CHAPTER 114
Once everything is cleaned up and the enemy's bodies are burned, everyone comes back to the pack house's front lawn, so we
can have a meeting. Those that are injured go home to let their wolves. heal them or the really bad ones make their way to the
hospital to have Dr. Sands patch them up. Declan's pack have already headed home after I've thanked them profusely. I tried
offering them to stay for a BBQ but they all refuse, and I think Declan has something to do with it. It irritates me that he won't
allow me to thank his men in my own way, but I've got more important things to deal with at the moment.
"Spencer," I grab his attention as soon as I spot him coming. towards me, "Please, tell who it is that we lost!" I need to know who
it is that gave his life for this pack.
"He was one of the newer pack members, Alpha. His name was Andrew. He's only been with us for two months, but he's got a
mate."
I close my eyes, "Oh, Goddess! Who is his mate?"
Unexpectedly, a male voice speaks up and another warrior steps forward, "I am, Alpha Quinn. I'm Vince, and we were mated two
years ago." There is a crack in his voice at the end, but he holds himself well.
I walk down the steps and make my way toward the grieving mate. Pulling him into me, I hug him tightly, "I am so very sorry for
your loss, Vince. Andrew was a brave warrior and he will never be forgotten."
"Andrew lived for being a warrior. He was always excited to go to
Dinding into
training. When we left our old pack, it was because they wouldn't accept us as mates because we are the same sex, so we
wandered around looking for a new pack. We heard Dark Moon's name come up so many times that we decided to head here.
You made us feel welcomed and accepted, and for that I will always be grateful, and will serve you always." The warrior then
takes a knee and I smile.
Suddenly, every warrior and non-warrior on the front lawn are going down, one by one, as they take a knee before me. I can't
stop the tears that begin to fall at the sight in front of me. Declan comes to my side and puts his arm around my shoulder and
pulls me into him for comfort, and I accept it.
Once the moment passes, I straighten myself back up, "Please stand," I call out, "Thank you for your loyalty, and in return, I will
be the best Luna that I can be and will train your future Alpha to be an Alpha that you can all love and look up to!" I look back at
like to add your mate's name to it as well."
Vince lets a single tear slip down his cheek, "I would be honored, and I know Andrew would be as well."
"I would like you to join us for a private dinner this evening, Vince. Then, once the sun goes down, we will see your mate off,
sending him back to the Goddess Selene where he can watch over you."
"Thank you, Alpha, but I must turn down your generosity. I think I need to be alone tonight, but I would be honored to join your
another night, if possible."
"Oh, of course, how thoughtless of me! Do you mind if I come check in on you in a few days?" I ask. I always worry about mates
who lose their loved one, and even though I was strong enough to fight the despair, not every mate can.
"I would appreciate that very much, Alpha." Vince replies as he bows his head to me.
"Good, now go and do what you need to do. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything. I will see you later this
evening, Vince."
"Thank you again, Alpha." He then turns and walks through the crowd who expresses their sympathy to him as he passes.
"I have people looking into the Gray Skies pack," Declan informs us, "I want to know exactly where they come from and what we
are up against. I also have scouts out watching their movements."
Declan and I call an emergency meeting with all our allies. Alphas, Betas, Gammas and Head Warriors are all in attendance,
here in Dark Moon territory. We are worried that there may be another attack, so I don't want to go too far. Obviously, they have
misinformation if they think that there is a Dire wolf among my pack. This is the second time that my pack has been targeted due
to others mistaking us for something that we are not.
"I don't understand why they've traveled all this way if they weren't one hundred percent sure that there is a Dire wolf in the
area." This comes from Alpha Brant from the Midnight Storm pack. He's a cocky Alpha, but a good one all the same.
"I can honestly tell you that I have never come across a Dire wolf in my life, at least not to my knowledge," I respond, "I guess I
wouldn' t really know what to look for even if I did, would any of you?" I chuckle and a few others join in and agree with me.
"They are faster and stronger than most," Alpha Carson from the
Blood Moon pack cuts in, stopping all the chuckles, "They are bigger as well, but that usually doesn't take place until they come
into their powers on their twentieth birthday."
"And how do you know all this to be true?" Alpha Oliver from Desert Sun asks.
"I know this because my great uncle on my mother's side was the last Dire wolf in our ancestry line. My grandmother was
adopted so she wasn't from the same bloodline. My great uncle was killed in battle and had no offspring that anybody knew of,
mine because of the bloodline. I'm not ashamed to say that I had Dire wolves in my family at one time. In fact, I am damn proud
of it, and if any of you have an issue with it, then you can fuck off!"
I cover my mouth as a burst of laughter erupts, and I glance around the room to see if anyone has an issue with what we all just
learned. Everyone else is doing the same as I am, and watching everyone else's responses.
"I think I speak for everyone," Alpha Deke states, "when I say that we don't have an issue with your family history or any Dire
wolf. In fact, I would put my own life on the line to protect a Dire wolf!"
For some odd reason, Tala is getting all worked up, but I don't know if it's a bad thing or a good thing and I don't have time to talk
to her about it at the moment. Declan glances over at me and grins, why, I haven't the slightest clue, but I smile back. Why is it all
of a sudden everyone I acting weird?
Shaking my thoughts away, I put my own two scents in, "I for one, find it hard to believe that there are any left. Actually, this is
the first time that I have even heard of someone talk about a real one. Up until now, I never thought of it as a legend, but a myth."
I rub my forehead, "Of course, if there is still a Dire out there, then we must protect it at all costs, but how do we do that when we
don't know who it is to begin with? Do we send out a search party or what?"
"I don't think we will find them, Alpha Quinn," Declan states, "they are hidden for a reason, and if we go searching then we may
cause more trouble for them."
"Hm, I didn't think about it like that." I crinkle my brow, "Maybe we should start taking the fight to the rebels instead of waiting for
them to decimate another pack."
"You mean take the fight to the Gray Skies pack, and then any other one who comes knocking on our back doors?" Declan
inquires..
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. If we all join forces and attack them before they have a chance to regroup."
"That may not be a bad idea," Alpha Carson nods, "Count the Blood Moon pack in."
"Sun River pack is in as well." Deke stands up, followed by Black Storm, Desert Sun, and even Alpha Brant with Midnight Storm.
"Well, I think that's a good start. If we think we need more than we will regroup ourselves and come up with a new plan. In the
meantime, Alpha Declan can get back to us with the intel that his scouts bring back and we can proceed with the next step."
I'm exhausted by the time everyone leaves. I walk Declan and Holden out to the front porch and give the pup a kiss on his pudgy
cheek and out of the blue I reach further and peck Declan's cheek as well.
"Thank you for all your help today, Declan. I don't know how I can ever return the favor unless your pack comes under attack as
well." I chuckle.
"No need to thank me, Quinn, you know that. I'm always here for you and Dark Moon.".
We say goodbye and he leans in to place a kiss on the top of my head before turning and walking the rest of the way to his jeep.
All I can do is watch him walk away as I stand here in utter shock from the tingles that just shot through me from his kiss.
Thank you for reading! =)