MoboNovel Lite
Chapter 1_ The New Bride Candidate
Damon entered his study and looked grumpily at the stack of documents that were waiting for him to sign.
Why is the Alpha of the largest pack in North America forced to do this office work?
As a child, when he imagined his future, Damon saw himself as a mighty warrior, standing victoriously on the pile of his enemies while his allies and pack members worshiped him. This wood-paneled office and leather furniture are a far cry from it. It’s suffocating.
Damon plopped on his chair and glared at the documents, wishing that he could make them disappear (preferably). Of course, it didn’t work.
He pushed documents to the side and decided to check his email first.
Damon’s expression darkened when he saw an email from Elder Parker with the subject: “Consider Marcy Redmayne as your Luna”.
Another Elder is persistent in getting Damon together with a woman, all wrapped in a story of how an Alpha needs his Luna for the pack to prosper, but Damon and his pack are doing just fine.
Damon deleted the email without reading it, just as he did with the previous twenty that had the same subject.
Damon pinched the roof of his nose as familiar anger swelled inside him. He is irritated that these people are trying to manipulate him. Why don’t they give up? He is no one’s puppet!
Last night, Elder Parker called and tried to convince Damon to see this woman, the perfect Luna, as he had described her. Damon congratulated himself for managing to stay cool and not explode in rage, but he was not unaffected.
After that call, Damon took the car and drove to a bar about forty minutes away, where he found two fine women to keep him company and help him release steam.
That’s why all these documents are waiting for him. He was supposed to deal with this work last night.
‘Right. Documents…’, Damon grumbled internally and resigned himself to his fate while reaching for the folder that was at the top of the stack.
In the bedroom on the second floor of the packhouse…
“Do you need to leave?” Maya asked Caden in a whiny voice while moving the comforter to expose her left leg, tempting him to stay longer.
Maya knew that Caden was late for work, and even though this was their third year of living together, every morning was a struggle to separate.
While gazing at Maya’s seductive smile, Caden clearly sensed her desire for him, just as she felt his.
Mates.
Caden’s wolf was clawing at him to pounce on the woman both of them adore and make her scream in ecstasy, but Caden reminded himself that there are things he needs to do.
Caden groaned in frustration while buttoning up his jeans.
Leaving Maya is always difficult, but the sight of her delicious skin is upgrading the difficulty level to: mission impossible.
“I must go, baby. Your man is a Beta. Duty calls.”, Caden said in a husky voice that made her smile foolishly.
Caden leaned over Maya and gave her a long, lingering kiss.
He breathed heavily while inching away, and Maya bit her lower lip temptingly in her last-ditch effort to keep him for another round of carnal pleasures, but Caden grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it over his head.
He winked playfully before leaving the room with, “Keep those thoughts for tonight, sugarplum. I promise to make it up to you.”
“I’m counting on it!” Maya shouted after him.
Caden didn’t tell Maya that the ‘duty’ that called him is another marriage request for the Alpha of their pack.
This time, the prospective bride is Marcy Redmayne, the daughter of the Alpha of the Red Moon pack.
Telling a man that a woman is interested in marriage might seem like a small thing, but to Caden, this is more stressful than facing an attack from rogues where they are heavily outnumbered.
First, a little background.
Werewolves can sense their mate after their eighteenth birthday, and within the next few years, most of them are mated.
Of course, there are exceptions, and one of them is Alpha Damon, a twenty-seven-year-old Adonis with a full head of raven black hair and blue enigmatic eyes to match his unpredictable personality.
Even straight guys think that Damon is hot.
Damon’s relationship status: not mated, not married, not taken, and not interested in anything beyond the pleasures of the flesh.
One might think how that’s the description of a despicable guy everyone would avoid, yet the she-wolves are crazy about him, each thinking that she is THE one to thaw his icy heart and claim the position of the Luna in the Dark Howlers pack, the largest pack in North America.
Caden knows that Damon is not an asshole. After all, they grew up together.
They trained together, studied, and competed in everything. When Damon became an Alpha, Caden supported him unconditionally, and they became the youngest Alpha-Beta pair among all the packs in the history of werewolves. Badass.
Damon took over the Dark Howlers pack at the age of seventeen, after his parents died in an ambush set up by rogues. At that time, the Dark Howlers pack was not the largest in North America, but its influence was not to be underestimated.
When he was seventeen years old, Damon was the best warrior in their generation and great in academics, but he found himself unprepared for the role of a leader that a big pack needed. On top of it all, some Alphas and Elders started pressuring Damon into handing over his power and territory.
