16

~Lou Wilson~

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I had already made a decision.

For far too long I've acted like a lovesick bitch, only allowing my heart to be trampled on. While I can't deny that last night was the best night of my life, I can finally start protecting myself.

I can't be as weak as before. Yes, Arian didn't want me, but the moon goddess chose me to be the Luna of this pack and as a real Luna you don't mope.

I'm a strong person, I just have to stop letting my mate break me piece by piece. He can't get that close to me anymore, otherwise he'll really manage to break me for good.

It's time to build my own protective walls and just think about me.

Arian had his chance.

I put on the same leggings as yesterday and grabbed a new Arian t-shirt. I don't care that his smell was on it. He was an asshole and therefore nothing special.

As I descended the stairs, the whole house was quiet, almost as if no one was awake yet, although I could swear it was already noon.

Just when I really thought everyone was still asleep, children screamed loudly from the living room.

When I then turned the corner into the living room, I saw the old alpha as he ran after a little boy, maybe just 3 years old, and acted as if he was about to catch him. Whenever he ran towards him again, the little black-haired boy with the big blue eyes ran away screaming. He reminded me a lot of Arian. Certainly Arian looked just like him when he was a little kid.

A smile unconsciously crept around my lips as I watched this heartwarming scene in front of me.

"Good morning Lou, how did you sleep?" a voice behind me suddenly startled me. I turned to find Luna still in office, smiling warmly at me.

A Luna is always a Luna, even if the Alpha has passed his title on.

"Good," was the only thing I managed to get out. Actually, I slept terribly after Arian left me, but I didn't want to drag her into it. It was between Arian and me.

"That's nice, where's Arian? Is the slacker still asleep?” Luna Aurelia walked past me and bent down to kiss the little boy's hairline. “Good morning, Kane,” she murmured.

"Eh, no. He had to be up early." I scratched my head, not really knowing what to say. I hope she doesn't ask where he is because I couldn't answer that question myself.

The Luna just turned her head to me confused and then smiled at me again.

"You must be hungry, do you want me to make you something for breakfast?" she asked, being nice as she always was.

I quickly shook my head. I didn't want her to be in trouble because of me. After all, I can take care of myself. "No, it's okay."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her.", Arian's deep bass voice suddenly sounded behind me, which brought unpleasant memories with it.

"One hot fuck is all you can get from me, so don't ask for more because that's all I'll give you!" he said as he left his room and left me alone. Something I wish I could forget, because it hurt me terribly.

I turned to him. He gave me a smile while I just looked at him coldly. He didn't pay attention to my expression, but approached me and gently kissed my forehead.

Since I didn't want to make a scene in front of his parents, I just stood still and let him do it. But my jaw clenched a little as I refrained from doing anything about it.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for him to walk past me to greet his mom as well, then his dad and finally his little brother.

"Where are the others?" he asked his mother as he looked around the living area.

"Tyler is playing soccer outside with Jack and the rest of your lazy siblings are still in bed," Old Alpha replied to the question originally aimed at his wife.

Aurelia only commented with an eye roll and then winked at me. I have no idea what that means now.

Arian finally turned back to me and walked towards me.

"Let's go. It's lunchtime in the packhouse." He said before putting his hand on my lower back and leading me out of the house.

His touch burned, even though the fabric of my shirt prevented direct skin contact. I would so much like to push him away from me, because this touch was anything but nice right now.

As soon as the front door was closed behind us, I took a step away from him. Finally. Everything inside me has become so cramped that I've only been waiting for this.

"Don't ever touch me again!" I hissed at him and then walked on without him.

"Wait!", Arian called after him and shortly afterwards grabbed my hand, which I pulled away from him just as quickly as if I had burned myself on him.

Arian looked confused at my hand and then at my face.

"Listen Lou, I have to apologize for everything I ever-..."

