Chapter 304 – Luna of The Mighty Alpha

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

“Come on!” Someone drunk cheered him on, while others looked tense. Odin drank from his cup, his jaw tight the whole time, not taking his healthy eye from him.

It was time to be done with the farce.

A growl emerged from Fenrir’s chest, echoing through the high ivory walls of the hall. Flexing his muscles as if it required some effort, he glanced at Astrea, who rolled her eyes discreetly, almost making him lose his serious expression and smirk.

He freed his feet first, and only then did the gods started cheering him on as if they meant it. He was their source of entertainment tonight, after all, so he slowly walked around, demonstrating his chained wrists, the magical metal still trying to subdue him.

He stopped before the star goddess and noticed how tight her lips were pressed together. Fenrir wanted to believe this was because she didn’t like how he was treated, but he knew better than to hope.

However, he didn’t find it in himself to move any further, so he raised his hands and pulled the chain apart, breaking it into several pieces that fell to his feet.

The gods cheered him on as if they were friends; someone brought him another goblet of divine mead. In this chaos, only Astrea did not display any emotions. She didn’t flinch or blink, staying like a statue and staring at him while he refused to leave his spot.

The world around them spun and moved, but the two of them remained the same.

Fenrir bowed and stretched his hand to her.

“Astrea, the goddess of stars, the lady of justice, will you do me the honour of a dance?” he asked in the most confident tone.

All sounds died down and Fenrir knew he was overstepping.

“Know your place, mutt!” Vidar gritted his teeth, ready to charge at him, but Freyja touched his arm again.

“Don’t forget we have guests,” she purred with a sweet smile. “This is for Astraea to decide.”

“Like she’d ever agree to dance with a dog!” Someone said, not bothering to lower his voice.

Fenrir grew tired of standing with his head bowed and hand held out, waiting for acceptance. He was about to retract it and laugh it off, saying it was a joke, when a delicate palm touched his skin, sending all kinds of emotions rippling through his body.

Astrea circled the table and was now so close to him that he was caught completely off guard.

“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind, Fenrir,” she said and he loved the sound of his name on her lips.

She was wearing a beautiful shimmering white gown, almost translucent and flowing like the Milky Way when she moved. The gauzy material was light and airy, hugging her curves perfectly and trailing behind her in a mesmerising cascade of shimmering fabric.

Fenrir found himself in an awkward position because he had never actually danced with another goddess, quickly realising that he had set himself up for failure. Women who usually graced him with their company were of lower ranks, thus his dancing skills were lacking.

The music played divine sounds surrounding them as he noticed her lips curling.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t expect this,” she tilted her head, enjoying herself already.

“I didn’t,” he admitted, and she giggled discreetly.

“Well, now the joke is on you,” Astrea let out a laugh and that sound made him forget about everything.

His free hand found her waist, pulling her closer as he towered over her. Astrea sighed, biting her lip, but didn’t try to distance herself from him, although it was what he expected. His powerful steps were matched with her graceful ones as they started to move together in perfect harmony.

He led her around the hall. The rhythm of their movements swelled with each passing moment, filling the hall with palpable tension as everyone watched the unlikely couple.

Some were in awe, some intrigued and some furious.

Fenrir did not care. He enjoyed the closeness to Astrea and their dance. He enjoyed it when their eyes found each other after a twirl or a spin. He enjoyed her scent and when her silky hair touched his exposed skin.

The final chords of the melody sounded and he managed to pull her close again, both breathing heavily but not because they were tired.

“Thank you, my goddess,” he murmured so that only she could hear him.

Astrea looked at him and the whole universe was locked in her gaze, stirring something inside him. Something new.

“They shouldn’t have done it,” she whispered, stunning him as his lips parted in shock. The world had faded away, leaving them alone and drawing them closer.

“Astrea, can I ask you to join me for a moment,” Selene’s voice brought them out of their daze.

“Of course, Mother,” she forced herself to take her hands off of his chest, making the world seem cold and empty again. “Excuse me,” she apologised, her voice barely a whisper as her cheeks gained that delicious pink tint again.

“No worries,” Fenrir smiled at her, bowing respectfully. “I will find you again.”

He could swear her breathing hitched, but she hid this fact and rushed to join her mother and uncle beside Odin.

A smug smile spread over Fenrir’s face. This night had turned out to be not so bad after all.

“What the hell are you doing?” Tyr grabbed his arm and practically dragged him out of the feasting hall. The wolf did not resist, chuckling as they went.

“What? This is what feasts are for, are they not?” he clapped his mentor’s back with his hand.

“Fenrir!” Tyr hissed, shoving him into a dark corner behind one of the biggest columns. “What were you thinking?”

“I danced with a beautiful woman right now. I think it’s pretty clear what I was thinking.”

“Is this a joke to you?” His mentor ran his hand over his face. “Why did you have to pick her out of everyone?”

“Because I like her,” Fenrir answered honestly. “Why else? And what is the problem here exactly?”

“The problem?” Tyr scowled at him. “The problem, Fenrir, is that you don’t understand why our guests are here and why we accept them with open arms.”

“Of course, I don’t. No one, including you, have bothered explaining anything to me!” Fenrir retorted.

“More than half of their pantheon is dead. They need help, and so do we,” Tyr sighed. “Everyone came to the conclusion that we should join forces.”

“So?” Fenrir quivered his brow up. “Astraea and I will gladly join forces.”

“And that is exactly the problem!” Tyr grunted. “Astrea was brought here to marry another. They are about to be betrothed!”

That news didn’t sit right with Fenrir.

“Who?” he growled, feeling like he knew the answer already.

“You are not going to like it.”

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