The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Chapter 18: Lust for a Luna

Friday’s POV

Thardly slept a wink. I was so confused and worried. What had gone wrong with Thaddeus? Did he do all of this to tease me? It seemed a bit overboard. I was expecting him to soothe me a little. He always said his day ended at midnight but he happily gave up the last two hours with me to do Alpha work. I fumed while I got ready. I had to calm down. Regardless of what I decided, I would be an Alpha’s wife. Sometimes, my future husband would be busy. It was inevitable. I was mad at Thaddeus. He gave me so much pleasure and then just literally ran away with no explanation.

I put on the skimpiest thing I could find. It looked like something Astrid would wear. It was a simple, short- sleeved grey crop top with matching shorts. The crop top had a sweetheart neckline, exposing a little cleavage and the shorts were tiny. A little bit of my butt cheeks peaked out. Was I insane? I put on high heels, not caring how provocative the get-up was. This was definitely not the attire of a dignified Luna. Thaddeus would undoubtedly react to this. I put on a shade of red lipstick that suited me and put a little bit of blush on my cheeks and some mascara on my eyelashes. I left my hair down and sprayed on the most lovely perfume I could find amongst my new things. I took a deep breath and went to the Alpha Dining Room. s**t, my brother was here.

Thaddeus, Maze, Theo and Fang all looked up. They had been deep in discussion about some pack business. They had a huge map with territory lines all over it. All territories were forgotten when I entered the room. I immediately started making my own damn coffee, fed up of people doing it wrong. Thaddeus was eyeing me hungrily. There was some shock and a little anger in his eyes. He licked his lips when I bent to spoon sugar into my cup. Maze was completely shocked. His cheeks flushed and his eyes never left me. He looked like he was really anticipating his day with me now. I saw him squirm in his chair. Thaddeus was doing the same, adjusting his position every few seconds. I did not have wolf senses like them to know when someone was aroused but from their behaviour and their tense eyes, I honestly thought they were both painfully hard because of me. Theo averted his eyes respectfully and was the first to greet me with “Morning, Luna.”

“Friday,” I corrected, smiling. “Good morning,” Maze mumbled, his eyes still drinking me in.

Thaddeus just openly stared at me. “Good morning, Thaddeus,” I challenged. He nodded and raised his coffee cup in my direction. “What the hell have you got on?” Said Fang, not able to hold in his annoyance. He was a terrible brother, yes, but he did have a point.

“I don’t know what you mean, Fang,” I said sweetly. “I’m so happy you’re here again,” I lied. “I feel at home in this room now, with my brother here.”

Fang huffed. He ate his food silently. Thaddeus and Maze continued to stare at me while I ate. I recalled that dream I had where they both had their way with me and shivered. I remembered how dream-me had screamed in ecstasy while they both marked and mated me at the same time. I pushed the thought away and slowly poured the thick maple syrup over my stack of pancakes.

Maze’s POV

The four of us, both alphas and both betas, were making excellent progress on our territory strategy. We each wanted to expand our lands outwards. We had been peacefully absorbing small packs and and even more norai nan usual. I sniverea in deugnt, thinking of the day anead with ner. i nen, i saw ner. My jaw dropped. She was in a low-cut top that exposed both the tops of her tender breasts and her smooth midriff. I followed her across the room with my eyes. Her bum was exposed a little due to her extremely short shorts. Her bum was so round and tight. Her legs were beautiful. Her cheeks looked flushed and her wavy-curly hair was long and lustrous. I was going to peal that tight little outfit off of her today one way or another. I remembered when I had searched her naked body for bruises. She had been so gorgeous then, her beautiful body totally exposed and vulnerable but I had been focused on her well- being, unable to enjoy the moment sensually. Today would be different.

Thaddeus’ POV

Friday’s scent and her new look hit me like a two-tonne truck. What had gotten into her and why wasn’t it me? She was in a grey top that exposed some cleavage and her midriff. Her shorts were so short, a little bit of her butt cheeks were exposed when she bent over. Was she wearing underwear? Maybel should give back one of the panties I had stolen. She was doing this to torture me for leaving her hanging last night. I sighed exasperatedly. She said good morning to me pointedly and I nodded, raising my coffee mug to her. She made her own coffee and fixed her own plate while I stared at her. Her brother complained about the outfit and I couldn’t even disagree with him. s**t. Today was Maze’s day and she was wearing that. I took a deep breath. Rage and envy threatened to engulf me.

