Two Alphas, One Mate
Bonding

Diana

It was agony keeping this secret from Damian. He kept asking if everything was ok, like he knew something was on my mind. I kept insisting that it was fine, but of course, I was a bad liar.

I was grateful he had a full workday with his warriors today, it gave me time to process how I was going to tell him tonight. I was set on telling him right after the ceremony.

“You alright in there Luna?” Hippolyta knocked on the bathroom door.

Shit, was I that loud?

Well, she was a werewolf, so I’m sure she heard everything.

“Yup, just feeling little queasy from lunch today…” I wasn’t sure if the bad food excuse was going to hold much longer.

My hands grasped the porcelain as I contemplated if I was feeling better, but I think I got everything out this time.

As I got to my feet, I straightened myself out and flushed the nastiness down the toilet. Hippolyta was kind enough to allow me to her upstairs bathroom while the Etta and Phyllis got ready on the main floor.

Her house was the average house, but it was cozy.

She lived alone; there was no pup or mate. She had her whole life wrapped up in training new warriors that it didn’t seem like she had too many friends or family visitors besides Phyllis and Etta.

She had an insane amount of house plants that seemed to pop around every corner I turned. She was pretty knowledgeable about them too. The furniture was sparse, and the other two spare bedrooms were used to propagate her collection of green friends. For such a badass warrior, she had a soft and nurturing side to her.

“Are you sure?” I could hear the concern in her voice as I washed my hands. It was so tempting to announce to the world I was pregnant, but it wouldn’t be fair to tell anyone before Damian.

I opened the door to see Hippolyta, standing with her arms crossed, analyzing me head to toe. “You know Luna, you don’t need to explain, I just want to know that you're alright.”

She probably had her suspicions, but she knew that I wasn’t ready to let the cat out of the bag just yet. I was thankful she didn’t ask.

“Kill me now.” I sighed heavily.

“Minus your swollen eyes, you look great!”

I laughed and re-checked myself in bathroom mirror. She was right, my eyes were puffy from all the heaving.

“Here, I got the perfect concealer.” Hippolyta went under her sink and pulled out a makeup bag. She looked like she didn’t need make herself and I was surprised she even owned any.

“You’re obviously not my shade, but I kept some from when Etta had her birthday last year.”

“You guys seem close; I mean the three of you.” I took a seat on the edge of the bathtub as she applied the cream base on a fresh makeup sponge.

“I trained them when they were younger, and we’ve been friends ever since.” She replied.

I looked up to the ceiling as she tapped the sponge underneath my eye, “Seeing the three of you reminds me of my old friends back home...”

“You can be our friend Luna.” She stopped sponging and looked to me.

She seemed so strong, but when I looked into her eyes, I felt the other side of her looking back at me, trying to get a handle on her reality while trying to navigate through our dark world. Maybe she put up the walls to prevent anyone from tearing them down, or maybe she spent her time training to keep her mind from spiraling down into the vortex of darkness. I wasn't a mind reader, but I could feel her grief. I could relate to the same emotions she felt.

“Please, call me Diana.”

“Ok... Diana.” Her face lit up as she said my name, and I smiled back.

“So, what time did Eric say he was meeting to event planner? That was nice of him to go out of his way to do that. He’s such a good help…-”

Hippolyta breathed heavily and continued sponging. I was beginning to feel like there was some sort of tension between the two.

“So…Are there any possible mates in your sight?” I didn’t want to pry into her life, but curiosity was getting the best of me. She was my age, and she was well over the usual age to be mated. Considering how many men were in the Fenrir pack, I was surprised she was single.

She placed the sponge back onto the sink, “Good as new.”

I stood up and looked in the mirror, she did a fantastic job. At least I didn’t look like I was puking for the past twenty minutes.

“Look,” She paused for a moment, “I do have a mate.”

Her voice dropped when she mentioned mate. Her eyes went to the floor and she turned away to face the mirror.

I raised my eyebrows, “You do? Where is he?”

It looked like my words struck her down, and she began applying more mascara in the mirror to focus her attention on something else.

“He’s gone.” She said blankly.

“Gone?”

She slammed the mascara onto the counter and turned to me, “He’s dead.”

My heart dropped, “Oh,” I wanted to place my hand on her shoulder, but held back.

“It’s ok, it is what it is, and I’m still getting over it.”

I could see her eyes slightly watering the more we spoke about her dead mate.

“I can sense your grief.” I placed my hand on her arm and our eyes met. I wasn’t reading her mind, but rather, feeling her emotion. I suppose it was one of the gifts you inherit as a Luna.

Buried in all of her emotions, there was something familiar. Something I’ve felt before. It was so distinct, like a face that I would never forget.

Suddenly, Phyllis’s voice came from downstairs. “You guys almost ready?”

“I always gave them shit for taking forever to get ready.” Hippolyta retracted from my hand and began cleaning up.

“Let me help you.” I began gathering the makeup supplies as I tried to make sense of our connection. I wanted to continue our conversation, but I had a feeling we were already late.

“Coming!” Hippolyta shouted down the stairs, “You ok?” She looked to me and I gave an affirmative nod.

