adjective ~ never existing before now

I used to enjoy waking up in the mornings.

The promise of a new day with new possibilities always lightened my step. I would be excited to go out and busy myself as the sun rose, whether it was chores or early morning walks. I loved both. I had a routine and I loved it.

But now, everything had changed.

These days I often woke after the sun had risen, my nights spent late either watching movies, hanging out with my friends or getting to know Phoenix better in the bedroom. But the biggest reason for being so late was the six-foot-five mass of warmth that continuously wrapped itself around me.

Phoenix was a cuddler.

Every morning I would find myself waking up at my usual time, only to snuggle back into Phoenix's warm arms, his lips spurting a load of nonsense about 'five more minutes'. Those five minutes would turn into a couple of hours, and we usually woke up the next time around eight.

Eventually, I stopped trying to escape his iron arms and enjoyed the mornings I spent with him. I had been waking up next to him now for a couple of months and I was used to the way things went. We had mated five weeks ago, not that I was keeping track, and I was slowly adapting to the mated life. At first, it was small things I had to get used to, like, Phoenix knowing my entire morning routine. He knew not to bother me whilst I was in the so-called 'Zombie Mode' and knew when he was safe to come out.

We spent most of our days together, merging our calendars if you will. As it turned out, I found settling into my role as Luna rather easy. I thrived off the routine. We would wake up only to be dragged back to bed, then wash and get ready for the day in sync before going and getting breakfast and eating it in our office. Yeah, our. I had my own swivel chair and the desk had been extended lengthways to squeeze me in. Charlie was so envious.

As for the whole witches stealing prisoners from across the globe thing... That was still in the works. Alexandar had search parties scouring the globe. His coronation was actually this weekend after weeks of planning and of course, I was nervous about attending. It was well known that I was a Lycan, and now I was a Luna, I felt like I would be scrutinised constantly.

Phoenix did nothing but assure me, but the only thing that perked my interest is that I would see Felicity again. Her parents were the Beta couple and had come and taken her home. There was a lot of tears shed from both parties. From what I have been told, her Mother gave birth to her sibling the day they returned home. But I missed the little sprite, she had grown on me with her forward attitude.

The rest of the women living here or at the castle had also gone home after a few days, except for those without a home; they had chosen to stay at the palace or a chosen pack. All except Calida and my parents. Calida continued to stay in our pack, hoarded up in her room. I would visit her, and we got on great, but despite her fast tongue, she was frightened of the outside world.

Today, though, Phoenix and I were going through some paperwork that would enable more wolves to join our pack to train. Sean would be overseeing them and helping to train them alongside Phoenix and a couple of other warriors; including Alex. He was getting more involved with the pack and it was great. Sophie had gone missing not long after Steven's death so it was a good distraction for him.

Some of these potential wolves wanted to stay, others were here on a sort-of lease basis. Also, speaking of Sean, he and Rose are making slow progress. She was opening up to him bit by bit and the last thing I was told was that she refused to let him in her bedroom these past five weeks as it was her safe haven. But then the other day, she allowed him in to help her look for something in there. Small progress, but it had Sean beaming like a child at Christmas all day long.

Based on mates, that lemon smell Charlie kept complaining about? Well, as it turns out, his mate was right under our nose...

***

four weeks earlier

"Bye Nova," Calida called as I shut the door behind me.

She was doing so well in taking baby steps to open up more. She had been in the pack for five days now, and not once left her room. Food was brought to her room and a limited amount of people were allowed in to deliver it. Mainly all were women, but I seemed to be a special invite and could turn up whenever. I took it upon myself to visit her every day so I could bring her lunch. Every day I tried to get her to break out of her stubborn shell but every day she said no.

I didn't mind though because that was just Calida. Headstrong and stubborn.