Fang’s POV

Our impromptu little pack meeting was going pretty well. The alphas were getting along. Theo was cool. Everything was ok until my sister, Friday, walked in dressed like a music video vixen. She was wearing basically nothing so there’s nothing for me to describe. It was grey, I guess, the small bits of it that actually existed. It was almost a top with almost a pair of shorts. I glared at her and asked her what the hell was she wearing. She claimed she didn’t know what I meant and proceeded to lie about how happy she was to see me.

Theo’s POV

My Alpha and I were getting along surprisingly well with Maze and Fang working out some territory disputes when my future Luna walked in dressed not really like a future Luna but more like a sugar baby or something. Well, Thaddeus was a couple years older than her and so was Maze. And both guys were rich and they’d plucked Friday from that impoverished cottage but I was used to her sundresses and her innocence. What the hell had Thaddeus done to her? I couldn’t help but blame my best friend a bit. She’d been totally a novice before he got his paws on her, My bro was looking pissed off about her skimpy outfit because today was Maze’s day. I knew if it had been his day, he would be howling with delight so it was kinda hypocritical to be honest but I would never say that to him. We’d been bros since

we were babies so I supported him in everything. I knew how long he’d yearned for a mate to make his Luna.

Friday’s POV

I could hardly eat anything. I yawned. Maze got to his feet. “Ready?” He said. “Her plate is completely full!” Protested Thaddeus, his eyes worried. I felt a little sad.

“I’m ok, Thaddeus,” I said, trying to sound sincere and looking him in the eyes. I wanted to kiss him goodbye but not in front of Maze.

Fang was glaring at me. “I love you, Fang,” I said, before I could stop myself. Thaddeus, Maze and Theo looked flabbergasted.

“Bye, big bro,” I added to Fang, blowing a kiss. He seethed. “Bye, Thaddeus,” I said, smiling, feeling guilty.

“Bye, my little Luna,” he said softly. I was relieved to hear him call me his Luna again. He was tracing the territory lines on the map with his index finger. I couldn’t believe that finger had been up my ass last night. My stomach clenched at the memory.

Maze led me to a car parked out front. We were being chauffeured and there was dark glass separating the chauffeur from us for some privacy. Maze held open the door for me then got in. The car started moving. Before I could ask where we were going, Maze pulled me into his lap and his hands started roaming my body. This was so unlike Maze. Had Thaddeus possessed Maze just to get his hands on me in this outfit?

“Maze!” I said, startled. Maze came to his senses a little. His eyes were black. They slowly started to lighten. “Friday, you are so beautiful,” he whispered. I blushed. “This is not how a Luna should dress,” he scolded. I sighed.

“But it’s driving me crazy. I’m sorry, my inner wolf was out of control just now.”

I was still in his lap and he was still caressing me but much more gently. He massaged my thighs then my back and my shoulders. He actually tickled my exposed tummy and sides making me giggle. He put his palm against my core. I gasped. He rubbed me there. Immediately, I started to get wet. I moved myself against his hand.

“I’m thinking about just taking you back to my room instead,” he said. “I’ve never seen your room,” I realised.

I didn’t mind going back there. My body was so worked up. These Alphas were driving my hormones crazy or something. I didn’t think I could go into heat because I was wolf-less but now I wasn’t so sure.

“No, no, um, I have something planned anyway,” said Maze.

“What is it?” I asked, feeling a little lightheaded from all the excitement recently. I also had not slept a wink or eaten so much as a morsel. I drank my sweet, milky coffee though.

“Mmm,” Maze murmured, inhaling my scent and playing with my hair,”I’m taking you to a cat cafe.” “Really?” | squeaked. “Yeah,” said Maze, smiling at my reaction. “You obviously like them.”

I had heard of the Marigold Cat Cafe. Many cats lived there and were well taken care of by the staff. You ate pastries and cakes and drank tea or coffee, all of it extremely overpriced because the money went towards pampering the cats and making donations to cat foundations, helping to house animals.

“Maze,” I said, surprised. “That’s really sweet.”

Who knew Maze could be sweet? These guys were both so sweet all of a sudden. How did I get so lucky, being wolf-less and all. The two most impressive alphas in the region were fighting over me. My life was crazy.

