His Luna’s Already A Luna
Chapter 52

Nick POV

Nick left the suite. He was completely unable to respond to her statements, she thought he was a cruel person. How did one prove that you weren't, when the one accusing you was literally, listing out all his faults, things he had actually done to her since she'd gotten to his pack. Nick thought they'd made some progress last night when he'd opened up to her, told her about the packs history and his, at that. Lucinda, it seemed, didn't take into account any of that. Only the things she'd seen him do when here, his past deeds counted for nothing at all.

How was he going to claim his Mate if she only took in the here and now? Didn't look at him and the whole picture. Only all the things between them that had happened. He slammed his office door shut behind him.

Could he even get it to work? Rip was actually quiet on the subject. Nick glared at the pack map. She had accused him of treating her like a prisoner, because he'd not shown her. Did she not understand he was worried she'd go running off back to her old pack. Why would he not be worried about it when she'd told him the other day 'not at this point. because she didn't know where she was.

How could he trust her not to run away and with that list of hers she'd just rattled off, he strongly doubted she would stay.

Lucinda had not been impressed by him not going to claim her, as any wolf would normally do. He glared at the opening he'd made in the wall yesterday. Found her an office and shown her, she'd seemed interested and now they were back to square one. Was it always like this with a Mate? Not knowing whether you were coming or going, making progress or not.

Perhaps this was why his father was the way he had been. Perhaps this was why he never wanted a Luna for real and did as he pleased when he pleased. Perhaps he had never understood them or their moods.

Nick sat down at his desk and sighed, he would not be like his father or his brothers. Mates were clearly more difficult than anyone ever said. They always looked so happy to him. Didn't really see them argue about anything.

Though Nick had seen Kevin carry his mate back to their suit on many occasions, she'd looked bored or annoyed, guess that was when they were fighting, though Nick never saw it in public, never has seen any mated pair argue in public, for that matter. Yet Lucinda had taken a piece of him out in the wetlands in front of his Alpha Unit and then she'd again taken a piece of him on the training ground in front of his warriors. Maybe it was because they weren't Mated yet. He had no idea.

He'd just leave her alone for now, not much else he could do. He had been trying, but it seemed she did not want to. It hurt more than a little to know his Mate didn't want to even try to get along with him.

Just now, even before the revelation that she thought he was cruel, she'd told him to go and do whatever he would normally do. Probably should have realised right then, that today wasn't going to go as he wanted.

Nick wanted the pack to see them getting along, for them to see their Alpha and Luna were bonding. He wondered what they thought about this situation. Most Mates would Mark and Mate on the spot or within a day. It had been nearly a week and still they weren't Marked or Mated, it was not normal. He knew that much. Hoped his pack would trust him, that they didn't think he was holding her here against her will.

He pondered if that's what Lucinda thought of the situation. If so, how did he go about fixing it? She was allowed to go wherever she wanted, he did not restrict her movements. Nick sighed, that hadn't even gone so well either. Had allowed her to over hear his pack members bad mouthing him. He knew his family had a terrible history and he'd only been in charge for five years, but that obviously wasn't enough time for them to trust him.

Or was it that they were unhappy? Lindy had told him she didn't think his pack members were happy, no mating balls in five years. Where he should have been attending or having them three times a year. 15 opportunities minimum for them to replace their mates and he'd denied them that over his own personal beliefs.

Because while Alex and Liam had been in charge he had seen them and their ranked members just go about having s*x with any she-wolves willing all night every night, one she-wolf after another, multiple s****l partners each night, it was not something he approved of.

So Nick had ceased it upon taking over, not wanting his pack to continue that behaviour, he got up and walked over to the box of books that Lindy had loaned him. Found the one on Mating Ball Etiquette and sank down to read it. He had nothing else to do today, it seemed.

There were many ways to hold a mating ball and lots of different rules that could be applied to each ball, it appeared. As long as the rules were laid out clearly in the invitation, any visiting packs had to abide by those rules. Accepting the invite was also considered to be accepting of the rules.

Though no rules had to be applied at all if the pack throwing the ball, didn't want any. It was a free for all it seemed.

Nick understood now that neither of his brothers would have, had any rules, as they would have been looking to bed anything and everything in sight. There were some very strict rules that he could apply. Right down to the dress code of the pack attending his ball. Ranks of those attending as well, that surprised him completely.

If he so chose, Nick could hold a mating ball for Ranked un-mated members of other packs, as long as only Ranked members of his pack attended as well. Nick could hold separate balls for all ranks in his pack. Even request an omega only mating ball. Though the most interesting one was that, he could hold an all male or all female ball, as long as he presented only the opposite gender in the same numbers.

Nick liked some of the rules, didn't like others, got up and wrote down the ones he did like. The one's that he would hold every other pack too. To his standards, the number one rule on his list, no mating at all, before the ball. He also liked the idea of formal wear. Class it up a bit.

This would also allow for their Mate to see them dressed up at their best. Nick had actually like the idea of dressing up for his Mate, and had wanted to for some weird reason. Not that she had appreciated it, in the end.

To disconcerted with who he actually was, if they'd been complete strangers, they probably wouldn't be having all these issue he thought. Probably Marked and Mated like all other wolves, but no, he had to go and insult her and Ky'ra before hand, antagonise the situation. Never again would the word Mutt be uttered from his lips.

