The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

"I am really going to miss some of those girls," I said softly to Zahliver as we walked side by side down the hallway. "They were so sweet... and absolutely hilarious."

The summit had wrapped up shortly after lunch, and most of the female alphas had already left to return to their respective packs. The goodbyes were warm but quick. Still, a few had left lasting impressions on me, and my heart tugged at the thought of not seeing them again anytime soon.

Zahliver groaned out loud and dropped his head into his hands, and I could not help but laugh at his dramatic reaction.

Walking into the meeting room earlier had been... intense. And messy. And a little terrifying, at least for the visiting alphas.

By "messy," I meant full-grown, powerful male alphas nearly shaking in their boots while my possessive mate unleashed absolute hell in the form of rapid-fire orders and sweeping new regulations. When they would not stop bickering among themselves, he stopped trying to get their attention the nice way. Instead, he dove straight into their heads, pulling information directly from their thoughts. Classic Zahliver. That move alone had them panicking, but when he barked at them to stand completely still? Total chaos.

Screaming. Shouting. One alpha nearly shifted into his wolf right on the spot.

So when we stepped into that same room later, it was like walking straight into a frozen scene. Every single alpha snapped to attention, stone-stiff and pale-eyed, while Zahliver sat calmly at the head of the table flipping through heavy documents like he had not just wrecked their male pride minutes ago. The only sound in the room was the soft paper turning... well, that and the erratic thundering of their terrified hearts.

"You are horrible to them," I teased gently as I walked over and placed my warm hands softly on his shoulders. "You will never make any real friends if you keep telling people to shut up and stand still."

He groaned again under his breath.

"I don’t want friends," he muttered like a sullen child. My all-powerful, fearsome mate, sulking around like a kicked puppy. Absolutely adorable.

I leaned down close and grinned up at his handsome face. "Sure you do. Who else are you going to complain about me to?"

I slipped my fingers through his dark hair, playing lazily with the soft strands. He let out a deep sound somewhere between a sigh and a hum, then turned in his leather chair, pulling me right between his legs so he could rest his heavy head against my chest.

"You," he said simply, looking up at me. "All I need in this life is you."

My heart fluttered wildly against my ribs. I bent down to press a soft kiss to his lips, but just as I was starting to get carried away, lost in the deep warmth of him and the way he cradled my face with both hands, there was a firm knock at the double doors.

I jumped back on pure instinct, only for his strong arms to keep me anchored close to his side.

I knew that distinct knock anywhere. My parents had finally arrived.

"Welp," I said, trying my best to calm my racing pulse. "Time to meet the in-laws... all over again."

Zahliver rose to his full height beside me, stretching his broad arms up over his head. The casual motion lifted his shirt just enough to expose a smooth sliver of golden skin, and my eyes darted right there before I could stop myself.

When I looked up, completely flustered, he was inhaling deeply with his dark eyes closed.

"Love," he said, his deep voice dropping low and dangerous. "I am already trying very hard to remember that your parents are actively waiting for us. Don’t make this harder by looking at me like that."

From the unmistakable way his fitted pants were suddenly far snugger than before, I could tell exactly how hard this whole situation was for him literally.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and quickly grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the open door. "Sorry about that. Are you ready?"

He squeezed my fingers tightly in silent reply.

The hotel garden was three floors down. My parents had no real idea where they were, or who they were actually about to meet. This was going to be a giant surprise of monumental proportions. Honestly, it felt like the two of us were walking straight into a live grenade.

As we neared the edge of the wide balcony overlooking the garden, I spotted them right by the colorful koi pond. My mom was crouched down low, pointing excitedly at the little fish swimming in slow circles. My dad stood right beside her, watching her with affectionate amusement shining in his eyes.

No matter the situation or the place, they always had this quiet, beautiful way of loving each other. That was what I admired most about them growing up. Love was not just something they said out loud it was something they showed each other every single day.

Then, they suddenly sensed our presence.

My mom’s body straightened up, her cheerful smile shifting into a puzzled frown. My dad instinctively stepped closer to her side, one arm wrapping protectively around her shoulders. When they finally saw me standing there, their faces lit up with pure shock, then overwhelming joy... but that happy expression slowly morphed into total confusion as their gazes drifted to Zahliver standing tall beside me.

They did not recognize him at all.

I had known they wouldn’t, but still... something about the quiet moment felt slightly off. It was like reality did not know how to handle the sudden clash of two very different worlds.

"Vivian?" my mom asked softly, her voice trembling slightly as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

I released Zahliver’s hand and hurried forward, wrapping my arms tightly around her. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad."

I held her close to me, letting the familiar comfort of her warm embrace ground my racing nerves. Then I stepped smoothly into my father’s waiting arms, and even though he hugged me back tightly, I felt the slight hesitation in his body. It was a subtle tension that had not been there before.

And then came the big question.

"Honey, what are you doing here?" my dad asked softly, his gaze flickering uncertainly toward Zahliver. "I thought you were away traveling."

There really was no instruction manual or guidebook on how to introduce your ancient, supernatural mate to your very human parents... so I guess I was going to have to wing it.

Once again.