Chapter 10:Become the Luna

CRASSUS POV

"Why were you looking for my pack?" Crassus suddenly asked, his gaze never wavering.

"And who harmed you to that extent? What have you gone through?.

Crassus stood in silence, his piercing gaze fixed on Estella as he waited for her to explain.

She hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and speaking.

He listened without a single interruption, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. With each word, his anger grew.

His wolf raged beneath the surface, clawing for release, demanding blood for the horrors she had endured. She spoke of the chase, of how her mother died, and of the blows she had taken while struggling to break free.

She spoke of the desperate escape, of the hunger, the exhaustion, the sheer terror that had driven her to seek out his pack, because her mother said this pack is the only place they might find safety.

By the time she finished, Crassus was barely holding himself together. His jaw was clenched so tightly it ached. His claws threatened to break through his human skin. His wolf howled for vengeance, demanding he hunt down the ones who had dared to harm her.

He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair as he fought for control. His every instinct screamed at him to pull her close, to shield her from the world, to promise that no one would ever lay a hand on her again. But he didn't. He couldn't.

Instead, he turned away for a brief moment, trying to steady his breathing, trying to contain the violent rage surging within him.

Slowly, he turned back to her. His eyes, burning bright with the force of his anger, locked onto hers. His voice, when he finally spoke, was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of an unbreakable vow. They will pay.

"You asked if I would help you," Crassus said, his deep voice steady yet laced with something unreadable. "I will help you With everything you want to do", his unwavering tone left no room for doubt, he continued, stepping closer. "Become my Luna."

Her body stiffened. The words hung in the air between them, thick with meaning. She opened her mouth, then shut it, unsure how to respond. Crassus studied her reaction but pressed on, his voice softer now, almost coaxing.

"We are mates, Estella. That much is undeniable. But I'm not asking you to accept me out of duty or obligation." His expression darkened slightly. "If you want revenge, I'll train you. I'll make you strong enough to take back what was stolen from you. No one will stand in your way—not while you have me by your side."

Crassus' blue eyes burned with intensity as he continued. "Even if you don't want to be my Luna, that's fine. I will still do everything in my power to help you. You have my word."

Something in his voice made her chest tighten. It wasn't just a casual promise. It was an oath—one that carried the weight of an Alpha's authority.

"But if you do choose to be my Luna," he went on, "I will respect you until you're ready. I will never enter your room if you don't want me there. And all of the pack's resources will be yours to use as you see fit."

Crassus took a step back, as if sensing her hesitation. "Take your time," he murmured. "You don't have to answer now. But know this—whether you stand beside me as my Luna or not, you are not alone, Estella."

He had spoken the words, he had asked her to become his Luna—not because he wanted to force her into anything, but because it was the logical path for her vengeance. As Luna, no one in his pack would dare oppose her. If she remained an outsider, there would be resistance, whispers in the shadows, challenges she might not be ready for.

Not that he cared about their opposition. He never had. He did whatever he wanted, and no one had ever dared to stop him. If Estella refused, he would still help her.

He could tear through anyone who stood in her way, regardless of what his pack thought. But could she handle the pressure? Could she withstand the scrutiny and weight of being the outsider in the pack? That was the only reason he had suggested it.

Though, if he were being honest with himself, there was more to it than that. He wanted her to be his Luna. Not just for her revenge. Not just to silence opposition. But because she was his mate.

He clenched his fists, inhaling deeply. But he wouldn't force her. She had already been through enough. Whatever her decision, he would respect it. A soft voice broke through his thoughts.

"Crassus," Estella said, her tone steady but thoughtful. "Can you give me three days to think about it?"

His sharp blue eyes flickered toward her, searching for hesitation or rejection. But there was none. She wasn't saying no. She was considering it.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Relief, unexpected yet welcome, spread through him.

"Of course," he said, his voice calmer than he felt. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait for your decision." He paused, his expression softening just slightly.

"But don't feel pressured. Whatever you choose, I will support you."

Estella nodded, her gaze lingering on his for a moment before she turned away.

Crassus watched her go, his heart lighter than before. Three days. She was thinking about it. That was enough for now.

.............

ESTELLA POV

The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Estella's mind. She had barely closed the door behind her when Reyna's voice echoed through her thoughts—sharp, impatient, and unwavering.

"What are you waiting for, Estella?" Reyna's growl rippled through her consciousness. "Crassus is our mate. We belong to him, and he belongs to us. This is not something you need to think about."

Estella sank onto the edge of her bed, her fingers curling into the soft fabric of her blanket. The scent of home lingered in the air, but it felt distant now—faint, like a memory slipping through her fingers.

"Reyna," she whispered aloud, her voice a thin thread of sound. "It's not that simple."

"It is that simple!" Reyna snapped, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "He's our mate. The bond is there—don't you feel it? That pull every time he's near? Why are you fighting this?"

Estella shut her eyes, and for a moment, she let herself remember the way Crassus had looked at her—the silent promise in his gaze, the steady strength he offered without asking for anything in return. She did feel the bond. It tugged at her, an invisible thread tying her to him, warm and unyielding.

"But if I… if I accept him now," Estella's voice broke, "it's like I'm moving on. Like I'm forgetting them and betraying my parents". She bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. "How can I stand there beside Crassus and call myself his when my parents' deaths still weigh on my heart?"

Reyna went silent for a beat. But when she spoke again, her voice was softer, though no less firm.

"Accepting Crassus and being his Luna does not mean you are betraying your parents, Estella," Reyna's voice was soft but firm. "It does not mean you are moving on from their deaths, either."

Estella shut her eyes, her breath unsteady. "Then what does it mean?" she whispered.

"It means choosing to live. To fight. Your parents would want that. They would want you to be happy, not drowning in guilt."

Estella clenched her fists. The pain of loss was still fresh, a wound that refused to heal. Could she really stand beside Crassus, accept the bond between them, when all she wanted was vengeance?

As if sensing her turmoil, Reyna spoke again, her tone shifting—stronger, more calculating. "If you cannot accept Crassus for yourself, then accept him for revenge."

Estella's breath hitched.

"Crassus has already sworn he will not harm you," Reyna continued. "But if you want better access to the Northern Pack, if you want revenge quicker, then becoming his Luna is the best way to do that."

Estella's mind raced. Reyna was right. Crassus had influence, power, and above all, a reason to go against the demon wolves. But if he insisted on helping her while she remained just an outsider in his pack, she knew what would happen.

In every pack, they always prioritized their own. Even if they saw the demon wolves as enemies, there would always be resistance, differing opinions, and limitations on how far they would go for an outsider. They would help her, but not beyond what benefited them.

But if she was Crassus's Luna?

A pack protects its own. A Luna was not just any member—she was a priority. If she stood by Crassus's side, they would have no choice but to stand with her.

Slowly, Estella exhaled, her fingers loosening. Maybe this was the answer. Maybe this was the only way.

She lifted her head, her resolve hardening. "You might be right, Reyna."