Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse

Ariella

I dragged Noah by the hood of his jacket and into the garden as I went through the kitchen, where he was happily helping my mother with her latest cake order.

“Hey!” he whined.

“We’re sparring,” I declared and readied myself into a fighting stance.

“Really? I haven’t even got my training gear on me,” he complained.

I raised my eyebrow and gave him a ’seriously’ look.

After a few seconds, he gave in, just like I knew he would.

“Seems like someone’s afraid to get their ass handed to them again,” I riled as he removed his jacket and then his T-shirt, revealing his well-kept abs.

“You just wanted to see me half naked,” he winked, then got into position.

“In your dreams, Reed,” was the last thing I said before making the first move.

Just as my fist was about to connect with his face, he blocked it with his forearm and used his other arm to swing for my stomach. I dodged just in time, then swiftly uppercut him in the jaw. He stumbled but got back into position reasonably quickly.

After a few rounds, we decided to call it a night.

“Have you called Caroline? She was hysterical after what happened. Even Angus struggled to calm her down,” he sniggered as we walked back into the house.

Crap, I didn’t even think. Caroline would be worried sick about me. “I’ll text her,” I said and pulled out my phone. Thankfully, Noah had picked up my clutch and shoes just before he left the packhouse, so I had all my belongings with me.

“I still can’t believe you’re going to be my Luna.

“And the fact that you’re a submissive is equally surprising,” he grinned.

I scowled. As I was about to make a comeback, my phone began to ring.

“Hey…” I began but was immediately interrupted by a frantic Caroline.

“Are you ok? Where are you? Ariella, you scared the living shit out of me!” Caroline was mad. She never swore. She worked as a primary school teacher, for crying out loud!

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I’m at my parent’s house…”

“I’m coming over,” was all she said before she hung up.

I made my way to my bedroom whilst Noah used the spare room to freshen up. I removed my clothes until I was in my underwear and was about to turn on the shower when I spotted my mark in my peripheral vision.

As I gazed at my mark, I felt an overwhelming urge to trace the intricate design with my fingertips. The symbol, a constant reminder of my submission to Logan, evoked a tumultuous mix of emotions. Despite my reluctance to accept my new fate, I couldn’t help but marvel at the artistry of the mark.

Surprisingly, I felt no pain, no discomfort; it was almost as if the symbol had always been part of me. I secretly admired the design, though I would never dare vocalise such thoughts. The bold, confident lines of the mark seemed to flicker like flames, casting an intense, almost hypnotic spell.

As I twisted the faucet, the memory of Logan invaded my thoughts. The last time I found myself in a bathroom, he was there with me. I couldn’t help but feel perplexed; I was inexplicably drawn to a man who was essentially a stranger. While I understood that the mate bond played a significant role in my emotions, I had never experienced such intense feelings for anyone before. The idea of sex had never appealed to me, and yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about him...

The way my pussy pulsed, the heated tension in my nipples, the way my stomach stirred as though hundreds of butterflies were released at once and a body that went weak whenever he touched me. The addictive sparks that coursed through me whenever he touched me…

I was torn from my thoughts as Caroline came bursting through the door. She didn’t hesitate to run straight for me and embraced me.

“You scared me to death Ariella. What the heck happened?” she asked, pulling away from me.

I didn’t care that I was half-naked. Caroline and I changed in front of each other all the time, so it never phased me.

I filled her in on the night. To say she was shocked was an understatement, but she was also happy for me, glad I had found my mate.

“Your erm… birthday present kind of got ruined,” I said nervously.

“I don’t care!” she scoffed, “It’s a bit of fabric.”

When Caroline looked into the mirror behind me, her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

“Is that your mark?!” she asked as she swivelled me around.

“It’s… stunning. It’s the biggest mark I have ever seen,” Caroline declared as she studied my back. “They say the bigger the mark, the stronger the bond,” she smiled.

I rolled my eyes, “That’s something you tell your pups. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a little… bigger than most.” Part of me thought the moon goddess did it on purpose. I had always harboured a deep-seated aversion towards being a submissive, and yet, the deity had seen fit to bestow upon me an emblem of the highest magnitude.

Caroline placed her overnight bag on my bed before heading to the kitchen to help prepare for dinner. My parents loved her as though she was a second daughter. Sometimes, I think they liked her more than me.

After my shower, I changed into a comfortable jumper and cosy pants, then slipped on my woolly socks. Food engulfed my senses, so I scurried down the stairs. My stomach growled at me for neglecting it all day.

My mother made her famous homemade Tater Tots Casserole. To say it was delicious was an understatement.

After we had all been sated, Noah left for work. He was a trainer at the pack’s gym and had a late shift tonight.

Caroline was in my room, preparing the girl’s gossip night she had planned, whilst my mother was finalising some details over the phone with a very demanding customer.

I picked up the last few plates on the table and placed them in the dishwasher, where my father rinsed a few dishes.

“What is it like to be a sub,” I asked without even registering I spoke out loud.

My father stopped what he was doing and faced me with a warm smile.

“Some mates take the dominant role a step further and completely dominate their mate. There will always be love and the need to protect as they think a submissive is incapable of protecting themselves, although some take it too far with or without meaning to,” I frowned.

“However,” he continued, “most times, the dominants only show their dominance when their mate is threatened or, specifically, in the bedroom,” he smiled.

“Ew!” I cringed, “Too much Dad!” I awkwardly laughed.

“Despite this, most mates treat each other as equals. Yes, the dominants may be a little more… dominating at times, but they mostly only express it in situations where there’s a threat. Most of the time, you’re their other half, their equal, just like me and your mother.

“Think of your submission mark as a symbol of your bond, something unique only you share. The mark links you together, binds you as one, and that is something a dominant can never have,” he bumped his shoulder with mine and flashed me a comforting smile.

