"What the hell, Jace?" I growled at my Beta, my gaze fixed on the small figure hiding behind him.

Even in the short time she’d been with Jace, the girl had clearly placed her trust in him, relying on his protection as she took her time to thoroughly inspect me. A pang of unexpected jealousy shot through me.

“Hi Alpha, my name is Mercedes,” she suddenly spoke, her innocent silver eyes still fixed on me. Her voice was soft and a little hoarse, a sound I knew I could listen to for hours.

Slowly, I knelt down to get a better look at her, bringing myself to her level.

“Mercedes. What a beautiful name, just like you,” I whispered, a genuine warmth spreading through me. “You can call me Zane, okay?”

A radiant smile bloomed on her face, and she stepped out from behind Jace, no longer hiding.

“Would you like to come with me to the packhouse, Mercedes?” I asked gently. “I have a few questions about how you got here. And I’m sure you must be hungry.”

She nodded eagerly, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting my eyes again.

“But I don’t have a wolf,” she apologized, a hint of disappointment in her voice. Then, her eyes brightened. “Can I ride yours then?” she asked, a clear delight in the prospect. “What’s your wolf’s name?”

“Jax. And he’d love to have you on his back,” I assured her, a smile tugging at my lips.

I stood up and glanced at the men around me. Jace was staring at me in disbelief, and even Cleo, my usually composed Head Warrior, wore a look of bewildered surprise.

‘Come to my office. I have some announcements to make. We’ll travel back in wolf form,’ I instructed them through the mind link.

I quickly shifted back into Jax. He lowered himself, offering Mercedes an easy climb onto his broad back. She deftly clambered on, holding on tightly. It was clear she’d ridden on a wolf’s back before, a detail I’d be sure to ask her about later. Jax took a slightly longer route back to the packhouse, indulging in the pup’s joyful cries as the wind whipped through her hair. She urged him to go faster, tapping her heels against his flanks, but he maintained a steady, moderate pace, prioritizing her safety and perhaps enjoying the feel of her small weight on his back.

Half an hour later, we reached the packhouse.

Once Mercedes had climbed down, Jax moved behind a nearby tree to shift back into my human form and get dressed. When I returned, I offered her my hand, which she accepted without hesitation. Jace and Cleo had disappeared to shift as well. We waited for them, and when they reappeared, we entered the packhouse and headed directly to my office. I settled Mercedes onto the comfortable couch and sat beside her, while Jace and Cleo each took a nearby armchair.

“Let me introduce everyone properly to you, Mercedes. This is Jace, my Beta, and this is Cleo, our Head Warrior,” I said calmly, offering her a warm smile. I wanted to make her feel comfortable, not to intimidate her. “Now, please tell us everything that happened, just as you told Jace earlier. What’s the name of your pack, and how did you end up in the woods here?”

“I don’t know, Zane,” she said, her voice smooth and clear. “I fell asleep, and when I woke up, Jace was looking at me,” she explained. “I was in the woods behind the packhouse in my pack. I was playing with Marco and the others.” Her big, innocent eyes met mine, and I was instantly convinced of her sincerity. She was telling the truth.

“That’s alright. And what are your parents’ names? And your Alpha’s?” I asked gently.

“My mummy’s name is Selin, and my daddy is Marc. They’re the Beta of Alpha Ahri,” she answered readily.

I glanced at Jace. Her father was his counterpart in the Silver Moon pack. The Betas in the region maintained contact through a group chat, making it easy to confirm this information. Jace nodded and pulled out his phone.

“Who was the last person you saw before you fell asleep in the woods?” I asked, taking her small hand in mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

She shook her head, staring at me.

“We were playing hide-and-seek. I tried to find a good hiding spot in the woods. Marco didn’t come to find me, so I just lay down on the ground to wait. I didn’t see anyone,” she explained.

I understood then that her memory ended there. Whoever had taken her had been careful to remain unseen. But the central question remained: why would someone kidnap a pup from her family and bring her to a foreign pack’s territory?

“Tell me, Mercedes, how old are you? Do you go to school yet?” I asked, shifting the conversation to a lighter topic. A wider smile spread across her face at the mention of school, bringing a sparkle to her eyes.

“I’m ten years old! I’m in fifth grade. My teacher is Alyssa, and she’s very kind,” she chirped. “She says I’m adorable too. She often brings fruit from home for us to snack on. She says it’s healthier than chocolate.”

