5 Taking the girl

~Dante~

When my daughter returned to the camp alone, I knew something was up. She had blood in her mouth and seemed both shaken up, and strangely happy…. maybe even a little proud of herself. I searched her mind immediately, and discovered what she had done before she could even tell me. We're supposed to be returning back to our packlands tonight, so my decision was made with a heavy heart. The things I do as a parent. I could have left, pretended that I didn't know anything happened to an innocent woman but that seemed too cruel.

I've never wanted a Luna, and I still don't. I'm well aware of what they can do for an alpha, but I still do not want to have one as mine.

To see one carrying my mark would bring me no joy. The reason I'm even standing here, staring at the dark haired woman who I strangely find beautiful and weird, is because she was infected by my child. I feel a sense of regret, and responsibility. She strikes me a survivalist, someone who maps everything out to the capital T to ensure they don't run into problems. And yet she helped my child from Nikolai's zetas, the bastard boys. I am going return the favor by bringing her with me to protect her from the wrenches of others who would only use her as they see fit. I have no need for her, so she should be fine.

We'll make a slight deal. A bond of convenience.

Her crescent eyes flicker between me and my daughter. I can see the wheels in her brain spinning. I can hear her every thought. It's not pleasant. I think she wants to climb me, her thoughts are confused and vulgar. Can you climb a person? I know I'm taller than most men, 90% of men actually, this is the first time I've heard a woman so confused about why she finds me attractive. It's giving me a minor migraine.

"You." She says accusingly, fixing a tense gaze at my daughter. Lynx shifts back, her small hand reaches for mine and I hold it. Offering her a little squeeze of support. She straightened up her spine and tried not to stutter as she spoke.

"I, Lynx Cerberus, am very sorry for infecting you. My dad is always working, and doesn't have anyone to keep him company so I've been searching for someone who could fill whatever emptiness is there for him. I didn't think about your feelings when I bit you. You were just so cool, and you saved me. You didn't have too, not everyone would do that. You didn't even know me, and I repaid you by biting you. Forgive me." She bows her upper half, and I can tell her words affected the brunette. My daughter is adorable, and smarter than she should be. But sometimes, she does what she feels is right without putting much thought to it. She's young I understand, if she had been older I would have done more than reprimand her.

She took my need to protect my pack, and my love for being by myself as a sign that I was missing something. That is far from the case, I don't like intimate company. Be it friends, lovers, or anything like that. I'm good working to keep my people alive and healthy, and I have the most adorable seven year old. What more could I possibly need?

Certainly not a Luna. They're almost like pets. You have to take care of them if you're not using treating them as slaves.

"Has anyone ever told you not to be so cute kid? I'm trying to be mad. You fucked up my whole life." The woman says without so much as a bite in her tone. She flipped her eyes from lynx to me, I already felt uncomfortable. Her thoughts rambled on about my physical appearance and how my daughter is too cute, her words are; it's like they came to attack me with hotness and cuteness.

I don't understand what she means by that but I refrain from saying a word.

Her shoulders suddenly go stiff. "Did you say your last name was Cerberus?"

Lynx nods.

The woman's eyes grow to a comical extent, I'm worried they'll pop free of their sockets. "Umm, that's not disturbing at all."

Lynx smiles with her cheeks full. "Nope, not at all." She's yet to understand sarcasm, and it's very cute. The woman agrees with me if her thoughts are anything to go by. Cerberus is my last name, sure it freaks a lot of people out when they hear it. As it reminds them of the Cerberus genes. The reasons for the Earth's demise.

'You have to come with us. Pack whatever you need, necessities only'

I rarely talk with my mouth, thanks to my telekinesis and telepathy, I don't have too. I find it easier to talk to people within the space of their minds. They can't lie to you there.

"How are you doing that? And what?! No, I'm not going anywhere with you!" She pokes a finger at my chest like I'm some pile of filth. I release my daughter's hand and step right into the personal space of the woman. Ducking under the hood of the door, and forcing my body through the open space.

This time I don't use telepathy, I know exerting my dominance won't put me in the green light with her but I'm not going to endanger my child while trying to convince some woman to listen. Brainless have been attracted to this place, they're looking for the same thing that brought me here. Lynx shouldn't be out for long. We need to be snappy about this.

My eyes lock with hers, holding it in a vile staring contest. Her thoughts are all over the place, I smell the fear on her mixing with her natural scent that I'll admit, is like heaven to my nose.

I keep my stare leveled and blank.

"I um-" she gulps down. Just then I notice how she's dressed, the first mark is visible through the white shirt she has on. The second one must be on her stomach, I can feel their call. They're drawn to the pull of an alpha. I will mark her as my Luna to protect her, but I will offer nothing else. Nothing to sate their hunger and need. We're not forming that kind of bond. I don't want a wife.

"I'm guessing you're going to downright abduct me if I don't do as you say?" she states, running her tongue over her bottom lip.

It's not really a question so I don't answer. My eyes remain trained on her. Her chest heaves as she sighs, turning to gather her things I suppose.

"Doggie!" Lynx shouts, sprinting into the young woman's home, uninvited. She skids to a halt, dropping to the floor to cuddle the golden retriever in her arms. The smile on her face makes my heart feel lighter.

"Great, just touch my dog why don't ya?" The woman mutters under her breath from somewhere in the house. I hear the sounds of her grabbing things and putting them back, and her mind drifts with an idea of using one of her guns on me.

'I wouldn't do that. If you're going to make this difficult, then just say so. I'll gladly knock you out and leave everything you value.'

