His Mute Luna
Chapter 23

Tom

“June, I don’t go to Idaho just for some wood merchant…I…I go to meet up with my mate in secret,” I finally raised my face to meet her eyes, which were wide with disbelief.

I had never kept anything from my sister before, certainly nothing like this. I never meant to keep this for as long as I had, I just didn’t want her worrying over me while she was finishing her final year and starting her PhD. After that I didn’t know how to tell her because I knew she’d be disappointed or angry with me.

I thought I could deal with it myself, but it was getting harder and harder each time I had to leave Beth behind. In a way I was glad that Morgan had picked up on her scent still lingering on me. This confession was long overdue.

“How long has this been going on for?” She signed, still looking a little dumbfounded.

“Just over two years,” I winced, as she signed back my words vigorously and I was certain that if she could speak she would have been shouting.

“Why have you kept them a secret?” Morgan asked, motioning for us to all sit.

My dog came to sit between my knees, resting her muzzle on my lap while I stroked her absentmindedly.

“Her father disapproves of me, actually I’m pretty sure he hates me. Their pack is a little elitist and I guess he doesn’t like the idea of his eldest daughter being mated to an Omega that can’t shift” I sighed, remembering our first encounter.

“How can he hate you?! You’re a great guy, you have your s**t together, sort of, you have a great business you built yourself. He can’t just keep the two of you apart. No! f**k him, I’m not having this,” June signed wildly and stood abruptly.

“Whoa there, feisty cakes. I’m not quite sure what you said, but that’s a lot of rage. Just let him finish,” Morgan soothed her, pulling her back down to sit.

Unlike me, my sister was never one to hide how she felt or hold back. Her lack of vocal ability never stopped her from speaking her mind and telling others straight.

“June, her father can do whatever he wants…he’s the Alpha of Opal Sun pack,” I revealed, trying to get her to understand I didn’t have much power in this situation.

“Wait, Matías Rivera?” Morgan questioned, I nodded.

The way he frowned told me he knew Matías and had an idea of the sort of problems I faced.

“He is pretty old school and stuck in his ways. His eldest, Thiago, is a little better but he’s still a bit of a snob. It’s Elisabeth, isn’t it? She’s your mate?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “It’s when they visited this pack around two and half years ago. Matías brought his heir to learn the ropes and his two daughters to see if their mates were here. And unfortunately for him, that was me.”

The older I had gotten, the more I had become despondent that my wolf would never appear; even with Morgan trying to help bring him forward. I knew he was there, deeply buried somewhere in my mind but unable to come forward. Without my wolf I had no clue whether I would have ever been able to find my mate. So it came as an unexpected shock when those emerald eyes of my beautiful pétalo landed on me and for the first time I actually felt like one of my kind, a werewolf.

“That explains why the guy stormed off with his family and never came back again. My dad just thought we somehow offended him, but didn’t really give a s**t because he was an a*****e…my mom said Elisabeth was lovely though,” Morgan admitted, with a sympathetic smile.