Today, I had taken the game UNO and she wasn't impressed. She lost, and despite me being rubbish at it and not knowing the full rules, I had won. She had thrown her cards across the room in a state of disregard and collapsed on her bed, complaining her day was ruined. It was rather amusing and I couldn't help but laugh at her. Her snarky comments and no-filter talk kept me going from the daunting realization that I am Luna.

It was always so serious with Phoenix during the day, so it was nice to have someone call me out on any crap. Everyone in the pack was treating me like a feather because I was Luna now. It was nice and all, to be finally accepted, but I felt so wrapped in cotton wool. It had taken me a whole day of silent treatment to be able to help out in the office as Luna. Phoenix was grumbling the whole time about my muted voice and eventually gave in to letting me help, which meant I had won. He was also another stubborn wolf in my life... Safe to say, that night we spent a lot of time that was not sleeping in the bed.

I blinked back my brain fog as I walked down the corridor and just as I reached the stairs, I bumped into Charlie around the corner. He caught me, steadying me so I didn't fall. It ended up with me pressed against the wall and blushing furiously whilst he held me. If anyone saw this, they would definitely get the wrong impression.

"Sorry Nova..." He gasped. "I was distracted."

"It's okay." I laughed, sidestepping him. "What's up?"

"I'm bugging." He huffed.

"You're what?" I blinked.

"Irritated." He shrugged. "Someone somewhere is winding me up and it is leading me to this hallway every time. But you... hey, you smell..."

"Rude," I muttered.

He suddenly leaned back into me, sniffing at my hair. I swatted him away, but he grabbed the strands in his hair.

"Can everyone please stop telling me I smell; it's getting rather irritating." I huffed.

I looked back to him as he dropped my hair strands, his brown eyes darkening as his pupils dilated. My green eyes widened in return and I hesitantly took a step back. Charlie had better control of his subdue wolf than even Phoenix. Charlie's wolf was a dark knight under the mask, and I had never really met him nor seen him takeover. Which meant only one thing...

"Mate." He growled.

I stammered, my words tumbling incoherently. His hands grabbed at my shoulders as he pulled me into him, sniffing my hair. I wriggled in his grip, trying my hardest to push him away.

"Charlie-what are you doing?"

"You smell like mate."

"Charlie, it's me. It's Nova, I'm not your mate."

He growled, sniffing at the mark on my neck. He was displeased just as much as I was, but for an entirely different reason. I called upon Celimene and she growled with annoyance.

"Charlie, I am your Luna, you need to let go so we can sort this out," I growled.

He stiffened and pulled away to look into my eyes. His wolf recognized the shift of power and backed down. He blinked rapidly before looking down at me in horror.

"Shit Nova, I am so sorry."

"It's okay Charlie, I unders-"

"No, you don't. If Phoenix so much as finds out how I just hurt you I'll be dead." He shook his head.

"Charlie," I sighed, rubbing my arms. "I'm not hurt, you just startled me. Now your head is clear can you please tell me what on earth is going on?"

He suddenly blushed and looked at the wall beyond my shoulder. "You smelled like my mate. But of course, I know you can't be. Not only have I only known you for so long but you're mated to Phoenix and-"

My eyes widened in delight as I realised what he was getting at.  I cut him off with a squeal, clapping my hands. He stared at me, confused with furrowed brows.

"You found your mate!"

"Well, not really. I've only found you..." He grimaced.

I laughed and took his forearm. "I just left Calida's room. I've been in there for two hours now, I'm bound to smell like her!"

His eyes widened in realisation. "Every time I smell lemons it's when you've been with her?"

I nodded, smiling widely. "Yes!"

"Which room is she in? I can't smell her." He took a few steps into the hall.

I shook my head, pulling on his arm. "She's...scared Charlie. She was forced to be the leader's mate, and she is one hundred percent human. She won't feel the way you do, her past is...strange."

He growled. "I don't care she is my mate."

He ripped his arm out of my hand and began to open the doors. Calida was in the very last room, and as he approached it I cautiously called out his name. He didn't listen, too driven by his mate haze to give a damn about what I was trying to warn him about. When he slammed her door open, I heard her scream followed by the low resounding grumble of Charlie's wolf.

