19

Chapter 19 – Mate Again
I opened my eyes and saw a dark blue bed canopy with gold trim overhead. I was in a huge bed under warm blankets that had amazingly fluffy pillows. The ceilings were high with beautiful inlays, the windows were grandiose, and the furniture looked fit for a castle. Where the hell are we? I thought as I sat up in the bed and scanned the impressive room I was in.
The big wooden door creaked open and a she wolf poked her head in. Her jet black hair was in a cute pixie cut and her blue eyes sparkled. She smiled and stepped into the room completely. She may have been a little bigger in size than me and a few inches taller, but she had a powerful aura.
“Ah, Lucy you’re awake.”
How did she know my name? She looked a little familiar, but I couldn’t place her. She stood silent for a moment with her eyes glazed over mind linking someone. A moment later her focus retuned back to me.
“Your shoulder had to be reset, but Dr. Ross said you should be healed in a few days.”
“Why am I here? Shouldn’t I be locked in a cell?” I asked. “A cell is no place for our Luna.” She smiled.
My heart sank. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen her before at Dark Moon pack. She was probably guarding the room to make sure I don’t escape again. Ranger was going to drag me back as soon as possible, if he doesn’t try to mate with me in this big bed first.
“Knock, knock.” Said an old familiar voice walking through the door.
“Alpha Knox?” I questioned as I recognized the former Alpha of Dark Moon pack and Rangers father.
“Lucy my dear, it’s so good to see you.” He smiled warmly at me.
Alpha Knox was in his late forties, he was a handsome, older version of Ranger with a touch of gray hair and a few distinguished crow’s feet around his blue eyes. It had been a long time since we’ve seen him at Dark Moon pack. I wondered where we were and what he was doing here.
“Please, please Alpha, I need to get out of here.” I begged and tears swelled in my eyes.
Alpha Knox was friends with my father and was a great Alpha. He wouldn’t approve of the cruelty Ursa or Ranger showed me. His mate, Luna Clair, was also killed in the same rogue attack as my father and we’ve hardly seen him around Dark Moon since.
He looked at me with sympathetic eyes. “Lucy, you’re my son’s mate and the Luna of this pack. This is where you belong.”
Sobs rippled through me and I couldn’t control my cries. No one was going to help me, and Ranger would punish me. The door pushed open and through my tears, I saw Ranger’s figure move towards me. Those blue eyes trained on me and his hands clenched in fists. His Alpha aura was stronger than I’ve ever felt and filled the entire room. Was Rex back I wondered?
As he walked closer, something looked different about him. He was slightly fuller and about two inches taller. His hair is shorter, and he looked like he hasn’t shaved in over a week. When did he get that small scar through his right eyebrow?
“Lucy, this is my youngest son, Diesel LaRue, Alpha of Crescent Moon pack.” Alpha Knox introduced him.
“Crescent Moon Pack?” I said in shock. “We’re in Canada?”
“Yes, and yes. This is Crescent Castle.” Said the familiar looking female. “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m Payton LaRue. I’m the Beta of Crescent Moon.” She smiled at me.
I was alone in a room with three blood Alpha’s, Ranger’s father, brother and sister. My head was spinning, and I felt nauseous. I’m in big trouble now.
“Can I get you something, you must be starving?” Payton asked me.
I shook my head no. “Please, I can’t go back to Dark Moon Pack. I’m not the Luna and I don’t belong with Ranger.” I cried and looked down at my trembling hands.
Diesel let out a low growl. They all stood silent, eyes glazed, mind linking each other.
Alpha Knox spoke first, “Lucy, when did you leave Dark Moon?” I looked at the window and it was dark out. “About two days ago.”
“That was fast!” Payton said. “It’s typically a three to four day trek.” “She has no idea how fast it was!” Lia whispered to me.
Diesel was pacing the floor back and forth with his fists still clenched. I wasn’t sure if he was angry or annoyed. I vaguely remember Alpha Knox having other children. I was only fourteen when the rogue attack happened and went to live at the pack house. I had assumed they had just left for College or found mates. I had no idea they were running the world’s strongest and deadliest pack.
“You’re no longer a pack member of Dark Moon Lucy. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be a rogue? Why did you leave the pack?” Alpha Knox asked.
I hesitated for a moment. “A-After you left Sir, Ursa moved me out of the room you gave me and into the laundry room. I’ve lived down there for four years, sleeping on a dog bed next to the laundry sink and doing everyone’s laundry. I became the pack slave and wasn’t even allowed to train.”
“RANGER ALLOWED IT?” Payton growled outraged.
I was starting to like her more and more, I thought to myself. “So am I.” Lia chimed back in my head.
I continued telling them what had happened. “After four years of being starved and beaten, I finally turned eighteen and shifted, so I decided to leave.”
They all remained silent taking in what I had just said.
“Who beat you?” Diesel’s husky voice demanded. He was still pacing and not looking at me.
“A few other pack members, Miranda, Beth, Grace, Steven and of course Ursa. Alpha Ranger thought I was weak; he beat me and threw me in the hole for six days.”
Diesel let out an angry growl, then he turned his back to us and ran his fingers through his jet black hair. He took a few deep breaths, as if trying to control his self and that’s when I saw it! The same Crescent Moon tattoo on the back of his neck.
“Beta Max was nice to me and became my only friend. He started sneaking me food daily because Ursa only gave me table scraps a few times a week. One night, after Alpha whipped me in front of the pack—”
I was interrupted by another angry growl coming from Diesel.
“— after the whipping, Dr. Baker had to stitch up some wounds on my back. Max had carried me back and stayed with me while she treated me. He noticed a mark on the nape of my neck in the Crescent Moon shape. He was the only one that figured out I was an elemental wolf.”
“Which element do you have Lucy?” Payton asked. “FIRE!” Diesel responded.
I nodded my head. “I don’t know much about it or how to really control it. I had been planning on leaving Dark Moon anyway and Max suggested I head north to Crescent Moon. He said he trusted the Alpha of Crescent Moon to help me.” I paused.
“Max told me that he had only seen the mark once before and that the Alpha of Crescent Moon was a good friend of his. He told me to keep the mark hidden and head north to Canada. We planned my escape to make it look like I had headed south. No one in their right mind would head north with winter coming.” I finished.
“Does Ranger know about your element, Lucy?” Alpha Knox asked me. “No Sir.” I answered.
“Do you believe Ranger will be looking for you?” Payton asked.
Tears started filling my eyes and I wasn’t sure what to say, if they called Ranger they would know. “P-please, please don’t s-send me back,” my shaky voice begged. The three of them stood looking at each other again.
“Lucy, what happened?” Payton pressed.
“Ranger is going to punish me. He can’t shift, Rex has blocked him out, an- and it’s all my fault.” I was crying uncontrollably.
“Why is it your fault Lucy?” Alpha Knox asked.
“Be-because he rejected me for being weak and I accepted his r-rejection.” I was shaking and the tears were flowing. There was no way they would help me now, knowing that Ranger needed me. I was going to suffer at Dark Moon for the rest of my life.
“NO! YOU ARE NOT HIS MATE LUCY! HE DOESN’T DESERVE
YOU!” Diesels husky voice sent ripples through me and he moved next to my bed.
I looked up and locked eyes with Diesel, he looked so much like Ranger and yet so different. I was instantly pulled into a warm hug; the smell of woodsy pine and fresh musk filled my nose and engulfed my senses. My stomach fluttered with butterflies and my skin tingled under his touch. What the hell is happening?
“MINE!” Diesel growled.
“MATE!” Lia howled.