I faintly laughed, then embraced my father in a tight hug.

“I’m going to miss you and Mum,” I spoke into his shoulder. I felt my eyes begin to water.

“We aren’t too far from the pack house; we’ll always be nearby. Besides, I think you’ll be more occupied with your mate in your honeymoon stage,” he chuckled.

“Ew Dad!” I said as I leaned back, “Again with your ’no filter’,” I squealed.

Caroline called for me. As I walked towards my bedroom, my father’s words echoed in the back of my mind, ’You’re their other half, their equal… the mark links you together, binds you as one… something a dominant can never have.’

It put me a little at ease.

Then I thought of the bedroom comment. I thought back to the kiss, how Logan took control and how I became putty in his hands from a single touch. I suddenly felt flustered. My palms grew sweaty just thinking about what it would be like to be with him... like that.

Caroline had turned my bed into some sort of snack display; she had all my favourites laid out on the bed and Netflix loaded up on the TV.

I told her everything. All the little details, including the conversation about the mating ceremony: she told me it was expected to have one so soon. Caroline was one of the few who waited to complete the mating bond after the mating ceremony. She described it as magical, an otherworldly experience.

Her exact words.

The morning came quickly. I packed my bags with the help of Caroline and made my way down the stairs to where Aleksi was patiently waiting. I could have sworn he hadn’t moved the entire night. He didn’t even look tired.

Did he sleep standing? Why would that not surprise me?

Aleksi placed my bags into the car as I said goodbye to my parents and Caroline. My brothers also arrived in the morning to send me off.

The journey was just as quiet as last time. I arrived at the pack house, which was considerably quiet compared to what I had expected. But then again, only the Alpha, Luna, Beta and Zeta lived in the pack house, along with their mates. The pack house was typically only used for special occasions or pack business.

I walked up the steps. Aleksi trailed behind me with my luggage. The second I stepped through the door, my head hit something solid. I was about to curse until I saw who it was…

My mate.

I was about to walk up the stairs when his hand possessively gripped my arm. My back was thrown against the wall. I lost my breath for a second due to the impact. I tried to shove him back, but he leaned his body into me and buried his face in the crook of my neck.

“Leave,” Logan growled. I was confused until I saw Aleksi leave my bags on the floor and silently exit the pack house.

“Logan!” I shouted, frustrated.

My response was a deep growl, one that told me he was on the verge of releasing his wolf. There was no way I was getting away from him. He was too damn strong. Besides, I would rather not piss off an already agitated Alpha wolf.

He was taking deep breaths, inhaling my scent. His nose trailed up my neck until he reached my ear, causing my spine to shiver and my eyes to flutter closed. I heard one last growl before he reached down and threw me over his shoulder.

“What the heck do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled, pointlessly punching his back, which felt as though I was hitting solid steel. But what pissed me off even more was the stinging sensation which spread across my ass cheeks right after.

The asshole spanked me!

“Keep that mouth of yours going, and there will be more where that came from,” he stated sternly.

I mumbled the words, “asshole,” in which I received another spank across my backside.

“Ow!” I screeched.

Before I knew it, we were back in his bedroom. I never got a good look at it before, but it seemed different from what I expected.

The walls were painted in a soft shade of grey. However, what caught my attention was the crimson-red feature wall that stood out against the muted tones of the rest of the room. His queen-sized bed was positioned at the centre of the feature wall, covered with smooth, black silk sheets that perfectly matched the curtains. The floor was made of grey oak, and the white fur rug that covered almost the entire floor was incredibly soft.

There were three doors in the room. One I knew was the bathroom, while the other was his wardrobe.

There was a red loveseat tucked away in one corner of the room and a black marble coffee table in front of it, adding an elegant touch. The few black leather seats surrounding the coffee table looked inviting; I could see myself getting lost in a good book in that corner.

The room’s colour scheme definitely complemented my personal taste.

I was thrown onto something soft and smooth only to see him walk towards the door and lock it from the inside.

I didn’t know what to say as I was, again, thrown over his shoulder and taken into the bathroom.

“I can walk, you know,” I scowled.

I was lowered onto my feet a little too quickly. I almost lost my balance. Logan glared at me, his eyes light grey, implying his wolf was very close to taking over.

Why was he so angry?

“Logan, what…” I began but stopped as he grabbed the bottom of my jumper and pulled it over my head, then onto the floor. I was stunned. I felt my body tingle in excitement, and my stomach flutter at the thought of Logan undressing me. My wolf was loving this… a little too much.

He went to go for my jeans when I held his hands, stopping his venture.

“No Logan, what the heck are you doing?” I asserted.

He peered up at me through hooded eyes, his jaw tense to the point I thought he would chip a tooth.

Instead of answering me, he slung me back over his shoulder, but this time my ass was against his peck as he began removing my shoes and then my jeans.

“Logan!” I shouted again, to which he growled and placed me back on my feet. I was now standing, half-naked. I didn’t feel uncomfortable as his eyes roamed over my body, absorbing every inch of me. His intense gaze was interrupted when I snapped my fingers before his face.

“I can smell unmated males on you,” he snarled.

I was confused about what he meant, then realised he must have meant my brothers and Noah. Surely he could tell my brothers were family… right?

He picked me up by my waist and placed me in front of the showerhead before turning on the water. It thrashed my skin and warmed up parts of me that were cold due to the crisp air. He began washing me with the identical citrus and tropical conditioner I came across yesterday.

I was about to protest until his hands started to massage my scalp. My mouth hung open as he thoroughly kneaded my hair. This was separate from the current lethal look he kept on shooting my way. I leaned into his touch, getting him soaked in the process.

But the second he finished, the manhandling continued…