“Yes let’s go.”

As we came down the stairs to the front corridor, I saw Etta making last minute adjustments to her hair in front of a large mirror leaning against the wall.

“What are you guys wearing?” She ran her fingers through her curled brown hair. She wore jeans and a blue Peplum tank top along with a thin gold chain necklace. It was simple, but cute.

“I hear your Luna ceremonies are pretty casual, but I was told I had to wear white?” I pushed down my cotton knee length dress down to straighten out the wrinkles. It had a country vibe to it, there were simple lace overlays near the bottom of the fabric, and it had thin straps that hugged my shoulders all in the right places.

Damian left it in the closet to try on and I absolutely loved it. I suppose he was planning on this ceremony for a while since he already had a dressed picked out.

“Speaking of which,” Phyllis, who was standing near by looked over to me as I analyzed myself in the same mirror. “You look amazing; you sort of remind me of Luna Soyra.”

“Really?” My eyes widened as I looked at myself in the mirror. Did I really look like her? When I saw her in the photo I thought she looked nothing like me.

“Yes, well, its not always the way you look, its how you carry yourself around. Especially when you wear that dress. Luna Soyra had a certain aura to her...She was everything to this pack.” Phyllis stood beside me watching my fingers run over the fabric.

“Kind of weird don’t you think?”

“It’s not weird, it means your perfect to be our Luna.” She smiled as she kept her eyes on my dress.

“You’re wearing that, Phyllis?” Hippolyta stood behind us as she narrowed her eyes on Phyllis.

“What? Too flashy?” She asked as she looked herself up and down.

“Polka dots again?” Hippolyta asked.

“Didn’t you wear the same top the night you got drunk and passed out on the road in town last year?” Etta chuckled.

Hippolyta joined in and laughed, “I remember that night, I think everyone will be reminded of that night once they see that top again.”

Phyllis’s face turned red, “Bitches, I love this top.” She turned back to the mirror and started applying lip gloss.

“It looks great, and you look amazing.” I smiled to Phyllis.

“Thanks LUNA.” She turned herself to look at the other two women laughing to each other. “Isn’t that a little casual?” She looked to Hippolyta and her face immediately dropped.

Hippolyta was wearing leather pants and a black tank top. All black, but it seemed like it was exactly her style. She had to body for it, so why not, she looked sexy as hell.

“Colours don’t attract me.” Hippolyta scoffed.

“I think we all look great in different ways.” I interjected.

Etta patted Phyllis on her shoulder, “And that’s why we need a Luna.”

“I think we should head out now, the ceremony will start in an hour. It’s only a ten-minute walk, but I want to get there early.” Hippolyta proceeded to put on her short heels and the other girls followed suit. She even let me borrow a cute pair of brown booties that complemented my white dress.

“Wait!” Etta walked towards inside the main floor bathroom that was close by.

I froze and looked around.

Was she speaking to me? Was there something wrong?

“Luna, your hair! Let me brush this piece that’s out of place.” Etta re-emerged from the bathroom with a brush in hand.

“God Etta! You gave me a heart attack.” Hippolyta held her hand against her chest and lightly swatted Etta’s arm.

“What did you think I was referring to a rogue attack?” Etta chuckled as she brushed the back piece of my hair, “Viola!” She pulled me back in front of the mirror and pulled my hair over my shoulder.

“Thanks." I looked over my shoulder to Etta who was still focused on straightening up rogue hair strands that were out of place.

"That's what I'm here for." She smirked.

“Speaking of rogues, if our best warriors are attending tonight, who’s on border duty and security?” Phyllis looked to Hippolyta who was still adjusting her heels.

“Let’s just say this, ALL of our warriors will be on security. Only the Alpha’s closest warriors, elders and any women who would like to make an appearance will be at the ceremony tonight. You will be safe Luna, I promise.” I suppose Hippolyta could feel the tension that was rising within me.

Through all the good things that I’ve experienced in the past couple days, the thought of Holden sort of slipped my mind, but now that I thought about it, my anxiety was slowly creeping up on me again. I was pregnant now, and the thought of this pup growing inside me getting hurt was starting to freak me out.

“Don’t worry Luna, she’s right, besides, you will be with the Alpha all night.” Etta put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“Just paranoid I suppose.” I sighed heavily as I turned towards the door. “Let’s go, can’t be late.”

I placed my hand on my stomach as I stepped outside, breathing in the fresh air. It was quiet, the stars were twinkling brightly, and the full moon filtered the darkness away from the deserted streets.

I felt a sense of calm as I started to walk, this was my home now, there was nothing in the world that was going to tear me away from it.

Especially now.

I kept my hand on my abdomen, taking in long, deep breaths. There was nothing to feel as it was still so early the in the pregnancy, but I could sense the presence of the new life growing inside me.

Maybe it wouldn't hear me when I spoke to it, but I didn't care, it came natural to me. I kept repeating the same words over and over again to reassure that nothing would happen, but then again, there was never guarantees in life.

I will protect you at all costs.

I will die for you.

I will protect you my child.

Whatever it takes.