Caden stood by Damon’s side and helped him to the best of his abilities, and to everyone’s surprise, instead of succumbing under pressure and allowing the pack to crumble, Damon showed skill, determination, and strategy that not only maintained the Dark Howler’s pack power but also strengthened and expanded it.
In the last ten years, Damon experienced numerous schemes that had the goal of using him. People approached him as friends, enemies, allies, and anything in between, with an agenda to swindle him. Some were more successful than others.
Those bitter experiences formed the man he is today: righteous, strong-willed, unyielding, controlling, unforgiving, and completely focused on the prosperity of the Dark Howlers pack.
Saying that Damon is the most eligible bachelor is an understatement. Women are throwing themselves at him and screaming that they want to have his babies.
Damon never allowed any she-wolf to label herself as his girlfriend, and wife (aka Luna) was out of the question, but that didn’t discourage ambitious wolves with some standing from trying to matchmake Damon with their daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, or any other she-wolf that is of marriageable age.
One Alpha from the pack in the South of Canada even sneaked his wife into Damon’s bed.
Unfortunately for them, Damon is not moved by an endless stream of potential brides coming his way. Actually, with every next woman who is throwing herself at him, Damon is erecting more walls that make him emotionally unavailable.
Damon has nothing against bedding a woman, but giving her a title because of their relationship is a different thing.
Damon is disgusted by people who latch onto him for power, and that is exactly where these brides are classified.
Alas, Caden is about to pressure Damon to meet another of those leeches. Caden hates it, but as a Beta, it’s part of his work because Damon is avoiding (or refusing) Elder Parker, and things are getting heated.
Caden reached the study and knocked twice before opening the door.
“Why did you shut down the mind link?” Caden asked Damon who was behind the large executive desk that had several stacks of documents on it.
He is a hard-working Alpha; no one can deny that.
“Good morning to you too…”, Damon said dryly before responding, “I didn’t. I only shut YOU out.”
Caden clicked his tongue irritably.
No one in the pack dares to act so freely in front of Damon, but Caden and Damon are childhood friends.
Of course, Caden will never show anything other than respect when others are present because Damon deserves respect, even though sometimes Caden wants to start a brawl.
Damon’s lips lifted into a mocking grin. “Did your duties get in the way of your time with Maya?”
“Why ask if you know?” Caden was irritated that Damon was not looking at him. “I take my role as Beta seriously, and I don’t skim on work, but there are things that could be avoided if you stop pushing unnecessary burden my way. Every minute of my existence is for Maya. Once you find your mate, you will understand.”
Damon raised his gaze from the document he was holding, and he frowned at Caden. “I don’t need a woman in my life to obstruct me. A girlfriend is a nuisance, a wife would be a problem, and a mate would be a disaster.”
Caden rolled his eyes. ‘Damon is such a drama queen.’
Many she-wolves are eyeing to be Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, and despite Damon’s killer looks, those women don’t care who the Alpha is, as long as they can climb that coveted position. Because of this, Caden understands Damon’s aversion toward officially accepting a woman as his partner.
However, a werewolf can’t pick his mate.
Old Shamans tell stories of how the Moon Goddess creates werewolves and navigates their destiny so that every experience until one meets their mate is molding them into the perfect soulmate. When mates meet, they recognize each other, and the bond is formed immediately as they are halves of a wonderful whole.
But for a stubborn, unmated male like Damon, talking about that divine bond is like throwing pearls in front of a swine.
Caden waved at Damon, indicating he drop the topic. “Enough with useless talk. I’m here for important business.”
“If the important business is about the repeated emails that Elder Parker sent, that’s the reason why I shut you down.”, Damon said casually, like he was discussing the weather.
Caden felt rage and dejection swelling inside him. Damon did it on purpose! Somehow, Caden was not surprised by it.
“We are the biggest pack, and you can win against anyone in a one-on-one fight, but their influence is undeniable. If they unite to pressure us, we won’t be able to resist. You can’t avoid Elders, Damon.”
“Watch me.”, Damon spat.
Chapter 2_ The New Bride Candidate (cont.)
Caden rubbed his forehead forcefully while looking at the stubborn Alpha in front of him.
He knew that Damon will resist, but this time he seems to be more determined than ever.
The truth is that Caden handled numerous emails from Elders who are trying to matchmake Damon with his next bride.
Elder Parker is unusually persistent in demanding that Damon meets Marcy (aka the bride candidate) in person.
As much as one Elder doesn’t pose much of a threat, Damon already offended quite a bit of them. If not for Elders’ public image of benevolent leaders, Caden is confident that Elders would blacklist Damon and smear his reputation while pulling the strings for other packs to unite in a war against the Dark Howlers pack.
