Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Third–person POV

Luna was both shocked and confused, and when the word “Luna” finally clicked properly in her brain, she stared at Jace as though he had completely lost his mind. For several seconds she simply stood there looking at him, trying to process what he had just suggested, and the more she thought about it, the more absurd it sounded.

She knew enough about werewolves now to understand that a Luna was not some random title that people handed out like participation trophies. Every conversation she had, every explanation Ivy had given her, and every little thing she had learned since discovering what she was pointed toward one conclusion. A Luna was important, a Luna was special, and a Luna stood beside an Alpha.

She was the woman who shared the Alpha’s authority and position. So naturally, her brain jumped toward the most ridiculous conclusion possible. By the time she finally connected all the pieces together, she was looking at Jace like he had secretly been plotting something outrageous this entire time.

“Wait,” she blurted out. “Are you actually asking me to marry you just so I can secure my place in Blackridge?”

The reaction she got was immediate and honestly far more dramatic than she expected. Jace’s eyes widened so dramatically that Luna almost laughed despite the seriousness of the conversation. Pure horror crossed his face first, then came confusion, then came something that looked alarmingly close to panic.

The usually composed and annoyingly calm Jace looked completely thrown off balance, it was almost impressive. Luna had never seen him look so startled before, and for a brief moment she wondered if she had somehow misunderstood him so badly that she had managed to shock him speechless.

“What?” Jace asked.

He shook his head so quickly it was almost comical, looking as though he were trying to physically throw away the misunderstanding before it could take root.

“What part of what I said mentioned marriage?” he demanded.

Luna folded her arms across her chest and stared right back at him. The more she thought about it, the more justified she felt. As far as she was concerned, her conclusion had been perfectly reasonable. She wasn’t the werewolf expert here. She was simply working with the information she had. Everything she had learned so far suggested that becoming someone’s Luna was not some casual arrangement, it sounded incredibly serious. If anything, she felt like Jace should have expected her to jump to that conclusion.

“Isn’t a Luna an alpha’s life partner?” she asked. “Because that’s what everyone makes it sound like. Soft you’re telling me to claim you, then you’re basically telling me to publicly declare myself as your life partner.”

For a brief second, Jace simply stared at her. He looked like someone whose brain had completely stopped working. Then, despite the seriousness of the conversation, a laugh escaped him. It wasn’t a mocking laugh or an insulting one, it was the kind of laugh that slipped out before a person could stop it.

The image of Luna genuinely believing he had just proposed marriage in the middle of a discussion about saving her from losing her scholarship had apparently overwhelmed his self–control.

Unfortunately for him, the sound immediately made Luna narrow her eyes, and the moment he noticed the glare she was sending him he quickly regained control of himself. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, visibly trying to compose himself before she decided to kick him. The last thing he needed was to make her think he was laughing at her when she was already confused and frustrated.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t be laughing.”

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You think this is funny?” Luna asked.

Jace immediately shook his head again. His expression becarne serious enough to reassure her that he wasn’t actually making fun of her.

“No,” he responded immediately. “Tjust wasn’t expecting that conclusion.”

Luna continued glaring at him, clearly unconvinced. The look on her face made it obvious that she still believed she had arrived at a perfectly logical interpretation of what he had said. Jace realized that if he didn’t explain himself properly, she might actually leave here convinced that he had proposed marriage and then immediately backtracked. The thought alone was enough to give him a headache.

“I am not talking about marriage,” he said firmly. “That much I can absolutely assure you.”

Luna frowned. The confusion on her face remained obvious. If he wasn’t talking about marriage, then she genuinely had no idea what he was talking about anymore.

“If you’re not trying to rope me into some permanent union,” she started, “then what exactly are you trying to do?”

Jace remained quiet for a moment while deciding how best to explain it. The problem was that most werewolves understood these things naturally because they grew up around them. Luna had spent nineteen years completely disconnected from this world. Half the things he considered common knowledge sounded completely insane when explained out loud, and sometimes he forgot just how overwhelming all of this must be for her.

Eventually, he let out a breath and decided to simplify it as much as possible. “You already carry my mark,” he explained. “All you would have to do is claim it.”

Luna stared at him blankly. That explanation somehow only made things more confusing. If anything, she felt even more lost than before. Jace noticed immediately. He could practically see the questions multiplying inside her head. Knowing he needed to elaborate before she arrived at another wild conclusion, he continued speaking.

This doesn’t mean we’d be in a relationship,” he continued. “I doesn’t mean we’d be dating. It doesn’t mean we’d suddenly become engaged or anything like that. Being my mate and carrying my mark gives you certain benefits in Blackridge. So all I’m suggesting is that you officially make use of those benefits.”

