Chapter 21

**Ashton**

When hearing the knock at the door sound, I couldn’t help but growl softly. Not one for being interrupted by others especially when trying to enjoy my alone time with Elise even if I’d have all of eternity to do it and then some.

*Now who is it?* I groan to myself, ready to confront the person on the other side of the door only to Elise to speak up before me. Her voice attempting to sound strong as her eyes moved to watch mine.

“Yes?”

*‘Someone’s annoyed’* whispers Xavier, having picked up on the undertone in Elise’s voice. Clearly not happy about it either but was willing to shove it aside for the time being.

“Sorry to interrupt your alone time with our Luna my Alpha, but it's time for us to leave” comes the firm voice of Shaun, our Beta, or hers as I really didn’t have a right to call them mine or ours but I supposed with being the Luna now, it would be their job now too.

*‘Better get used to someone calling you Luna and not Beta Ashton anymore’* chuckles Xavier, amused by our new title.

*‘You’d love that wouldn’t you?’* I remark, knowing that he would enjoy my blight of being called a Luna and not a Beta.

*‘Of course I would. Especially if it meant being close to our mate, I’d gladly let someone call me Luna’* replies Xavier, wanting someone to challenge our new role.

Smiling at the thought of Elise, I couldn’t help but wonder why the Moon Goddess had decided to bless me of all people to be her mate, her Luna. For if it were up to her, she could have had anyone she wanted in either male or female and be okay. And while I would not have approved of it and would have spoken my thoughts, the reality of it all was, the thought of being without her kept tugging at my heartstrings.

*Mine,* I growl to myself, not wanting to think that the Moon Goddess could have paired me up with someone other than Elise. As Elise was mine and I would do anything for her including being her Luna if it meant making her happy in the end.

Shaking my head, I move to wrap my arms back around my mate’s body. The need to distract myself rises as I try to focus on only her and her scent.

“Mine” I hear her purr, a smile tugging at my lips as she moves to shift closer to me, Shaun apparently gone while I was too far lost within my thoughts to notice.

Chuckling, I just continued to hold her, not wanting to end this but knew we had a good 4 hour drive back to Dark Moon as they were only a little bit further than Isaac’s pack in which we were only 3 hours away compared to Elise’s.

-2 Hours Later-

It’s now about 11 in the morning and while Elise and I tried to be quick in the shower there still left the whole getting dressed and packing up the cars. A task I recently found myself helping out with as I let Elise finish getting ready, our bags already outside by the cars as I help Ian and Shaun pack up. The luggage now divided between two vehicles and not just one.

“Is that everything?” I asked, wanting to make sure as other packs now began packing up for their long trips home. Many having found their mates while some did not, leaving some rather disappointed but leaving them open to other possibilities like a chosen or if allowed search within other packs if they could.

“Yeah, that’s all of it, thanks Ashton” replies Shaun, now closing the trunk of the car just as Ian does the same with the other one.

“No problem. But don’t think for a second that Elise won’t try to get even with you for disrupting our time this morning” I warn.

“I don’t doubt it for a second. She’ll find a way to get even with me no doubt about it” laughs Shaun just as the sight of his mate comes into view.

“See you back at the pack Ashton. I mean Luna” was all I heard as he moved to greet her.

Smiling softly towards our Beta I can’t help but notice that the Alpha twins were currently packing up as well along with two others. One who looked like an Omega from the Moon Walker Pack and their mate, the girl from last night.

*‘Sooner or later we should probably go over and introduce ourselves’* whispers Xavier, knowing that we had yet to properly introduce ourselves to them.

*‘We will… In time, but for now let us just enjoy our time with Elise. Get to know our new pack and her father’* I admit, my thoughts now wandering about her father, a man I knew very little about other than he’s the current Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack and mateless, his mate having passed when giving birth to our mate.

Just then a pair of arms move to wrap themselves around my waist, drawing my attention over to the said person only to see that it was Elise, my mate, my Alpha.

“Whatcha thinking about?” asks Elise, aware of my current situation.

“Nothing much, just talking to Xavier. But now that you're here are we ready to leave?” I ask.

“Yep. Let’s get this show on the road.”

Resisting the urge to laugh at her choice in words does Elise and I move to climb into the front seat of one car while Iris and her mate climb into the backseat. Shaun and Ian along with their mates taking the other car before we slowly begin the 4 hours drive home.

-4 Hours Later-

The drive back to Dark Moon Pack was almost completely silent except for when Iris and Krista would whisper back and forth, my ears noticing the way they would speak to one another made me wish I could do the same with Elise.

“Everything okay?” whispers Elise softly as if having sensed my quietness.

“Yea, just nervous” I whisper back, currently lying at what was going on within my mind.

“You're lying Ashton I can feel it” murmurs Elise her eyes not leaving the road as she drives.

“I’m not. I am nervous. And among other things that can wait until we're back home” I add, not wanting to worry her with my thoughts. My thoughts of her father and whether or not I would make a good Luna.

“Don’t be. You’ll do great” smiles Elise just as the Dark Moon Pack slowly comes into view. Another smile gracing her lips as she moves to turn into the long spacious drive that leads one into the pack grounds.

“Welcome. Welcome to the Dark Moon Pack, my Luna” whispers Elise, her eyes briefly glancing at me before returning to the road. Having just returned to her pack and my eyes could only stare at what I saw.

*Whoa… Talk about total night and day…* I muse. My eyes now taking in the surrounding area of the Dark Moon Pack. Elise’s pack completely different from both mine and the Moon Walker Pack.

*Home. Home sweet home,* was all I could finally think, Xavier excited to finally see our new home.

*‘Easy there boy’* I laugh, having felt his excitement.

*‘Sorry, I’m just excited. We’re finally home with our mate’* purrs Xavier, his excitement evident within his words, my hands moving to lay gently on Elise’s lap. Her eyes looking to me in question before smiling at my expression, unable to resist welcoming me home.

“Welcome Home. Luna.”