and he wasn’t sneaking around, just sleeping in a car a little too close to our borders for comfort. I’m pretty sure the guy is an Omega, he really doesn’t seem dangerous. I think he’s just fallen on some hard times. There’s a guard with him now, but he came real peaceful.”

I nodded in acknowledgement and headed inside to where the rogue was being held. I was hoping the guy was going to be cooperative in his questioning because it’d make an ideal teaching example for my brothers to learn from; this would be the first time they’d be getting involved in this side of leadership. And I needed to get back to my mate. I had left her by the river on what I thought would be our first date to come question a rogue.

‘I’ve already made my opinions clear…and you had better let me out soon to meet her properly, human,’ Mars grumbled. He was becoming more insufferable by the hour.

‘If I let you out tonight, will you please focus now?’ I sighed, wishing he’d just concentrate for one second when we weren’t around our mate. All he did was huff dolefully, but fell silent nonetheless.

I opened the interview room to be met by a guard and the rogue, who both looked up at my entrance. I mind-linked the guard that I could take it from here and she left to wait in the viewing room where I could mind-link should I need backup.

The rogue’s hazel eyes grew a little wider, realising he was alone with an Alpha and I sensed his heartbeat and fear soar. For an Omega, he looked quite tall and life in the wilds had given him a fairly broader build than you’d expect from a wolf like him. His dark blond hair looked a little messy, as did the slight beard covering his jaw.

“I’m Morgan,” I greeted with a small smile. “You really don’t need to be scared, I’m just gonna ask you a few questions. It’s just standard for anyone we bring in.”

He swallowed hard but nodded, his heartbeat still kept a rapid rhythm.

“So what’s your name?” I began.

“Forrester…Taylor Forrester.”