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. “That’s absolutely true. And if Alyssa shares her own fruit with you, then you must be her favorite student,” I complimented her. Her smile widened, her eyes lit up with joy.

“Mercedes,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “Would you like to visit my pack more often? During school holidays, or when you don’t have homework on the weekends, or something like that?”

As my mate, I desperately wanted her with me as much as possible. Jax felt the same.

But I knew I had to be patient. She was underage; I would have to wait until she turned eighteen before officially claiming her and making her my Luna. My primary concern now was how this situation would be perceived by the other packs, especially my own. As both the most feared Alpha and a highly respected leader in the region, the news that my mate was still just a pup wouldn’t be well-received by everyone. It was crucial that there was no doubt about my intentions.

I truly believed the Moon Goddess had a reason for bringing Mercedes into my life at this moment. My patience in finding my mate had been wearing thin. By introducing her to me at such a young age, Selene had saved me from the possibility of making a desperate decision, to take a chosen mate.

I looked at Mercedes once more, she still couldn’t seem to take her eyes off me. Carefully, I reached out and gently stroked her hair. She didn’t flinch, a small gesture that filled me with a sense of quiet triumph. I had already gained her trust.

It was a perfect start. Now, I just needed to speak with her parents and Alpha Ahri about this extraordinary situation.

“Yes, Zane,” she replied with childish enthusiasm. “I’d like to stay in this packhouse with you. But I have to ask my mom and dad first.”

And then I realized that my mate must be hungry.

She definitely hadn't eaten anything since she'd gone missing. I took her hand as we left my office and entered the large dining room. Thankfully, Jace had already mind linked the cook, letting her know we were bringing a young pup who needed food.

The aroma of warm pancakes and sweet syrup filled the air as we stepped inside.

Mercedes immediately let go my hand and hurried toward the table, clearly famished. I guided her to the chair that had remained vacant since I became Alpha, the Luna’s seat. Carefully, I lifted her and placed her in the seat that waited for her for so long. Jace and our Head Warrior, Cleo, watched with wide eyes, holding their breath.

I didn’t pay any attention to them.

My focus was entirely on my little Luna, finally seated in her rightful place. Taking my position next to her in my Alpha chair at the head of the table, I picked up a plate and placed a fluffy pancake on it.

“Mercedes, which syrup would you like on your pancake? We have strawberry, caramel, and pure honey,” I asked. Her eyes were fixed on the delectable pancakes on her plate, my mate was definitely a foodie.

“Honey, Zane,” she exclaimed with delight. “My mummy always puts lots of honey on mine.” I drizzled a generous amount of the sweet substance over the pancake and then carefully cut it into smaller pieces for her. I handed her a fork, and she immediately began to dig in.

“Thank you, Zane,” she said a moment later, her mouth full. I also poured her a glass of fresh orange juice.

“You’re very welcome, little one,” I replied. Once I was sure she was comfortable and enjoying her meal, I began to eat my own breakfast.

‘Zane, we need to talk,’ Jace’s voice echoed in my mind. ‘I’ve never seen you so affectionate with a pup before. Something’s going on here.’

‘I’m starting to guess what it is from the look on your face,’ he continued.

I glanced at my Beta and Head Warrior. Making sure Mercedes was completely absorbed in her food, I turned back to my two closest friends.

‘Yes,’ I confirmed their unspoken question. ‘She’s my fated mate, your Luna. Only the Moon Goddess knows why she paired me with a pup, but I love her already, and I’ll make sure she stays in my life until she’s old enough to officially take her place as Midnight Moon’s Luna,” I declared confidently.

Jace looked at me thoughtfully.

‘You know Alpha Ahri is incredibly strict with his pack members,’ he reminded me. ‘You’ll have to be very persuasive to convince him that she belongs with you. Man, you have a long way to go with that fool.’

Jace was right. I knew all about that.

Ahri was a controversial leader. He trusted no one, and he was quick to anger. Even if a low-ranking Omega from his pack got into trouble, he was ready to declare war. And now, his Beta’s daughter was here, in my pack. I knew it would be difficult to arrange regular visits with my mate. But he would have no choice but to allow me near her, the werewolf laws were very clear on this point; mates belonged together.