"Mate." He growled.

"GET OUT!" Calida screamed.

"No!" Charlie snapped. "You are my mate."

"Like fuck I am! Get out of my damn room beast!" She cursed, before the sound of something being moved met my ears.

My eyes widened and just as I realised, I saw a few books flying through the air. Charlie dodge them in time and they fell to the floor of the corridor with low thumps. His wolf was in control of his every move as he began to creep into the room.

"Did you not hear me you damn dog, get out of my room!" She shrieked.

I rushed to the doorframe to look inside and found Calida huddled in the corner of her bed against the two walls, her blankets in disarray around her. Charlie was stalking inside, like a predator hunting his prey. He was completely out of control.

"Charlie...Please-"

He snarled at me, his brown eyes staying focused on Calida. Her eyes widened when she saw me but it was too late. She had thrown what appeared to be her replacement lamp, and expertly, Charlie had dodged it. However, I did not seek the same fate, and just as it hurtled over his shoulder, it collided with my head.

The impact of the metal smacking me in the head was enough for me to lose my vision and fall to the floor. My head swam, a cry of pain escaping my lips as I hit the carpeted ground. My ears rang and I heard the curses of Calida in the background.

I never had the best of luck, did I? I should've seen that one coming.

"You absolute douchebag! Look what you did!" Calida screeched. "Nova! Nova are you okay?"

I winced, my head thrumming with every blink. I groaned, my head coming up to touch my forehead. I felt the blood before I smelt it, dripping down my nose and eyebrow. I went to sit up but found my arms shaky as the world around me span. I cursed as my elbows shook but I was pleasantly surprised when small, cool hands helped me up to lean against the door frame. Through squinted eyes, I saw it was Calida and a part of me was glad she had left her bed. Despite the fact, she threw a lamp at my head.

"Are you okay?" She spoke quietly, her hands cupping my jaw. "Shit. Go get some damn tissue or something."

As if realising what had happened, I focused my eyes on Charlie to see him gain full control and curse at the sight of me. He ran into the bathroom and came out with a damp hand towel. He folded it up and crouched beside me, lifting it to my face.

"This may hurt No-"

The familiar growl of Phoenix filled the hall and within a flash, he stormed into the room. He had both Charlie and Calida in his grasp immediately, pressing them both against the wall by their shoulders. I took the towel in my own hands and began to dab at the cut on my head.

He growled lowly in their faces. "What did you do?"

"I-I-I-" Calida stammered her heart racing.

Phoenix snarled at her, bringing his face close to intimidate her. "You what?"

I sighed, calling his name. His dark eyes turned to me without hesitation and softened at the sight of me. In all his dark and powerful aura, I never failed to seek out his beauty. He dropped the two of them in an instant and came down to me. He pushed my hair behind my ears and I dropped the towel for him to look at the wound. His eyes narrowed, pupils dilating so much I feared he would lose control again. But he didn't, instead, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to my forehead, inhaling deeply.

Pulling away, he lifted my hand back to my head and scooped me up in his arms. "We will discuss this later. Beta, on my six."

I saw Charlie hesitate from behind me, a small whine escaping his lips as he glanced to Calida. She shuffled nervously, trying to avoid looking at anyone. I saw the desire Charlie had; an instinctual need that had been buried so deep within him. Phoenix growled at him and without being able to resist, Charlie began to walk over to us.

Just as we began to leave the room, Calida shifted and made her way back to her bed. As we turned down the corridor I heard her climb back into her bed, the words 'damn mate' falling as a whisper from her lips.

••••

Hello hello
Welcome book 2
Chapter 1 is officially up.
Hope you're excited for another journey of craziness. All I'm gonna say is, sometimes your first thought...may not be what's gonna happen lol

word count: 2547

Shall I bring back question of the day??

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