Both Damon and Caden hate dealing with Elders who are a bunch of arrogant ex-Alphas, eager to prove that they still have the power. The whole council of Elders is a big mass of testosterone and over-inflated egos, ready to implode at the slightest provocation, and the scariest thing is that they have connections and the power to sway people.
The Dark Howlers are the biggest pack and they have capable warriors, but if several packs join forces, they would be at a disadvantage.
“It’s more than three months since you met your last bride. They are impatient.”, Caden continued persuading Damon. “The rumor is that if Elder Parker is successful and Marcy becomes your Luna, he will gain enough support to be the next head of the Council. Will you allow him to climb over your back? Why don’t you show that you are no one’s pawn?”
“That’s what I’m doing by ignoring him.”, Damon responded.
“They are taking your silence as a sign of fear. You need to step into the light and take charge.”
“Are you trying to manipulate me?”, Damon asked in a dangerously low voice.
“No.”, Caden lied with a straight face. “As your Beta, I’m reminding you of the facts. Why don’t you handle this girl and shut them up? Or would you rather avoid that slight inconvenience of bedding a woman and risk causing trouble for the pack?”
Damon cocked his eyebrow and pursed his lips. “You are saying that I put that snobby woman in her place?”
Snobby? Caden was not sure about Marcy’s character, but if she is willing to accept an arranged marriage to a man she never met, she is probably not the best example of a she-wolf who is fit to be Luna.
Luna needs to fight for what she believes is right, and not allow others to use her. How can Marcy be a good Luna and take care of the pack if she can’t take care of herself? No matter what her background is, a real Luna would approach Damon personally and not use connections to win him over.
In this case, it’s obvious that Marcy’s father and Elder Parker are pulling the strings.
If the marriage with Marcy goes through, Marcy’s father (aka Alpha Edward) will also gain benefits even if Damon ignores him because it will be undeniable that they are connected via marriage, and that will improve Alpha Edward’s standing. In addition to that, Alpha Edward probably made a deal with Elder Parker who recommended Marcy as the perfect Luna for the Dark Howlers pack.
It’s a whole web of leeches, waiting for Damon to take the bait and Damon is perfectly aware of that.
Damon did this many times before. He would visit the prospective bride, explore her thoroughly and then announce that a cheap slut can’t be his Luna.
Other than insulting that woman, her father (aka the ambitious person), and their pack, that’s also a setback for the Elder who was matchmaking Damon in that specific case.
No matter how much Damon offended any of them, they can’t publicly admonish Damon because (officially) he came to meet his future bride and he found her lacking.
Caden saw that Damon is considering it, and he thought to give him a push in the right direction.
“She is not just any woman. Did you see the photo? Tall, blonde, a looker, and she has quite the assets…”, Caden cupped his palms in front of his chest, gesturing that Marcy has bountiful breasts.
Damon pressed his lips into a line and typed on his keyboard. His eyes skimmed over the content, and he frowned.
‘What do you think?’, Damon mentally asked his wolf.
‘She looks like trouble.’, his wolf responded.
Damon groaned in frustration. ‘If I go, it’s trouble. If I ignore this summon, it’s trouble. Which trouble should I pick?’
‘Stop acting like it’s the first time. Why are you asking me when you know the answer?’
‘Because you are my voice of reason.’, Damon responded.
‘Good that you know. But in this case, you figured it out without me. I’m aware that you don’t like dancing with snakes, but as a good Alpha, you should avoid direct confrontation when possible and use a softer approach. This bride-business aside, you might find out something useful while staying in their packhouse. They won’t dare act against you if you announce your location. Now let me sleep and don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency…’
Damon felt his wolf slipping away as he retracted at the back of his mind.
Damon is unique. Other werewolves can sense their wolf and exchange emotions. They can feel when their wolf is restless, angry, or happy, while Damon can actually hold a conversation. No one knows about this, other than Damon and his wolf.
Damon’s wolf is one of the key contributors to Damon becoming and staying the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack when he was only seventeen years old.
His wolf is not very chatty, but he gives the right advice whenever Damon needs it, and Damon is aware that his wolf holds the wisdom of many lifetimes.
Damon sensed his wolf, just like any other werewolf when he was in his early teens. And on the night when his parents perished, his wolf spoke to him for the first time.
‘Sorry, kid…’, his wolf said and Damon jolted out of his bed in the middle of the night.
“What the…?”, Damon mumbled while looking around in search of the source of that sound.
‘I’m in your head. Your father asked me to take care of you.’
Damon was totally confused. “What? How? Who are you?”
‘I’m something that your kind calls the wisdom of the Alpha, and I can manifest myself through your wolf. I served your grandfather, your father, and now I serve you.’
