Chapter One-hundred-and-four: Fulfilling promises, Part 3

I see Troy kneel down in front of the blue giant in thankfulness. “Thank you, Xichanté. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.” He says wholeheartedly.

The blue giant smiles at him and reaches out its arm, pulling Troy up when he takes its hand.

“We heard what you said about helping your people. We are a very close group also and we would be more than willing to help those in need. We have conditions however, as long as your body can accept our blood.” Xichanté says to Troy, and he humbly agrees.

I look at them both and smile triumphantly, glad that I’ve managed to take out two birds with one stone. I look to Nuria whilst Troy and Xichanté are chatting.

“Well, that’s that out of the way. Who should we speak to next?” I ask, wanting to tick everyone off the list as fast as I can.

Nuria thinks for a few moments. Then looks to me. “Well, we have Elder Liandor who’s quite sick but Elijah wouldn’t allow anyone to take him to the pack hospital, so he’s at Elijahs house resting up. He’s asked to speak to you at some point.

We then have the pack Elders, specifically Elder Wyatt who also wants a word. Er….Hmm….let me think……We also have Eloise, who wanted to speak to you before she leaves. She didn’t say what for.”

I remember the pouch that Eloise had given me and I try and feel my pocket to see if it’s there. I pat and then pry my fingers in it and feel the pouch. I pull it out and open it up, not having done so before, but it’s empty. I assume whatever was in there helped me in the battle when I needed it most is now gone.

I look at Nuria. “Let’s go see Eloise first. But not before some lunch, I’m starving.”

Nuria giggles and I smile at her playfulness. I can tell she’s much more relaxed since her Father’s gone, but I can tell there’s still something on her mind. I make sure that I chase her up about it later.

I mind-link Jorge before we leave and ask him to make a few sandwiches and pack them into a bag. I’ve no doubt at this time there’ll be pack members all around and I’m bound to get spotted by someone if I head directly to the pack house, so I ask Jorge to meet me at the cottage where Eloise is located.

We arrive there not long after, leaving Troy with Xichanté and the other blue giants to discuss their conditions. Troy didn’t give Nuria a second look, knowing she was no longer needed.

I see Jorge who heads our way, a smile on his face, as usual. He pulls out two sandwich bags from a backpack, then hands one to each of us.

“Thank you, Jorge. I appreciate it.”

“Yes, thank you.” Nuria responds after me.

Jorge bows his head and says his goodbyes, taking his leave. Nuria and I open the sandwich bags to find some ham and cheese rolls. We devour them in no time, just hanging about outside Eloise’s cottage. Once done, we pack the empty bags into our pockets, and head to the door, where we already see Eloise waiting for us with a grin on her face.

“You know, you could have come in and eaten that.” She says with a chuckle.

“I’m sorry Eloise, I didn’t want to come in with food and eat whilst you waited.” I say, slightly making it up. I have no idea why we didn’t just eat inside.

She shakes her head with a smile and pulls back from the door frame, allowing Nuria and I entry.

We walk into the hallway and see she’s brought a few of her own items, still laying around the place. I look to her, cocking my head with my brows furrowed.

“Are you planning on staying?” I ask her curiously.

“I was thinking of it.” She says, in deep thought. She then looks to me. “I’ve been on my own for so long. You know why. But here….here I feel welcomed, by everyone. I had never come across a werewolf before you, and everyone here is so friendly. I’ve not said anything to anyone yet. Do you reckon it will be a problem?” She asks.

Will it? I think about before all the war and the issues that started happening since I arrived. Before me, the pack had never brought in an outsider, I mean, they used to kill on sight. I think about how Markus was vehemently against even sending out a convoy. But then I think to how he reacted earlier, and that the gleam in his eye has softened. I doubt he’d be against the idea. Elijah and Nuria’s been here for months, or well they’ve been my companions for months. I doubt he’d turn them away if they were to ask. Elijah is pretty much guaranteed to stay anyway with Loretta being his mate.

But then there’s Lukas. I stop my thoughts there, knowing there’s a lot to go over with him. But he will understand. I know he will.

I look to Nuria who seems surprised she’s wanting to stay, and I remember Eloise probably told her she was leaving and wanted me to see her.

I smile at Eloise. “As Luna, I don’t think it will be an issue. But, saying that, even I will require the Alphas permission.” I pause, not wanting to give away that he’s here, just unwell. “Give me some time to discuss with the ranked members. You will be welcome here until I’ve done so. If I get a positive reaction, you’ll be required to join the pack with a blood oath, then we can decide together where you want to be assigned, role wise. Everyone gives into the community.” I say and she smiles nodding her head.

“You know where I am when you come to a decision.” She responds happily.

We sit down on the chairs in the living space and continue to chat about the events of the battle and I remember the pouch in my pocket.

I pull it out, it’s intricate lacing coiled around my finger as I do. I look at it, wondering what was inside it after not looking in. I look up to Eloise who is watching me with it.
I pass it over to her, extending my hand over her way.

“Before we go, I wanted to give this to you. You and your Mother, and those before her were right. It did help me find a gift when I needed it most. The very second. I know you don’t have much left of her, so at the very least, I can give this back to you in the hopes it relieves some of your sadness.”

I see her lip wobble but she straightens herself up. She clasps her hands around the pouch, and places it in her jacket pocket gently, a very small smile on her lips before she looks to me.

“Thank you, Aliana. I really appreciate it.”

I smile at her, then look to Nuria, clapping my hands gently on my knees to stand up.

“I think it’s time for us to go.” I say, then turning my eyes to Eloise. “We’ve got others to visit.”

She nods her head. “Thank you for coming, I will see you soon.”

I smile and stand, Nuria standing as I do. We say our goodbyes and exit the house.

“Let’s go see Elijah. I want to see how Elder Liandor is doing.” I decide, and we make our way there.

As we walk, Nuria advises me that Elijah has been assigned a cottage again, rather than staying in the pack house as Hugo and the others are still in the dungeon. No incidents have occurred since and Loretta and Elijah have been more cheerful since moving in the other day. Elder Liandor is staying in the spare room, originally hooked up to a machine that had been wheeled down from the hospital, but is now up and about, even though he’s still quite weak.

We reach the cottage and I knock on the door. I hear some steps and the door opens, revealing Elijah who’s looking as close to normal as I remember.

He smirks looking at me. “Well, hello there Ali.” He says, immediately embracing me in a huge bear hug.

I smile and reciprocate. We then pull away and he hugs Nuria after. He then invites us in.

We walk into the living room and I see Elder Liandor in an armchair, fast asleep. As I walk into the room further, I see he’s skinny, too skinny for an elf. His beard is not as thick as it had once been. I feel sorry for him, he was probably tortured for information, just like Lukas was.

I turn to Elijah who is offering for us to sit down. We sit and look to the fire that is burning in the fireplace, keeping the place warm.

“How is he?” I ask Elijah, referring to the Elder.

“Tired. He’s always tired. He’s old, was one of the oldest in Druida. He’s been getting better though. But I think he’s confused about what’s next.”

I smile, hearing Elder Liandor turn his head.

“I’m still young enough to whoop your backside.” Elder Liandor says, Elijah’s face reddening in embarrassment.