"It first started way back, in a time when the barbarian and the Vikings pack were still on friendly terms. They often had competitions the weeks before the big hunt, picking out contestants from each side worthy of attending. Because it was seen as a great honor, and still is, by the way, not anyone can attend. They are given an opportunity to find a mate, and since our world is what it is, there is no other way of finding a mate. We are talking about the year your mother attended."
I paused, just to see I had her full attention, and smiled for myself before I continued.
"Like the rest, she had been hand-picked for a reason. Different reasons for each one, of course, but anyway. She was there. From what I've been told later, she fell into one of the fey traps early on, but for some reason, she didn't trigger the magic string that alerts the fey king. That means the trap did not seal shut, and someone helped her up. That someone was the son of the barbarian's alpha. I am not sure how or what was said, but he convinced her to let him take her back."
I took a deep breath, only for the dramatic effect. I loved how her eyes seemed to follow my every move and how she lingered on every word I said.
"At that time, it was strange; she willingly walked back with him. Nobody remembered that ever happening before. They all came back kicking and screaming. Or unconscious. But your mother walked side by side with her new mate back onto the open field. Anyway, the fey king later heard rumors that a girl had fallen into their trap, but none had been sent their way. However, nothing could be proven, and all the girls refused to admit that they had fallen into a trap at any moment. Their claim and dispute died, and he took her back to the barbarian's land. Then it would take years before my father heard about her, a young woman, the barbarian's new Luna that thrived in the shifter's lands. The news traveled fast, and the rumors grew. Some claimed she had turned and become a shifter herself. Others told tales about a woman destined for her alpha; jealousy and despite grew. It could not be true; they were all lies. Some even went as far as to say she was dead. That her mate had killed her, and now they were keeping their facade by spreading lies around. But, years later, she suddenly crossed the border to our pack late one night."
This is the part of the story where I have to tread a little carefully. I want her to have the details and understand how stressed and scared her mother had been, but I do not want to add what my father did to her or how that might have affected her.
"She begged on her knees, crying before my father's throne before he even realized who she was. She was dirty, her feet scraped up and bloody like she had been running all night. And her back, she had a little girl. First, my father didn't notice she had a child with her; he had never seen anyone wrapping a child around their back like that. Even if a female begging for help and safety like this was more than enough to get any shifter tribe to want to help, adding the fact that she had a little girl with her really piqued his interest. He lifted her up from the floor himself and almost dropped her when the surge of electrical waves washed over his skin. Ushering out everyone but his beta, they managed to calm her down, but he kept his secret. Even if she reacted to his touch, he was sure she didn't know what it meant. They were mates, his destined mate, and that's something that has been unheard of for generations now."
Her brows furrowed slightly, and I brushed over her cheek while leaning down and pressing a light kiss on the bridge of her nose.
"Before you and me, destined mates were more of a myth in our community. But, then again, he never told anyone. He wanted to protect her, his heart ached seeing how scared she was, and he could not add this to the stress. After all, he already had a chosen mate, his Luna-my mother. Anyway, as she began to tell her story, he remembered her. The girl that walked out with the barbarian alphas son willingly. The Luna everyone has been talking about. But everything was not as good as everyone had seemed to believe, at least not after she gave birth to a daughter. Can you believe it? You are the first girl born here in decades! This was a huge event, and he didn't understand why that made her so sad and scared. This should be celebrated, and the girl should be protected along with her mother. She had come to understand how rare her daughter was and that it also meant she would need protection in this world. Mated to a pack's alpha, she would bring that pack incredible power. Everyone knew both the alpha and his pack benefited incredibly by having a Luna, so imagine having a shifter Luna! The only one there is! People would give anything to strike a deal. Her mate had warned her about this and told her that they needed to entertain the idea of promising her to someone. A strong and prosperous pack, both for the girl's safety and well-being, but also for the pack. However, he promised he would not make any rash decisions, and not without her. He also promised he would never send her anywhere; he believed she would not have a good life. She didn't like it, but she had to accept that and understand that this world was different from hers."
I knew she understood this part, maybe even recognized parts of it. Based on the barbarian's mate's claim and what she has been told earlier. I knew Hades told her a little; after all, I was the one that fed him wrongful information regarding the mateing deal.
"Alphas, rulers, and royalty of many packs entered their lands after the girl was born. They wanted to see the moon goddess's miracle and hoped to strike a deal that could benefit both packs and tribes. Werebears, cats, even the fey, sea people, and dragons tried their luck. This all added to her nerves since she never wanted to attend these meetings. Afraid she could not handle the fact that most considered her little girl only an object to power and wealth. One night, they again had visitors, the royal dragon clan. This made her even more nervous, knowing how strong and well-respected they were. But she also heard the rumors about how they treated their females, and her stomach had knotted into heavy stones as the night went by and the meeting went on."
With a deep breath, again, I made it evident that this part was disturbing for me. He went away and left me to it; it was hard enough to act on my own. I didn't need his cocky aura disturbing me. It was not in my nature to feel sorry about things like this, but I did my very best; it was important that she felt I was on her side.
"So, when her best friend suddenly rushed into her cabin late at night, she already had a bad feeling about the meeting that seemed to last forever. Her hands had been trembling, and her voice shaking with utter shock and disbelief as she shout-whispered:
"Luna, you need to leave! Now! He gave them your girl! He just gave her away! You need to leave right now. They wanted to have guards on her and you until she was 12 years old; that is when she was to move to the dragon's kingdom. Oh, goddess! I am so sorry Luna; I am so sorry! I overheard them, and I, oh goddess! I can't believe he did that! He knows how they treat females! Oh, goddess me, please save us!"
Her best friend was the first friend she got when she arrived here. They had been like sisters; now, she was shaking, rambling, and crying. Begging her to run, to save the little girl they all loved so much. Your mother never hesitated. She accepted the bag she had packed, hugged her, and followed her through the village. Hiding in the shadows with her little girl. They had to jump into the ocean and cross the pack border that way; it was the only way her mate, her alpha, would not get alerted that someone had crossed on his territory. The betrayal broke her heart; she loved the people there. But what broke her, even more was when she had to reject him. She could not leave through the portal still mated to him; it would work as a red straight line leading him right to her.