The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 25 – Meet The Parents
(Willa)
I couldn’t help but pace, I felt like one of those cartoon characters that lit up the screen in the background. Emmett didn’t have much experience with TV but he was obsessed. I was too nervous about unpacking that or even forming a thought on if I wanted that to become a regular thing or not.
“I wish I could distract you,” Caspien wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back from my pacing.
I settled into him and let his scent wash over me. It helped for a second until I remembered why I was stressed out. A moment later, I wiggled out of his arms.
“I would tell you not to run a line in my floor, but I really could care less about it.” He frowned at the floor a playful smile crossing his lips as he watched me.
“What are you thinking?”
I paused, giving him a look. He knew what I was thinking.
“Say it out loud, it might make you feel better.” He crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall separating the kitchen entrance to the open living room.
“I made contact with my ex for the first time in years,” I threw up my hands, glaring at him, hating that I was saying this out loud.
“Go on,” He motioned with one hand, I also got distracted by how his other arm tightened, protesting against his shirt with the movement.
“Ex doesn’t cover it, is it even an ex in werewolf terms?” I looked at him, but I didn’t expect an answer, “My child’s father, the Alpha of the pack of my birth, my destined mate chosen by our Goddess herself.”
“That sounds better,” Caspien agreed.
“Doesn’t it?” I almost smiled despite myself, “That guy, is practically deciding my fate,” I chewed on my lip looking to the back of Emmett’s head had the same shade of brown as Nolan.
“He’s not, though,” Caspien said, bringing my attention back to him.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking; I don’t know what he will do. I don’t think I ever really knew him,” I admitted, my brows tugging together.
I stopped pacing, and Caspien wrapped his arms around me.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” He whispered into my hair.
I pulled back just enough so I could look into his eyes, “Are you serious?”
“Just playing devil’s advocate,”
“My son gets taken away, I have to co-parent with Nolan, I’m forced to move back to Blue Ridge.”
Caspien growled, pulling me tighter, “That won’t happen.”
“Just because you say it won’t doesn’t make it so,” But I wanted to believe him, I really wanted to.
“I don’t think you would be forced to do any of that. Worst case scenario, awkward visits and you’ll get some money from him.”
I sighed, I knew that. Logically I didn’t think that Nolan could take Emmett, and deep down, I knew he didn’t want him. But the what-ifs were eating at me. He was my baby, my life, and the reason for my existence shifted when I looked into his eyes.
Okay, maybe not the first time. I had to get through some post-partum anxiety mixed with my normal depression, which was just a sparkling c*oc*ktail of fun garnished with sleepless nights.
But when I eventually came back to myself and saw him, really saw him. I knew that life as I knew it would never be the same.
Everything that I did from that moment on would be for him.
I never thought anything would come between us, could possibly break us. I never thought that Nolan could just claim him on a whim.
“Your pocket is buzzing,” I whispered to him.
“Maybe I’m just excited to see you,” He pulled back, grabbing his phone.
“Was that a joke?” I grimaced.
“Okay, I don’t really joke, so yes,” He shrugged. I laughed at that.
“I knew I was funny.”
“Just answer.”
Caspien looked at his phone and went stiff. He slid into his Alpha mask.
“Yes, okay. Good. You have it?” A pause, “Officially? Okay, bring it here.”
His shoulder sagged a bit when he hung up the phone, it was almost imperceptible but I knew what to look for.
“Cas?” I grabbed his arms, studying his face. His eyes focused on mine, his eyebrows pulled together for a moment, “What happened?”
“You used a nickname.” He breathed.
“No, the phone call,” I smiled, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, he got it. Nolan signed away his rights. Had a lawyer and witness there.”
“Really?” I didn’t quite believe it.
“Really,” He took a deep breath, “It’s official, he’s all ou-yours.” He gave me a smile that wasn’t entirely genuine.
I pulled back and clutched my stomach, my lungs filled with air for the first time since I signed that paper this morning, which felt like a lifetime ago.
“Really?” I asked again, Caspien was smiling down at me with a genuine smile this time.
“Really, really, I told you.”
“Not the time.” I smiled at him.
“Fine, I won’t bring that up again,” He pulled me into his arms and swung me around.
I laughed loudly, I couldn’t stop. I almost had the most essential thing in my life taken. I knew it wasn’t that dramatic but that’s what it felt like. I felt like I got Emmett back even though I never lost him.
“Put me down,” I laughed, trying to slap his chest.
He pulled me to him but I pushed away, stumbling a bit back on my feet.