I pressed my lips to Maze’s before I could stop myself. He responded enthusiastically, groaning against my lips. I knew some of this was the outfit but that was the desired effect anyway. He nuzzled me with his nose. I giggled. I had seen Fang do that to Astrid and honestly it was cute.

“Friday,” he said, his voice a little hoarse. “I don’t know if I’m happy or angry about this outfit.” I bit my lip.

I couldn’t tell him I’d worn it to make Thaddeus angry or even jealous. I had known I’d be with Maze today. I had thought he might just think me an inappropriate Luna but he already thought that anyway so it didn’t make a difference. I hadn’t thought he would get turned on by it. Maze was so…formal. I had been naive though. He was a werewolf, an Alpha! Of course, he had carnal desires, he just hid them more than Thaddeus due to his personality.

“I thought you wouldn’t care, like it wouldn’t make a difference to you what I wore,” I said honestly. Maze frowned. “I care,” he said. “If I gave you that impression, I’m sorry.”

He caressed my cheek and then rubbed his thumb on my lip. “Don’t act out for attention, Friday,” he scolded.

Hey! “No! I’m not,” I whined, sounding exactly like the little brat he was accusing me of being. “I’m really not,” I said in a more serious tone. “If you want more attention from either Thaddeus or me, just ask for it,” he said simply. I felt so stupid.

“You’re very young,” he said. “So being courted by two alphas after being ignored for so long can’t be easy for you. Your brother told me you’ve never dated before.”

I was twenty. Maze was not that much older than me at twenty-two and Thaddeus was twenty-five but they both had way more experience than I did. They were Alphas, raised in the lime light, fawned over and accustomed to socialising. I grew up the unwanted daughter of alcoholic parents who loved my three elder brothers and left me at home the vast majority of the time. I was academically inclined when I was at school but my parents did not care about that. They wanted pack leaders in the family. When I failed to

phase at age eighteen, that was the most attention I ever got before now, until they kicked me out. No one had ever tried to even hold my hand before and suddenly the two most handsome and powerful men I’d ever encountered were all over me, alternating the days they got to spend with me. He was right. I was actually acting out. I felt like Maze would make a really responsible but stern and hard to please father.

“Yeah, I didn’t date anyone before you or Thaddeus,” I said softly.

I felt a little embarrassed. Maze kissed my cheeks and then my forehead. He kissed the tip of my nose and nuzzled me again, making me giggle.

“Behave yourself, from now on,” he warned, with a little smile. “Or I’ll have to spank you,” he added, winking.

A thrill coursed through me. Now, I didn’t know whether I wanted to behave to please Maze or misbehave a lot to get punished by him.

“Don’t say that,” I whispered in his ear, surprising myself, “You’re making me wanna misbehave.” “If you’re an extra good girl today,” he whispered back, “I can still spank you, if that’s what you want.”

He squeezed my behind and pinched the part of my right butt cheek that was exposed. Electricity shot through me. My underwear was getting damp again.

We arrived at the cat cafe. Before we got out of the car, Maze took off his blazer and put it on me. It was long enough to cover my butt and the tops of my thighs.

“Before the day is over,” he said in my ear, “You’re gonna take that outfit off and give it to me. I’m confiscating it, young lady.”

This game with Maze was a lot of fun. I liked this side of him. He seemed like a strict sexy principal of a girls’ boarding school where I was the worst behaved student and it was his job to punish and reform

school skirt as snort as my current outit.

The cat cafe was huge. It had three floors. I was shocked. The first floor had the actually cafe part. Cats were sleeping all over the comfy sofas and mismatched armchairs and squishy pillows. The middle floor was the feeding and grooming area for the cats. The top floor was a huge cat tower and jungle gym of sorts for them to play in.

“Maze, this is awesome,” I said excitedly. “So, do you like cats?” I asked.

“They’re ok, they’re interesting. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with Saturday,” he said, mentioning my cat.

Saturday had become a fast favourite in the pack house despite his mommy, me, being shunned there just a week ago. The pack wolves were calling him “Alpha Saturday” and “Cat-urday”, stupid but the pack wolves thought those were great names.

Maze was kind of like a cat, difficult to understand and get close to but worth it. Thaddeus was more like a dog, friendly, loyal, open, also worth it. I sighed. Why couldn’t I have both of them?

