Chapter 56 Her Rightful Place
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Alpha Jaxon strolled to the bedroom door and opened it to reveal a man I had never seen before. I assumed this was the enforcer who had been assigned to babysit me. He was handsome, standing over six feet tall with a strong stature, showing he spent many hours training to keep his body fit. He rolled in a cart filled with various breakfast foods, and I could feel my stomach growling at the smell. Alpha Jaxon had ordered the enforcer, whom I later learned was named Theo, to guard outside the room, which I found hysterical. I didn't need a bodyguard constantly pestering me. If he was going to be stuck with me all day, I at least wanted to get to know him. I shook my head and told Alpha Jaxon and Theo firmly, "No way. Sit, Theo. If you're going to be glued to my side today, you'll be having breakfast with me."
Theo looked lost, like a puppy scared of Alpha Jaxon and unsure of what to do next, since I was certain this wasn't regular protocol in Midnight Moon. When Alpha Jaxon finally agreed and left us to enjoy our breakfast, I assumed it was because he was running late for the Alpha meeting. Theo wore a simple black t-shirt with black jeans; his arms were toned and bore a sleeve tattoo, predominantly a howling wolf under the moon. He had dirty blonde hair cut crew-style. He bowed his head respectfully to me and said, "Luna," as he took the chair I had indicated.
"Luna? Let's try Adeline. It's nice to meet you, Theo. Please, help yourself," I responded, taking my seat beside the feast before us. He gave a small chuckle, "I'm only addressing you for what you are, Luna. You're Alpha Jaxon's fated mate—which makes you the rightful Luna of Midnight Moon," he said respectfully and reached for a plate. I had known that being mated to an Alpha would soon make me Luna, but reality hadn't fully set in until Theo said it.
I stared into Theo's intimidating gray eyes, completely dumbfounded. "Not a Luna yet, Theo. How long have you been an enforcer? I hear you're one of Alpha Jaxon's leads, actually." Theo had piled his plate with eggs, bacon, and toast, making me wonder if he had eaten anything earlier, judging by his appetite.
"My father was an enforcer. I was born into Midnight Moon. The title was inherited in a way, but I undoubtedly had to work for my merit. I hear you come from a long line of enforcers yourself—from the Silver Moon Pack," Theo said as he scooped up his eggs.
"Well, damn, word travels fast, doesn't it?" I said sarcastically, raising an eyebrow at him. "That part is true, though. I may come from enforcers, but sometimes I wonder if that gene skipped me. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be having breakfast with you right now." Theo glared at me with his mouth full of food, stifling a laugh. He nodded, "I've been briefed on the rogue attack. I'm sorry that happened. We still can't figure out how that rogue got through pack borders. Beta Don believes the rogue had inside help. Don't doubt yourself, Adeline. The Moon Goddess knows you have what it takes to lead Midnight Moon."
I smiled at Theo's words. His voice was empathetic and gentle. "I sure hope she knows what she's doing! This wasn't what I expected when I came of age. So tell me, have you found your mate?" I asked, pouring a good amount of maple syrup on my pancakes. I found Theo easy to talk to; I wouldn't mind having him around more often.
He poured coffee for both of us. "I found her last year when Alpha Jaxon requested I join him visiting a nearby pack. We stopped for lunch on our return, and she was working at a café. The rest is kind of history now. We're expecting our first pup in a few months," he said, pride surging from within, holding the biggest smile on his face.
"Wow! That's a beautiful love story—congratulations, Theo!" I belted out a little too enthusiastically. He gave a gracious nod. "I don't mean to speak out of turn, Adeline, but I have to say you were incredible back there with Alpha Jaxon! I can see he's already quite fond of you. I've never seen him back down like that to anyone. I think you two are going to have a happy life together. You know, Midnight Moon has been waiting for an heir for some time now," he said, nudging my arm playfully.
A smile escaped my lips at the thought of having a pup with Alpha Jaxon. I couldn't wait to look back on all of this behind us. High heels echoed through the hallway, clicking and knocking against the marbled floor tiles. "Addie! Open up!" Sophia called from the other side of the door. Theo stood up cautiously as I hurried to answer. "I was wondering when you'd break me out," I joked. Sophia's face scrunched up in confusion. "Break you—oooh," she said, understanding what I meant.
