His Luna’s Already A Luna
Chapter 54

Nick POV

Nick watched as Lucinda walked over to Sampson and apologised to him, right there in front of everyone. She didn't even need to be asked to do so. It didn't seem that she was even bothered by the fact that all the others sitting around could watch and hear her apologise. He suddenly felt so very proud of her. She was not so high and mighty that she would need to apologise in private. He really liked that about her.

Then she was telling all of them she was going to win this duel. Even Rip snorted, he didn't think it was likely either, they were the Alpha here, and their strength and power would be seen today, by her. It was a good crowd of wolves gathered. Most of them were warriors, some with their Mates he noted.

At least they were getting to see their Alpha and Luna out here and not fighting, like last time.

Nick knew he was in trouble the minute Lucinda said she had been training since she was 5 years old. Winked right at him, turned to the crowd and announced she was going to win without any hesitation. Jeremy was already laughing, he'd told Nick before, he'd be betting on Lucinda.

Now he was certain she would win. The woman was 26. Had 21 years of training behind her, he himself had only trained for the past 3 years with a bow. It was unlikely he was going to win this match. His Luna was going to show him up and love doing so at that. Nick watched her as she smiled at a bunch of teens, who were all hanging back by the edge of the training ground. They were watching her. It was obvious to him, it wasn't the first time Lucinda had met them.

She waved them in to come and watch and they did. When she announced that if she won he'd have to let her train them with a bow and knives, his eyes moved to the group. He could see them all eager for his answer. They wanted to train with her. Which could only mean they had seen her use her bow. That could have only been the other day, when he'd punished her.

Damn it, she'd been out there and made a connection to his pack and he'd ruined that, so it seemed, could he bloody do anything right with her?

He agreed. If they wanted to learn and Lucinda was willing to teach them. Then it was okay with him. He'd seen how well trained the twins were. Seen her skill first hand. It would also mean that she was willing to be here, in his pack. He would agree to any means right this minute, to keep her here with him. Anything to help get their bond on track.

When he asked what he would get in return if he won, she did not hesitate to remind him no Marking or Mating. Not that he would have asked for it. Maybe, but unlikely, he knew she'd never agree to it. So a real date, out in public for all his pack to see. Though he probably wasn't going to get it. Having his pack hear her agree to it pleased him. That was his goal, and it worked.

He was not so stupid as she thought, he could also play this game. Knowing you were likely to lose an advantage in making a deal. He watched her adjust the bow several times and even let her take two test fires. "It's not like my bow." she sighed, and Nick watched as she turned it over and inspected it further.

Nick heard Jeremy snort with laughter and thought 'oh, Jeremy, you have given yourself away now'. They were in on something together.

"Guess I'm ready." she said, turning to him, she had a slight frown on her face, perhaps using his gear would even up the score, but Jeremy's snort of laughter after her test shots made him think otherwise.

When she offered five blindfolded, it surprised him. He offered for her to go first, wanted her to go first, so he could see what he was up against, but she simply told him to. Nick just shrugged "Alright," he was a good shot, though his training on a bow was only hit and miss, he probably should work on it, in secret he thought. We can challenge her again later.

This field was set up to normal archery distance, he knew he would do alright. Nick didn't particularly like the audience watching, knowing he was likely to be beaten. Rip snorted 'nervous your Mate is going to show you up!

'Shut it.' he snapped at his wolf and let the first arrow go. It hit the 9. Picked up another arrow and notched it.

'Should be proud, she can beat us. Strong even without Ky'ra.

His own wolf was bloody taunting him right now, of all times 'Rip enough!'

Rip snorted at him 'you're a sook.' he chortled. Right as Nick was about to let go of his arrow.

He missed again, another 9.

His wolf was taunting him and distracting him, trying to make him loose. Nick realised 'bugger off Rip!' he muttered to his wolf, who just chortled again and finally shut up. His next three arrows hit the 10, as would his first two, if Rip had left him alone. 'Satisfied?'

'Not my fault. Rip was lying in his mind all relaxed and happy.

'You know if I could punch you. Sometimes I would.

Rip snort 'Only hurt yourself, besides I'd bite you back.

Nick turned to her "48 out of 50". He smiled at her, not worried he'd missed two, lets play with her a little as well.