“She’s everything to me…”

~~~~

Two and half years ago

The Alpha and Luna had commissioned a few pieces of my wooden furniture and I was delivering them today. I was running a little behind, but I was finally on track and pulling up to their home by the pack house.

Luna Grace was already outside before I could get out of my truck and wrapped me in a huge warm hug, as was her standard greeting for any pack member. Her twin sons appeared to give me a hand in lifting the two rocking chairs and the side dresser inside. Her two eldest sons were locked in a meeting with some visiting Alpha and his son, so were nowhere to be seen.

I left Callum and Cameron to arrange the items inside while I went to grab the outdoor bench. It wasn’t particularly heavy so I didn’t need much help.

“If you see an unfamiliar lady in the garden, it’s just Elisabeth. She’s visiting today with her father, Alpha Matías,” the Luna called out as I was leaving the house. “Be sure to say hello, she’s quite lovely!”

I’m sure she was, but unless she was my mate, I wasn’t interested. Not that I had much confidence I would know my mate even if I saw her.

Carrying the bench around the back of the house, I stilled, seeing an incredibly tall feminine silhouette by the flowerbed at the end of the garden. The breeze blew in my face and along with it a sweet floral scent, distinct from the spring blooms sprouting. Something stirred deep within at the aroma, pulling me towards it, wanting its owner. My hands slipped from the furniture I was holding, banging to the ground and drawing her attention. Her jet-black hair swirled around her as she turned and seeing her eyes for the first time, drove the breath from my body. A deep and vibrant emerald green that contrasted against her deep tanned skin that practically glowed with its golden dew. Her eyes widened seeing me, roving over my figure as she approached while I stood rooted to the spot like a frozen statue.

The closer she came, the more enamoured I grew. Something innate drew the word in my mind, I knew who this woman was to me.

“Mate,” her melodic voice spoke softly with a beautiful smile spreading across her lips.

My own voice seemed stuck in my throat and all I did was nod in response, unable to believe I was actually feeling a mate bond, that this incredible wolf was mine. I reached up tentatively to cup her cheek, sighing in relief when she leant into my hand and at the feeling of the tingles.

She pulled away slightly, her brows furrowing as if confused, “why can’t I mind-link you? My wolf can’t link yours either.”

I felt my face heat and for once I was thankful for my beard that I was hoping was covering most of my red skin. Reality came to bite me just as fast as I had let myself slip into this fantasy. I could sense she was an Alpha. She was an Alpha’s daughter, from a prominent Alpha family…why the hell would she want a shiftless Omega like me?

There was no point in lying, all I could do was be honest…and if she rejected me, I could only hope it would be done swiftly.

“I don’t have one, a wolf I mean. I’ve never been able to shift, I’ve never heard him,” I admitted, averting my eyes out of some shame.

Her gentle fingers slipped under my chin, raising my eyes to meet hers and there wasn’t a hint of disappointment or dejection.

“What’s your name?” She asked.

“Tom.”

“I’m…”

“Elisabeth, I know,” I smiled sadly. How was this between us ever going to work?

“Beth. People I really like call me Beth.”

Before I had time to process her meaning, she leant up to press her lips to mine, her taste still lingering after she pulled away giggling.

“Your beard tickles,” she grinned.

I returned her laugh and captured her lips with my own k**s, already addicted to her taste, her smell, her softness. She felt so right, engulfed in my arms, but the feeling didn’t last as she was snatched out of my grasp.

A man of a faint resemblance to Beth stood before me, his strong Alpha aura pulsated with rage, her father, Matías.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my daughter?!” He quietly threatened.

“Papá, no! He’s my mate!” Beth exclaimed, trying to pull herself free to get back to me.

He gave me a long measured look from head to toe, scowling the whole time. He wasn’t much taller than myself, but coupled with his flickering aura, it was a hard task to not look away or give in and bare my neck in submission. Something inside wouldn’t allow me. I kept strong and met his eye, which I was sure only fueled his anger towards me.

“Mate? Do you even have a wolf?” He sneered.

My lack of response was all the answer he needed.

“As I thought. This cannot stand,” he said, turning to his daughter. “Reject the bond now, Elisabeth. He is no suitable match for you.”

“What?! No, never!” Beth snapped back, standing in front of me protectively.

They argued back and forth silently, before he released a low, violent growl and moved to grab her by the wrist to drag her away. I snatched his hand before he made contact, my own anger getting the best of me; a potential death wish when facing an Alpha. He slammed me up against the nearby tree, crushing his forearm against my throat.

“You need to remember your place mutt,” he whispered threateningly, getting right into my face. “You are a shiftless Omega, the lowest wolf there is. The only reason I am not ripping out your throat right now is because the damned bond would destroy my daughter. You will never be good enough for a she-wolf such as Elisabeth and I will see to it such a union never happens.”

I struggled to move his arm. I was strong for an Omega but no match for an Alpha. He released me and immediately left, dragging Beth away with him as she struggled and called for me. There was nothing I could do as I heaved for breaths watching her be shoved in a car and whisked away.

I had never felt so helpless, so weak, before.

———-

Two days later, a letter arrived. Inside contained a slip of paper with only a phone number and a time.

I knew who it came from, only one individual could have such beautiful handwriting.

I anxiously awaited the time stated and dialed as soon as the minute turned. It had barely rung before the receiver picked up.

“Beth?!” I rushed out.

“Tom,” she quietly sobbed.

It felt like I hadn’t heard her voice in years. The last 48 hours I had barely functioned.

“Are you ok? He hasn’t hurt you, has he?” That familiar rage began to surface again.

“No, my dad would never do that. He’s un estúpido, but he wouldn’t raise his hand to me.”

“Beth…I don’t know how, but we’ll find a way to be together.”

“Good, because I’m not giving you up, ever.”

~~~~

“She’s able to get away twice a year for her…uh…heat,” I disclosed, feeling my cheeks heat a little talking about my s*x life in front of my sister.

“Is that why you were all weird when I picked up Tipper?” June questioned.

“Uh…yeah…I was kinda feeling my mate in heat, that’s why I was meant to be leaving the day before. I was getting a little antsy.”

She narrowed her eyes at me “A raccoon got in and Tip chased it? That was literally the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Are you mad with me?” I signed.

“I no longer feel guilty that Morgan will be stealing half your baking allowance from now on. I think that’s fair punishment,” she signed, looking pretty smug.

“Harsh,” I chuckled, but deserved worse for lying to her for so long.

“What if I talked to Matías? He can’t keep you apart,” Morgan offered.

“Don’t. He doesn’t know that the two of us have been meeting in secret. If you start asking, he’ll work it out and I might never see her again.” If that happened, I didn’t know what I’d do.

Morgan frowned, obviously not liking my answer but said nothing more. I really hoped he didn’t go looking into this trying to help, I could lose everything.

“Honestly, I’m fine. I can handle it. But thanks for looking after Tipper for me, June. I think I need to get some sleep, I’m pretty beat,” I exhaled, tiredly.

I wasn’t fine.

It was getting worse every day.

I had no idea what to do, how to be with Beth, or how we would ever be together properly.

But these were my problems, no-one else’s. June didn’t need this added to her plate right now. It was my job to worry about her, not the other way around.

After they left, I sank back into the couch with my dog nudging my lap, obviously sensing my distress. I buried my head in my hands, feeling that damn sting in my eyes that I hated when I thought about how long it would be till I saw my pétalo again, till I held her or even heard her voice.

I was so far in my own head I didn’t even hear the door go. It wasn’t until a pair of gentle hands pried my own away that I saw June had come back.

Dammit, she had seen everything.