"Hey, Theo," she waved, pushing into the room to sit on the bed. "Adeline, I really need your help with that surprise you asked me to assist with for my brother," her quick wit going into overdrive. Theo ruffled his dirty blonde hair uncomfortably. "I'll send someone to get this cart out of your way, ladies, and I can excuse myself and wait outside the door." I felt guilty, knowing we'd have to ditch Theo without causing alarm. He was trying so hard not to pester, but nothing was going to rob me of the chance to meet Alpha Jaxon's mother.
"Actually, Theo, would you mind helping us?" I asked, giving him a shy smile. Sophia caught on and planned to make things as awkward as possible. "That's a great idea, Addie. Theo, you see, Adeline and Jaxon are about to be newly mated soon. Adeline is planning a steamy night for the two of them to set the mood, if you know what I mean. I've bought most of the things Adeline asked for in my room, but there are still a few items to pick up in town. Since Adeline shouldn't be leaving the pack house, can you run to town and get them? I promise I won't leave her side until you're back," Sophia said softly, batting her eyelashes.
Theo grunted, "I've been given direct orders by the Alpha." Sophia stepped forward. "As you should respect them, but your soon-to-be Luna here has given you orders, too. I'm sure Jaxon will understand. Just don't ruin the surprise, Theo, I'll cut your balls off if you risk me becoming an aunt!" I swear Sophia could win an Oscar for her performance; even I was convinced by her acting.
He nodded. "Very well. Mind link me if you two leave Sophia's bedroom and send me the list," he said, holding up his cell phone. Theo escorted us to Sophia's bedroom, ensuring we arrived without issues. I closed the door behind me, my body pressed against it, and whispered, "YES! I don't know how you pulled that off, but yes, Sophia!"
Sophia giggled at our successful escape and looked at her French-manicured nails. "All in a day's work," she said, clearly proud. She grabbed a bottle of water, while I stayed pressed against the door, catching my breath. She took a long swig of water and turned to me with serious eyes.
"Listen, Adeline, if you want to change your mind, you can still do so. I can't really prepare you for what may happen in the loft. If my mother is having a bad day, I don't want you to get upset. It's been rough for her since my father passed away. Some days, we wonder if she's even become bipolar."
I pulled away from the door, straightened my posture, and shook my head. I was determined to meet their mother. I was desperate to see who she really was. "I can handle it. I understand the pain she's suffered. I'll let you know if things become too much, okay?" I said, offering a small smile.
Sophia looked at herself in the full-length mirror in her room and smoothed the wrinkles from her yellow sundress, taking a deep breath. "Let's hope this doesn't backfire when Jaxon finds out," she said, grabbing my hand to head for the door.
Sophia led us down an abandoned hall where family photos hung on the walls. I stopped for a moment and cocked my head. "Was this your father and you? You look just like him," I asked curiously. She put an arm around my shoulder and tilted her head against mine.
"That's him, alright. My parents always insisted on having an area devoted to our family moments together. I really miss them both, but Jaxon does a good job reminding me I still have him," she said, pain searing her voice.
I placed my hand on her head for a moment. We continued down the abandoned hall and through a door that led to a private, hidden staircase.
I felt my panic begin to rise as we traveled down the steps. It felt as if something was stuck in my throat, preventing me from speaking. At the bottom of the staircase stood a set of stainless steel double doors. My throat grew dry and scratchy like sand in a desert. Sophia grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "Ready?" she whispered.
I took a deep breath and nodded, nervous about what lay ahead. Sophia typed a code into the keypad and pushed the handle when the keypad flashed green. The smell of the most delicious apple pie hit me like a ton of bricks as we entered the loft's foyer. It had been beautifully designed and felt like home.
"Mom! It's me, and I brought a friend. I hope that's okay," Sophia called out, pulling me through the foyer into a large living area. A beautiful woman sat in a rocking chair, not looking up once as she knitted what looked like a white scarf.
"Hi, Mom. It's me. This is my friend Adeline," Sophia whispered as she let go of my hand and cautiously approached the woman. The Luna had curly almond-colored hair and looked no older than 40. I thought to myself how beautiful she was, slightly reminding me of my mate.
She lifted her head slowly and stared directly at me with lilac, glowing eyes, her hands still knitting. Her harsh stare sent shivers down my spine. Her eyes were commanding, the power of a true Luna boiling within her. It felt like nothing I had ever experienced before.
"The Moon Goddess told me you'd be coming, Adeline. Please, sit down."
