The Mates of Monsters
Chapter 34

His hands roam my back and toy with the hem of my shirt, pushing it up and slipping underneath as if teasing me. His kiss strays from my lips and wanders to my neck. There's a pull inside of me that's yearning to see this through-that wants nothing less than all of him. My rational brain battles with my encumbering need, and I consider submitting to the impulsive monster. I consider shoving my past self in a grave-shoveling and burying her. "David," I say suddenly and shift. He leans back and I softly tell him, "Wait. Wait-I-"

"Let me hold you," he says, not needing to hear an explanation. It all comes back to him holding me as we sleep, and I breathe in slowly. I nod my head, so he eases down. I tip back with him and lay against him, closing my eyes as his fingers play with the ends of my hair. I think of Lindsey and her two weeks, of the Greek Luna and her twelve babies, and the nerve-racking reality of belonging to someone-mind, body, and soul. For eighteen years I flew solo. No one promised to be mine-nor did I plan on anyone doing so ever. All of this feels like a secret poorly kept from the girl I used to be. In the back of my head, I am still making promises that this is only temporary, that one day I will return to who I was before.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, "for being annoying."

We lay horizontally along the bed, on top of the covers but too enraptured to care. This towering building may be full of people, but I have never felt so alone with him.

"Annoying? No."

"Maybe just a little," I say.

His arm secures around me, and I peer up from the crook. I think about saying it back-telling him, I'm yours, but it feels like a lie. How can I say I am his if I am unable to truly be his? I'm yours, but you can't touch me. I'm yours, but I'm too nervous to speak. I'm yours, I'm yours-

"I'm yours."

He gazes down at me. "I know, Brigette. I know."

David holds my hand in the morning as we attend the first meeting of the conference. He shows me to the right place the main meeting room-and clasps my hand firmly as if someone may try to tear us apart. I could close my eyes and not run into a single person or thing, but instead, I peer up at the skylight now that the sun has risen and its beams cast through.

I feel like the princess of a faraway land wandering her grand castle, that is until David guides me through a giant doorway whose doors are swung open and held against the outer walls.

The light isn't as bright in this vast, echoing room. A few windows line the far wall sparsely-high up so no outsider can eavesdrop-and six weighty, circular chandeliers hang in two rows down the ceiling.

He brings me to our place on the bottom level of the tiered seating, somewhat in the center. Right before us is a podium on a platform of stone. "Whoever has the floor speaks from there," he tells me, bending a little to my ear. "Alpha Nicodra is commencing the gathering this time, so he will speak first and give a welcome."

People continue to flow in-organizing themselves into their assigned seats. There are no labels or name tags, yet everyone knows where they belong. "Then what?" I ask.

"Then new members will be announced."

My head immediately turns to him. "You don't mean-"

"Usually that means an Alpha has stepped down and been replaced by his son, and yes, they identify new Lunas as well. It's important that everyone knows who you are, and in return, you know who everyone is as well."

I lean onto the work surface in front of me thick wood that follows along each row, polished and sealed with the many secrets of years before. "Will it be quick?"

"Very quick."

"And then?"

David looks out to the room as if surveilling. "Then the predetermined topics and issues will be introduced by their representatives. We aren't bringing forth any issues, not this time."

I watch the doorway as the last pairs enter, seeing only two mateless Alphas-one younger and one old. The moment the older man steps up to the second level, Nicodra strides to the podium from my left side. He adjusts his shirt collar, smiles his signature smile, then says, "Welcome. Welcome everyone to our second meeting of the year. There has been much conversation and gossip since our last gathering, which simply means we have much to discuss, doesn't it?" His voice is deep and unfaltering. I scoot closer to David along the bench and he glances down at me.

"I hope you do not mind if I address a topic right off the bat," Nicodra continues. "Some weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Alpha Amin and his newly-found Luna, and Alpha Amin inspired me with his passion for tradition-our traditions, our history and culture. It reminded me of what we used to be. You see, as time has passed, we have become more familiar with lifestyles and practices that are not our own. Human society has had changes greater than any other on our way of life, and I know I am not the only one who believes this detrimental influence is not right."

I watch as David clenches his jaw.

"We are forgetting who we are," Nicodra concludes, "what we are."