Luna squinted suspiciously. Everything about this still sounded far too convenient. People rarely offered things without wanting something in return, and while she didn’t think Jace was trying to manipulate her, she also wasn’t naïve enough to blindly trust every solution handed to her. She wanted to understand exactly what he meant before agreeing to anything

‘So let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “You’re telling me that you would let me publicly claim you as mine →

lace nodded.

And everyone would recognize me as your Luna?” She asked.

lace nodded again.

‘But behind the scenes there would be absolutely nothing between us?”

Jace nodded a third time. “That’s exactly what I mean,” he responded. “Again, this isn’t a compulsory solution You don’t ha to agree to it, and trust me, I don’t have any hidden agenda.”

Luna wasn’t entirely convinced about that last part. She had met enough people in her life to know that hidden agendas existed everywhere. Still, she couldn’t sense any deception from him Confusion, concern, frustration, embarrassment, and about ten other emotions? Absolutely. But deception? Not even a little

The bond made lying emotionally difficult, and right now everything she felt from him suggested that he genumchy

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heved he was helping her. Even so, the entire idea felt strange. Very strange.

She took a small step backward and looked up at him thoughtfully. Then another thought occurred to her. It was such an obvious question that she couldn’t believe neither of them had brought it up sooner.

“Well,” she said, “I have four other mates.”

The words immediately caught Jace off guard. Duna noticed the reaction instantly. His expression barely changed, and most people would have missed it completely, but she didn’t. Through the bord she felt the tiny sting of discomfort that flashed through him before he buried it.

“Why do I have to choose to be recognized as yours?” she asked. “Why not one of the others?”

For a split second, something flashed through Jace’s eyes. It was gone almost immediately, but it had been there. Pain. disappointment, maybe even hurt. The emotion disappeared so quickly that anyone else might have thought they imagined it. Unfortunately for Jace, Luna could feel it through the bond, and that made it impossible to hide, and the realization almost made her smile.

Jace straightened his shoulders and forced himself to remain calm. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded completely normal despite the emotions he was trying very hard to suppress.

“If you’d rather choose someone else, you’re free to,” he responded.

Luna almost laughed. The lie was so obvious because she could literally feel his emotions. Jace looked perfectly composed on the outside. His feelings, however, were another story entirely. The idea clearly bothered him far more than he was willing to admit.

“I suggested myself because I’m the only one who’s marked you,” he explained. “From a practical standpoint, it makes the most sense.”

Luna remained silent, allowing him to continue.

“But if you prefer someone else, then that’s your choice.”

The discomfort under those words was so obvious that Luna had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling For someone who supposedly didn’t care, he seemed to care an awful lot, and it amused her far more than it should have, especially because he was trying so hard to hide it.

Several long seconds passed without either of them speaking. Luna felt some of her panic easing even though the problem wasn’t solved. Her race was still only days away, and she still couldn’t control her abilities. She still had no idea what she was going to do, yet somehow, standing here arguing with Jace had distracted her from spiraling completely.

Eventually, she let out a long sigh and rubbed her eyes before finally looking back at him. “I still want to try,” she said

Jace’s expression softened slightly. He had already expected that answer, but hearing it still made him worry.

“Try what?” he asked.

“Learning control,” Luna responded immediately. “Learning how to control my strength. Learning how to control my spot

Jace remained silent while she gathered her thoughts. He could already tell from the determination in her voice that changing her mind was going to be impossible.

“If you’re right,” she said, “and it’s impossible, then fine.”

The words clearly cost her something. Luna wasn’t used to admitting deleat, especially not betore she had exhausted every option available to her. Giving up without trying wasn’t in her nature

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Chapter 122

at I need to know for myself,” she continued. I need to try first.”

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Jace studied her carefully. Everything about her expression radiated determination. Stubbornness too, a ridiculous amount

of stubbornness.

“If there are no changes in the next forty–eight hours,” Luna said, “and if things really are as impossible as you claim they are, then I’ll let you know which of your suggested options I prefer.”

The moment the words left her mouth, silence settled between them again. Jace looked at her for several seconds before slowly nodding. He wasn’t particularly optimistic, in fact he was fairly certain she was underestimating how difficult this would be, but he also knew there was absolutely no point arguing with her, not when she’d already made up her mind and not when her eyes carried that look. The look of someone who would rather fail after trying than spend the rest of her life wondering what might have happened if she’d fought harder, and despite himself, Jace found that he respected that, even if he worried it would eventually break her heart.