Second Chance Luna
Chapter 54

All eyes turned to them as they entered the dining hall.

Phoebe's cheeks warmed but Jason tugged her close. He didn't mind if they looked as long as they didn't come between them. "Mommy! Daddy!" Emma greeted running up to them.

Jason scooped her up letting Phoebe nuzzle her before they reached the main table. Patting Blakes's head, he ignored the stares. It was unprecedented for an alpha to adopt pups, and every time he was with them, it stirred whispers, but he didn't mind. Emma and Blake were not only precious to Phoebe but they had firmly lodged themselves in his heart as well. Lobo offered no disagreement and the pups' scent was almost as soothing as their Lunas.

A server brought a tray of champagne. Jason offered one to Phoebe before taking one for himself. It was human-made so he had no fear of it harming her. Standing close to her as Blake stood up on his chair, Jason raised his glass, drawing the attention of their guests, though most were already watching them.

"Friends," Jason announced. "We are here to celebrate an extraordinary she-wolf, the most extraordinary one I have ever met. She came into my life just when I was on the verge of giving up. I spent one lonely night after another cursing the fickleness of the Moon Goddess, wondering what I did to incur her wrath and be punished in such a cruel way as year after year I endured without my mate, my Luna.

"But now I understand. It wasn't a punishment. It was a trial, a trial to prove myself worthy of this amazing, kind, gentle she-wolf. She completes me in ways I am still discovering. The piece of me I was missing, she returned to me. And for the first time in all my years my heart and life are full. To my Luna."

Jason raised his glass and all others followed suit. Phoebe felt her face warm at the praise. She didn't dare look at anyone in particular as Máni swelled with pride.

'It's about time we were appreciated.

Phoebe couldn't help but chuckle at her wolf's satisfaction.

The last five years had been rather frustrating for her wolf.

Phoebe always thought it was odd her wolf continued to hide in the back of her mind refusing to assert herself until Jason's arrival. Odder still was how quickly her wolf became comfortable with expressing itself now. Was it because they finally found their fated mate? If Jason had also rejected them would Máni have remained silent?

"You're thinking too much," Jason's voice flitted into her mind as his arm slipped around her waist.

Phoebe blinked, startled as he pulled her close.

"Anything wrong?"

"No. I guess I'm just expecting myself to wake up and replace this is all a dream."

"If this is a dream I hope we never wake up," Jason kissed her temple, "because a life without you is a nightmare."

Phoebe rested her head on his shoulder. She agreed. If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake up either.

Taking their seats they settled in as the kitchen staff served up dinner: roast beef, steamed vegetables, potatoes, a variety of casseroles and salads. There was more than enough variety for just about any pallet though it was clear their guests were a little surprised. It wasn't uncommon for packs to spend ludicrous amount on more expensive fare all in an effort to impress their honored guests. Lobster, caviar and rare delicacies were the usual expectation. However, Phoebe surprised the staff by insisting on a heartier meal. Despite Norah and Lucille's dismay she stuck to a more moderate food budget. But it wasn't just the pack's finances she was concerned about.

In truth, she didn't care for such extravagant meals. They were pointless and she wanted everyone to enjoy their meal.

Though the guests were surprised by the food choice they certainly weren't complaining and eagerly asked for seconds. Even Blake and Emma stuffed themselves until they were ready to burst. Phoebe didn't complain when Jason snuck more servings onto her plate in his campaign to get her to eat more.

He was still preoccupied making sure she ate enough. Máni often nagged her to eat more but it wasn't always easy to muster the motivation. Perhaps that was by she enjoyed cooking for the pups so much. She ate more when they ate together.

Since meeting Jason her appetite had been gradually increasing and she already put on several pounds. Jason was determined to take advantage and kept adding more food to her plate. Phoebe could only shake her head as Máni also pushed her to eat more. She had a sense that Máni was trying to prepare for something.

In the past her lack of appetite hadn't hampered them as they rarely shifted. Now Máni seemed to want to build their strength. Phoebe wasn't certain what her wolf was expecting. Surely they didn't have to be afraid of rogues in their new pack. Blue Moon was considerably larger and maintained patrols of its borders.

Yet Máni continued to act as if there would be trouble and they had to be ready. It made Phoebe anxious but she tried not to think about it in case Jason sensed her unease. He was certainly sensitive to the bond and she didn't want him to worry given her wolf's silence when it came to answers.

As the night progressed Emma struggled to remain awake and not fall asleep in her potatoes. Jason chuckled as she jerked awake yet again before reaching over and pulling her into his lap. The pup didn't offer a word of protest cuddling into his chest and falling asleep instantly. He nuzzled her, kissing the top of her head and earning more than a few looks from the others.

Those who had gotten close to the orphaned pair noticed they definitely carried Jason's scent. They were initiated into the pack with a blood oath but that alone wouldn't have affected their scent. The only reason they would carry his scent was if his wolf fully accepted them as his own.

The others watched as he cuddled the sleeping pup with a mixture of confusion and admiration. Lunas in particular were quite envious at the care he showed the pups not to mention how he showered his attention on Phoebe. It seemed he couldn't go a minute without at least kissing her hand.

Alphas who had taken chosen mates couldn't understand his obsession as they had no trouble leaving their lunas for days. Their lunas served a purpose providing balance to their pack's as well as heirs but they were nothing special. Certainly, s*x was enjoyable, but for the most part, they were content to ignore them.

On the other hand, alphas who had their fated mate remembered their own early days with their lunas.

Watching Jason spurred them to renew their romance and recapture that feeling whether they had been mated a year or ten.

"Here, let me take her," Norah chuckled, coming up to Jason with open arms. "I'll put her to bed."

Jason was loathed to give up the little one but eventually acquiesced and handed Emma to his mother. Norah struggled to make the little one comfortable in her arms before looking at Blake, who was also fading.

"Come along," Norah tussled his hair. "Time for bed."

Blake frowned but was too tired to argue. Phoebe gave him a good night kiss before sending him off. Jason grasped her hand and kissed it earning more jealous stares as she smiled at him. Glancing at her plate Jason was satisfied to see she had not only polished off her first serving of roast, potatoes and vegetables but also the second helping he added. He would have liked her to have one more but decided to let it slide for now. As the night progressed they mingled with their guests.

Jealous stares followed Phoebe wherever she went as Jason kept a protective arm around her at all times nuzzling and kissing her as if to ward off anyone thinking of taking her from him. The envious stares might have made her nervous if not for Máni's contentment.

"Jason!" William approached with his arm around Lily and seemingly unaware of the protective aura surrounding Jason and Phoebe, "I've been meaning to ask you...that challenger tonight...you clearly had him outmatched. Why did you send the pups inside? It wasn't as if they were in danger."

Jason hesitated, "Because he as their former alpha. I didn't want them to have to watch their old alpha and their new one fight to the death."

"Meaning...you didn't want them to fear you," Reed surmised as he joined them. He stood close to his sister to appear non-threatening as his luna was not with him.

Jason grimaced. It was true. He did worry about how the pups perceived him. Every time Emma called him daddy and ran up to him stirred protective instincts he didn't know existed and brought him a joy he really couldn't describe.

He didn't want that to change. He couldn't bear the thought of the pups suddenly being wary of him.

"You mean to tell me, the mighty Alpha Jason is just a big softy?" William chuckled.

"He is and I wouldn't have it any other way," Phoebe said leaning into him as his embrace tightened.

"Whatever my Luna wants, she'll have," Jason whispered.

He would deny her nothing.