We sat on a really squishy sofa. I sank into my pillow. Maze let me have sugar because he said wasn’t eating enough. I ordered an iced coffee. It was cookies n’cream. There was whipped cream on top. I ate the topping with a spoon eagerly. Maze looked at me and chuckled. He was having bland, bitter, plain coffee.

“What?” I said. He was probably going to complain about my outfit again or my love of sugar or my table manners not befitting of a Luna.

“You’re cute,” he said smiling. I blushed.

“Oh,” I said, dumbfounded. I bit my lip. “You’re cute too,” I said. “Thanks, Friday,” he said. “When you came to my house in the woods,” I began slowly.

Maze was sitting opposite me. He leant in, listening intently, his grey eyes wide. There was pain in them.

“And I first saw you, you were the most handsome werewolf I’d ever seen,” I said, until I saw Thaddeus I added mentally. It was a hard fight between them.

“You smelled like an orchard,” I told him.

He smiled.

“You asked me about being wolf-less. I knew I’d be a disappointment to an Alpha, trust me, I know,”|| said, my voice cracking.

Maze’s eyes were watery. Were they brimming with tears?

“But I thought if you were feeling how I felt in that moment, it would be ok. You would accept me. Because in that moment, nothing could’ve made me not want you,” I said, sniffling.

A stray tear escaped, sliding down Maze’s cheek.

“But, you didn’t want me,” I said. Why couldn’t I get over it? I was trembling a little, tearing up. “You rejected me on the spot and banned me from the pack house.” I broke down, sobbing openly in front of Maze. Had I lost my mind? The chauffeur, two pack guards and cafe waitress all distanced themselves from us.

Maze rushed across to me, pulling me to him, cradling my head against his chest as I cried.

“We talked about this,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. “I told you how hard it was for me to reject you. I was in pain too, Friday. Baby, I’m so sorry.” ana Kissea them. He kissea my eyelias.

“You know, if I had remained banned from the pack house, if Thaddeus hadn’t showed up, it would’ve been really hard to get food. I usually get some of the free food in the common grounds. I don’t have much money and people usually don’t want to hire me because I’m weak and wolf-less,” I said, looking at

how wet my chocolate chip muffin had become. My tears had fallen onto it. I took a bite of it despite it being wet. Maze took it away. He looked so pained and guilty.

“I didn’t know that, Baby,” he said. “I didn’t know food was an issue. I guess I thought your brother, my Beta, would never let you go without like that.”

He ordered me a fresh muffin but I didn’t want it. I snatched back my tear-filled muffin and pouted at him. I really was acting immature, but Maze made me so insecure. I couldn’t help it. I usually felt secure with Thaddeus but last night he randomly ran away from me. Maze chuckled at me and took a bite of the fresh muffin I didn’t want. I looked at him, shocked, my mouth gaping open.

“What?” He said, muffled because his mouth was full of muffin. All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

“You’re eating sugar!” I said in an accusatory tone, sniffling.

“You’re stressing me out!” Maze defended himself, finishing the muffin and throwing the paper away.

I covered my face with my hands but started to giggle. I broke out into laughter. Maze scooped me up and kissed me all over my face and tickled my sides. I squealed but I couldn’t get away from him. He stopped tickling me but held me tightly, stroking me hair.

“You’re f*****g adorable,” Maze commented. He hardly ever swore. I was surprised.

“I’m really sorry, about the ban. I wouldn’t have let you go hungry. I didn’t want any harm to come to you. I wanted all of your needs met even if we weren’t together. That’s why I was furious when I thought Thaddeus was taking advantage of you just cause you were unclaimed before I realised he was your mate too,” Maze said.

“Like your dad,” I said, finishing my gross wet muffin. It still tasted good. As soon as I’d said that, I regretted it.

“What?” Said Maze softly. “Nothing,” I whispered.

“Tell me, right now, what you meant, like my dad?” He said, not using his alpha voice but he was still very demanding.

“You never use your alpha voice with me, even if you’re banning me or ordering me around. Thaddeus doesn’t use his on me either,” I said, changing the topic.

“An Alpha’s Luna is his equal not in strength but in rank because you will give birth to the next Alpha,” Maze said. Wait, so Maze thought me his equal even when rejecting me and banning me from the pack house.

