Chapter 38

I quickly packed my bag and tried not to over think about what I was doing. This was my chance to find out who I really was, and after so many years of just trying to be the person who pleases everyone I needed to do this. I need to do something for myself for once and find out why I was this way. With one last look around I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. Owen lifted his eyes to meet me as I walked toward him.

“I’ll see you later!” I tell him with a smile and quick kiss.

I could tell he was doubting what I had told him earlier, but I could not stay any longer and let him ask me any questions so after saying my last goodbyes I walked out the door without looking back. Natalia sat in the car looking down at the phone when I returned. I opened the passenger door quickly and got in sighing loudly of relief.

“Ok, let’s go!” I tell her with an anxious tone.

She laughs. “Luna we are not being chased, so relax. I have to sop at my house and grab a few things too, but it’s close to the highway so it wont take long for us to be on our way when I am done.” I nod in agreement and take another look at our house as we drive away, and I see Owen standing in the window. He lifted his hand and gives me a soft wave as we drive away, and I feel sick to my stomach. I hated this! I wanted to turn around and tell him everything, but would he let me go if he knew?

Natalia drives down the small street that runs from the pack house to the highway, and turns off a smaller road on the right that led us to a small house just on the other side of the trees blocking the pack territory from the view of the cars passing by. The way the territory was arranged, if you were driving by the trees would be too close to the ground and too tall to see what lied on the other side. I think most people thought there was empty land beyond these trees. Which I am guessing was the idea of why the pack homes where placed on this piece of land.

She parked in front of the small house and rushed inside leaving me to wait for her in the car. I took out my phone and as soon as it lit up I aw a message from Owen. I froze. After a few moments of internal panic, I opened it and began reading the message.

“Hey love, be safe on your trip. As much as I wish I could be with you, I know you didn’t want to have to make me choose between going with you and being with the pack. You may think you have no idea how to be a good Luna but thinking of the pack and how leaving them without an alpha is exactly what a Luna would do. I know you felt guilty for not telling me, and I wanted to just let you know that I am not upset. Just make sure to let me know how you are doing, and if anything happens and you need me I will fly down right away. I love you!”

I could feel my eyes watering as I reread his message a couple of times. He knew I was not being honest with him, and during my panicking I must have not been able to block him out and he found out what I was doing. I felt guilty for lying but so happy now that he knew the truth. I whipped away a tear and began writing my reply.

“I am so sorry Owen; I didn’t think you would want me to go if you knew what I was doing. I know you would be worried about me and want to come, and I didn’t want you to leave if nothing comes from this trip. The pack needs you, so I couldn’t ask you to choose. I will make sure to keep you updated and Natalia the nurse will be going with me, so please don’t worry to much!” I respond.

A few moments later I saw that he was replying.

“Ok, I am glad she will be with you! Be very careful and take good care of our son!” He says.

I don’t know why his kind and sweet nature always seems to take me by surprise, but his sweet words were easing any anxiety I was feeling about this trip. I set my phone down and let out a sigh of relief, and as soon as I did I felt a strong jab from the baby. My anxiety must have been making him uneasy too, but he seemed to be happily kicking now.

“Now don’t you be rushing to get out of there just yet little pup. Give me some time to finish his trip and get home so your dad can be with us to welcome you.” I said to my belly.

I stopped quickly when I heard the driver’s door open.

“Sorry Luna, I have finished packing so we can leave now!” Natalia says with a smile.
“It’s fine! And you can just call me Amelia, or Mia if you want! We are going to be spending a lot of time together for a couple of days, I will feel strange if you keep treating me like the Luna. Let’s try to be friends instead!” I say to her with a friendly smile.

She gave me a relieved smile. “Oh! I am so glad! It would have been hard not to speak informally to you after spending so much time with you.”
“I know! I don’t want things to be stiff and awkward for us, and I am still not used to being thought of as the Luna. Besides where we are going I wouldn’t be considered the Luna anyway, so it wouldn’t make sense for you to call me that.” I tell her.
“I suppose that’s true. Actually, I was wondering, where are we going?” She asks turning the ignition and pulling the car back onto the road heading out of the pack borders.
“I am not exactly sure. I called the number the doctor gave me and didn’t get an answer. When I hung up, a text from the number came up. It said to let them know when we land in California. When I replied I didn’t get an answer back. It’s strange but maybe the doctor let them know we were coming.” I explain.
“Hm, it is strange. I guess we will find out when we get there. Let’s go then.” She says turning on some upbeat music and turning out onto the highway.

We drove for an hour before we arrived at the airport, and we quickly unloaded our bags and paid for extended stay parking. As we walked toward security I kept getting the feeling that someone was following us, but I brushed it off to nerves. Who would be following us anyway? Why would someone even want to? We got through security easily and found a couple of seats to sit on and wait for our flight. We had made it with an hour to spare, so we tried to relax a little. I scanned the area and tried to relax my nerves, I had not done much flying so it always made me feel a little nervous. Then like clockwork, I needed to use the bathroom…again.

“Natalia, I am going to the bathroom for a minute. Can you watch my bag?” I ask her.
“Sure!” She says bringing my bag closer.

I stand and walk toward the sign with the two figures, but I started getting that feeling again. Like someone was following me, so I quickened my pace and rushed inside the bathroom. Once inside I rushed toward one of the stalls and locked the door. As best I could, I tried to hide and listen to see if someone follows me inside. For a few moments I hear nothing, but then suddenly I hear the squeaking sound of the door opening. Foots steps walk along the stretch of stalls, stopping and glancing under each one for signs of someone inside. I did my best to steady my breathing and make it as quiet as possible.
The footsteps stop for a moment and I freeze. I hear the man shuffling around and a moment later he begins talking to someone.

“I lost her. Any sign of her on your end?” The man asks.
Silence.
“Ok, let’s regroup and try tracking her again. She couldn’t have left the airport without one of us seeing her, so she must still be here.” The man says and I hear his footsteps fade and the bathroom door slams.

Who was that man? Why was he following me?
I don’t think Owen would do something like this, so someone else was looking for me. Why? I didn’t know anyone else outside the pack and my old boss. When I was sure the man was gone, I rushed out of the bathroom and went back to where I had left Natalia.
As soon as I saw her I quickened my pace, until I saw her speaking to someone. I stopped short and hid behind an advertisement sign for a near by store and watched them. Nothing seemed unusual but I definitely did not recognize the man and she seemed uneasy, so I assumed she didn’t either. A second later the man grabbed her by the arm and began pulling her away. I stepped out from behind where I was hiding, and she caught sight of me. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. I looked back at her in confusion, until I heard her voice in my mind.

“Luna, don’t!” She said through the mind link.
“But where is he taking you?” I ask her.
“Get on the plane, I’ll come find you! I promise!” She says.
“I can’t let him take you!” I yell back.
“I am letting him take me, I can’t fight back in front of all these humans. Don’t worry Luna, the doctor didn’t pick me to go with you for no reason. I am here to protect you as well. This man has plans to take you, I will distract them, and you get on the plane. As soon as I get away, I will come find you! Now stay hidden until it’s time to board.” She cuts the link and walks away with the man.

I looked around and I noticed another man not far away who looked like he was with the man who took Natalia. I needed to find a way to get to the gate!