I rushed to Emmett on the couch and took his cheeks in my hands, a confused look crossed his face. He tried to look behind me at the show he was watching but I tackled him into the couch.
“You’re mine,” I poked his side, earning me a giggle, and held him close. His small arms wrapped around my neck.
“I know, but Mama, I was watching something,” His little voice scolded me, and I pulled him up.
“You’re mine,” I repeated, “Let’s cuddle forever, never letting go, not even to pee.” I wrapped him in my arms, and he laughed at that.
“Can Ca*s*sy come?” I barked a laugh.
“Sure,” I ruffled his hair and he lay on my chest.
He was mine, I wasn’t going to lose him. Ever. It was official now.
The doctor came soon after we got the news and checked over Emmett. He looked surprised and reported that Emmett seemed to be in perfect health but wanted him to continue the last few days of antibiotics to be sure.
“I told you I was better,” Emmett crossed his arms and gave me a stare.
“Well then, I guess you didn’t need all those cartoons this morning then,”
Emmett’s eyes widened, and he looked to Caspien for support.
“I’m staying out of this,” He backed away with his hands up.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and get back in your clothes? And brush your teeth again, germs love when you’re sick,” I made a grossed-out face.
“Yuck,” He stuck out his tongue, trying to look down at it.
He insisted he had to get back in pajamas after Holden left this morning and wanted the ‘couch bed’ that Caspien made. He claimed that he could only go back to the couch with pajamas on. Neither of us contested that sound logic.
“Can I show you the rest of the pack house?” Caspien asked when Emmett bounded up to his room to change.
“This is the pack house?” I glanced over my shoulder at the sprawling city beneath his wall of windows. I didn’t really think about where we were. I a*s*sumed just his apartment somewhere, but I didn’t think he would take Emmett back to the packhouse.
“Yes, the new one. We kept the old one for pack members that want to live in a more traditional packhouse. This is ours,” He shrugged, which was more of a slight raise of his shoulders.
“Okay, I guess.” I looked up to the second floor to where Emmett went.
“No pressure, I just want to show you around. But I’m also perfectly content staying here.”
“Okay,” I thought it over.
“Okay to what?”
“Okay, show us,” I shrugged, I don’t know if I was still on a high from Nolan giving up his rights so fast, but I didn’t see the harm in this.
“Really?” He looked slightly taken aback, “Nevermind,” He coughed, “It’s final.”
He reached out to shake my hand, and I gave him a stare.
“It’s official now, let me put on a suit.”
I took a deep breath looking down at my oversized shirt.
“Want to go shopping first?”
“How?”
“Downstairs.”
“Give me one of your black jackets, please, possibly a belt or some black tie type thing. Wait, yes, that a black tie.”
I followed him up, nodding to myself, this might work or just be really bad.
I was slightly satisfied with my outfit. It was baggy even with it tied but it almost looked like a blazer dress, and it was better than jeans and his oversized shirt.
“You look incredible,” Caspiens eyed me.
“Not too s*lu*tty?” I looked down at my bare legs, I only had short boots with me and I didn’t want to show too much skin.
“You can walk around naked for all I care, it’s your body it’s up to you how you want to show it off.” There was sincerity in his voice that made my stomach flip.
I thought all Alpha would be possessive in a domineering way. But with Caspien, it was different, I could belong to him without him owning me.
“Can we go now?” Emmett tugged on Caspiens hand after he rushed back down the steps.
“Yes,” Caspien ruffled his hair, “Let me show you my home.”
“This is your home,” Emmett pointed out.
“Let me show you the rest of the packhouse; we can go back down the elevator,” Emmett bounced up and down.
“Mama, let’s go! You have to see it.” I followed them out, feeling wholly content and overwhelmingly happy.
“We can start from the bottom up. Do you want to press the button?” Emmett’s eyes lit up.
A low fog settled over the city, and we descended back from my personal haven through the clouds themselves.
“Wow,” Emmett pressed his nose to the glass elevator.
“Don’t get fingerprints on it,” I looked down at him.
“It’s okay,” Caspien put a hand on my lower back.
“That’s because you don’t have to clean it,” I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, well, yeah, you got me there.” He tugged me against him, and we watched the fog give way to stark buildings.
“It’s magic,” Emmett breathed, his breath fogging up the glass.
“It is,” I agreed, and Caspien tightened his grip on me, sending warmth and sparks through me.
We left the elevator to a bustle of activity and I could fully take it in this time. This was like no packhouse I had ever seen before, I honestly a*s*sumed it was a private apartment complex or some fancy a.ss hotel.