“My dad?” Maze asked again.

I had neglected to tell Maze something. He had been so upset when he revealed to me that his father and my mother had been fated mates but his father had rejected her. I told him then that I suspected my mother had a mate but I did not tell him I had a suspect in mind. It was a secret my Mom made me keep from my Dad. She would get money and packages of food, sometimes clothes, even jewellery sent to her from the pack house. At first, I foolishly thought it was from Dad as he was the Beta, but he chose not to live in the pack house once he married and had children. The packages were from the former Alpha. I saw him once, standing outside our house, when Dad was seeing to some matters at the pack house. Mom ran

“I know I told you…I suspected my mom had a mate. She never told me anything…but…your Dad, the Alpha at the time, was sending her money and gifts. I thought those things were from my Dad because they were from the pack house and he was Beta then. But they weren’t. Dad didn’t even live in the pack house at that time. And…I saw your Dad outside my house once. I recognised him as the Alpha. Dad wasn’t home. The Alpha was standing in the rain, just staring. My brothers weren’t home either. I was ten maybe. I saw my Mom run out to him, to the Alpha. They embraced and I looked away. I felt sorry for my

Dad and for the Luna at the time but…I was ten…l,” I said all of this to a completely silent Maze. I felt so awful revealing his father’s infidelity on a date like this but he had a right to know.

His father had asked him to reject me because I was “an inappropriate Luna” but that same man had spent his whole marriage pining for his original mate.

Maze was seething. I could feel the anger radiating from him due to his powerful alpha aura. He took deep breaths and did not look at me.

“I’m so sorry, Baby” I whispered, kissing his cheek, trying to mimic what he had done earlier to soothe me.

Rather than scold me like I was expecting, Maze pulled me closer. I nuzzled him. He sighed.

“…had a feeling he was cheating on my Mom, still, with his mate,” Maze said slowly. “He kind of alluded to that. He told me I should have offered to care for you financially and emotionally when we first met but make someone else Luna.”

That stung. I held back my tears. I had cried already during this date and Maze was upset and needed comforting. I did not think I would make a great Luna but I was compassionate, I was kind, I used to be smart at school and I would love my Alpha and only him once I chose him. I could make a decent Luna, couldn’t I?

“Maze, is it only my being wolf-less that your father didn’t like or are there other things that make me not suited to being Luna, not including this outfit?” I asked.

Maze smiled at the last part. He sniffled.

“Um, he said some awful things, but he’s an i***t. He spent his whole life craving his mate when he could’ve just been with her. She ended up with the Beta, your Dad. She could’ve just as well been Luna,” Maze said, defending me and my Mom.

“You’re just young and you’ve been kept on the outside looking in. You have a lot to learn about werewolf society especially werewolf high society. I don’t care. I’ll teach you,” Maze said earnestly.

There were other reasons then. “Thanks, I’ll try to learn quickly,” I said softly, looking away so he could not see I had started crying again.

“You’re beautiful, you’re sweet, compassionate, brave…both the beta and alpha banned you from the pack house one day and you came the next looking unafraid, you’re kind, you know how to court attention,” Maze said, sniffling and laughing, gesturing to my outfit.

“You’ll be a great mom, which is the most important part of being the Luna, raising the next Alpha,” Maze said, smiling, with tears in his eyes.

I kissed him, both of our faces tear-streaked. He kissed me so sweetly and gently.

“Let’s go play with some cats,” Maze said. I laughed.

The cat tower floor was so amazing. The tower had compartments big enough so that people could climb along with the cats. Maze scaled it easily. I could barely reach the second compartment. Maze helped me up, laughing. A fluffy white kitten attacked our feet while a ginger kitten meowed afraid to jump was a cauco-colourea cat. Sne ran up and lickea ner kitten ana we pettea ner. Maze maae a nuge donation in my name to the cats and their foundation.

“Thank you, Luna,” said the waitress, seeing the cheque was in my name. “It’s really from,” i began but Maze stopped me. “She means you’re welcome,” Maze said. “You’re welcome,” I repeated.

The drive back home was quiet but Maze held my hand the whole time, interlacing his fingers with mine. He walked me up to the alpha floor. Thaddeus was out running again apparently. Fang appeared. Ugh.

“Maze, your Dad wants to properly meet Friday,” Fang said. Oh no.