The pack house was extremely busy when Indianna arrived after school. It was her first time arriving by herself, and she was extremely anxious.
She wanted Greyson by her side.
She wanted him next to her so she knew she was safe and not alone.
Indianna took a deep breath and walked across the path leading up to the front door. It was wide open, as it usually was when so many people were coming and going throughout the evening.
She hoped to go unnoticed as she entered the large house, but being the Luna of the pack came with attention.
Indianna forced a smile and muttered a few hellos to pack members who approached her. They were only being friendly, but she hated it.
"Indianna!"
Indianna looked towards the kitchen when she heard a familiar voice and spotted Laura smiling at her through the doorway.
"Come!" Laura said happily. "Help me bake."
Indianna nodded and walked into the kitchen. She dropped her bag by the door and made her way over to Laura.
"Hi," Indianna said with a smile.
"You looked a bit overwhelmed, honey," Laura said and welcomed Indianna into a motherly hug. "I thought I'd save you, and we can bake some cookies. I'd like to get to know you better, too."
"Thank you," Indianna nodded, but then frowned. "Although I'm not a good conversationalist."
"Oh, I beg to differ," Laura grinned. "I've been told you're quite the character once people get to know you."
Indianna blushed and smiled sheepishly at Laura.
"Who told you that?"
"Who do you think?" Laura smirked and passed her a bowl. "Mix that, will you, please?"
"Sure."
Indianna nodded and started stirring the ingredients in the bowl. She glanced at Laura as she worked. Laura was beautiful. She didn't look a day over thirty and had such a kind, friendly aura surrounding her.
"So, Indie, what is it like being a werewolf?" Laura wondered.
Indianna frowned and chewed on her lip.
"I want to say it's strange, but it isn't."
Laura smiled. "It feels natural?"
Indianna nodded. "Like I was never human in the first place."
"You never were human," Laura shrugged. "Your wolf side was simply dormant. Now it isn't, and you are who you were meant to be."
"It is a little annoying, though," Indianna mumbled. "I have to pay attention to every little detail. I have to make sure I don't walk too fast, don't show too much strength and pretend I don't hear everything being said around me."
"That will get better with time. I remember Greyson struggling with that when he first shifted." Laura laughed at the memory. "It infuriated him so much."
"I couldn't imagine him not being able to do something. He always seems to know what to do," Indianna murmured. "I could never imagine him... helpless."
Laura smiled and nodded.
"He's an Alpha. It's rare that you'll ever see him helpless. Alphas are always meant to be strong. If they show weakness, it gives pack members a reason not to believe in them. Even if he isn't feeling strong, he'll put on a front. He'll always strive to be better than the best."
"Sounds like him," Indianna murmured and sighed. "Laura, I overheard something a while ago about how Alpha mates are different from usual mates. Do you know what that means?"
Laura added more ingredients to the bowl Indianna was mixing and nodded.
"The bond that Alphas and Lunas have is much stronger than the bond of a normal mated couple. Alphas and Lunas have a lot more stress in their lives. The pressure on them is constant, especially in higher-status packs.
"It's hard to lead, and I'm not going to sugar-coat it. It's normal for the stress to become too much. If normal mates experienced the amount of stress Alphas and Lunas are put under, they might turn on each other. The bond may not be strong enough to withstand it, and the stress and pressure could wear it down.
"A normal mate couple might crumble. However, Alphas and Lunas never will. Their bond is so much stronger that together they can get through anything. No matter how much hardship you face, Indianna, you and Greyson will find a way through it. Always. You have a bond stronger than that of any normal wolf."
"Jeez," Indianna murmured.
"You probably already know this, but Alphas are a lot more protective of their mates. Alphas are territorial by nature, and Greyson is going to be much more demanding and protective than other mates. It's just the way he is."
"Demanding?" Indianna murmured. "You can say that again."
"I've heard about your little... argument. I think it's great that you're punishing him. Alphas may be more controlling, but that doesn't mean they should get away with it. I know how tough it is to stay angry at your mate, but you've done it," Laura said with a smirk.
Indianna laughed before suddenly hugging Laura.
"Oh, dear, are you all right?" Laura wondered, rubbing Indianna's back.
"I'm fine," Indianna said softly. "I'm just glad there's someone I can talk to about this. You're the only person who knows how I feel. Thank you, Laura."
"Oh, Indie, I'm happy to help. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to. We're family, and family looks out for each other," Laura smiled.
"I am going to kill that little toerag!" Kirstie announced as she walked into the kitchen with a murderous look on her face.
Kirstie spotted her mother and Indianna and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry. Did I interrupt some quality bonding time?"
"No, it's fine," Indianna said, and Laura frowned.
"What's wrong, Kirstie?"
"Well, Mother..." Kirstie began, pacing up and down the kitchen. She swiped some cookie batter from the bowl Indianna had placed on the counter when she hugged Laura. "Little Miss Bitch can go and get herself killed by Rogue for all I care. I hate the little bitch, and someone better keep her away from me or I will tear her head off. I'll do it slowly and painfully, and her screams will be forever engraved in everyone's memory!"
