The Unwanted Luna

-POV Ayame-

We made it to a large building a few hours away from the pack house and I realized we were around humans. You could tell by how they were drooling over Edon, Conri and Vil. Also, they weren't as...massive as my triplets. Well...no one was, but the people surrounding us seemed more frail and weak compared to the packs I've come to love. We made it to the counter and the receptionist blushed almost immediately. "How can I help you?" She said, looking at Conri like he was a piece of meat.

"We called ahead under Oden." Conri glanced at his phone and waited for the woman to say or...do something. He raised a brow then pursed his lips, realizing the only thing she could do was stare. I'm sure if I had a supernatural spirit like everyone else, I would have ripped her eyes out by now, but I just stayed next to Edon and Vil, allowing myself to breathe and not take it too personally. It's my own fault that I've delayed my shift for so long. I cannot act out because of it.

"R-right. A table for four in the dining area, then the presidential suite, correct?" She said, finally willing to look away from Conri and focus on her job. She scrolled through her computer, hidden by the curved wooden desk, while reviewing our reservation.

"Correct." Conri held out his card and she gasped before gently taking it from his hands. Once she put in his information, Conri made a point to slip his arm around me and pull me closer to him. "I don't like it when you're too far away, little one." He whispered in my ear and I blushed when the woman across the desk glared daggers at me. They are being quite clingy today, but it has been a while since we've had any interaction aside from a quick hug or a wave from afar.

Initially, I was going to ignore her...be the bigger person, but after that response, I needed her to be very much aware of what she had just walked into. Sorry, all three are taken. I thought internally.

Before my time in the dungeons, I would have cowered away, but the one thing I know now is my need for these three has grown exponentially. I may have allowed her to create a small kiddie pool with her drool, but I will not allow some random girl to disrespect me blatantly after she knows the truth. I was about to say something and Conri's arm tightened. I looked up and he smiled down at me with a sense of gentleness I'd rarely seen on him before. "Don't." He warned softly and I nodded, completely forgetting about the girl.

"Here's your card, Mr.Oden." She said a little too loudly before, leaning over the desk. I could tell she was trying to show him what he was missing. To be honest, it wasn't much. Wow...when did I get so mean? I'm a human...I don't do possessiveness. That's the triplet's job. I shook my head and looked away from the receptionist.

Conri grabbed his card, and she slipped the packet with our room key and some of the hotel's amenities on the counter. "Right." Vil said, heading towards the dining hall. I think he's had enough too.

Conri pulled me in the same direction and Edon trailed behind. None of us gave the woman the time of day. I think that was more satisfying than anything I could have said to her. However, once we were far enough away, the adrenaline started to catch up to me. I heaved a little while I attempted to catch my breath. I guess I still am the little mouse inside this massive shell I've made for myself...or maybe to keep out others...? "What's wrong?" Conri asked under his breath. "N-Nothing." I whispered back, composing myself. I risked a glance his way and he seemed to be lost in thought.

We made it to the maître d', and he didn't even think twice before collecting some menus and heading straight for a table. "Follow me please."

We all funneled into a small booth and Edon was on my right while Conri was on my left. Vil sat next to Conri and divvyed out the menus. We sat in silence until Conri placed my menu in front of me. I finally got my act together and placed my mask back on. Finally, back in control. That is where I'm safe. That is where I'm protected. I looked down at the menu. "I'm not sure -" I started to ask, but Conri cut me off.

"What happened to you?" He asked with actual concern.

I furrowed my brow and turned to him. "Wha-what are you talking about?"

"Don't get us wrong, we are happy that you are training a lot harder, the packs love you now, and you're even taking on some of the responsibilities as the Luna, but ever since you're first night in the hospital, you woke up like almost a completely different person. You've been working nonstop and helping out whenever you can. We rarely even have time to enjoy our mate anymore. You haven't even had time to really grieve." Edon said.

They are ganging up on me. I hate when they do this. "I did grieve in the hospital. That was enough for me. There...there is work to be done. I...I'm just trying to help."

"Oh, yeah, then when we are working our asses off to keep the pack steady, deal with the Richard bullshit and make sure our warriors are trained, who is taking care of you? It's like our paths are intentionally not crossing." Vil grumbled.

Thankfully, the waiter came by and took our orders. Conri ordered for me and at this point I didn't care, I was lost in thought. Was I avoiding them? I felt the bond. I know it was much stronger after I accepted my role and which spirit I wanted. I...I sleep with them every night.... I don't even know what he means. They are doing the best they can. We are all busy. I mean...from what I've read and learned about pack culture, this is how things are done. We are the leaders and we have to work as such. Once the waiter was gone, I could feel them looking at me. "I...you guys are taking care of me. I'm...I'm not complaining." I said, stumbling over my words while my brain went into overdrive.

"Ayame, it's not just working. I know you are scared about the spirit transformation. I can feel it, but you literally ran from us a week ago. When we finally got you home, you let us touch you for maybe a couple weeks and now it's like...if we come anywhere near you...we set your skin on fire." Conri was irritated. I think it was mentally and...sensually at this point. I glanced at Vil and Edon and it seemed like the feeling was mutual.