Goddess he was loving it, every time she turned and smiled up at him, and winked at him. He just wanted to yank her up off the ground and kiss the hell out of her. His eyes were on her, watching only her.

"Bullseye," Braidy yelled.

She turned and winked at him again, his eyes moved down the field and watched her second shot land right next to the first. Cursed under his breath, he didn't even think she was really trying at this point in time, just showing off.

A perfect dead centre cluster of arrows on the target at the other end. Though watching her put on the biggest act of surprise was a little annoying. "OH! 50 out of 50", a hand covered her mouth and her eyes were overly widened. It was so darned cute at the same time.

"Now Nicky, you're not going to be a sore loser are you?" she teased him. He was completely shocked, she was teasing him. Not only taunting him, but actively playing with him. This was a first. The new-found nickname annoyed him and it came across in his tone. He didn't particularly like it. He wasn't a child.

Taunted him some more. Nick could hear his warriors, even the teens all whispering "Nicky" to each other. The teens were all giggling about it, one even said it was cute. "Now, my dear."

Oh, he did like the sound that coming out of her mouth, liked it even more when she walked over and patted him right on the chest gently, right in front of everyone. They were all watching their Luna play with him. He liked it a lot. Was having trouble keeping up his act of annoyance and indifference.

"You promised me, you'll not get mad. When this teensie weensie little girl beats you."

Nick's eyes shot to Jeremy and he snarled out his name, in anger. Oh, these two had hung out at some point and he knew nothing about it. Lucinda laughed at his reaction, a good, solidly amused laugh at his expense.

Jeremy bolted right over to Lucinda and stood right behind her. "Protect me, my Luna," he fake begged.

To Nicks' dismay, he watched as Lucinda actually leaned back against his Beta. His closest friend, anger pooled in him quickly.

"Of course Jere's." she told him, reassuring the man, an un-mated wolf, she would protect him. Rip was up in his mind, a low growl came from him 'Our Mate. He snarled possessively at Nick.

"Now Nicky, it's your turn, I do believe."

Nick's eyes were locked on to Jeremy, he was filled with anger, if he didn't back the hell off, he was going to loose his freaking head. Nick could feel Rip getting ready to push forward, also unhappy about how close Jeremy was to their Mate. He'd been warned once already.

Lucinda took a step away from Jeremy, it wasn't bloody far enough, he snapped his hand out and grabbed her, yanked her towards him. He didn't care what she thought of his behaviour, she was his Mate and could not be, that close to an un-mated male wolf. 'Never that close. he shot at her down the mind-link and pulled her even further away from Jeremy.

He had yet to take his eyes off the man. Jeremy didn't appear phased at all by Nick's behaviour.

'OK' she agreed, seeming to understand his anger 'I was just playing! He knew she was telling the truth from the seriousness of her tone, but his anger was still with him.

'We don't like it.' he muttered, making sure she understood it wasn't just him but also Rip. His eyes were still on Jeremy.

"Nick calm done." she said out loud "the match isn't over."

Nick looked away from the still smiling Jeremy, the man surely did have a death wish. "Never." he repeated himself.

Jeremy was lucky they were friends. If he had been a stranger, Nick would likely have attacked him, his anger and rage were great, his sudden possessiveness over her all he could think about.

"I understand," she told him with a nod, then, while looking right into his eyes, batted her eyelashes up at him, her voice dropped and softened "Come on Nicky." her smile was soft and sweet, all cute and just for him. He could feel his beast calming down. "try to beat me." she challenged him in a light, teasing tone.

Nick pulled her body right up against him 'don't toy with me my dear, you might end up naked in our bed.' he murmured softly through the mind-link as he breathed in her scent. Goddess she smelled so good. Could breathe her in all day long. 'Really...that's my choice." she replied.

'I haven't even turned on the charm yet.' he smiled as he leaned down and breathed in her scent again. She hadn't even tried to pull away from him 'you could find yourself seduced unwittingly!

She looked right up at him, seemed completely shocked by his statement and he knew why. She'd thought he had been trying to charm her all those mornings he'd been teasing her. He hadn't, not really. He just allowed himself to act and say whatever he felt at the time. Playing with her, he did so enjoy it.

Nick answered the unspoken question in her eyes 'I've just been playing with you.'

