The Unclaimed Human Luna
Chapter 74

El POV

It had been a long flight back to Utah and though she slept well on the flights, Petal was more than annoyed by the confined space of the plane, even travelling first class didn’t suit her. She didn’t like being inside such a confined space. Also, she didn’t like not being allowed free reign to be with her Mate. Even though Conner was right next to them, and she could talk to Atlas anytime she wanted to. Apparently, it wasn’t to her liking at all.

She’d seen Conner hold his head more than once over the three days it had taken them to wait for their flights home. He was clearly not coping so well with Petal’s constant chatter inside his own mind. She was open to Atlas all the time, constantly talking to him. Atlas didn’t seem to mind it at all, though she could tell it was giving Conner a headache.

She was used to it, thankfully. The only thing that stopped Petal from talking was if she was asleep or mating her Mate. The pair of them were still aggressive in that manner, left some definite aches to her body.

She knew when Conner had really had enough of Petals’ chatter, usually just grabbed hold of El and pinned her to the nearest wall or bed and let Atlas out to call Petal out for mating. He was currently holding his head, his whole unit thought it was funny, he’d g*****d more than once on the plane. “El please just tell her to be quiet for two minutes.”

“Nope, it’s who she is. You have to get used to it.” She had smiled right at him and watched him look annoyed for more than a minute and then just order a drink from the stewardess, Petal was more chatty on the plane than normal. Annoyed chatty at that.

He’d barely gotten a winks sleep at all on the flight home. She just accepted Petals’ constant chatter, it was like background noise to her. Guessed it was like that for Petal when they were all talking or while she’d been at Uni. Petal would have had to put up with all their incessant human chatter.

They landed in Salt Lake City after two layovers and there had been cars waiting for them, organised by his father, she supposed.

She saw him climb right in the back and was out like a light. Petal had fallen asleep just as they’d landed and he was exhausted. She knew it was only a few hours to the pack, part of her was concerned to be going back there. Not once had she heard Conner tell his father that they were marked and mated. So that man was not likely expecting it.

It didn’t particularly bother her that he’d not done it, she got the very distinct impression he’d not done it on purpose, to annoy his father. Always told her to give it to him when he was being an a*s. She’d barely had a minute to herself since being Marked and Mated by him. Certainly, didn’t get to sleep by herself, and didn’t get sleep till he’d had his way with her. Not that she was complaining at all. Could now see why Cordi and Collin were always going at it, or always together, even with him not trying to seduce her. His touch felt amazing on her skin, even sitting here in the car, his hand was in hers while he slept, that skin contact had this little constant zing to it, felt nice. He had barely let her go, was always holding her hand and she wondered if he thought she was going to run off, and keeping hold of her was his way of making sure she didn’t.

She also wondered if it was normal to stare at one’s Mate? She found herself just watching him sleep a lot. It was the safest time to do so. If he found her eyes on him, he got that knowing smile and asked her if she wanted to go to the bedroom. She’d said yes, a few times and he’d smirked right at her, always smiled at her, when he looked at her.

Not once had he so much as walked away from her, left her to wake up alone, and he didn’t seem to care who saw them together. Like he had back in his home pack, he’d never wanted anyone to know they were sleeping together. Now he didn’t seem to care who knew at all.

They’d not even argued once in the past few days, not even with his annoyance at Petal. He seemed to just want her to have whatever she wanted, always asked her if she wanted to do this or that, what she thought or was thinking about. He had no intentions of telling her what to do. It seemed he was very different to his father.

Was likely going to make a good Alpha to his pack, had been treated his whole life by his father, much the same way Logan had treated her, in the short time she had been there. From what she could tell, his whole unit had had their lives mapped out by their Alpha, right down to what they studied. Seems the only freedom they got was when they were away from the pack itself.

His father apparently was very demanding of all inside the pack, expected everyone to do as they were told. She’d asked him a few questions about others in the pack, like if his father chose what everyone studied. The answer she’d not liked.

All ranked members, children, were given specific studies to attend. The lesser ranked he didn’t impose anything on at all. But he expected his ranked and their children to have studies that benefited the pack and so allocated them to areas that were, in his opinion, better for the pack. It appeared this was why he’d tried to do that to her.

She was the Luna’s daughter and expected to fall in line like all the rest of his pack, even though he’d not initiated her or even told her what they were. Treated her like a ranked member’s child.

Logan was hard on his pack at all times. Expected the best of them all the time and wouldn’t stand for anything less. Wondered how those new Gypsy Wolves were doing, they had all picked Conner to be their Alpha, had chosen a pack from what they sensed of Conner, were likely in for a shock with Logan and his strict rules.

From what she’d heard from Adam and his unit, they were all happy to have her as his Mate, it seemed. Adam liked the way she stood up to Logan right from the moment she got there. Showed him and the others that she had some real courage and strength. They liked that. She wasn’t so sure about that. Mostly she had just been trying to get the hell out. They’d told her that she was determined and stubborn and willing to challenge what she didn’t like. All good qualities in a Luna, and all of them knew if Conner ever did anything stupid again she’d be quick to pull him into line. They couldn’t wait to get her into training and teach her how to fight.