The only caveat was Mercedes’s age.

Because she was a minor, I couldn’t simply claim her and keep her in my pack. Until she turned eighteen and also recognized me as her mate, she would remain under Ahri’s jurisdiction.

Damn. These were going to be some long, challenging years.

“Zane, how old are you? And where are your mummy and daddy?” Mercedes’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“I’m twenty, little one. My parents live in the other wing of the packhouse. And I have a younger sister named Elise. The Head Warrior here is her mate,” I explained. “Do you know what a mate is?”

Her big silver eyes met mine.

“My mummy and daddy are mates. They kiss each other all day long,” she said, demonstrating with a dramatic grin. "I often ask them why they kiss each other so much when they only have one pup at the end of the day.”

Jace and Cleo burst out laughing at her innocent observation. Mercedes looked at them shyly.

“Little one,” Jace said, still chuckling. “Whoever told you that mates have babies by kissing, well, they lied to you. You can trust me on that.”

A serious expression settled on Mercedes’s face.

“Marco’s parents have five pups, and they kiss all day too,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Marco says he often sees them without clothes in the house too.”

I nearly choked on my pancake.

Holy crap. What was wrong with these people? Didn’t they believe in locking their doors when they are at it?

“He told you that? Maybe his parents were about to shift into their wolf at the time?” I suggested, trying to salvage the situation.

Shit! This was unheard of. If I ever met this nosy Marco, I’d have to teach him some discretion. He seemed far too eager to introduce my mate to adult matters.

“No, no, no, Zane,” she insisted, shaking her head firmly. “Everyone shifts outside the house or in the forest—never in a bedroom.”

Now it was that introvert Cleo’s turn to lose control.

He banged his head lightly on the dining table, roaring with laughter.

Oh, good heavens. I was clearly unprepared for the logic of a ten-year-old, especially one influenced by a gossipy friend.

I shot my Head Warrior a warning glare, but he was still struggling to compose himself. Jace was also having a hard time keeping a straight face. Desperate to change the subject, I placed another pancake on Mercedes’s plate.

“Why don’t you try the strawberry syrup this time?” I proposed. She nodded eagerly, her attention successfully diverted. After finishing her food, Mercedes began to yawn. The past few hours had clearly taken their toll.

“Are you feeling sleepy, little one?” I asked. “Don’t worry. I’ll have my sister come and get you. She’ll help you take a bath, and then you can rest for a few hours before your parents arrive to pick you up.”

The child nodded happily. I mind linked Elise, asking her to come to the dining room.

‘On my way, Alpha,’ she responded immediately.

When Elise entered, she went straight to Mercedes.

“Cleo told me we have a beautiful guest today,” she said, smiling warmly at my mate. “Hi, I’m Elise. This big Alpha here is my brother. You must be sweet Mercedes.”

Mercedes nodded shyly, watching Elise with interest.

“Can you give her a bath, dress her in some clean clothes, and then let her rest in my bed?” I asked my sister. “She’s been away from her pack all evening. We’ve fed her, and now she needs a nap.”

Taking each other’s hands, Mercedes and Elise left the dining room, chatting happily as if they’d known each other for years.

Now, finally, it was time for a serious discussion with my Beta and Head Warrior about this extraordinary situation.

Jace cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Zane, I’ve spoken with the Beta. He confirmed that his daughter has been missing since yesterday. She was indeed playing with some other pups in the woods when they lost sight of her,” he informed me. “He’s on his way here with his mate to pick her up. They’ll arrive in about two hours.”

He paused, then added.

“Don’t you think you should call Alpha Ahri and let him know about this as soon as possible? That would ease up your path.”

Of course. I’d completely forgotten.

The sheer joy of finally having my mate here with me had consumed my every thought. I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found Ahri’s number.

“Alpha Ahri, this is Alpha Zane from Midnight Moon. I’m calling to inform you that we’ve found your Beta’s daughter near our border,” I stated.

The response on the other end was a low, menacing growl.

“Alpha Zane. Yes, my Beta informed me. This matter requires thorough investigation. A pup doesn’t travel that many miles in a single day. There’s more to this.” His tone was far from friendly, but I hadn’t expected anything different.

“I agree. I also detected the scent of your pack within my territory. This means some of your members entered my lands without permission,” I answered him. “That’s a punishable offense. I’ll be sure to include this in my report.”

