"Are you sure?" one of the elder members of the pack asks me. I nod.

Cole fists his palm.

Mine and Cole's families and every other important members of the pack are in my house, to find out who is going to be Cole's mate.

They asked me if I'll accept Cole as my mate. I refused. I couldn't get what Bianca's father said out of my head. A weak girl like me shouldn't be this pack's Luna.

The elder looks at Cole. Cole shakes his head. "I don't accept it."

My dad says, "Cole, we can't compel her if she doesn't want this."

"If she doesn't want me why did she do what she did? None of you made a sound when I was hurt. But she couldn't stop herself from calling out to me. Why?"

Everyone looks at me. I look down. I won't answer that question.

Cole's father, Patrick, says to me, "Daisy, I want to ask you something. And if you'd ever held any respect for me as your Alpha, you'll tell me the truth. Forget about whether you want to be this pack's Luna or not. Just answer me this: Do you love my son?"

I continue to look down, but tears begin to fall down my cheeks.

"Those tears," Cole says, "Those tears are the proof of her love for me."

Patrick addresses the room. "I know it's the tradition that the newly ascended Alpha and Beta declare their mates soon after their ascensions. But as for the women's acceptance, our future Luna does not trust this pack will accept her. It is our duty to our Alpha to ensure that his mate feels safe and accepted in our pack. So that's what we'll do. Each and every one of us will show Daisy the love and respect we've for her as our Alpha's mate. And one day she'll want to be our Luna on her own and accept my son."

I raise my head to look at Patrick. He gives me a paternal smile.

————

Since the meeting, everyone behaved as if I'm really their Luna.

That's why I'm relieved to be back in college. All the attention I was getting back home was something I'm not used to and stressing me out.