XLII. Tigger

Raine's POV:

“How did you know I’m out here?”

“Some members mind linked me that they saw you heading out the Pack House.”

“Someone was watching me?”

“Of course.” The responses I get from everyone sometimes frighten me. They’re so open about everything around here.

“I see,” I said. “I want to go shopping.”

Miguel’s eyes cast down and he smirks.

I followed his sight and noticed he was looking at the black card and cell phone. I forgot to hide those. I put them in my old bag and pretended I never had them.

“I’ll take you.” He pretends he never saw them either.

I held my head low and followed Miguel into the car. More willingly than our first time together. “How come you’re always around the Pack House?” Doesn’t he have other places to be?

“That sounds more like an insult than a question.” Busted. “But I’ll let that one slide. I got off of work and went paroling.”

“Work?” I click on the belt. “Isn’t being Beta your job?”

“Packs don’t magically get money. We do have jobs outside of our status.”

“What do you do?”

“I help run Interstellar.” He yawns then rubs his eyes. “We ship out stuff and things like that.” He yawns again.

“Are you okay?”

Miguel rests his head against his palm. His eye never falters away from the road. “Yeah. Just tired.” His phone rang and he slid across the screen in the car. This is a cool car. I want this car. There’s a part of me that wants to purchase a new car with the black card I received. “Hi, hun.”

I look at Miguel. I can never imagine his voice to be so soft.

“Miki,” a sweet voice drifts into the car.

“Yeah, hun?” That must be his mate.

“When are you going to come home?” she asks.

Miguel yawned again, “I’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Is it that Alpha again?” The woman did not sound happy. I can hear a baby crying in the background. “I don’t understand why you have to run both the company and the pack! You’re a Beta! The most you have to do is the VP and Beta job! Why do you have to do all of this? Why do you have to work to your bones!” I’m surprised her lungs haven’t burst.

“I’m fine.”

I can hear crying. “Then, what about us? What about your wife and baby?”

Miguel exhales dramatically.

“Do you want our baby boy to grow up without a father? To resent the dad that was never there for him because he died early from overworking?”

She wasn’t done.

“I swear, our fucking Alpha has to get his shit together! I heard from Harvey you haven’t slept the past week! And what did that damn Alpha have been doing? He’s been fucking in his room all day! You would think when we get a fucking Luna; he would change.”

“Cheryl-”

“But, no the fucking Lu-”

“Cheryl!”

“What?” Cheryl responds.

Miguel stops at a red light and glances at me.

I lean forward even though it was unnecessary. “Hi, Cheryl.”

There’s a long pause on Cheryl’s end. If it weren’t for the - Hunnie Bunnie - name on the screen. I would’ve thought she ended the call.

“Luna Raine?”

I smile tightly, “Yeah. I am the fucking Luna.” It wasn’t one of those confident sentences rather an awkward announcement.

More silence.

“How much did you hear?” Cheryl asks.

“Pretty much everything.”

“I-I-I didn’t mean to insult Alpha Leon. It’s just Miguel hasn’t come home for days and I’m worried. The baby wouldn’t stop crying so I haven’t slept much either.” She continues to give one reason after another for her behavior.

“It’s okay,” I cut her off. “You have a baby and you haven’t seen your husband in days. It’s okay to stress out about it.”

She releases a deep breath of relief. “Thank you for understanding.”

“Thank you-” I look at Miguel who’s staring at me. We’re at a red light. “For your sacrifices. For being strong during Crescent Moon time of needs.”

For some odd reason, Cheryl burst out crying. “Yes! You’re right Luna Raine! I should be strong. Crescent Moon needs Miguel right now and I shouldn’t be selfish, whining at him all the time to go home.”

That’s not what I meant.

“Baby. Take your time with the company and pack. Felix and I will be at home, waiting for you with a warm meal when you’re all done.” The call ends.

“What happened?” I question.

“Power of the Luna.” Miguel continues the drive when the light turns green.

“What?”

“Lunas have the power to calm down their pack members’ emotions.”

“That’s a thing?” I question. “For real?”

“Engraved in our DNA.”

“So, you’re telling me. If I listened to them for a little while and said a few comforting words then they would calm down?”

Miguel nods, “Your words have more influence than you would think.”

“And if I tell someone to jump off a bridge?”

“There’s a high chance they would do it.”

“Interesting.” I’m not thinking of convincing people to jump off a bridge, but there is a part of me that is curious about whether or not members of Crescent Moon would do it.

“You seem to be getting comfortable,” Miguel commented.

“What?”

“Thanks for comforting my wife. She needs it.”

“No. Before that.”

“There’s a high chance of people jumping off the bridge if you told-”

“You know what I meant.”

Miguel shrugs, “Don’t know what you’re trying to say.” I cannot believe he is trying to play stupid.

He stops in front of the outlet. I open the car door, “Not coming?”

Miguel shook his head, “Nah. I got some things to do at the company.” He yawns again. He really looks like he needs some sleep. Maybe, they weren’t joking when they said Leon would push all his work to his Beta and Gamma.

