The True Luna Part Two

“You can’t save them all Layla…” the feminine voice taunted me.
“Leave me alone. You’ll all pay.”
“They’re all going to die! Unless you give me what I want.”
“What?”
“You.”
I witnessed a hybrid grab a pole dancer trying to get away. She was paralysed with fear.
I growled and pushed the voice out of my head.
“I said leave me alone.”
Still in my wolf form my jaw latched on the hybrid’s leg. He released the dancer and I flung him across the street. They appeared like ants I couldn’t handle them all at once. The ones I managed to subdue didn’t count for much because more appeared.
I felt like backing into a car and surrendering. The feminine voice would have what she wanted after all. Then my mother’s stern face flashed before my eyes. She didn’t raise a quitter. I was never given a white flag growing up. Surrender wasn’t an option.
I straightened my legs and growled, the army of hybrids growing in size. If I went down I went down fighting. I summoned a bark from a place I didn’t know existed. I roared and barked to the point I felt energy leave me and hit the hybrids. The ground trembled causing the hybrids to turn around and retreat.
I held my stance until the streets were clear. I shifted and collapsed. With my head to the ground I heard paws pounding the streets. Please let it be my pack.
“Layla!”
“Little Wolf.”
A combination of Dean and Gabe’s voices gave me sweet relief. I rolled over. Dean was the first one to reach me. I scanned for Sam and Ginger. Nowhere in sight. The car was still there though.
What I did see shattered me forever. Dec slowly approached his little brother’s body. Lyle clapped his hand over his friend’s shoulder. Dec covered his mouth but he could do nothing about how his body trembled with violent sobs. He collapsed by Ash’s side unable to touch the bloodied corpse.
“Layla—” Dean started.
“I couldn’t save him. I should have reacted sooner. I should have saved him.” Sobs wrecked my body. Dean pulled me to his naked chest and tried to calm me, but I wiggled and pushed him away.
I couldn’t save my mother. I failed my father, my alpha and my pack. I failed my friend now his blood stained the ground.
“It’s okay babe, it’s okay Calm down.” Dean tightened his hold to contain my trembling self.
“No!”
“It’s alright. Stop Layla. Stop.”
***
“You outrank them all! You shouldn’t have gone to that club.” Dec yelled.
I sat on the stool on the kitchen aisle beside Dean who kept his hand on my back. They’d shut the kitchen doors so we could have a private meeting. I didn’t know how private it was since Dec kept on yelling at me. I deserved it. I couldn’t save his brother.
Lyle and Kenzie stood near the fridge while Gabe stood across from me. I couldn’t meet his gaze. If he thought, I was a spy then he must believe I’m a monster now. Killian leaned on the counter near the sink watching me. I couldn’t make out what his thoughts were. Bane stood guard by the door making sure no one interrupted.
“Why did you go? Couldn’t take defeat?” Dec blasted.
“Of course not. Ginger came—”
“Don’t put this on my sister. You outrank her and made an irresponsible choice.” Kenzie snared.
“I’m just telling the truth.”
“The truth is my brother is dead! And you… don’t even have a scratch.” Dec chuckled.
My heart slammed forward. He was going to accuse me of being a spy again.
The chair screeched against the floor as Dean stood.
“That’s enough. You’re responsible for not knowing four beta wolves left the castle.”
“Dean—” Dec was cut off.
“You all got the same reports I did. Layla saved hundreds by herself. Including your sister McKenzie. I’d show my mate a little respect before a lot my temper.”
Dean glared them down before hauling me to my feet. I couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze. I felt like the murderer wolf. I felt like I should be incarcerated.
“I don’t get something alpha.” Killian started. “Reports from the young beta Sam suggested he was fatally hit by a hybrid. He managed to heal. We all know that’s impossible aside from your case your highness. Layla, do you know anything about that?”
I met his eyes for a second. They held a challenge I wouldn’t accept.
“No. I’m sure my brother knows about his wolves better. Any extra-ordinary healers in your pack Gabe?”
For the first time I glanced at Gabe. His stare was hot on me. I turned to my hands instead. Gabe’s eyes were lethal.
“No, but who knows?”
“Interesting weapon to have against the dare pack.” Killian mused.
What was he suggesting? Cutting me open to make a potion?
“Your highness, the young beta wasn’t the only injured wolf. There were several who have reported to have healed miraculously.” Bane added.
It was a good thing there were few casualties but crap. Dean tightened his hold around my waist and dragged me away from the kitchen.
“We’ll continue this meeting tomorrow.” His word was finally.
