Chapter Sixty-six: Together

I stand there and sob, unable to keep my emotions together as I fall apart at the fact that me staying there caused them all to die. Nuria, although we’ve only just met, pulls me into a hug and just cradles me, soothing me by stroking my hair.

I let it all out into her shoulder. “I’m the reason they died. All of them, a community who has endured all for hundreds, probably thousands of years. All gone because I happened to come across them and stay for a few months.”

I continue to weep before she speaks softly. “Shhh, don’t think like that. This could have happened anywhere. My Father has no boundaries and he would have destroyed everything on this earth to find you.”

After a few minutes, I calm down. “I don’t understand why he wants me. All I’ve been told is that he wants my power, and yet I don’t even know what that is. It’s hard to try figure something out when you’re poking in the dark.” I snuffle.

“That’s why I’m here. We’ll figure this out together. I’ve been around a long time and I’ve learned some things. We’ll work it out.
As for you, you are a child of two originals. The last time this happened, my Father was born. This was a few millennia ago. From what I understand, a child borne from two Gods, especially Originals, holds immense power as they are a God or Goddess themselves, pure blooded essentially. They could take powers from both parents or they could present their own, or a mix of both.”

I wipe my eyes of the tears I shed and look up at her. “What does that make me?”

She looks at me and I see a smile perk up on her lips. “I think you already know the answer to that. It’s been an exceptionally long time since there was an original child, I doubt very much that any book in today’s worlds hold any information.” She says whilst flicking her wrist in no general direction.

“Anyway, let’s get you back to this pack house and you can show me around. It’s been a while since I’ve been around anyone.” She says, evidently trying to take my mind away from things.

I take a moment before I smile at her and we start walking towards our destination. I will never be able to apologise to all of those people who lost their lives because I was the target of this evilness, but the least I could do is get revenge, which I will.

Nuria and I chat about some of her adventures which range from mysterious worlds covered in abnormally large mushrooms and others which are coated in paint. We finally make it to the pack house and I turn to her before entering the door.

“Thank you, Nuria. We had never met previous to today but I feel like we were always destined to become friends after meeting, and to take out Fedori together.”

She casts a smile at me. “I usually don’t trust as quickly but the God named Pistis is known for good faith, and he advised that you are trustworthy. After meeting you I can tell you and I will be great friends. The Gods I spoke to also advised you would be the only one to take my Father down with me. If we’re not able to succeed…Then I don’t even want to think what will happen if he were to gain more power.” I see her visibly shiver.

I walk through the door and Jorge is waiting for us. He bows his head to me and looks up at Nuria, a slight hint of suspicion on his face, which I catch onto.

“This is Nuria, and she is going to be our guest for as long as needed, Jorge. She’s to be treated with respect by yourself and the Omegas.” I say, a hint of a warning tone added into my request.

“Yes Luna. I’ve had the Omegas start preparing her room but unfortunately it is not quite ready yet.” He turns to face Nuria and bows slightly. “Welcome Nuria. I hope you find your stay appropriate. We’ll have you room ready as soon as possible. In the meantime, here is your key. I will let our Luna know when the room is ready.” He says as he comes forward with a small key.

“Thank you Jorge.” She says with a pleasant smile.

I take Nuria around the pack house and show her each public space and explain what’s on each floor.

“Why doesn’t anyone seem to accept me here?”

I sigh, wanting to explain all that’s went on, but I give her the shortened version. “When I first came here, I was the first outsider that was brought into the pack borders in a very long time...anyone previous to me, from what I’ve gathered, was killed on sight for the ‘safety of the pack’ Next, it was Elijah, my friend I told you about who escaped the fate of the Druida community. He’s not even been accepted yet but has been here a few days and others are….coming to terms with it.
Then there’s you. A lot of restrictions have been lifted or lightened since I became Luna. A lot of the older wolves who were present during Markus’ reign, Lukas’ Father that is, turn their back on my ideas or suggestions in regards to opening our borders.”

I continue to list things we’ve tried to change over the last few months which are more welcomed by the younger pack members than the older generation who seem to be so set in their ways. Nuria attentively listens to some of the examples I give whilst we continue to tour the house.

“I think that this pack has just felt so secure with their current set of laws, which I can’t deny have worked up till now, that they don’t want to risk exposing themselves to the rest of the world, ignoring everything going on around them.” She says matter-of-factly.

“I know, right. This is exactly my point. I have no doubt that countless members blame me for the issues that have been arising since I joined the pack and became their Luna. They’re just too afraid of their Alpha to say anything.”

She raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

We finish the short tour of the house and Nuria says she’s adamant she can find her way around. We head back down the stairs to find Mandy, Estelle, Nina and Karina looking curiously at Nuria.

“Come on girls, don’t stare.” I say with a sympathetic shrug to Nuria, although looking at Nuria it seems she’s enjoying the attention.

We get to the bottom and I introduce them one by one to Nuria. The girls start asking loads of questions and I butt in to save her from the ladies.

“Come on girls she just got here. I’m sure she’ll tell you everything she knows later!” I say with a chuckle and I get a disappointed sigh from them all.

“Should we go grab some food at the Dome?” Estelle asks, possibly wanting to quiz Nuria whilst we’re eating.

I look to Nuria who shrugs with a half-smile. I look back at my friends and give in. “Ok sure.”

They all clap or clasp their hands together excitedly and I shake my head with a smile.

Mandy excuses herself to go and grab something upstairs. She hurry’s back down with a strange expression on her face and I’m unsure what’s caused it. I decide I’ll ask her later as I don’t want to ask when we’re surrounded by the girls.

We head out the door and make our way to the Dome. I see Loretta isn’t here which isn’t unusual but thought I’d ask in good faith anyway.

“Where’s Loretta?”

“Lottie and Elijah haven’t left their cottage in a while.” Mandy says with a snicker.

I look at her sceptically. “Are you sure she’s ok?”

She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Don’t be worried about her, I’ve been checking in. She’s more than ok.” She says while wiggling her eyebrows causing us all to laugh.
“Oh, lovely.” I start sarcastically. “That was too much information. Glad that her and Elijah are getting along well though. I’m glad they’ve found each other.”

Mandy smiles at me and turns away, again, the same strange expression she showed earlier. I try to focus on her and notice a slightly different aura but I don’t know what that means. I brush it off and try and imprint a memory so I can talk to her about it later.

We reach the Dome and the girls decide with Nuria where to eat.

“Ohh, I’ve not seen sushi in a long time, let’s go there!”

We all sit down and decide what to eat, Nuria orders and we all sit there listening to her order plate after plate. The rest of us orders one or two things but she’s had nearly the whole menu.

“You won’t eat all that?” I ask as a question but it comes out as a challenge.

She looks at me playfully. “Don’t doubt me Aliana. I will eat it all.”

I laugh at hr boldness. “That’s a lot of food.”

She pats her belly. “Trust me, I got space.”

We all laugh and continue having a casual conversation about gossip that’s been happening around the pack. After a short while our food arrives and the waitresses have to bring in an extra table to sit beside Nuria that contains all her food.

We all dig in and finish, looking at Nuria to see if she finishes everything. She finally finishes off her last plate and we all gasp and our mouths hang open at her amazing stomach space. She looks around at us and laughs.

“I’ve got a big appetite!”

We all get up from the table and give our thanks to the restaurant staff. On our way out, I decide to open a conversation about something that’s been on my mind for a while.

“I think it’s about time we started training, just like the ranked males.”

All the girls bar Nuria give me a surprised look.

“Like, mandatory training?” Mandy asks and I wonder why that’d be her first question.

I disregard the random initial question and I think it over. I don’t want to force anyone to train, but it would be beneficial. “No, I’m not going to force you all to train with me. But I think it will be best to know how to defend yourself. Estelle and Nina have been trained but only through basic training. I think we should start doing more than this, especially as the high ranked females.”

I look to Nuria. “I want to train with you separately in addition to this, so I can learn to find and use whatever powers I have. Are you up for it?”

She slides one half of her lip up. “Of course I will, it will be fun finding out what you can do!”

This time, Karina spoke up, which she doesn’t do too often. “You know, Will and the Alpha will try and persuade us not to. They are set in their ways that fighting is a ‘mans’ job.”

I grimace at the comment, knowing she is right but the fact that they are trying to shield us when we need to learn to do it ourselves is just wrong. “I know. Let me deal with them. I’ll talk to Lukas about it later. I have no doubt I’ll convince him, but not without a disagreement no doubt. You ladies will need to convince your other half’s to let you do what’s right.”

I look at who looks hesitant, then look around at the other girls. “If there’s any reason you wish to not participate then please don’t feel forced to. You can speak to me if there’s something on your mind.

I’ll try and sort it so we’ll get started with training the day after tomorrow. We’ll start at eleven am, right after the pack warriors are finished. That way we won’t have any schedules clashing.”

I look to Nuria. “We’ll start in the afternoons, tomorrow, together.”