He's not wrong though. I didn't let vil mark me. I choked at the most crucial moment, all because of that disgusting prince. The crazy part is he's still in our dungeons while we decide to lop off his head or not and he still terrifies me. Not as bad as Richard, but if I was trapped in that cell for much longer, it would have been a completely different story. I was so sure that everything was going to be okay if I just ignored what I went through and focused on everyone else.

I didn't expect that to mean that I would have accidentally ignored my mates too. But...that's how I survived for the last month. The kicker is we only glossed over the most daunting part of all. There is a possibility that Richard is coming after me again and my dreams are getting more ominous by the day...warning me. What do they want from me?! Why can't he just leave me alone?! Why can't they just let me hide? I want to hide! I huffed and looked between the three of them. "It's not like I don't want you or anything, I'm just compartmentalizing. I don't need anything more than what I already have."

"What happened to just needing us?"Vil said and I felt the stab. It was harsh and it snapped me out of my whirling thoughts.

I breathed out harshly and shifted my weight a bit. "What, you think I don't need you anymore because I'm not crying every five minutes?!" I shouted a little too loudly.

"That's not what I meant, angel." Vil winced and seemed in more pain than before. Ugh!

I was thankful there weren't too many people on our side of the restaurant. They would think I was crazy. "That's a lie. You like it when I'm whining all the time. You all like to protect me!" I added, feeling my breathing accelerate while Edon shifted closer to me on instinct. I ignored his touch and continued on my rant. This has to be said. I've ignored it this whole time and if they want to bring up my emotional state, then fine. They will get my emotional state!

"Ayame...." Conri warned, growling lowly, and I shook it off.

"No! I'm sorry to break it to you, but you weren't there and that hurt a lot. I didn't have anyone to cry to then, and I had almost sixty people looking at me while we all held our breath to make it through another day. I had to be the one protecting them while you three played politics! I learned not to cry, Vil!"

Edon rested his hand on my leg again and I spun around to look into his eyes while I grit my teeth, breathing heavily. I was seething. I don't know where all this anger came from but for me, it was long overdue. "That's great, princess. We are glad to see you getting stronger. We are really proud of the Luna you are becoming, but don't lose yourself along the way. You are right. We weren't there and that killed us more than you know. We felt your pain, we felt your hunger and we couldn't do anything. All we could do was...like you said...play politics." He said softly. "It made me so angry I actually scared some of the pack members for a while. I was more silent than Conri after a certain point." He added with a short laugh.

My breath hitched and I turned to face the table. The three men waited for my response and when it didn't come, they turned to talk amongst themselves. Have I lost myself along the way? Have I held in my anger towards them at the detriment of myself? I...I'm just trying to be strong. I...I can't be strong if I'm always in tears. If I'm always looking to them for support. How am I supposed to watch everyone else fight my demons? "Are you going to have some, little one?" Conri asked, and I looked down at the plate of pasta in front of me. It was piping hot and it looked delicious.

Without saying a word, I picked up my fork while my hands continued to shake. All of the challenges, pain, and fear of the last five months, piling on like two ton weight I had been ignoring this whole time while lit bent me into the robot it wanted me to be. I took a bite, and I didn't taste anything. "Can we get the check please and some boxes." Edon called to a passing waiter.

The servers said nothing as the plate disappeared from my sight and I was carried up to the presidential suite. All the while, the tears were streaming while I buried my head in Edon's chest. I...I was finally letting it go. Like really letting go.

All the fear I had, the pain of losing people I barely knew, the relapse after sitting in the cell for weeks, the anger that they didn't come for me right away. Everything.

By the time I calmed myself, I was snuggled in with Edon and Conri was petting my hair while Vil was off in another room. Human or not, I could smell he was close, but he wasn't here. "How did you know?" I stuttered through my shaky breath. "Know what, little one?"

"How did you know I was holding back? No one else seemed to notice." I was aimlessly playing with Edon's ruined shirt now.

"We are your mates, princess. Just like we felt your pain when we were apart, we feel your anguish now. We know you feel guilt every time you see your father. We know you are anxious to see Emily. We know you were in extreme pain when we came to get you from the Prince's house. We definitely know you are angry at us for leaving you there for so long. We are angry at us for letting you stay there for so long. I wish you never had to go through any of that again, but I promise that will be the last time someone puts their hands on you. You don't have to hide from us. We will always protect you, no matter how strong you get. You are ours." Edon said, kissing the top of my head before Conri did the same.

"We...also know that the minute you told us about your first dream, you've had issues sleeping, and you have been stressed about something. I think it has a lot to do with Richard. We will never let any of the Kingsley family near you again. Anyone we deem as a threat is blacklisted. Period." Conri added.

I shivered at his name. "N-no. I...I don't want to be taken again. I...I won't last a third time." I whispered.

Vil flopped on the bed next to Edon and sighed. "You won't have to. Like my brothers said, we will never let anything get in between you and your safety again. Never again."

I nodded and closed my eyes, fighting a yawn. "Can we go to sleep now? I'm not hungry."

"Of course, princess. Get some sleep. Some real sleep." Edon smirked lightly and another kiss grazed the top of my head before darkness consumed me.

Not long after, I found myself in the all too familiar grassy plains and the voice rang through my groggy mind."It's time, Ayame. It's time for you to become one with your mates. You must seal the bond!"