A Luna's Duty

"I want to be strong, Val!"

Val massaged his forehead in frustration. He looked at Elyna, who was staring at him with a fiery gaze mixed with a pleading gaze. He didn't know what had happened over the past few days. But that morning, when Val came to check on his partner, Elyna suddenly stood in front of him and insisted on becoming stronger so she could be a good Luna, she said.

"You're already strong in your way. For now, it would be better if you just focus on your manners and academic lessons."

Elyna frowned in disappointment. Val was sure this time it wasn't just his feelings. Since he made a sacred promise to Elyna, the girl had become more daring in showing various expressions in front of him.

"I will still take the manners class, as well as going to the academy. Just let me go to the self-defense class. I heard that every other pack member is required to take that class."

Elyna tried to give Val a logical reason. The man didn't know how disappointed Elyna was when she realized that all pack members were required to take self-defense classes. Everyone, except herself.

Being singled out made Elyna feel like she wasn't accepted in her new pack. Eir also secretly teased her about it. Every time Elyna passed by the training room, Eir would tease her until someone would drag her away.

"That class isn't one you can just join, Elyna. The training there is specialized for werewolves. If you join-"

"Can't I join because I'm... a weak half-werewolf?"

No. Mocking Elyna because of her condition wasn't what Val meant. Val was just trying to protect Elyna. Zen had said it too. Because Elyna's condition was special, they needed to be careful in choosing her training class.

"Is it because I'm weaker than a normal human... that I can't learn to protect myself?"

"Elyna-"

CLACK!

"Val, you should see this interesting thing I found to- Oops, bad timing," Zen said awkwardly. Val's eyes looked coldly at Zen while Elyna, who was originally about to cry, hurriedly adjusted her expression again.

Val took another deep breath. He approached Elyna, who was staring at the floor as if the floor was more interesting than him. Val's hand rubbed Elyna's face. Every time Val touched Elyna, he couldn't help but feel afraid that even a little force could hurt his partner.

"You will be late going to the academy if this continues. Go to the academy first. We will discuss this matter after you get home," said Val. Elyna nodded weakly and resigned as Val led her hand out of her study.

"We'll talk later," Val said briefly to Zen, who rubbed his neck awkwardly when Val and Elyna walked past him.

***

"LUNA!"

The excited scream came from a beautiful girl who waved her hand excitedly as soon as she saw Elyna. Her eyes sparkled. Since Hera was busy with her modeling work these past few days, it felt like it had been long since Hera had seen her sweet Luna.

"Eh? Why do you look sad? Did Alpha tease you? Or because I didn't pick you up a few days ago?"

Hera asked worriedly when she finally noticed the sad expression on Elyna's face. Elyna just shook her head weakly. Her hand was still intertwined with Val's until she finally sat down next to the man.

"Where's Eir?"

As usual, Val would take attendance of his trusted people when breakfast time started.

"She's still mad at you. We tried to persuade her, but she's still reluctant to eat together again. She said she won't show up in the dining room until you return all her cards."

Zen, who had just entered the dining room, commented. The man let out a long sigh. Although he was also worried because of Eir's stubbornness, they couldn't do much because sometimes Eir had to be taught a lesson so that she wouldn't always do whatever she wanted.

Val tapped the dining table once using his index finger. No one spoke for a while. They all knew Val was thinking because not long after, the man finally spoke again.

"I'll talk to Hakan. Eir won't be able to continue her hunger strike if Hakan talks to her."

Everyone silently nodded in agreement. Although Eir always cursed and kicked every time Hakan visited her, everyone in the pack knew that Eir's second weakness after Val was that strong man.

"Let's start breakfast."

After Val gave the order, the people immediately ate their breakfast.

"Elyna, Hera and Jake will take you today."

Again, only an order was heard by Elyna. The girl nodded listlessly. Who knows where the enthusiasm that she had ignited this morning went?

"Sorry, Alpha. I'm late this morning."

Elyna turned her head slowly when she saw a handsome man who was about 30 years old enter the dining room when everyone had started eating breakfast. Elyna had never seen the man before. However, because the man naturally took a place at the large dining table, Elyna could tell that the man was one of the core members of their pack.

Val nodded. He didn't say much when he gestured that the man could also start eating his breakfast.

"Alpha, is that our Luna that everyone is talking about?"