"Stop, I don't want to hear your stupid excuses anymore. I'm sick of you! It was a mistake coming here, I get it, so do as you normally would and continue to ignore me. It's best for both of us." With that, I turned my back on him and continued walking somewhere, since I didn't even know my way around here.

Luckily Arian didn't follow me any longer, which means that what he wanted to say can't have been that important.

I didn't want to hear the hurtful words he said to me this time. I was far too offended by him. My protective walls were only freshly built and could be brought down quickly.

I just had to avoid him now. I didn't have any other plan at the moment.

And so I walked on without turning to face him.

Eventually I stopped in front of one of these big buildings here. I have no idea what drew me in, but once I realized what it was I went inside. It was the pack hospital. In my old pack I had often thought about becoming a nurse. This is how I could help my pack without being a warrior. Even though the number of female warriors has increased in recent years, I preferred to have a secure job where I didn't actively put myself in danger all the time. In addition, female wolves were weaker and smaller and thus at a great disadvantage in a fight, so that only the best wolves became warriors.

Definitely not for me.

Instead I stood at the reception and asked for the pack doctor.

"Dr. Malcolm's office is on the second floor, next to the elevator down the hall on the left, the last door. If he's not there, he's probably with one of his patients, so be patient." said the nice receptionist, pointing to an elevator.

"Thanks," I said, then made my way to said place. It really wasn't hard to find.

When I stood in front of the door and knocked, nobody moved. So the pack doctor was with a patient. Hopefully it won't be too long before he's back.

"Are you looking for someone?" a voice behind me suddenly startled me.

As I turned around, I met warm brown eyes set in a young man's face. He was maybe a little younger than Arian.

"Yes II...um...I'm looking for Dr. Malcolm." I suddenly stuttered. The young man in front of me had an incredibly sexy smile on his face and his short blond hair was styled back.

"Well then you're in luck because that's me." He smirked arrogantly. "I'm Dr. Linus Malcolm, nice to meet you."

I almost choked on my old spit, how old was it please? There was no way he could be the pack doctor.

"And what is your name, fair maiden?"

"Lou," I managed shyly. I have to admit that he lived up to that rumor that doctors are hot. While he wasn't Arian and was only a little taller than myself, he was still extremely handsome .

"What a cute name, Lou..." he whispered. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Are you pretending to be me again, boy?" An elderly gentleman appeared next to us, so that Linus backed away, rolling his eyes. The elderly gentleman was probably around 70 years old and should therefore actually be retired.

"Not true, grandfather. She has after Dr. Malcolm, she didn't say which one..." Linus grinned superiorly at his grandfather, who now turned to me.

"I'm sorry about my grandson. I am the pack doctor Dr. malcolm Come on in." He reached past me and opened the door to his office, which I stepped gratefully into.

"See you, Lou." I heard Linus' hoarse voice before Dr. Malcolm closed the door, blocking out all noise from the hallway.

He gave me a warm smile, as did everyone else, and then walked around his desk.

"If he knew who you were, he certainly wouldn't flirt with you like that. But don't worry, Linus is currently flirting with all the females in the pack. He hasn't found his mate yet and it doesn't bother him right now," he explained to his grandson.

But that wasn't what made me stop.

"Who am I?" I asked confused. How was he supposed to know who I am? Yes, I was in the forest last night and that's why Arian made a fool of himself, but that doesn't have to mean anything.

"You are Luna, am I right? You smell like him and with the way the Alpha was distracted by you yesterday, it just has to be put two and two together," he said.

"Caught," I admitted. Denial would certainly do no good with him. He seemed to be a wise man.

"By the moon goddess, I should keep my grandson away from you if I don't want Alpha Arian to behead him anytime soon." The old man laughed. but he'd rather remain a warrior doctor, so I have to train my grandson to be one. You know, my son-..."

I could tell he was one of those people who liked to tell stories so I interrupted him, although that might have been rude, but after all there was a reason I was here and he probably didn't have forever either.

"I'd like to be a nurse." I blurted out my request so that the pack doctor looked up in surprise.