Chapter 50

**Luna**

It’s happening. I found my pack! There is a buzz of excitement running through me but as the guys grab my stuff from mom’s car makes this all so real. Seeing the guys take my stuff is the last straw in her control and now tears were falling freely. I rush to her and wrap my arms around her tight.

I’m almost glad I can’t hear her whimpers because if I could there is no way I could let her go. I’m happy she has Ben now, she won’t be alone. The thought of Ben reminds me that Bailey isn’t here to see me off. She isn’t here to gossip with me about the boys. Soon I can't hold my tears back either.

I’m not sure how long we stand there holding each other and crying but when the tears finally stop and my mom steps away, I know it’s time for her to go. Fear grips me as I watch her wave and climb into the driver's seat. I’m on my own now, and even though it feels right to be here with my new pack it also feels foreign. My instincts as an Omega are screaming at me saying this is my pack, my home. The other side of me is reminding me that they are strangers to me.

I stand there and watch my mom pull away and drive off. I don’t move even when her car disappears. It’s so strange standing here in a completely silent world without the person who is always beside me. My mom and I grew so close after my accident and seldom went anywhere apart. It feels like a part of me has been cut away and I can feel the emptiness it’s left in me.

Of course me not being able to hear and being so wrapped up in my thoughts I don’t notice someone is walking up beside me until a hand grabs mine. I jump and step away, my eyes scanning for a threat only to find Kai there with his hands held up in a non-threatening gesture. My chest is rising and falling quickly as my heart races from the sudden hit of fear.

I want to apologize but this is when I also feel the emptiness of not being able to communicate with him. They don’t understand me. Even though he learned a simple greeting he won’t understand much else. Milo steps up and I look at him.

“*He didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?*” Milo signs and I let out a breath of relief.

“*You know sign?*” I sign back.

“*I’m a very quick learner*.” He signs and gives me a small smile.

“*I’m sorry. I am not used to being away from mom.*” I sign back apologetically.

“*It’s okay. Would you like to go back inside? We have some work to do. You can join us.*” He signs and I nod.

Kai reaches out a hand for me and I take it. We walk together back into the big building but instead of going to the room with the red couches, we go to another room that is about the size of a walk-in closet. I glance around quickly and notice a lot of electrical stuff and a giant window on one of the walls. Through the window, I see another room full of instruments.

I suddenly feel Kai’s hand tighten in mine and I turn to look at him and find that his whole body has tensed up. Not sure what’s causing the change I glance at the others and notice them speaking to a man I hadn’t noticed when we walked in. His hands are up like he’s preparing for an attack and I take a better look at the guys trying to make sense of what's going on with them and this man. Declan’s face is contorted into an angry scowl and the other guys look angry as well.

What’s going on?

A few more tense seconds pass before Kai leads me away and through the door leading to the other room. Once inside he points out a couple of chairs and I pick one out and drop into it. I watch the guys talking to each other and after a few moments, they part and take their places. Bennett takes a seat in the chair beside me and pulls my chair closer to him.

I catch him sending a glare through the window to the guy on the other side before placing his arm around the back of my chair. The man must have said something he really didn't like. I haven't been this close to Bennett before and I feel a little fidgety. He is keeping a safe distance between us and I wonder if maybe he doesn't like to be touched by others. I try to focus on the guys as they prep their instruments but a sudden grad against my arm makes me jump. When I look at Bennett he's moved his hand away and looks worried like he's done something wrong.

As an Omega, I'm not used to being touched by anyone other than Mom or a friend, so the feeling of the guy's rough hands is unexpected and foreign. It will take some getting used to, but I don't want them to think they can never touch me. So I offer him a reassuring smile before moving in my chair so I can lean into his side. My heart faces at the feel of his warmth and more so when his arm wraps around my shoulder, but I try not to focus on it. It feels nice to be near him, and it allows me to take in more of his scent. His scent is far more subtle than the others given that he is the Beta, but it's still welcoming.

A sudden strong vibration makes me tense for a moment until I notice that the guys had started playing and what I was feeling was the vibrations of their instruments.

I pay close attention to the feeling and try to pick up the beat of the song. It's hard to get a good idea of the melody but I also watch each of the guys' faces. There is so much emotion in their expressions as they play.

If the way they are playing is any indication, this song must be beautiful.

I also wonder if they are the kind of band Bailey would have liked.

They play for some time but I can't tell for how long because I'm too busy watching them. When they start to put their instruments away Kai walks over and pulls me from my seat right away. Bennett scowls at him but lets him lead me back into the smaller room. The guys gather around and talk with the man I'm guessing fixes the songs in some way.

That takes only a few minutes and soon I'm being led back out onto the main floor. It doesn't go unnoticed that several people turn to watch us walk by, but I try not to catch their eye. I notice the guys have formed a sort of wall around me. Rowan walks in front of Kai and me while Milo and Declan take either side of us, leaving Bennett to follow behind.

If I had to guess, it's to protect me from other Alphas. Being an unbounded Omega can be dangerous because I can be forced into bonding if they get the chance to steal me away from my pack. No doubt the guys will want to bond with me before we go on tour, and that thought has my stomach churning with nerves. Bonding is a very personal experience, and it has to be for the link between an Alpha and his Omega to be as strong as possible.

The period between choosing a pack and bonding them varies by the pack, and it makes me wonder how long before these Alphas ask to bond with me. I have not gone into heat yet thanks to the suppressants all Omega's take while meeting potential packs. Then a first heat should begin a couple of weeks after taking the medication. During the heat is the best time to become bonded, so there is only a short time to get to know the pack to where I am comfortable with going through my heat with them.

No pressure.