Becoming Luna novel Chapter 4

The place Mason had insisted on bringing Danica to for their discussion was a gazebo placed directly in the middle of a wildflower field. It overlooked a pond so clear you could see to the bottom, where koi swam around idly.

As Mason led Danica towards the gazebo, she let her eyes take in the multicolored flowers that surrounded them, and she couldn't help but think that Martha would love this place. Especially while she was still on her painting kick.

With a perfect blue sky above and the scenery all around, it was almost as if Danica herself had stepped into a painting that Martha had skillfully woven together.

"This is my favorite place to come when I'm having an off day," Mason announced, snapping Danica out of her daze.

"I can see why," Danica quipped. "It's beautiful."

As her eyes fell on the gazebo that had a romantic feel to it, she couldn't stop the thought of Mason bringing other women here. How many had been here? Was she the first? She doubted it, given his past, but something deep down in her hoped she was. What even made her think she was any different from the rest anyway?

All these thoughts continued to race through her mind as she took a seat beside Mason, who was watching her closely with furrowed brows.

A sigh erupted from him, drawing her attention from her quickly building jealous rage and to his face that was beginning to fall.

"You still don't trust me," Mason said matter-of-factly, with a sad look.

"Sorry, I just really don't know you."

"You will get to know me in time," Mason insisted.

"Sure," Danica wasn't sure if she would, but there was no sense in arguing right now. "Anyway, we didn't come here to focus on that. You said you would tell me about werewolves."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but feel absolutely ridiculous. Up until yesterday, werewolves were simply made-up creatures in movies. And now she was wanting to know all there was to know about them.

"Right," as he spoke, Mason began to settle in. "Where to start?"

"The existence of werewolves altogether," Danica suggested, her anxiety beginning to grow.

"The existence of werewolves," he repeated, "We have always existed. It is just that we have always made sure to keep our identities secret from the prying eyes of the world around us. If the normies discovered we existed, we would most likely become science experiments. Every corner of the world has a pack residing in it. We usually meet as a whole once a year."

"What about the pack here?" Danica questioned, cutting Mason off and earning herself a look from him. "Sorry."

"The wolf pack here is quite large compared to most," he answered. "I'm the alpha of our pack."

"Ours?" Danica asked curiously. Was he referring to her as part of the pack?

He smiled tenderly now, "Yes, ours." He reached out a hand to touch Danica, only to have her scoot back. Frowning, he sighed, "As my mate, my pack is naturally yours as well."

"So that makes me... what?" Danica was still having a hard time processing everything.

"As the Alpha's mate, you become Luna and lead the pack beside me."

"But I haven't agreed to being your mate."

"I know," Mason says simply. "But that doesn't mean that you won't one day. As my mate, you are the one that the moon goddess made only for me. You're my fate, and I won't stop trying to win your heart until the day I take my last breath."

"So what you're saying is that when a werewolf is born, their fate and place in life are already set in stone for them?" Danica wasn't quite sure if she liked what she was hearing. "That doesn't seem quite fair, honestly."

"I never said we had no choice," Mason pointed out. "We always have a choice, but I have always longed for the day I would find you, and I don't plan to fight mine."

Nodding, Danica remained silent.  This conversation was beginning to go way south from what it was originally supposed to be, and she needed to get things back on track.

"Does it hurt?" Danica found herself blurting.

"It isn't pleasant, but I plan on being there with you to help you through it," Mason responded gently.

Danica could feel her stomach turning once more as she considered how changing for the first time would feel. Spots danced in front of her eyes as a cold sweat broke out all over her body. Unable to control her breathing, she felt like she would hyperventilate.

Beside her, Mason had begun to panic as she paled and her breathing became labored.

"What's wrong?" he asked hurriedly, reaching out a hand and touching her cheek. "Deep breaths, Danica, deep breaths."