However, instead of eating right away, the man looked at Elyna curiously. Val put his cutlery back. Of all the core members of the pack, he was the only man who had never officially met Elyna.

"Yes. Elyna, he's Hakan. And Hakan, she's Elyna," said Val briefly. Hakan lowered his head, smiling politely at Elyna, who finally knew who the Hakan that Val mentioned when he was talking about Eir earlier.

"Nice to meet you, Luna. My name is Hakan, the werewolf trainer in this pack," he said kindly. Instantly, Elyna's gloomy face brightened again. She was about to speak before Val cut her off.

"I said we'll talk about it another time. Now finish your food and go with Hera and Jake."

Elyna immediately became gloomy. Her head lowered listlessly without saying anything, and everyone could only look confused at the couple's interaction.

***

"So..."

Jake peeked slightly from the rearview mirror at Elyna, who was sitting languidly in the back seat alone.

"What causes our Luna to be so gloomy?" Jake asked curiously.

Elyna shook her head slowly. She didn't want to talk about what she wanted, but a long sigh escaped her lips.

Hera turned around. The beautiful girl looked at Elyna confidently.

"You know, you can always tell us, Luna."

Elyna clenched her fists. She looked at Hera and Jake in turn and then began to whisper.

"What does it mean to you to be Luna?" Elyna asked slowly. Hera looked thoughtful, then answered cheerfully.

"Of course, a sacred partner that will complete an Alpha's life. A Luna will help an Alpha to become stronger, standing beside him in difficult and happy times," Hera answered confidently.

Hera thought Elyna would like her answer. But instead of looking better, Elyna looked even gloomier. That made Hera wonder if there was something wrong with her answer.

"Then, how can I be the Luna you want if Val doesn't allow me to become stronger? I may not be able to transform. But, if I train, I might be able to find what I can do. By training, at least I won't be a burden to others. That... I wonder why Val doesn't want to understand that?"

Hera looked at Elyna pitifully. She wanted to comfort her but was confused about what to do when the problem involved the alpha she respected so much.

Jake, who understood the situation, immediately parked his car. He took a deep breath and then glanced at Elyna.

"I think I know why the alpha forbade you to fight," Jake said. Elyna looked at him, confused by what Jake meant.

"As a core member of the pack, we have all been informed of your special condition. Even now, I'm afraid something will happen to you because you are weaker than a normal human. I can't imagine how Alpha feels about it. You are the only one for him. If something happens to you, he will go crazy, and this pack will be destroyed."

Elyna could only be silent, hearing Jake's words. She never thought that the pierced and naughty man who liked to act fun could be that stern when he started talking seriously.

Hera also looked at her brother in disapproval. After all, he had said something rude to their Luna.

But Jake didn't care. He continued to ramble until he stopped when he felt Elyna tightening her clothes even more.

"But," Jake continued.

"That doesn't mean you are just a burden in our pack. Compared to all of us, you are the one who has the most important task here."

Elyna looked confused. Besides forcing everyone to protect her, Elyna didn't understand what else she could do in their pack.

"Our Alpha is always empty behind the strength he has. He doesn't get the right affection because he was raised as the pack leader. At least, that's what my mother said when I was angry with him because he once punished me firmly when I misbehaved and endangered the pack."

Elyna began to calm down. She didn't expect to hear another side of her seemingly perfect partner.

"Alpha has always been alone in his life. Even his siblings and we can't touch his life too much. But you're different, Luna. Since you came, he has started to show expressions and actions that he's never shown before. Alpha started to smile, pay attention to someone, and open his heart little by little," Jake explained at length.

"You can complete it by teaching him affection, Luna. Teach him what love is. Teach our Alpha how to be strong because he has someone he loves. Someone who will continue to accompany him even in difficult times."

Elyna was pensive. Her head was lowered as if thinking about something. Elyna didn't see that Hera gave Jake a thumbs up while saying 'nice job' silently.

"Alpha doesn't want you to force yourself and change into something he doesn't want, Luna. He's quite happy with you being yourself. We are the same. Your arrival has made the atmosphere in the pack more lively. Without you realizing it, you've helped us a lot," Hera explained with a smile. That's right. Without Elyna, Val would be forever trapped in a loneliness that would slowly eat him and his pack.

"So don't ever think that you're a burden to all of us. You help more than we think. Providing emotional support to our Alpha is a task that only you can do, and we're happy if we can help you with that task," Hera said again.