Not particularly something she wanted to do, but apparently, she would need it. Wolves were not like foxes or kitsune, they warred with each other over various things, and rogue wolves often attack packs to try and steal young women or freshly turned she-wolves for whatever selfish reasons they had. Nothing nice from what she’d heard. Had been horrified and told them she didn’t want to hear anymore at one point.

Those two talked about their Mate’s a lot. Both Adam and Cameron were itching to get back. Their car had actually left the airport before hers and Conners. They’d gone off together in a car of their own, she’d heard Brayden chuckle about them getting speeding tickets for racing off home. She’d never met Gypsy wolves, hell had never really met wolves before, or at least officially.

Felt her phone vibrate, had switched it to silent so Conner could sleep all the way home, it was Cordi ‘Hey girl, how’s Conner treating you?’

This was her first text every time, since she’d found out that she and Conner were marked and mated.

‘Good, he’s sleeping finally.’

‘LOL, has Petal stopped talking finally.’

‘She’s sleeping too.’ She smiled at her phone ‘it’s going to take him some time to get used to it.’

‘He will. likely Atlas is not as chatty, Alpha wolves can be quiet and broody. Take more than a few days. Has he told his dad yet?’

‘No, but I’m not worried about it, I think he’s holding it back on purpose. I’ve not told him what I am either. Conner told me not to.’

‘Going to shock that man into silence.’

‘Likely so from what I hear. Has an alliance been agreed upon yet?’ she knew there was one in the works, though it had yet to be sorted out. Something about all parties needed to be present, and with her and Conner not there, it was hindering the alliance. Even though both she and Conner had stated they were happy with it, Alpha Cole had stated he wanted to see El for himself.

Conner had told her that it was just normal not to worry about it. She’d met him a few times over the years, it seems her and her dad had gone camping in his pack many times, and she’d been out there with Cordi, Collin and Xavier a few times as well. Their pack, from what she could tell, was nothing at all like Logan’s. Cole’s pack was much more open and friendly, there was never a problem with humans in their pack grounds, they all went to school in the human world and had human friends.

‘No, but I believe were all coming out in a few days, after you’ve settled into the pack. So, we’ll see you soon.’

‘Okay, I missed you lots’. I did.

‘Then girl no more running off hey.’

‘Unlikely to happen, Petal does not like flying at all.’

‘Lol I gotta go, catch up in a few days.’

‘Okay.’

She sighed as they came up to the gates of Logan’s pack, and had been desperate to get away from here from the minute she’d been brought here. Had gotten out and was now back, didn’t really know how to feel about it, to be honest. Only knew that Logan was not going to be dictating her life to her. She had not stood for it before, and she wasn’t about to now either.

Though what she was going to do with herself for the time being, summer was over now, she had no idea. She looked up as she heard her cousin gasp ‘Oh my, this place is so different,’ She was upfront with Brayden, he was driving the pack car. Took her for a cruise around the pack, at his leisure. El did want to go and see her mother but she knew that Emily had never been to another pack before, certainly not one like this.

Saw her gasp “Whole moley.” When she saw the pack house come into view. “We’re going to live in there?”

“Yes, on the top floor, in the West Wing.”

That grabbed her attention. She was the only one down that end, as far as she knew, shrugged it off. “Brayden, could you drop me at the hospital, not the pack house, please.”

“Of course, El. You might want to wake Conner.”

She looked at him, smiled and shook her head. “He’s tired, Petal’s killing him,” she giggled softly. “Just let him sleep.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t, he won’t like that you got here, and he didn’t get to present you himself. He might seem all laid back right this minute, El, but here he will likely be a bit like his old self.”

“If he treats me like that, I’ll let Petal bite him good and proper.” She muttered. If he decided that they weren’t going to be seen together, well she would make sure they weren’t together at all.

“That’s not what I meant. He’s going to want the whole pack to know who you are to him, that is his job, to do that.”

“Fine, but he better not be cranky for lack of sleep. Or he’s yours.”

The car pulled up out the front of the pack’s hospital, now she understood why it didn’t cost anything for them to get medical attention, most of the time they didn’t need it, only the young and pregnant usually went to the hospital.

“Conner.” She shook him slightly.

“Already.” He sighed as his eyes flicked open ‘Please tell me Petal is still sleeping.”

“Yes,” she nodded “Come on take me to my mother.” She unclipped her seatbelt and got out of the car.

He slid out right behind her and slipped his hand into hers, and nodded to Brayden. “Why don’t you take Emily up to see your suite, we’ll walk back. I’d like to stretch my legs a bit.”

She saw Brayden nod and then he was off with Emily headed for the packhouse. As they walked inside the hospital, she saw many pack members greet him and look a bit shocked as they saw him holding her hand.

“It’s weird.” She murmured. “They’re all staring at you holding my hand.”

“That is not what they’re all staring at.” He smiled at her.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m marked and so are you. They can see my mark on you, and yours on me. Also, can smell that you belong to me and vice versa.”