No wonder why Miguel blows up all the time and constantly makes bad decisions.

Should he even be driving while he’s this sleepy?

Harvey seems like he gave up.

“There are some guards behind you.”

I turned my head and three people came up. I wonder if they had been following us the whole time.

Miguel put on his sunglasses. “Have a good time. Max out his card.”

I nod. “Noted.” I closed the door and he drove away. When my eyes met with three other sets, I nod once more than walk towards the stores. There’s no point in making small talk with them. No one wants to talk to me because it’s not a part of their job.

The outlets were quite big, surrounded by people. It’s odd to be out and feel alright. It’s probably the three guards. I know they won’t snatch my purse or kidnap me. It’s not a part of their job description.

I pushed through the door and a bell ring. Employees greeted me and asked if I needed help. I declined it and roamed around the store. I didn’t purchase much throughout the day, a few pants and shirts here and there. I didn’t need much. After all, I don’t plan to stay here forever.

The guards grab my bags, allowing me to roam longer into each store. I brought an ice cream cone with the black card. It felt good to be wealthy or temporary wealth.

In the middle of the shopping spree, Helen called and asked me about my day. She also gave me a report on her paperwork to enter Crescent Moon.

“What? He gave you a black card?”

“Yeah,” I respond, taking another lick on my ice cream.

“And you only used it to buy a few t-shirts and pants?”

“I also brought ice cream.”

“Why aren’t you going nuts with it?”

“What else should I buy?”

“Everything!”

I shrug slightly, “Meh.” I was never into little everyday materialistic items like jewelry, clothes, or shoes.

I like big materialistic items.

Maybe, I’ll go purchase a car later. I wonder if I could do that. Miguel told me that if I need someone, I should whistle and someone will show up. Okay, the whistle may be exaggerated.

Helen sighs, “I cannot believe he brought you a new cell phone and gave you his black card.”

“Don’t. You’re making me feel like a sugar baby.”

“It’s romantic.”

“Don’t romanticize this unhealthy situation.”

“What?”

“The Beta and Gamma drugged and kidnapped us. His father nearly killed me. Don’t romanticize this situation.”

“But, Leon hasn’t done anything to you.”

“What?”

“This whole time Leon hasn’t really done anything.”

“Are you defending the captain of my kidnappers?”

“What? No! I’m just-”

“Helen,” I said calmly. I stood up and threw away the dirty napkins. “I know what you’re trying to say, but we both know-” I peek back to see the three guards still staring at me. They’re more like robots then werewolves. “Under no circumstances can I stay here.”

“But-”

“So, there’s no point in discussing Leon’s behavior any further.” Leon isn’t a bad or good guy. He’s someone who’s simply there. He doesn’t hate, but he also doesn’t necessarily care about me. Once I leave, he would probably forget about me in a flash of an eye.

I grunt and squeeze my chest. Fuck. That hurts like a bitch. I look up towards the bright sky. Stupid Selene and RB. I cursed both of you.

“What’s wrong?” Helen question.

I blew out a light breath to calm myself down. “Nothing. How’s Mister Oink?”

I can hear some squealing noises. “Still making tons of noises every night,” Helen groaned.

I walk around the plaza. “I’m sorry.” It must suck for Helen’s family. I can imagine their dark side coming out at night and discussing how to turn Mister Oink into bacon, but can’t since he’s locked inside a magical circle until sunrise.

“Don’t worry about it. We understand about your situation and we know how important Mister Oink is to you.” It’s difficult to find such a kind family, but here I am, blessed with such nice families around me. “My family and I are doing some paperwork to get Mister Oink in Crescent Moon.”

I squeal, “Really?” I miss Mister Oink so much. My bed won’t be as lonely anymore when he comes.

“Yup. It’s processing right now. We should be done soon. Do you want to talk to Mister Oink?”

I leap up and down. The guards probably find it weird but due to their professionalism, they won’t express it. I heard oinking sounds. “Hi there baby,” I cooed. ’“How is my little wad of bacon?”

He oinks.

My heart melts, “Yes. Mommy misses you too.”

He oinks a few more times.

“I know. I know. You will see mommy soon.”

“This is freaking weird,” Helen said.

“You have a talking cat and you call my situation with my baby weird?” Yes. Helen’s family has a talking cat named Tigger. I remember the first time I visited her house for lunch and the cat talked to me. I fainted. Tigger, the cat, slapped me until I woke up. I’m not too fond of her slapping cat.

“Tigger can talk. He can actually communicate with us.”

“Touche.” I shook my head. “Anyways, thank you so much for doing all of this! When you get here. I have a surprise for you!” I brought Helen something with the black card earlier from the witches’ store.

Helen squeals, “I love gifts!” I can hear some faded sounds. “I got to go. I’ll message you later.”

“Alright. Bye.” The call ends.

I stop on my tracks when a light beams into my eyes.

Then, there it is.

The most beautiful thing I have ever laid my sight on.

At that moment, that very particular second, I fell in love.