The threat works well because she places the gun back and swears at me for sticking in her head. It's not my choice, I keep the barrier open to stay safe. I have a daughter after all. What kind of father would I be if I didn't inconvenience myself to protect her?

"Papa." My attention moves to Lynx's position on the floor, she's staring back at me with those big brown eyed expression that she uses when she wants something. "Why does the dog look sick?"

Good question. The pattern of the animal's heart isn't normal, it's slow and irregular. Taking little stops here and there.

"Micah is ill, please let go of her." I'm sure she tried to sound less cold and protective but failed miserably at that. Lynx apologized and released the furred beast, returning to my side with a slump in her shoulders. "My name is Noelle Clarke by the way. If you're going to take me away from my life then at least have my name on your conscious." Her pointed blame didn't go unnoticed by me, or my daughter, but I kept my emotionless look as her gaze searched my face for some sort of reaction. When she saw none, she folded her arms together and grumbled.

What a weird woman. And her thoughts are no better. How is my passiveness attractive? Did she hit her head on a rock? Hmm, maybe. Survivors aren't exactly ordinary. Maybe she's ill or she accidentally suffered a nasty blow to the head. Those are the only explanations I can come up with.

"He's Dante, my dad. Alpha of the Moonraiders pack." Lynx held pride in her tone and it made every love in my chest swell to the point where it was suffocating. I gave her small smile when she looked up at me with that cheek splitting grin.

"How cute." Noelle mutters.

We don't say anything else and she let's us lead her away, with only her pet and her three duffel bags. I don't think she packed much, which isn't a problem. My pack if fully equipped, we only came here to get something of importance. They're blooming in this town.

I should have left Lynx back in the pack lands and done this solo, then maybe her nanny would still be alive and this woman wouldn't have gotten infected. But my instincts kept telling me to take her with me. Of course I had to listen to them.

She carries her dog, the weight is making her walk a lot slower. With a heavy sigh, my arms stretch towards her. Taking the animal from her. I weighed the sleeping dog in my arms. It's light. Far to light to be healthy, or even alive. This dog has at least a week before whatever is keeping its heart pumping runs out.

How long...it should have died by now. Dogs don't live for more than 12-18 years, depending on the breed. How long has she had this pet?

"Hey." Noelle reaches for me, but my body side steps and she nearly falls flat on her face. I should be apologetic, or nice and explain why I'm carrying her dog for her. But I'll refrain from doing so.

She's lucky I didn't bound and gag her.

The dog needs to see a vet, we have one in the pack lands. Micah sounds on the verge of death, every pained breath she takes is loud to my ears. And probably Lynx too. Noelle is frowning now. I'm starting to think that maybe I should have drugged her and kidnapped her.

The only reason I didn't do so was for future purposes. When she chooses to complain about something, I can remind her she came with me willing. I didn't abduct her.

It's a play on her, I know she'll eventually put the pieces together but it would be too late by then.

When we arrived at camp, where the team I brought with me are preparing to leave, they throw a skeptic looks at Noelle.

Wow, Could they hate me anymore? Noelle asks herself, I get the idea that she doesn't really care to know the answer.

"We're heading to the docks to take the boats home. Trust me, you'll forgive me once you see our home. Papa is a wonderful alpha."

Noelle's expression softens at my daughter's words, not because she believes them, but because she finds Lynx terribly cute. And my daughter is. I'll guard her until she's fifty. No man or woman will ever date her. Lynx's eyes sparkle once I place Micah down, but she keeps her hands to herself. Busying them with the hem of her sweater.

"Okay, great." Noelle snickers, she's grips my wrist and pulls me away from my small group. They've all been quiet watching her and gathering up our things.

I allowed her to drag me, I know what she wants to ask and I am willing to answer.

"What exactly do you plan to do to me?"

That's a nice way to voice out that question, I think grimly to myself.

She's rude. She has no mannerism. What was lynx thinking? This strange woman has the social skill of a window. She could never be a good Luna to any pack.

'Easy. We're going to go through what we call mating rituals, and I'm going to mark you to prevent other alphas from being able to use you without permission from me.'

It's unfortunate how Lunas are treated. You'd think for creatures so powerful and beneficial, they would be treated like deities. Instead, the alpha's use them as chargers, and boosters. Putting them at the bottom of the barrel.

I'm not like that. If I could, I would invent a cure just for her. To save myself the stress of…what can I even call her? And Lynx! How will she treat my daughter? Is she even ready to handle a kid?

"What I'm hearing is, you're going to stamp me as your property." I had honestly forgotten she was standing in front of me. Her tone snaps me out of my thoughts.

My stare shifts from calm to blank, there's a nervous tick in her jaw. She raises her hands in defeat, her thoughts tell me that she wants to fight but knows there's no use.

To help her relax, I tell her something that seizes all the fight in her bones completely.

'We have a veterinarian, she'll take a look at Micah once we arrive.'

I don't think I've ever seen a woman's emotion switch faster than Noelle's in that moment. The mere mention of her dog getting help, changes her attitude. She becomes calmer, and nicer, even offering me a smile. She doesn't say anything as we board the boat, she sits obediently next to me and Lynx. She doesn't even bat an eyes when one of my omegas makes a comment about not how weird she looks. She holds up that smile, never once wavering.

She's a good actress, I'll give her that. She could be a good Luna to my people. Although I think her idea of what a Luna does is far different from what I'm going to make her do. I'm going to take the less intimate route of the mating ritual when I mark her as mine, then after she will learn to work.

He's watching her, I hear a soft whisper float into my ears. His presence is suddenly felt, causing the ink in my bicep to itch. My body remains unmoved by the new information. The question doesn't leave my head, why would he be watching this woman?