Dean locked the door behind him. He let out a heavy sigh and marched to the edge of the bed where I sat fiddling with my fingers. It was two in the morning and sleep was the last thing on my mind. I couldn’t stop seeing Ash’s lifeless eyes whenever I blinked.
Dean kneeled in front of me. He dipped my chin so I could look at him in the eyes.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
I shivered when he raised his voice. He sensed it and sat next to me. He wrapped his arms around me and I melted into him. I felt safe with him, but my safety was under threat now.
“You were right.” A tear rolled down my cheek. “I’m not cut out to be a warrior. I couldn’t even save my friend. I belong here in your bed and making menus.”
He pulled me away and held my shoulders up. “Don’t do that mate. I was wrong. I was worried. Layla, I can’t deny what you did today.”
“I put my friends at risk,” I sniffled.
He shook his head, “I won’t blame you for that. Babe, you single handily defeated my greatest enemy. You know you saved Sam and you know you healed everyone at the scene.”
“Not Ash.” I sobbed. “His wounds were too deep.”
“It’s unfortunate. We can’t save them all.”
“I belong here Dean. I thought I was a warrior but I’m a girl who doesn’t know the real world. I’d been sheltered my whole life.”
“What would your father say if he heard you say you belong in my bed?” He barked.
“He—” I hiccupped. “He would rip you apart.”
Dean smirked and bobbed his head. “You are a warrior Layla. I underestimated you and that’s my fault. I didn’t want you to fight. I didn’t want you getting hurt. You’re not the type of girl to sit around and do nothing. You’re not my baby making machine. You’re good enough Layla, you’re more than enough.”
A tear rolled down my cheek but this one was from overwhelming appreciation. Coming from him felt like being given half the stars in the sky. He lifted my chin and stroked my bottom lip.
“Imagine that my Little Wolf defeated dozens of hybrid wolves.”
“Does this mean you’ll stop calling me Little Wolf?”
“Never.”
He carried me and lay me under the covers. He spooned me and turned off the lamps. Dean was my warm and safe home. I didn’t want to lose him.
“Get some rest Little Wolf. Get as much rest as you need.”
***
“Layla, can we talk?”
“Gabe? What about?”
“I want to know how you are.”
I didn’t have bags under my eyes today which meant I’d slept more than three hours. I was outside in the garden sat on a stone bench. Ash’s funeral was a day ago and training hadn’t resumed. I needed to beat the crap out of something. Dean’s funeral customs were the same as mine. The body was burned out on the water before the sun set.
Gabe joined me on the stone bench.
“How are you holding up?”
I nearly laughed. He wasn’t accusing me of anything.
“As good as can get.”
“I haven’t been the nicest… but I don’t like seeing you like this.”
I shrugged, “At least you’re not accusing me of anything.”
“There’s a lot about you I don’t know Layla. Like how you ended up on route to my pack.”
“I don’t know either.” I still didn’t know what made me lose my memories in the first place.
He scooted closer. So close I could feel his body heat. Gabe had a strong scent. It reminded me of an open meadow sometimes. When he was mad his scent changed just like his brother.
“I didn’t want to believe you were a spy when I first saw you. You made me change a lot of things.”
“What things?”
He let out a heavy breath and shrugged. “I was about to take a mate.”
“I never saw any women at your house.”
“You never saw Kenzie?” He smirked.
“I didn’t know you were going to take your beta as a mate. Why didn’t you—” It was the dumbest question I ever asked. “I should go.”
I stood but Gabe snaked his arm around my waist and brought me back down. He pressed his solid body against mine and pressed his face against my neck.
“My wolf chose you then fate gave you to my brother. Isn’t that unfair?”
“I don’t know…” Power crashed into my back. It was a powerful cry from a male to a female for attention. “Don’t do that. Stop showing interest you know my wolf can’t reciprocate your feelings.”
“I can’t shake you Layla.” He hissed. “I don’t like seeing my brother with you. I’ve never fought with him about a woman.”
“So don’t start now. I… love him.”
His grip around me weakened enough for me to escape. I put enough distance between us.”
“Kenzie’s a good girl and she can keep you in line.”
“I don’t need to be kept in line.” He stood. He straightened his back and towered over me. “You can’t deny what you felt for me.”
“Nothing there was nothing!” I looked around. I hated being alone with Gabe it could always be interpreted differently.
“Your wolf jumps when I’m around,” he said close to my ear.
“Imagine what she does when Dean’s around.”
He grinded his teeth together. He reached out and brushed my bottom lip with his thumb.
“See you around Little Wolf.”