“Oh, I’d not thought about that.” She hadn’t really and with Petal sound asleep her sense of smell was diminished. “Do you know where you are going?”

“Yes El, your mother will be in the Luna Suite, which is also where you will be if something happens and you’re injured or need medical treatment. It’s now your suite as well, seeing as you’re the future Luna to the pack.”

Shook that off, still found that a bit weird, watched him push open a door that actually stated ‘Luna’s Medical Suite’ on it, and walked in without hesitation. Both his father and her mother were there. Her mother was sleeping, from what she could tell.

Saw his father look right at her, and then at Conner, looked right at the marks on their necks, frowned at Conner’s. It was not silver like it was supposed to be, but orange and black like Petal’s was. She really did like it, had accidentally woken him up a few times touching it, learned very quickly it was super sensitive to her touch and brought that man right to full arousal.

Hers was much the same though it was silver and orange. A little odd, Conner had told her usually they would be the same. She didn’t know, but had then taken quite an interest in others of her kind and found most kitsune’s marks varied, were a blend of their colours. Her Aunt Juliana’s was black and silver and her uncle Angelo was black and brown.

“Son, it’s good to have you home.” He stated and then looked at El, “You, young lady, have some explaining to do. But I am glad you are home. I see my son has claimed you.”

“Mm,” she nodded, she didn’t think she had any explaining to do, he knew she wanted out, had kept her under lock down because he thought she would run away. What was there to explain? She’d done exactly what he thought she would.

She walked over to the bed and looked at her mother. She looked very tired, quite pale as well, reached out and touched her “Mum?”

“Sleeping El, I know you want to talk to her but it’s best she gets proper rest,”

“I don’t like it, she looks sickly.”

“Is unfortunately, under a lot of stress, your disappearing act didn’t help her either.”

“That was your fault Logan,” she told him “If you’d not tried to control everything about my life, I may have just liked it here.”

“Well, you’re part of this pack now, so get used to it.”

Turned her eyes right on him and stared right at him “I’m not afraid of you Logan, I’m also not a part of this pack.”

“You are Mated to my son Eliza, so yes you are.”

“Hm, well, I’m only staying till mother has the baby, then I’m gone again, if you’re going to treat me so terribly.”

“Excuse me, I have never treated you terribly.”

“I call bullshit.” She shot right at him, saw his jaw tick and felt Petal wake up and look right at him, snort inside her mind. But she stretched out and shook herself and smiled as she saw in her mind’s eyes all her tails fan out, curl up and then drop down behind her to sit down.

“I won’t take that attitude of yours, regardless, you are mated to my son. Even he has to show respect.”

“Respect will be given when it is given, Logan.”

Saw him step towards her. “You will be staying here, El. If that is what your mother wants.”

“I’ll be doing what I please from now on or Petal will have a piece of you. Or my grandma, she’s headed this way. I do believe to have words with you about my treatment while I was here.”

“I treated you like any other in this pack. So, I treated you fairly.”

“I think grandma will be the judge of that.” Smiled right at him. “Is a truth seer, good luck getting anything past her.”

“Don’t fight, please.” It was her mother.

She turned and looked down at her, “Hi, how are you doing?” took her hand in hers and squeezed it gently.

“I’m tired, El, to be honest, and I don’t want you to fight with Logan.”

“Then he needs to be nice to me.” She sighed.

“You both need to be nice to each other please.” She sounded so very tired, felt Conner touch her and looked at him.

“We’ll give you a few minutes, alone.” He said softly and kissed her temple before leaving the room and taking his father with him.

“You and Conner, huh?”

“Yes, it appears so.” She nodded “We can talk about that later. Are you really just tired or are you dying?”

“I’m tired El, the pain was so bad today they sedated me pretty heavily, it’s still affecting me is all.” Squeezed her hand “I’m really glad you’re home. Please tell me you’re going to stay. I didn’t like you being away from me.”

“Till the baby is born, then we will see.” She answered honestly “When are you due?”

“I’ll be due in a month or so, they think, from the rate of growth of the pup.”

“Why would you do this to yourself?”

“I love him, El, I want a baby with him. Just like you will with Conner.” Saw her look right at her. “What will you have, El?”

“A Kit in all likelihood.”

Saw her mother smiling. “I wonder if that is why your middle name is Kit, I never liked it, but your father and grandma insisted on it.”

“Likely a tie to my family linage.” El nodded.

“Is your fox beautiful?”

“Yes, her name is Petal. And she kind of does look like a flower with a bunch of petals around her. You’ll love her. Dad would have been so proud of her.”

“Honey, he was always proud of you. Made me jealous some days the way he loved you. I swear he loved you more than me at times.”

“I don’t think so, just differently is all.”

Watched her mother’s eyes start to close “I didn’t throw away his things El.” She said and then was back asleep once more.

“I know, Conner told me.” El murmured and leaned down to k**s her forehead “Thank you.” felt Petal look right at her, she was their human mother, and she looked so tired and drained. It was a worry.