“Why did you stop serving my father?”
‘I’m sorry, kid… he and your mother are gone…’
This was a huge emotional shock for Damon that forced him to step into adulthood abruptly.
Since then, Damon relies on his wolf to keep him in check.
Not every Alpha can talk to his wolf, and his wolf didn’t have answers if he is the only one, but he advised Damon to keep this a secret.
Back to the present…
“It says that she is untouched.”, Damon said while gesturing toward the screen of his computer. “You know I like them experienced. And as much as she is fine-looking, it’s not worth a full day traveling. I can have a dozen of such women within half an hour drive or without moving from this chair.”
Caden forced a smile while trying to conceal his irritation.
In Damon’s words: virgins need to be courted with flowers and chocolates and sweet words, and after he is done with them, they become clingy.
Damon doesn’t have the time to waste on such nonsense. Intimacy for him doesn’t go beyond pleasures of the flesh. That’s as far as any woman reached him.
“What’s the worst that can happen?”, Caden continued persuading Damon. “You get to taste a new piece of meat, and when your fun is over, you announce that she is not good enough to be your Luna. Marcy may be untouched on paper, but my sources say that’s not completely true. I will watch your back, while Maya will collect dirt on the girl so you can create a believable story. We know the drill. We get in and out and are back in three-to-four days, max, and we get to shut down Elders for another couple of months.”
Damon’s jaw twitched as he grit his teeth.
“Fine. We leave in…”, Damon paused and glanced at the calendar. “Five days.”
Caden released the breath he was holding. “I will get everything in order.”
Caden left the study feeling victorious. Maya loves traveling and when they accompany Damon on his visit to the bride, Maya and Caden roleplay as spies on a secret mission that ends up with a steamy session between the sheets. Just thinking about it makes him excited.
Chapter 3_ Marcy Redmayne
~ Paris, France ~
Marcy Redmayne is the princess of the Red Moon pack, the second largest pack in North America.
Her father is Alpha Edward, and her mother is Luna Layla.
Since her younger brother is set to become the next Alpha of the Red Moon pack, Marcy got an opportunity to explore the world.
She spent the last ten years in Europe, starting with the United Kingdom, and after two years in Poland, this was Marcy’s third year in France.
Other than immersing herself in different cultures, Marcy is learning languages and attending schools.
Marcy finished college three months ago, and since her parents didn’t say anything at that time, Marcy assumed that she could stay in Europe, so she rented an apartment and that was a big deal because until then Marcy stayed in boarding schools. This small one-bedroom apartment gave her a sense of independence and she even started working part-time.
In the last ten years, Marcy didn’t visit home. She video chats with her mother once per week and they exchange emails.
Marcy is about halfway through her course on making macaroons, and she plans to go to Spain in a few months as her next adventure. This would be relevant if her parents didn’t call her unexpectedly to return home.
It was around midnight when Marcy drowsily picked up the call.
“I booked you a flight tomorrow morning.”, Marcy’s mother, Luna Layla said.
Marcy’s drowsiness was dispelled by this news. “Did anything happen? Is everyone OK?”
“Everyone is fine, but we want you home as soon as possible. Is there a reason for you to delay? Your flight is at 6 AM. The e-ticket is in your inbox.”
Marcy blinked while looking at the dates on the ticket, and then at the time. “Mother, you forgot the time difference. That’s only six hours from now.”
“Well, I guess you hurry packing.”
Marcy was dejected while thinking about what to put in her suitcase.
She was planning to meet with her friends in the morning for breakfast, and instead of that, she needs to pack and leave.
Her mother didn’t even say how long she needs to stay home. It’s not permanent, right? What if it is, and she can’t come back?
Some of her favorite clothes were in the laundry, and with the rush, she didn’t have time to say goodbye to her friends. What about her part-time job in the café?
Her lease on the apartment was valid for another three months, so Marcy decided to pack only some necessities, confident that she will return in the next three months.
Her parents were always domineering, just like any other Alpha and Luna, but this was extreme. What’s with the urgency?
What Marcy didn’t know was that as she was approaching graduation, her parents started discussing with Elder Parker how they can use Marcy in order to increase their power. After all, with her college degree, Marcy is more educated than most of the werewolves who don’t go beyond high school, and she is speaking multiple languages.
It was time for Marcy to contribute to the family and to her pack.
Alpha Edward was confident that his daughter will be obedient. She is raised for greatness, and there was nothing wrong with their plans; they are beneficial for Marcy as well.
…
~ The Red Moon pack ~
Marcy returned home to a modest welcome from her family.
