The Alpha’s Little Luna

Mercedes’ POV

Still with my mind on our great adventure in bed last night, I get out of my Bugatti.

The striking red color immediately attracts all the attention of the students in the school parking at the school building. And suddenly I’ve got some enemies, the gossip machine has picked up speed after Zane gave me this impressive gift last week.

On the Facebook Fan Page of the school, I am called all kinds of names, some students I thought were my friends are now posting lots of hate speech. My name is a hot topic, the comments are piling up every second. I’m called a gold digger, material girl, greedy and more of that nonsense people like to say about others. One thing’s for sure, I’m the star of the school just because my mate highly values my love.

But I really don’t care at all.

It was Zane who claimed me as his mate and not the other way around. In addition, a ten-year-old girl cannot be accused of materialism. I mean, the people who kidnapped me, took me to the Midnight Moon borders and left me behind without food or water still haven’t been found. So don’t blame anything on me when my mate is crazy about me and thinks I’m worth a two million worth car. Anyone with a problem because of that should try to solve it on their own.

Clarita rushes forward to meet me.

I haven’t seen her since my big birthday bash.

“Mercedes! Wow, let me take a good look at your car. There were pictures in the school WhatsApp group chat, but it looks so much nicer in reality,” she exclaimed, walking admiringly around my new addition. “Remember, I’m your bestie and I have to test drive first,” she reminds me.

While chatting, we walk into the school grounds. Eyes are fixed on me, I make no effort to use my advanced were-hearing to listen to their shit.

“There’s a lot of noise about the expensive gift of Zane. But I think they’re just jealous of you, Mercedes,” Clarita began. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Speaking of poisonous snakes!

“Why would I? My mate thought I was worthy of a Bugatti, so he gifted me one. He spends his money how he sees fit”, I answered indifferently. The school bell rings, and we hurry to the classroom. As usual, Clarita sits next to me and we focus on our math lessons for the following two hours. When the bell rings again, it is lunch break and we rush to the canteen. A queue has already formed at the register, we’re just joining.

“What are you having for lunch today, Mercedes? Lasagna is on the menu today, but it’s expensive again,” my girlfriend sighed regretfully. “I’m doing it low budget today. Salad is it for me”. I grin and keep my cool.

“If you like the Lasagna, no problem, Mercedes. Just put it on my account”, I suddenly heard behind us. When I turn around, I see no other but Glary, the Alpha’s son, watching us closely. He looks at me with interest, waiting for my answer.

“I’ll pass your offering on to Clarita. She was the one who couldn’t afford the Lasagna. Still, thanks for the offer”, I stated dryly. I turn to Clarita.

“Look, there’s your savior. Today we still have lasagna for you”. She goes crazy with happiness, now that it comes to the account of the rich Alpha, she can go for a large bowl. Glary sniffs, disgruntled.

“No problem if you take one too, Mercedes. I can afford two more.”

Irritated, I take the black card from my back pocket and show it between two fingers.

“Don’t worry about my food, Alpha, I’m covered. My mate doesn’t keep me short”, I let him know coquettishly. An indignant whisper from the other students in line behind me arises, but I pay no attention to it. I didn’t ask anyone to pay for my lunch, Glary probably is such an attention seeker. In recent years he has never worried about my budget, so I wonder why his sudden interest in me.

When I have my Lasagna and salad on a tray, I walk with Clarita to our usual place on a bench at the back of the room.

“Thank you, Mercedes. But I don’t know if Glary likes what you did. He has a very evil nature and no one in the pack has ever denied him anything,” she told me.

Barely has she finished speaking when I see two legs sliding next to me on the bench. Surprised, I look up and stare into Glary’s face, again. His aura makes me uncomfortable. I look around the room, but there isn’t a free chair somewhere to move to. So, I’m stuck with him here.

“Do you mind if I sit next to you today, Mercedes?” he asked rhetorically. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while, but you’re rarely alone.”

Third red flag and that within a week.

First, the blunder on my birthday. Asking me to dance while in my mate’s arms is a terrible mistake. As an Alpha, he should have known this would be a severe blow to my mate if I had consented. Was he challenging Zane?

And then offering to pay for my food is also a subtle humiliation of my mate. Everyone knows that Zane and his pack are by no means poor. And now kidding that I’m never alone, those are three stitches under the belt.

Ignoring my discomfort while sitting too close to me, does it for me. His presence bothers me quite a bit. Although I am not yet officially mated, everyone knows Zane is my fated. He has been a regular guest in this pack for six years now, it has not escaped anyone’s attention that we are together. And our declaration of love at my party equals a general announcement of our mating. What is Glary planning on?

“Okay, what did you want to talk to me about?” I asked briefly, not quite rude.

Well, you know I’ll be taking the pack from my dad in a few years. And your father is his Beta now,” he began, taking a bite of his greasy burger. “When my father retires, you will be next in line for the Beta position. But we are not really friends. Which is strange, actually,” he added. “Well, what I mean is we need to get to know each other better now. The Alpha and Beta operate as a strong team and are aligned. We still have to work on that,” he suggested.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Goodness, Glary isn’t a bad guy, I think, it’s just the red flags that make me wary of him. I’m starting to feel like he’s challenging Zane.

“And how do you think we should go about that?” I asked him, my eyes on the food on the table. Satisfied with my answer, he turns to me.

“What about coming to the packhouse more often to become acquainted with my family?” he suggested. “Let’s start with you using all the dinners with us.”

Frankly saying, I don’t see the point of this.

I’ll be out of Silver Moon in two years, getting to know the Alpha family is pointless. But I also don’t want to make enemies, if I bluntly refuse this idea, Glary might consider it an insult to his family. The man is already so full of himself, having the Alpha family against me would be stupid. Perhaps I should clarify to Alpha Ahri that Glary has to look for another candidate, I am not aspiring for the position. In addition, Zane is on a business trip for two weeks, this is the right time to make my point to the Alpha family.

“Okay,” I agreed. “I have yet to think if I will take the Beta position, but I’m collaborating on the dinners. But I have a condition. We are not friends yet, so till then our relationship is work-oriented. I would appreciate it if you didn’t sit next to me from now on.”…