“How do random people not wander in?” I asked.
“Fake front, there’s a front desk area that the public sees, similar to the Dracos group, actually. It’s for a company that no one takes meetings at, of course.” He raised his eyebrows as if he was telling me a great secret, “Holden probably brought you in the main entrance that only pack members use. The elevator we just came from is only for me and Griffen and Holden, no one sees my living area; they think it’s behind my office a floor below.”
“But your lawyer,”
“The first time he came up there, Holden had to escort him up; I thought you would be more comfortable not leaving the apartment. I’ll get your credentials and fingerprints added.”
I nodded, I didn’t realize how much he thought about me. Well, I knew he did, but all these other things he did to make me feel comfortable, I didn’t deserve him.
We do
You’re right it’s just
No justs, he was made for us
He leads us into the main area. This was definitely bigger than any hotel I had ever seen, but I had limited experience.
The building was somehow circular on the inside despite the sharp corners of the outside building. It opened up for stories, so much so that I could barely make out the ceiling above. There were rows of open hallways with doors lining them in different colors stacked on each other.
It looked like a deconstructed hotel, with every door and hallway looking down to the area we were about to walk into. It was surprisingly bright, but I couldn’t tell where the seemingly natural light came from. Vines reached up to the skies, twisting and climbing towards the sky.
The space felt intimate and almost cozy despite its size. Pack members were milling about the upper floor hallways, and chatter filled the space. It felt warm and inviting, nothing like I was expecting after seeing the starkness of his apartment above all of this.
“Those are apartments up there, some are larger two stories, others one bedroom, it depends on the size of the family,” He pointed up to the floors above, “All soundproofed of course, for privacy.”
I studied the open upper floors. I couldn’t imagine living in practically a hotel with other pack members; all I knew was traditional houses that had gra*s*s and space in between them.
“It’s not for everyone,” He looked at me as if he could read my mind, and sometimes I believed he could, “I’ll show you the older part of the pack another time out past city limits, it looks more like what you would be used to. If you don’t like it here, we could move there,” He suggested.
He would be willing to give up his penthouse city apartment because of my preferences? The thought of us all living together didn’t make me nervous like it did yesterday; I was excited about the life he promised me. I could actually see it.
“I like it,” I whispered; I did.
“What’s down here?” I brought my attention back to the first floor, a huge space filled with greenery and warmth.
“Pack common area, and over there,” He pointed to a long hallway across the open space, “Is shopping, food, everything you could ever need without having to leave.”
“A modern Utopia,” I gave him a wry smile.
“Pretty much,” He agreed, “But of course, most pack members spend a lot of time elsewhere in the city. There’s a gym and warrior training areas below this floor, and above this, the more formal areas, meeting rooms, offices, all that fun stuff.”
It was impressive, a packhouse hidden amongst the sprawling city buildings. It was full of life and activity, there was something to be said about most of the pack living under one roof.
“It feels good,” Emmett grabbed my hand and pointed at all the plants and tried to count the floors that even I lost track of.
“Let’s get some food and some clothes for you,” He turned to me, “As much as I love seeing you in mine,”
I took his hand and let him lead me through the packhouse. People stiffened wherever we walked, I guess he had that same effect on everyone, even in his own pack. When they saw us confusion plastered their faces, and whispers followed in our wake. Their confusion was replaced by wide smiles when they saw me holding Caspiens hand though. I tried to return their smiles, but I felt nervous.
To me, I was being shown Caspiens home with my son by my side. To them, I was their future Luna, a title I didn’t accept yet and might never would. But everyone’s friendly demeanor made it easier, they seemed genuinely happy, waving and greeting me as Emmett and I walked by.
The hallway opened up to what looked like a mini-mall. Emmett got ice cream, and Caspien insisted I picked out clothes, but I only let him drag me to one shop, and he seemed appeased by that- for now.
“Want to see the offices? We have a theater too. I can have it reserved out if Emmett would like that,” He whispered the last part.
“That sounds good, I do have work tomorrow, though,” I chewed on my lip, not wanting to face the real world, wishing I could stay here forever.
“Stay tonight?” His eyes were pleading, “Please,” He added.
“Just because you said please,”
He showed us a floor of people working in darker rooms, apparently in charge of security for most of the territory. There were small cameras everywhere and people coding things on black screens. At Blue Ridge we had warriors, and that was it; there was no secret service pack security that was tended to I was sure twenty-four hours.