Alpha Edward, Luna Layla, and her younger brother James were sitting in the luxuriously decorated living room, waiting for Marcy’s arrival.
There were pastries and a pitcher with lemonade on the table for refreshments.
‘Do I need to do this?’
Marcy jolted when her brother’s voice sounded in her head. After ten years away from the pack, she forgot about the mind link and quickly closed her mind so that others can’t hear her thoughts.
Luna Layla turned stiffly toward her son. “At least greet your sister.”
“Welcome home.”, James said with a forced smile. “Sorry, but my next class starts in two minutes, and if I’m late, I get extra work. We will catch up later.” James waved at Marcy and left the room in hurried steps.
James was only five years old when Marcy left, and they are practically strangers. James is now a fifteen years-old boy who is working hard in order to become the next Alpha of the Red Moon pack. Between lessons and training, James doesn’t have much free time.
Alpha Edward gave Marcy a tight hug and he held her shoulders while observing her flawless face with an approving smile.
He touched her blonde silky hair while saying, “You are a beauty, Marcy. I’m proud to be your father.”
Marcy felt her cheeks burning. It’s not common for her to hear praises from Alpha Edward. “Thank you, father.”
“Did you meet your mate?”
Marcy was surprised by this question. “Uhm… no.”
“Good. Good.” Alpha Edward’s smile widened. “I have things to do, so I will leave you to your mother.”
Luna Layla had the schedule ready. “Darling, you must be hungry. Are you jet lagging? We didn’t want to overwhelm you today. There will be a bigger welcome party tomorrow evening. For today, I scheduled us a full spa treatment and in the afternoon a few of my friends will come for tea. They know you as a little girl with freckles. I’m sure they will be surprised to see you…”
Marcy raised her hand, to stop her mother’s chatter. “I could eat. Can you send the food to my room?”
Luna Layla confirmed. “Shower, and the food will wait for you. You have one hour until we leave for the spa. No matter how tired you are from the trip, the massage will relax you and we can eat there as well.”
Marcy responded with a tight smile and went to her old room.
Everything was how she left it in the room that was dominated by pastel pink and purple colors. A queen size poster bed with a side cabinet, on the right was a desk with a chair, and two doors lead to bathroom and walk-in closet respectively.
A wall shelf next to her bed still had plushies that she collected as a child. Teddy bears mostly.
It all brought back memories, but Marcy didn’t have many warm and fuzzy feelings about them.
She was confused by the abrupt summon which came with urgency and now that her family welcomed her like this was planned for some time, Marcy felt uneasy.
Just as Luna Layla said, by the time Marcy got out of the bathroom, food was waiting for her on the bedside table. A sandwich, an apple, and a cup of tea.
Marcy plopped on the bed and chewed a sandwich absentmindedly while thinking about her current situation.
She left behind friends, an apartment with her private belongings, and a part-time job in a small café. She had a life there and she didn’t plan to return to the Red Moon pack for more than a visit.
There is nothing wrong with the Red Moon pack. It’s the second-largest pack in North America, and as the oldest child (and the only daughter) of Alpha and Luna, Marcy is the princess with access to all the luxuries she can imagine.
The packhouse is massive, and Marcy has her own suite on the third floor, everyone is sucking up to her, but this doesn’t compare to the vibrance of Europe.
What Marcy has in Europe and not here is… freedom.
In Europe, she could go when and where she wanted, with whom she wanted, and here she needs to follow a protocol as the princess of the Red Moon pack. For Marcy, this opulent packhouse is no more than a golden cage.
Marcy took a deep breath and told herself not to freak out. It’s a culture shock and she will get used to it. After all, considering all the money she has, Marcy can travel to Europe anytime, right?
Marcy consoled herself with one big positive. While on the territory of the Red Moon pack, she can shift into her wolf form anytime without worrying that someone will see her and call hunters or the zoo.
Marcy was spacing out with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in…”, Marcy called while wondering if her one hour passed already.
“Hello…”, a polished brunette said when her head peeked into Marcy’s room.
Marcy thought that she looks familiar, but she couldn’t put a name and a face together.
The brunette smiled helplessly. “It seems you forgot about me. I’m Nora, my father is Beta Raymond. Luna Layla told me to see if you need anything. I will join you for the spa outing.”
When Marcy heard that Nora is Beta’s daughter, she remembered a small girl with pigtails and freckles on her nose.
Nora grew into a tall brunette with a slender figure and curves in all the right places.
Marcy understood that she was looking at her new best friend.
This was another thing Marcy left behind in Europe, the freedom to pick her friends.
Marcy decided to focus on the positives. At least Nora is her age and not her mother’s tea companion.