Chapter 31

Trishanna had been sitting in the Councilwoman's room for the past ninety minutes. She wondered what they were talking about and if it involved her. Feeling restless, she tried to distract herself by looking around at the elegance of the room, but it held little appeal. It was funny how she spent years complaining of the dark, tiny space they shoved her in, yet at this moment, it was all that she longed for.

A gentle knock and the pretty she-wolf Alexa poked her head in. "HI, are you feeling better?" she asked, concern marring her brow. "Yeah, I am, but I'm just wondering what's going on." Trishanna played with the hem of her borrowed clothes. It was a top from Cynthia and leggings from Alexa since the older woman scoffed at what the omega had brought.

"Well, that's why I'm here. My grandmother is calling you to Alpha James' office." Alexa could see how the young girl stiffened at the mention of his name and knew that the Alpha was spouting nonsense. Clearing her throat, Trishanna asked if she was needed there. Alexa felt sorry for her. It was clear as day that she would rather go anywhere else. "I'm afraid so Trish. There seems to be a dispute, one only YOU can rectify."

Shoulders slumped, Trishanna trudged after Alexa. Whatever it was she hoped it would be loved quickly. Alexa knocked on the study's door before opening it and ushering in Trishanna. The woman walked in, keeping her eyes on the ground, as she has been told to do. She smelt that amazing scent again but resisted the pull to turn to the man who released it. "You called for me Alpha James?"

"No my dear, I was the one who asked for your presence since the matter concerns you." Keeping her eyes downcast, she nodded. Bradley's wolf was going crazy. His mate was standing right in front of him and yet she refused to meet his eyes. Was she rejecting him? Was it possible that since she slept with James, she would choose him instead? These thoughts plagued him and he looked at his adoptive aunt helplessly. He did not want to force her if she'd already made her choice, yet the only hope he had was that she wasn't looking at that bastard either.

Cynthia saw the hopelessness on her nephew's face and took charge. Standing, she walked to Trishanna and gently raised her head. "Look at me, dearie." She waited until Trishann had done so. "These two men, Alpha James and Alpha Bradley both claim that you are their mate. Now I know that you don't have your wolf, but even in cases where humans have been mated to our kind, the mate bond could be felt. Could you tell us if either one of them is right?"

Trishanna looked at the woman shocked. They both are claiming her as their mate. She can be the Luna of an entire pack? Taking a step back, she shook her head. It was impossible that either one wanted her. When she made that move, Bradley felt like she was rejecting him, and he couldn't hold back the whine that escaped his lips.

The sound startled Trishanna and as she looked in Bradley's direction she felt that familiar pull. When their eyes met, it was as if time stopped. She could feel her heartbeat accelerate and goosebumps raised on her arms. She knew instinctively that this man was the wolf from earlier and all her fears began to melt away.

James saw the way they were looking at each other and he knew he needed to do something and fast. Clearing his throat, he stood up and rounded his desk, coming right between them and breaking the connection. It was a good thing that they didn't touch or else it would have been harder to interrupt.

Taking Trishanna's hand James tried to ignore the way she flinched and hoped that it went unnoticed. "Trishanna, my dear, I know that since I was a pup, I have not treated you the best. And I know that as your Alpha, I did not stop the mistreatment you received from the other members. Please know that it was all from the strange feeling that I had from my youth, feelings that I could not decipher."

Kissing the back of her hand he continued, "It's only recently I've realized that I always had feelings for you but was too young to understand them, so I acted out." Seeing her disbelief he pushed, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've been in love with you for a long time, and I just didn't know what to do with it. I guess part of the reason was that I didn't think my father would have approved of you, but he would have been wrong. The way you helped others when we were preparing for the party recently, the same members who treated you badly is proof of your caring heart and forgiving nature. I know that these are great qualities for a Luna."

Kneeling on the ground before he asked, "So Trishanna, I seek your forgiveness and humbly ask in front of our distinguished guests, would you do me the honor and become my mate and Luna?"

Trishanna was shocked along with everyone else. "What?" James continued, "Don't you think it would be a great way for me to make up for my deplorable behavior? This way, you will immediately gain the respect you should have received, and I know that having Rosie as your guardian would have made you sensitive to the areas that I may have missed. With you by my side, our pack can flourish and prosper."

Bradley was chewing nails. First, he blocked him from staring into the calmest storm-grey eyes and now he's proposing? If his aunt wasn't here, he would have repainted the walls with this brazen fool's blood. All he wanted to do was grab his mate, shift, and run straight home, yet he held his breath waiting to see what her response would be. He hoped that she was smarter than the status they gave her, but the look on her face was making him lose hope all over again.