But again, Crescent Moon owned most of the city and a lot of land beyond; they were one of the most prominent packs in the states for a reason. I loved hearing Caspien explain things to me and then explain them in further detail to Emmett and answer his million questions patiently. Caspien didn’t just take the pack as it was from his father but was actively working on building it and changing it to be sustainable for the future.
There was no complacency with him. Even though he was part of one of the last lines of pure royal blood, even though he was destined to lead a prominent pack from infancy. He accepted his roles but didn’t rely on his title or power. He was constantly working for his pack, even if they didn’t see everything he did behind the scenes. I was so incredibly proud of him and honored to be his mate.
We went to the meeting and conference rooms that reminded me of the ones he had at his office in the Dracos Group Main Building.
“How many offices do you have?” I asked him.
He shrugged, “Eight, I think.” My eyes bulged, waiting for him to say he was joking, but he just kept going on.
“But how? I mean, the business, the pack-” I trailed off.
“I delegate,” He looked back at me, “I trust the people I have in charge; I oversee them and have regular check-ins. I like to know what’s going on in all aspects of my pack, but I trust the people I put in charge. There is no way I could do any of this by myself.”
“Being Alpha sounds cool,” Emmett looked at Caspien with such adoration, he understood the concept, a bit, but since he didn’t grow up in a pack I don’t think he really grasped how important Caspien was.
When he said that Caspien squeezed my hand, a flicker of sadness came through me and I think he sensed it.
Emmett was supposed to be an Alpha, I knew he would be a good one. Not one that was led by fear and dominance, not one that craved power, but one that ruled fairly and made sure his pack was taken care of. An Alpha like Caspien. But Emmett would never get the chance.
Even though Caspien had his reputation, I saw just how much he cared and did for his pack. While Emmett was distracted I asked him more about that. He told me it was a burden to shoulder. His reputation protected him and, therefore, the pack. Even though people wouldn’t see this other side of him, he didn’t mind because he was working for his people. Part of me thought he might mind, and I told him that.
“As long as you two see me for who I trust am, I don’t need the entire pack to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with me,” He smiled but his gaze was intense.
“And then there are the Beta and Gamma’s office, their apartments are a floor up, and then my office and personal meeting rooms, most business is conducted up there.”
“This place is ma*s*sive,” I couldn’t imagine the meeting that was held in those huge rooms, I would fit a hundred people.
“I’ll show you my office. Do you want to see it?” He kneeled to Emmett’s level, “It has the best view of the city.”
“Yes yes yes,” Emmett nodded vigorously.
Caspien tensed when we got to his office floor.
“f**k,” Caspien muttered, “Sorry,” He apologized to Emmett, who looked at him with wide eyes and giggled.
Caspian eyes clouded over, and he stopped walking. The elevator opened a moment later, and Holden appeared.
“Let’s go do something fun,” He said to Emmett, “I heard a rumor that there are pancakes on my floor.”
Caspien eyed him, and I eyed Caspien; what was going on?
“Nora, Griffen’s mate,” Holden explained, “She making pancakes, don’t worry, I’m not,”
“Mama, can I?”
“Sure?” It came out more of a question, but I trusted Caspien.
Emmett waved to us as he was ushered back into the elevator, Holden fixing Caspien with a glare.
I turned to him when the doors closed, I didn’t think I should be worried, but I had no idea what he was thinking.
“My parents are here,” He looked at me apologetically.
“Your parents?”
“I didn’t just poof into thin air, even though most people think that’s the case,” His face was set, his jaw hard.
“I can take you back to my apartment; I just thought that might be a lot, especially with Emmett.” He looked worried.
I studied him, waiting for him to go on.
“I just got you here – by accident,” He admitted, “But I don’t want to scare you off; I don’t want to force you into anything that you’re not ready for. Things are really good. They’re good, right?”
“They are,” I admitted, “Let’s go meet your parents,”
He visibly relaxed, smiling at me, but I could tell he wasn’t sure.
He opened his mouth to say something, but his office door opened. A tall thin woman in a cream perfectly pressed dress walked out. Her black hair, the same as Caspiens, pulled back into some intricate bun I didn’t have a word for with a long clip holding it in place.
She looked like a damn first lady, no, a president.
She turned towards us, tilting her head, raising a thin eyebrow. She walked towards us with dancer-like grace.
Well, f*uc*k me. I almost looked down at myself; my makeshift suit dress felt very childish in this woman’s presence.
“Caspien darling,” She reached out to him, and he lowered his head so she could place a kiss on his cheek.
She pulled back her face stern, and I swallowed, “Do you want to explain why you kept your mate from us?”