The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

Thankfully, nothing disastrous happened on our way down the steep stairs. My balance held completely, my pride stayed intact, and I didn’t go tumbling headfirst in front of a whole room full of dominant alphas and their deeply judgmental mates. Zahliver gave my hand a warm, firm squeeze before letting go, then strode off confidently toward a group of alpha males clustered off to the side.

He carried himself with effortless dominance, raw power pulsing in every single step he took. I mirrored his calm strength as I moved away in a different direction, fully determined not to shrink into the background like some trembling omega.

Drawn by the promise of something light and sweet, I made my way over to the snack table, eyeing a beautifully arranged fruit and yogurt salad. But as I reached my hand out for a small cup, I noticed a subtle, sudden shift in the air all around me. The exact way a few people standing nearby stiffened up... and then slowly began to retreat like I was something deeply venomous.

They weren’t just scared because Zahliver was nearby. They were genuinely scared of me.

Because when an alpha shows his full, terrifying force, so does his luna.

I forced the uncomfortable thought down and turned away, scanning the crowded ballroom until I spotted the nervous couple from earlier tucked away near the back of the room. The female’s gaze locked right with mine wide-eyed and deeply wary and I offered her the warmest, gentlest smile I could muster. She flinched visibly, her face paling even more, but I didn’t stop. I walked straight toward them with my chin held high and my shoulders back, acutely aware of the heavy stares burning directly into my back.

The background music playing in the room shifted. My own chosen song, Shades of Golden by Sea Oleana, drifted softly through the air, feeling strangely grounding to my frazzled nervous system. The gathering wolves parted like the sea as I passed, their varied expressions ranging from mildly curious to openly hostile. Some tried to offer fake smiles, while others flatly refused to meet my eyes at all. I ignored every bit of it.

My high heels echoed sharply against the polished floor with every single step, the delicate hem of my red dress brushing lightly over my black shoes as I moved with carefully measured grace.

When I finally reached their table, I took in the male’s stiff, dangerous posture. He was completely tensed up, his broad shoulders angled slightly toward me like he was ready to shield his female mate from a direct attack at any second. The female clung tightly to his heavy arm, her warm brown eyes darting nervously back and forth between me and the rest of the room. A beta pair, clearly. But where on earth was their commanding alpha?

"May I join you?" I asked gently, keeping my tone completely open and respectful. I made sure to meet both of their eyes directly, letting them know this was not a dark command it was entirely their choice.

The male looked like he desperately wanted to say no, but something held him back. Maybe raw wolf instinct. Maybe pack protocol. The young girl hesitated, her eyes darting between her mate, me, and the grand room around her. A sudden realization seemed to dawn on her then that everyone in the ballroom was watching us. She gave a slow, polite nod, clearly unsure of what to expect.

I kept my physical movements calm and unthreatening, taking the empty seat right across from them and setting my yogurt snack cup down on the table.

"Vivian," I said smoothly, introducing myself with a soft smile. "What are your names?"

I extended my hand to the male first. He eyed my fingers like they might suddenly reach out and bite him, and I could practically feel the intense inner war raging inside his mind. Refusing a basic handshake would be a direct insult to pack etiquette, but his deep protection instincts screamed at him not to let his guard down for a second.

I tapped into my heightened wolf senses not pushing hard, but simply opening myself up to their energy. His mental walls were built high, his thoughts locked down tight. But underneath all of that defensive posturing, the true source of his anxiety was crystal clear: it wasn’t fear for himself at all. He was deeply worried about her. His mate.

And beneath that protective fear, his inner wolf sensed something unexpected... a strange, peaceful calm radiating from me.

Eventually, he reached out his hand. When our palms met, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the way his brown eyes widened in surprise from the natural pressure of my grip.

"Sorry," I said, withdrawing my hand quickly. "I’m still working on controlling that strength."

He blinked at me in genuine surprise, then straightened his back again, though the stiffness never quite left his posture.

"I’m Beta Theo of the Crawn Pack," he said, his voice deep and gruff. "This is my mate, Melly."

I turned my full attention to her with a warm nod and offered my hand again. She took it much faster than he had, and I made sure to be far gentler with my grip this time around.

"It’s really nice to meet you both," I said sincerely. "Sorry to intrude on your night, but... where is your alpha?"

Theo didn’t flinch at the question. His steady eyes stayed locked on mine measured, wary, but not hateful.

He tipped his chin slightly toward a large group of alphas gathered on the far side of the room. I followed his line of sight to a portly man who stood with an absurd air of superiority, laughing loudly with a few overdressed males who practically reeked of old money and even older egos.

"There," Theo said simply.

I turned my head back and took in the scene again.

"Ah," I murmured softly. That short answer explained a whole lot.

It was sweet Melly who finally broke the heavy silence between us, her voice barely rising above a quiet whisper, hesitant but kind.

"Shouldn’t you be over speaking with him? He’s very important, isn’t he?"

She winced the second those words left her lips, looking as if she deeply regretted saying them out loud. I gave her a gentle, reassuring smile, catching the delicate, pretty lilt of her Spanish accent beneath the soft whisper.

"He is important," I replied honestly. "But right now, it’s you two I actually want to spend time with. Would it be alright if I joined you for a bit?" I asked, casually scooping up a small spoonful of my fruit snack and taking a bite.