He released her, before he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her off to their suite, to show her she could be seduced by him. Glared at Jeremy and turned to the target, pulled his blindfold on. 'Your welcome boss.' Jeremy chuckled down through the mind-link.

'what the hell for?' he shot back still angry with him and not understanding him.

'Getting your Mate, to stand in your arms, in front of an audience and show she cares, by flirting with you!

Nick let the arrow fly. 'Bastard, could have warned me, I nearly took your head off!'

'Na, you wouldn't have. She'd have stopped you, I'm certain. It had to be real boss!

'Bastard, you'll keep.' Nick shut him out and focused on the duel.

45 out of 50, not bad. Could have done better if he wasn't so bloody annoyed "you're up my dear."

"Oh Nicky, I can spend some time training you if you like." she told him and giggled. He ignored her, watched her line up the target "No cheating." he reminded her. She'd not yet pulled the blindfold on.

"I don't need to." Nick was not surprised that she didn't re-site at all, just notched one arrow after the other or that all five of them hit the centre ring. She was very good. It wasn't even her bow. Still, she never missed, though Nick had not expected her to at all.

She turned right to him, smiling beautifully, knew right where he was even blindfolded. He loved her smile, even if it was one of, I won and you lost. "Do you need some training?" she asked, sounding very happy with herself.

Nick stood staring at her, that statement was a little rude.

"Do you want a rematch on the knife throwing?" her smile turned into a smirk.

"No." he murmured softly. It was so very clear to him she intended to best him on that as well, probably would too "By that smile on your face. You're betting on winning that as well."

"Yes Nicky." she teased him.

Oh, the teasing was more than enough, he and Rip both growled at her playfully, and he watched with satisfaction as she dropped the bow and bolted away from him. ' Yes, run, my dear.' He growled at her down the mind-link and then took one deep breath and shot off after her, she might be fast but so was he.

Nick heard his pack members all cheer as he went after her, made him grin like a bloody fool, he didn't care at all 'Ky'ra' Rip chortled. Oh yes, her wolf was giving her a boost. Nick was fast without Rip and his long legs gave him a distinct advantage in the chase. But Rip was making sure they kept up with their Mate.

She shot into the pack-house through the front door and ran laughing down the hallway. He chased her the whole way. The pack members were just getting out of their way, it seemed, though they were all smiling at what they were seeing too.

Lucinda grabbed onto the door frame to the indoor pool entrance and used it to help her turn the sharp corner and dash inside. Nick did the same thing, he wasn't going to loose her. Rip gave him a speed boost and they had her. He launched himself at her, his arm snagged her around the waist and they went straight into the water, rolling over each other.

Nick brought them up to the surface with a smile "to slow, my dear." he laughed at her.

"No fair, your legs are longer." she shot back.

"Want to go again? I'll give you a ten count." he walked them towards the pool stairs, still had hold of her, didn't even attempt to put her down, didn't want to.

"You cheat." she splashed water at him.

"I'm just faster. Rip is faster." he remarked. Rip was amazingly fast, nothing had ever out run his wolf.

"He'd never out run Ky'ra."

"Wanna bet on it?" Nick challenged her, as he climbed the stairs.

"You going to put me down?" she asked when he had taken two steps away from the pool, pack members were watching them, he noted.

"Nope." he chuckled "Get to carry you. My prize for catching you."

"And just where are we going?"

"Our suite, my dear." he teased her openly in front of all watching.

"What?" she gasped "Nick."

Nick laughed softly "We need a shower." he put her down but only long enough to turn her around and pick her back up, tossing her over his shoulder to carry her off to the elevator.

"Hey wait. My book." she gasp as she dangled upside down.

"Too late now." Nick said, turning to look at it in her back pocket, "it'll have to be dried." He pulled it with his free hand, it was soaked through as they both were. Moved it round his back for her to see. Felt her take it from him and sigh at the state of it.

Nick could only smile, he was currently walking down the hall with her over his shoulder, and she was not actively fighting him on it, just staying put, much to his surprise and delight. They passed many teens headed for the rec room. Most just smiled at him. A couple of the older boys give him a big grin and a thumbs up. He was very happy right this minute, it probably showed. His pack members, teenagers and adults, seemed happy about it too. That was good.