"Kirstie, she can't have done anything that bad," Laura frowned, walking over to her daughter and rubbing her shoulder.
"I think you underestimated how much of a freaking nuisance she would be!" Kirstie exclaimed. "Actually, nuisance is a rather polite way to refer to the little cunt—"
"Kirstie!" Laura scolded. "Don't be so rude."
"She tried it on with Mac," Indianna said softly.
Both women heard her clearly, and by the look on Kirstie's face, Indianna knew she was right. There was no mistaking the fury in Kirstie's eyes. Indianna knew that nothing could create that kind of anger apart from your mate—or, in this case, someone flirting with your mate.
Kirstie's cheeks were tinted red, and she had an evil gleam in her eye.
Kimberly had no idea who she was provoking.
"The slut kissed him!" Kirstie yelled and threw her arms up. "First of all, she knew he wasn't single, and second, he's about a decade older than her! She's a child trying it on with my mate! I want blood!"
"Kirstie, you need to calm down," Laura said soothingly. "Your wolf is in overdrive. I know you're angry, and you have every right to be, but you need to calm down, hun."
Kirstie sighed and closed her eyes.
Indianna was shocked that Kimberly would do something so ridiculous. Kimberly was Indianna's age, and Mac was twenty-six. Indianna had no idea what was going through Kimberly's head.
The girl was mentally unstable.
"Kirstie, babe!" Mac called as he walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his angry mate. "I can feel your anger. It's giving me a headache," he mumbled and nuzzled Kirstie's neck. "Don't be so angry. You've got nothing to worry about."
"I know. I just hate her!" Kirstie growled.
Mac kissed her cheek.
"Calm down," he said softly. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kirstie whispered.
Indianna watched them with a hint of jealousy.
Seeing Kirstie and Mac together made Indianna want what they had.
Each other.
Love.
"He's in his room," Laura said quietly to Indianna. "I saw him walk upstairs. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. It's written all over your face. You want your mate."
"I also want to stay angry at him," Indianna mumbled.
Laura smiled sympathetically.
"Sometimes that isn't always possible when it comes to your mate."
"You can say that again."
"Go," Laura said softly and nudged Indianna towards the door. "Go and see him."
Indianna chewed on her lip and nodded. She picked up her bag and left the kitchen.
She made her way upstairs and stopped outside Greyson's door. She strained her ears and tried to hear him, but all she could hear was silence.
"Greyson?" she called and opened the door.
She walked into his empty room. It smelled like him, and just being in a room where he spent so much of his time made Indianna's skin buzz with tingles.
Indianna dropped her bag on the floor. The door shut behind her as she made her way further into the room.
"Grey—"
Indianna gasped when she was spun around and familiar lips crashed onto hers.
Sparks exploded at his touch, and Indianna immediately responded, wrapping her arms around his neck and tangling her fingers in his soft hair. She moaned softly and tugged on his hair before opening her mouth and allowing Greyson's tongue to deepen the kiss.
It was ridiculous how one person could make her feel so amazing.
"I am awesome," Greyson whispered when he broke the kiss.
He snaked his arms around Indianna's waist and pulled her closer.
"That's debatable," Indianna said and looked up into his mesmerising eyes. "I don't forgive you," she added with a sigh, "but I can't stay away from you."
Greyson had to bite his lip to stop himself from smirking.
"Okay," he nodded.
"I want you to try," Indianna said.
Greyson nodded. "I'll try to be more equal when it comes to you. I want you to try, too."
"Try what?"
"To be more confident. Interact more with the pack members. I promise I'll try with you if you try with them," Greyson said.
Indianna gulped, knowing that Greyson wouldn't really let her say no.
She was the Luna.
"Fine," she muttered.
Greyson grinned smugly and kissed Indianna on the lips.
"I have some work to do in my office," Greyson said. "I would say you could join me, but I have about a dozen phone calls to make, and you'll be very bored. Go back downstairs with my mum. It's nice to see you getting along."
Indianna frowned.
"How did you—"
Greyson smirked when Indianna stopped talking.
"I'm always in your head. I'm not always watching, but I need to know if you're safe. I'm on edge otherwise."
"It's so tiring mentally," Indianna said. "How are you constantly in my head? It takes effort for me to do it for a few minutes. I have to concentrate solely on you. I can't do anything else. How can you do it all the time?"
"I think about something bad happening to you because I couldn't be bothered to stay in your head," Greyson shrugged. "Then it doesn't seem so hard."
"Well, that makes me seem like an unconcerned mate," Indianna muttered.
Greyson smirked.
"I've got to go," he said. "I'll try to be quick."
"Take your time," Indianna shrugged.
"And waste time away from you? This is the first time you've actually been happy about me being around since the argument. I want to spend as much time with you as possible."
"I wouldn't say happy," Indianna shrugged, but Greyson knew she was teasing.
He chuckled softly and shook his head.
"See you in a bit."
He placed his hand on the back of Indianna's head and pulled her into his chest. He kissed her forehead and inhaled her sweet scent, thanking the Moon Goddess that she was no longer trying to argue with him.
"Sugar, I'm going to try. I promise you."