Chapter 85

“We really need to talk about this more.” Maya tries to tell Tommy, as he paces around their living room.

“We talked about it last night. There is nothing more to talk about! We are not packing up and going to the Fae world.” Tommy says back, his voice just below yelling.

“I know Tommy, but we need an alternative to bring to the Fae council. A good argument for why we want to remain here. They see their kind as more levelheaded, and their world safe than ours. They see me as an important piece to bringing peace for all like us. They aren’t going to back out unless we give them a good reason for me to stay here.” Maya says trying to reason with the alpha.

Tommy was clearly upset and huffed around barely hearing the things Maya was trying to get him to understand. The others watched as Tommy huffed and paced for a good twenty minutes. They knew by now that when Tommy was this agitated that it was best to let him work through it. After they passed the half hour mark though, Noah stood and grabbed his friend and forced him to sit.

“Look Tommy I know that after everything that has been happening, we are all have some fear of us being separated again. But Maya is right! We need the Fae’s help, and their council isn’t going to want to part with Maya without a good enough reason. They also probably think we are incapable of protecting her. We need to show them that we want to work with them, and that Maya is safe with us.” Noah explains.

“I can’t just leave. My father’s health has gotten worse because of the stress he has been under. I need to take over, but if I don’t have a Luna to offer the pack, we will look weak. I need Maya here.” Tommy replies.

“I will be here Tommy. I will stand next to you at the ceremony, I promise. But if I want to work with the Fae council from here, we need to prove to them that I am needed here and that I will be protected. That’s all I am trying to explain.” Maya wanted to make this easy for everyone, but someone would have to compromise somewhere.

But as it was, the Fae and Tommy both wanted all of her.

“Does your pack lands have a protection spell surrounding it?” Thomas asks.

“Yes, but it was cast thirty years ago.” Noah replies.

“If we can allow the Fae council to cast a stronger protection spell, they may be willing to let Maya stay.” Thomas offers.

“Do you think they would be willing to do that? Protection spells come with a steep price.” Eli reminds them.

“For Maya, I am sure they would be willing to pay far more than your pack could afford. But it is as was said, they will need to see that Maya is safe here. They may let her stay for a short time and make a decision later whether she can remain.” Thomas says.

“I can’t believe I have to prove that I can protect my own mate to a bunch of stuck-up fairies.” Tommy snaps.

“Acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum is the opposite of what we need to show the Fae council. So, if you are done pouting, we should make a plan to meet them now. It would be wise if we are all present.” Thomas says with his usual stoic manners.

Tommy sat up ready to snap at Thomas, but Noah stepped between them and gave Tommy a look telling him to let it go. Maya felt sick to her stomach, she hated all the tension she was feeling not only between her mates but when she is in front of the council as well. She was sure that if she were human, she would have developed an ulcer from the stress of everything. As her mates went back and forth about the best plan moving forward, Maya was trying to remember how she even got here. She had come here to be a normal college student, to pretend to be human.

College…classes…Annie…

All of that felt like it was part of another life. Everything was turned upside-down so quickly, and it wasn’t slowing down. She let out a shaky breath as the memories from before she knew what she was began to flood through her mind. She wished she could go back in time, but would that have actually change her life now? Would her mother have ever told her the truth? How would she even have met Thomas?

She shook her head and tried to focus on what the other were saying, it didn’t make sense to wonder about a life she would never have.

“…If we all go back there with Maya, there is no guarantee that the Fae will let us return home. They could very well trap us there!” Maya heard Tommy say.

“Tommy has a point. It’s not like we can trust them either.” Eli chimes in.

Eli…Maya watched him for a moment and realized that she has barely spoken to him since he was brought back to the pack. He used to connect with her often through their bond, and he hadn’t tried to in a while and Maya found that strange. So much had been going on that she hadn’t even noticed. Now that she thought about it, she had been feeling very distant from all her wolf mates a lot recently. They had an intense night together, but that had been purely physical, and it didn’t exactly make things feel like they were. There was a noticeable distance between them now, and it made her heart hurt. At this point all of her mate’s voices were being drowned out, she was too tired to follow all their lines of thought. It would be so much easier if someone just asked what she wanted to do, but that was rare if ever.

She told herself she would stand up for herself, speak up and make decisions for herself but the truth was she was just so tired. It felt like she was fighting at least one person form every side, and she was tired.

She was one small voice against a dozen.

“Enough.” She says firmly, standing from her spot on the couch.
The others fell silent when she stands, and they all turn to look at her.
“We are not going to the Fae world. They will come to us. First, I am going to be the Luna of this pack. My place is here, and I understand that I am some special weapon needed to bring peace, but I still have a life here. If they wish for me to help them, then they need to make this pack the safest place on earth, because I am not leaving.” The others watch her wide eyed and silent.

(Maya POV)

I could feel my face heat up from embarrassment. I was no used to making such declarations, and as soon as the words left my mouth in the way they had, I felt instant regret. I eyed each one of my mates and waited for a response, but when they continued to look at me like I had grown two heads I continued.

“Thomas, can you please contact the Fae council and let them know my decision? I am going to go and order us some food.” After giving my ‘command’ I left without waiting for anyone else to speak.

I walked up the stairs and headed to my room. Once inside I closed the door and let out the breath, I had felt like I had been holding since we had started talking. I noticed my phone on the bedside table and realized I hadn’t looked at it in weeks. I turned it one and the screen lite up. It felt a little foreign in my hands. Once it was turned on, I saw I had at least a hundred messages from Annie. I opened the first few messages, and it seemed to be here gushing about her mate. The next few were of panic, when she noticed Maya hadn’t replied to her in a while. Then the messages seemed to be her telling Maya that as soon as she was safe, to call her because she had so much to share.

Maya missed Annie and could really use a girl friend to talk to. So, she dialed the number and raised the phone to her ear.

“Maya?” A soft voice said on the other line.

“Hey Annie, yeah it’s me.” Maya replied with a weary laugh.

“Oh my god! I hate you! How could you have gone this long without talking to me! Are you crazy?” She yelled at me.

I had to laugh. I really missed her.

“How are you?” I ask her softly.

“Me? Well, a lot has happened, but I am worried about you. I have heard everything that has been going on from William! What the heck girl? What kind of telenovel did you fall out of?” Annie used to try and make her watch those shows with her, but I could never get into them.

So, I wasn’t exactly sure how they related to me, but I just decided to ignore the reference.

“I know a lot has been going on, and I am so sorry I have not replied to any of your messages. But I could really use some girl time. What do you say?” I ask her mentally crossing my fingers hoping she isn’t too busy.

“Yes of course! Are you home then?” She asks.

“Yeah, at our house. The one Tommy built.” I reply.

“Perfect not far from our house! Hang on girl I am coming to get you! Oh, and dress nice!” She calls out.

Before I can tell her, it wouldn’t be safe for me to leave the pack lands, she hangs up. Well, I guess I am going out tonight. Now how was I going to tell my four very protective mates that I would be leaving and none of them could come?