MATED TO FATHER, FAT Chapter 45: I AM LUNA

Chapter 45: I AM LUNA

AMARIS

I could not stop thinking about that hug.

The way Alpha Corvin had gone completely still when I wrapped my arms around him, like I had broken a part of him by touching him without permission.

He had not hugged me back, had not moved at all really, just stood there like a statue while I pressed myself against his chest.

But it had been warm.

And underneath that hard shell of a man, underneath all that cruelty and calculated coldness, I could have sworn I felt something softer and almost human.

I rolled over in bed and punched my pillow, trying to find a position that would let my brain shut up for five minutes.

This was ridiculous.

I obviously had daddy issues because now I was drawn to Alpha Corvin of all people, the man who literally told me I was nothing more than a womb with legs, the man who made my sicko brother lick my feet in front of hundreds of people just to prove a point about power.

At first it was Ryker, and even though I knew he was playing games with me, knew he was using me in whatever twisted game he had going on, I still let him. Still let him put his hands on me and make me feel things I should not feel and turn my brain into useless mush.

Then there was Rowan who was visibly engaged to be married and he kissed me anyway, and I kissed him back like that was a perfectly normal thing to do instead of the catastrophic mistake it actually was.

What kind of person was I?

Oh Amaris, you are such a fool.

I was still cursing myself and my terrible taste in men when Nia walked in without knocking, which seemed to be a recurring theme in this house.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her hands on her hips. "I have been waiting for you."

I groaned and pulled the covers over my head. "Why do I need to do this again?"

"Because," Nia yanked the covers off me, "as Luna to be you are in control of the household and how it is run. So you have to meet with the staff, make decisions, show them you know what you are doing even if you have absolutely no idea what you are doing."

"That sounds exhausting."

"It is," Nia confirmed cheerfully. "But you have no choice. The Alpha made it clear you had to do this."

Of course he did.

I dragged myself out of bed and got dressed in some peach fancy gown that looked Luna appropriate, which apparently meant a dress that was nice but not too nice, formal but not too formal, expensive but not showing off. The politics of clothing were giving me a headache.

"Another day to put on a show of a Luna who cares," I muttered as we headed downstairs.

Nia looped her arm through mine. "Fake it till you make it, that is the Gravemoon way."

We went to the kitchen first and the staff were already gathered waiting for us because Nia had sent word ahead. The second I walked through the door they all bowed in unison and I felt ridiculous.

"Please stand up," I waved my hand awkwardly. "Who is the head of kitchen staff?"

An elderly woman stepped forward, her gray hair pulled back in a neat bun and her apron spotless. She had kind eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

"I am Mrs. Caroline, Luna," she greeted warmly. "We are honored to have you visit us."

"Thank you Mrs. Caroline," I responded, trying to channel whatever authority I was supposed to have.

Nia had told me earlier that I needed to make at least one change, just to show them who was in charge now, establish my presence as the new Luna. It felt petty and stupid but apparently that was how pack politics worked.

I looked around the kitchen trying to find something, anything, that I could reasonably change without being a complete tyrant about it.

The kitchen was beautiful, all gleaming copper pots and marble countertops and windows that let in natural light. Everything looked perfect, well organized, clearly run by someone who knew what they were doing.

No, that is perfect, my brain countered as I looked at the hanging herbs.

The knife rack? No, also perfect.

The arrangement of spices? Perfect.

God this was hard.

Then I spotted silverware displayed on a shelf near the window, elegant pieces that probably cost more than my entire childhood wardrobe. They were beautiful but they were also the only thing in this kitchen that I could plausibly have an opinion about.

"I don’t like those," I announced, pointing at the silverware. "Can you change them? I need marble plates instead."

The temperature in the room dropped about ten degrees.

Mrs. Caroline’s smile faltered and she looked at the silverware like I had just insulted her firstborn child. "Those were handpicked by Luna Zoya," she responded quietly.

Oh.

Ohhhhh.

Of course they were.

"Okay then," I started to backtrack but Nia cleared her throat behind me, a subtle reminder that backing down now would make me look weak.

Right.

Luna who is in charge.

Not Luna who caves the second someone mentions the dead perfect wife.

"Is Luna Zoya still around?" I asked, knowing the answer but needing to make the point.

Mrs. Caroline’s face tightened. "No, but—"

"No buts," I interrupted, channeling every bit of authority I could scrape together. "I need them changed. Like yesterday. So get it done."

Mrs. Caroline’s mouth pressed into a thin line and she dipped her head. "Yes Luna," she muttered.

I turned and walked out of the kitchen with Nia right behind me, my heart pounding from the confrontation. We made it about twenty feet down the hallway before we both lost it.

"Oh my god," I whispered, doing this weird little excited dance.

Nia grabbed my hands and we did that girly giggle thing, fingers tingly with adrenaline. "How did I do?"

"You were perfect," Nia gushed. "Mrs. Caroline definitely knows who is in control now."

I laughed, the sound slightly manic. "Now I get why people become power consumed. This is kind of intoxicating."

"Right?" Nia squeezed my hands. "It is like a drug."

We were still giggling when I remembered we had more stops on this torture tour. "Where to next?"

Nia’s expression shifted and she made a face. "The sentinels at the courtyard."

I groaned. "Oh great. Men."

We walked to the courtyard where the sentinels were already assembled in neat rows, their uniforms crisp and their posture military perfect. A commander stood at the front and as soon as he spotted us he called out an order.

"Luna approaching, attention!"

They all saluted in unison and I had to fight the urge to salute back because I had no idea what the proper response was supposed to be. I settled for smiling and trying to look like I belonged there.

The commander walked up to me, a tall man with graying hair and a scar running down his left cheek. "Commander Bruno," he introduced himself with a curt nod. "Welcome Luna."

"Thank you Commander," I responded. "I would like to observe your training tomorrow."

The words were barely out of my mouth before his expression shifted dismissively. "Women are not allowed on the training grounds."

I blinked. "I am the Luna."

"Yes," he agreed, his tone patronizing in a way that made my blood pressure spike. "So maybe you should go do other household chores, like changing the maid uniforms perhaps, and leave men’s business to the men."

The courtyard went dead silent.

Every sentinel was watching now, waiting to see how I would respond to being so blatantly disrespected.

My hands curled into fists at my sides. "What fragile ego you must have to be so insecure about what you do that you cannot handle a woman watching."

Commander Bruno’s face flushed red and he opened his mouth to respond, probably to say something that would get him in even more trouble.

Then a voice cut echoed from behind us, startling me.

"Commander Bruno, you should think carefully about your next statement because that will determine if you live or die."

Everyone turned and my eyes found him immediately.

Ryker Grave stood at the entrance to the courtyard with his arms crossed and his expression showed that he was clearly ready for violence.