He knew it was Lucinda's job to organise these things but he wanted to set some rules for them. Hadn't actually like attending the Half Moon Pack mating ball, it annoyed him with all the scent of arousal and sounds of wolves mating all over the place. He just couldn't see himself doing that, allowing that here, not with his beliefs.

It was much better not to see or hear or smell, for that matter, your Mate, the day before with another wolf. Goddess only knew how that would have affected him and Lucinda, if she'd seen him the night before with another she-wolf.

'Likely reject us on the spot' Rip voiced his opinion. Nick thought so too. Thankfully, he wasn't that type.

Though having him around wasn't helping his cause either now, it seemed.

Lucinda was off to do research at the library today. About what, he wondered? His pack or family history? He didn't think so, she could ask him that. He'd told her all the worst stuff already. So what was she looking up? Perhaps he should hunt her down!

Perhaps not!

Nick had no idea, it wounded him that she didn't want to spend time with him. He wanted to be close to her, but how? Nick closed the book and sighed, no wonder her old Alpha was placing bets on them Marking and Mating. He wondered which one of them had her rejecting him. Nick's chest ached at just the thought of it. He couldn't allow her to do that. Wouldn't allow it.

Nick got up, he would fix it. Find a way and fix it he would.

Headed for the library, perhaps he could help her replace what she was looking for. There was no one in the library other than Lucinda herself. She was sitting curled up in a chair with a book in her lap, by a large window with the morning sun shinning on her. She was sitting absently twirling some of her hair in one hand, while turning the pages with the other.

Curled up like that, she was so tiny. Nick walked over to her and sank down across from her. Her eyes moved to him, she raised an eyebrow, questioningly at him "Need any help?"

"No!" her eyes moved back to the book in her hand.

Nick read the title. It was a book on blood bonding. frowned slightly "can I ask why you're reading that book?"

"Curiosity," she answered him.

"Lucinda! Are you so mad at me," he asked, exasperated, with her single-word answers, "that you won't even try to hold a conversation with me?...try to get along?"

Nick watched her close the book she was reading and turn those honey-brown eyes on him.

"What is it you want Nick?" she asked very directly.

"I thought we could try spending some time together, maybe even let the pack actually see us getting along." he was honest with her.

She sat and stared at him for a long quiet minute. "Is that important to you?"

"Of course it is. Don't you want to pack to see us together and know we get along!"

"But we don't most of the time." she countered "Do you want me to lie to them?"

"No, of course not." Nick sighed, "We did actually manage to get alone last night." he commented, and when she just stared at him, said "Or was that a lie on your half."

"It wasn't"

"You don't want any of this do you?" he could feel pain inside him as he said it. Heard Rip growl at him for voicing it out loud. Knowing it would likely lead to a rejection from her. He didn't even bother to hide the pain that was conveyed in his tone of voice, he wanted her to know it hurt him that she didn't want him.

"I'm very confused, Nick. I just need time. A lot has happened in a very short amount of time... I was willing to try, until you bled me into your pack. But now, I have reservations. Can you understand that?"

It hurt to hear those words, she had been willing to try. Until he'd forced her hand. He'd been the one to change her mind and had no one to blame himself. Rip was growling now, very unhappy with Nick 'Fix it!

Nick didn't know how to fix it. To be honest, "Are you going to reject me?" he asked. If she was going to do it, better sooner than later. He already knew it was going to gut him and Rip would likely go ballistic. But what could he do? He couldn't accept it. She was made for him and he her. It seemed he was the one to screw it up.

She was staring right at him. "Not at this point, no. I do understand a Mate Bond Nick. Been there before, know how it feels to be with your Mate...but you and I, it's difficult. You didn't like me to start with, nor I you, for that matter, and we both know it. Yes!" Nick sighed "It's not that I didn't like you. I was annoyed at you. You'd bested be and I felt...humiliated I guess. Did you really not like me?"

"I didn't know you. I just saw an overly egotistical Alpha, who called us a mutt. It was very rude and disrespectful. You didn't know us and I know Thomas told you I was part of his team. That it was my job to do as I did, yet you still insulted us... if I was on your team. You would not have done that. You'd have been proud to have my skill backing you up, yes?"

Nick could only nod, she was right. "Yes, very proud in deed. Especially as you were wolf-less at the time."

"So, why still did you insist on the insult?"

She was clearly still hung up on the insult, wasn't able to let it go". There is no excuse for it. I was annoyed you'd bested me is all. I'd never come across anyone who could beat me, til you."

"There is always someone better out there, Nick."

"I guess so." he nodded and leaned back in the chair to stare at her. He didn't know what to do anymore. He'd always managed to wrangle what he wanted. Never had a problem with women either, for that matter. He had to come up with something that he could use to help them sort this matter out.

Nick stood "Come with me." he practically demanded "please." he added, lightening his tone.

"Where?"

"A rematch... Let's see who is better right now?" it was the only thing he could think of this minute to help the situation.

He watched her smirk and get up. Okay, that worked. Liked a challenge.

"My Bow and Blades?"

"We'll use training gear. Make it fair for us both. I don't have a bow tailored to my size or strength like you do."

"Okay."