He sputtered something unintelligible but didn’t directly address my accusation.

I decided not to push the issue. My current situation was delicate, I was, in a way, at his mercy regarding my personal life.

“There’s something else I need to discuss with you. It’s…unusual, but we can’t question the Moon Goddess’s decisions,” I began carefully, trying to choose my words wisely. “Mercedes is my fated mate.”

I dropped the bombshell.

“What?!” he barked into the phone. “You so much as lay a finger on that pup, and I’ll tear you apart! You pedophile! I’m coming for her with my warriors. You make sure she’s safe at the border. I’ll kill you!” he raged, his voice thick with fury.

His harsh breathing rasped through the speaker, and I could practically feel his anger radiating through the phone.

“ Alpha Ahri, I assure you, I am not a pedophile. Mercedes’s parents are on their way and will have their daughter back safe and sound,” I reassured him calmly. “I have no intention of claiming her yet. I’m well aware of the Werewolf Laws. I want to discuss this rationally and reach an agreement with you.”

“Agreement? About what?” Ahri snarled.

I sighed deeply.

“Listen. Mercedes is my fated mate. The Moon Goddess has decreed it, and I accept that. All I want is free access to be able to visit her in your pack and for her to visit me here, so she can become accustomed to my presence and my pack. After all, she is the future Luna of Midnight Moon.”

I heard him swallow hard several times, the news was clearly difficult for him to accept.

But this exceptional circumstance was something I had to accept as well.

“Alpha, the law forbids third parties from intervening and keeping mates apart,” I reminded him. “I assure you, she’ll always be safe here. My Beta and Head Warrior will act as her personal protectors.”

After a long, tense silence, I heard him take a deep breath, desperately trying to regain control.

Ahri was known for his volatile temper, it took a lot to reason with him. At past Alpha meetings, he had proven himself to be impulsive and unpredictable, few Alphas wanted to deal with him. But I had no choice, my mate belonged to his pack.

“Her parents will be there shortly. Talk to them. If they agree, I expect you in my pack within two weeks to discuss this further,” he finally conceded, his voice still tight with suspicion. “But I still find this suspicious. Too many coincidences. First, the girl goes missing, then she turns up miles away in your territory, and now she’s your mate.” He paused, emphasizing his next words.

“Are you sure you had nothing to do with her disappearance?” he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

Good heavens, no!

Could this man not think logically for once? Even Mercedes had shown more sense than her Alpha!

My patience was wearing thin. I suppressed my annoyance, I didn’t have time to waste on this fool.

“Then explain to me what my motive would be?” I countered. “She’s already my mate. If I knew that beforehand, I would have simply contacted her parents and then you, as I’m doing now,” I explained slowly, as if speaking to a child. “Why would I go to the trouble of kidnapping her first and then make myself look suspicious?”

Ahri seemed to recognize the logic in my words, his tone shifting slightly.

"What are you implying?" he asked, now edged with a different kind of tension. "Are you saying it's impossible? People do all sorts of things to get what they want. What makes you any different?"

I had no patience with this nonsense.

“Listen, Alpha. As agreed, I’ll discuss this with her parents, and I’ll be at your pack in two weeks. I’ll let you know when I’ll arrive. I look forward to hearing the results of your investigation.” Before he could say anything else, I ended the call.

Jace and Cleo stared at me with expressions of pity.

“Yes, that reaction was to be expected. The man isn’t exactly known for his intellect,” Jace sighed wearily. “I could tell he was ready to go to war even before he had all the details in front of him."

“That would be a grave mistake on his part,” Cleo chimed in sarcastically. “Underestimating Midnight Moon and acting against Werewolf Laws will be his downfall one day.”

I walked over to the liquor cabinet and pulled out my most expensive bottle of wine.

There was certainly reason to celebrate, albeit in a complicated way. Midnight Moon had found its Luna, I had ultimately found my mate. It wasn’t how I’d envisioned it, but that didn’t diminish my happiness.

I poured a glass for each of us and raised mine in a toast.

“To a new beginning for Midnight Moon. With a Luna, we are stronger, invincible,” I declared in my most commanding Alpha tone.

Jace and Cleo nodded, their eyes meeting mine with a shared sense of determination.

The bubbles in our glasses rose to the surface as we stood together, united.