His Reluctant Luna

Alice's (POV) -

I was sitting opposite the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. His green eyes stared intently at me. He had folded back his black shirt up to his elbows and I could not stop admiring his hands which were covered with taut muscles.

"Well, if you are done admiring me, can we proceed with 'the talk'?" He smirked, making a quotation symbol with his hand.

I blushed. I do not think I have ever blushed in my life. We were seated in Rick's library/study. I had managed to convince Lucian to discuss our little 'arrangement'. Rick's study was soundproof, which would prevent our conversation from leaking out.

Rick was quite apprehensive to leave me alone with Lucian. But he would never hurt me, I knew. Mates did not hurt each other.

"I wasn't admiring you!" I glared at him.

His lips twitched, and he leaned closer and said softly," I can smell your arousal. Do not deny it."

I blushed a shade deeper and cleared my throat.

"Let's stick to the agenda," I replied. A chuckle escaped from him.

I continued.

"Look, about this mate thing. I don't believe in mate-bonds."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I have a life, a job which I love." I was going to add a fiancée as well, but with warriors and weapons already stationed from both sides. It could lead to bloodshed. I would explain it to him later. I reminded myself.

"I have worked my ass off to get this job, four years of college, internship. I can't let it all go to waste." I huffed.

He had propped his chin on his palm, elbow on the table, and he was staring at me with an amused expression that infuriated me further.

"Well, your wolf has chosen me, you will be my Luna. That is your true calling," he smirked.

The look on his face said he was not open to arguing. He was the boss giving orders. Fuck that!

"No, I have worked hard for my job, you can't keep me locked up as your sex slave just waiting for you to return and..... well, I have a contract at my job, a notice period to serve. I can't just walk away from it..."

"Your home is here now. Your job is here now. There are no contracts that will supersede what I want from you. Now, please stop arguing with me." His eyes burned into mine.

I glared back at him.

"I refuse to sit at home and become your sex toy, that will drive me crazy. Do you want a crazy mate?"

"Frankly, my mate is already driving me crazy." He sighed, brushing his hand through his hair.

"Look, I know you are an architect. There are ample job opportunities here. I own an architecture firm myself. You can work there, or you can start something of your own. Do whatever the fuck you want once you are settled as the Luna. I do not understand why you are staying away in London. Wolves need to be with a pack."

I bit my lips, he was right. My wolf loves it when I am back with the pack. Anyway,

I was in no mood to discuss my living arrangements with Lucian.

"I am not ready to be a Luna yet, we barely know each other. I know nothing about running a pack. I would be the most useless Luna ever." I muttered.

"That's something we can work on. We have our whole lives to.... get to know each other. How about? Starting now?" He grinned.

I shot him a look.

"What if we are incompatible?'

"We are mates! We have been tailor-made for each other, sweetheart. We'll be more than compatible, trust me." He said exasperated. He was getting impatient.

He stood up from his chair and prowled towards me. Then, he leaned against the table and looked down at me from his towering height.noveldrama

"Ever since I turned 18, I have been searching for you. Now that we have finally found each other, you want to let this go. Every wolf craves for its mate. Can't you feel it? Our bond? Our chemistry?"

I swallowed a lump. My brain had stopped functioning. I had these weird butterflies in my stomach. His musky scent was so near to me, it was intoxicating.

"No! I feel nothing," I said stubbornly.

He sighed and looked down.

"You are very stubborn, wonder how your brother, an alpha, tolerates your defiance." He looked into my eyes.

"My brother doesn't make unreasonable demands. He is very understanding."

"So am I, I am quite a merciful Alpha actually," he said with a smirk.

"Can't we.... we can just reject each other?" I said cautiously.

His eyes turned dark, and he emanated anger. I could feel the heat radiation from his body. His eyes narrowed into slits.

"No!" He rasped, "you are mine! Only mine, is that clear? So, whatever hang-ups you have had, just get over it.

I moved back, trying to melt myself into the chair. I felt genuine fear. His face relaxed a little, probably he smelled my fear.

Tracing my jawline with his finger, he said," your wolf already loves me. It would

not be protecting me and ready to slit her brother's throat otherwise."

I explored the dark expanse of the green eyes," but I don't love you."

"You will learn to love me, soon." He said in a husky voice. I could feel myself getting wet. I held the neck of my silk robe tighter.

His smirk said he could smell my arousal quite well.

"Are you sure you want to be with me? I am not an 18-year-old impressionable school dropout. I have a mind of my own, I will not be able to mould myself according to you.... what I mean is there are many beautiful women out there, more suitable for your needs." I rambled on and on, not sure if I was making much

sense.

"What do you know about my needs?" His words were dismissive of my claims.

"I don't, that's the point. I know nothing about you. So, how can I take care of you? Plus, I dislike the idea of belonging to someone. I am my person. I don't belong to anyone."

"You don't understand the mate bond, do you?" There was a hint of frustration in his voice.

"When I say you belong to me, it's mutual. You own me as much as I own you. I would belong to you......only you, in a true sense. We would complete each other not as a master and slave, but as equal partners."

My resolve was evaporating like vapours from boiling water. This beautiful specimen of a man would belong to me! The idea was quite appealing.

"It took me long enough to find you, how can I reject you now? The best part of me? I am not here to imprison you. You have your freedom to do whatever you want," his voice had gone low and husky. He said those words with such sincerity that my heart skipped, and my wolf was anyway drooling over him.

"I have a condition." I eventually gathered the courage to speak. "Finally! And what is it?" He leaned back, sitting straight and looking down at me. His arms folded.

"You won't mark me until I am ready, I know wolves don't wait, but I need more time, please."

I said, almost pleading.

The mate bond is incomplete unless the wolves mark each other. I would not be his official mate or Luna until that happened. I was uncertain if he would agree, I was taking a considerable risk.

He frowned," that would be difficult, and it would raise questions. Why do you wish so?"

"I..... I.......just want to be certain," I mumbled incoherently.

He scrutinized me for a few minutes, then finally said, "alright, I won't mark you unless you permit me. I can't speak for my wolf though, once he takes over, I won't be able to control."

I nodded. It meant we would have to avoid shifting while alone, otherwise, our wolves would take over.

"Having said that, it doesn't mean I will stop trying to entice you," his lips twitched into that sexy dimpled smile and my mouth went dry.

I finally let go of the breath, which I had been holding until now. Now, I had to bid my time, and escape.