Chapter Seventy-six: Plans

Days turn to weeks, and weeks turn to months. I’ve non-stop being looking for Lukas since he went missing. No further attacks have been made, as if the things that came at us just slithered back into the shadows.

The days following the attacks, we held a Moon funeral, one that is only sanctioned when the pack lose a great many warriors. It’s not happened in years. As the Alpha was not present, I represented the head of the pack and had to do it alone, learning all there is to know to conduct one, earning absolute respect and trust of the pack, however, this was lost on me without Lukas to stand by my side.

Initially, it was difficult to have the Elders and the older members of the wolf pack agree to send out scouts, search parties and the like, however nothing like this has happened in a millennium. I don’t even remember reading anything about a past Alpha going missing. They always had a ranked member with them, or there was something written about what happened to them….if they perished. The deciding vote went to Markus however, who has obviously agreed to find his son and only male heir.

As I am Luna, I was not permitted to go on these searches, and instead was forced to stay on pack lands, and if the ranked members could help it, within throwing distance of the pack-house. I received hourly updates at first, but whatever happened to Lukas, it seems he’s practically vanished without a trace.

Even Nuria has been using her powers to try and locate her Father. She even tried his darkness realm but without a pin-point location, it’s useless.

After a few weeks, both Athena and I started to feel weakened. I knew Lukas brought us strength, but I didn’t realise how much it was zapped when he left. I’m unable to tell whether it’s because we’re using so much energy to try and find him or if it’s because he’s physically away from us for a long period of time.

I’ve spent every night praying to my Mother and Father, but I’ve heard or seen nothing. I’ve also tried reaching out to Fedori, but the stubborn arsehole hasn’t responded at all.

A few days ago, I asked both Melinda and Markus to take up as acting Alpha and Luna until we find out what’s happened to Lukas. I need to dig deeper and that’s not going to happen if I’m sitting, twiddling my thumbs. I was honest with them and said I couldn’t continue the role without the one who brought me into it…..I couldn’t do it without him.

When we hit halfway through the fourth month mark, I asked our Beta and Gamma members, Mandy, Elijah and Nuria to come to the meeting room, where I’m currently waiting for them. I plan on leaving the pack, but I need to discuss my plans with them first.

I wait patiently in the meeting room and keep my eyes focused heavily on the door. I see Blaine and Estelle, followed by Nina and Albion arrive right on time. I give them a small smile out of respect and gesture for them to sit down.

Blaine eyes me suspiciously but says nothing, taking a seat on my left, followed by Estelle and then Nina and Albion. No one says anything, and after a few moments, Mandy arrives on her own. I smile at her and her large, swollen belly, obviously ready to pop at any moment. I think back to when she showed me a photo of her scan, asking me to guess if it was a boy or a girl. I feel overwhelmingly sad by the memory, sad that Lukas wasn’t there to see the photo or the excitement in Mandy’s eyes, or in fact, even knows about the baby.

I feel Athena whimper in my mind as my thoughts trail off to our own pups, that may never come to be. I push the thought away, not wanting to show any weakness for the plan I’m about to relay to the team.

After a few more minutes, Elijah and Nuria comes through the door, both unable to hide their surprise for the rest of those in the room. They eye me suspiciously, but again say nothing and take a seat on the other side of the table.

I look at everyone around the table. They all look weary, tired from the searches and worry. I glance over at Mandy who’s lost weight even though she’s heavily pregnant. Probably mostly due to her sickness but no doubt Lukas’ absence has caused issues as well.

As everyone is here, I try and listen to see if anyone is hovering outside the room. I do hear some shuffling, so I stand and walk to the door, closing it, making sure no one can listen to what’s about to be said in the room.

I go back and take my seat, giving everyone a quick look. “Everything that is said here today, stays in this room and never leaves it, understand?”

I get a few suspicious and confused looks, but eventually everyone nods.

“What is this about Luna?” Blaine asks me.

I take a deep breath before diving into my plan. “I’ve decided I am of no use here. Melinda and Markus have taken up leadership…” I see Blaine about to protest, no doubt about the temporary setup, and I hold my hand up to make sure he knows I’m not done. “So I wish to go out to find Lukas myself.”

I look to Nuria. “I know your Father can’t teleport like you can, so I assume he’s probably still on this planet.” She nods her head slowly, and I move my eyes to speak to the rest of the room again.

“I know our scouts have done the best job they can, but any map or knowledge they had of the outside world has drastically changed, so the searches have been fruitless. I want to go out into the world, and search for him myself.”

The room stays in stunned silence for several minutes before Mandy breaks the silence. “You know Lukas would not have wanted this?”

I nod, an exasperated sigh leaving my lips. “I know. But I doubt he would sit still if the roles were reversed. Tell me otherwise.” I say, eyeing everyone individually in the room. I already know they couldn’t say otherwise, as Lukas would have searched to the ends of the Earth for me.

“I don’t disagree at all.” Albion starts. “However we have no knowledge of the lands outside the pack walls and if I’m being honest no one here has even tried to look at maps to see what’s out there or where to start.”

I smile at him, as I know he’s wrong. I look to Elijah. “I know the pack lands and the surrounding forest is known to the pack, but on the outside of that, the other side of the dark forest, both Elijah and I have been there before. It’s how we got here. It’s the land between the remains of the Druida community and the dark forest, consisting of valleys and extremely steep cliff edges. South of the Druida community was the sea. To the East of the shoreline, I crossed hundreds of miles, coming across many things both by the sea and inland. Beyond that are the districts the humans used to call home.
You all seem to forget I wasn’t born and raised here. I’ve seen a lot of the world. Sure, I have no doubt things have changed since I’ve been here, but I know my way around and I know how to look after myself. I managed to defeat one of those things, I have no doubt I can do it again.”

Blaine rubs his temples with his forefingers. “Luna, you’re right, I have no doubt. However, you’re needed here. You’re our Luna.”

I give a small sigh, followed by a smile. “I will always appreciate your loyalty Blaine. But I must be honest with you all. I am not your Luna without my Alpha, Lukas. Melinda does a wonderful job. I will find Lukas, and I will bring him back.” I say adamantly with determination seeping through my words.

“Ok, say you do leave, do you plan on telling anyone else?” Estelle asks.

“No, I want no one else outside of this room to know. If word gets back to Melinda, Markus or the Elders, I’ll be stopped.”

I see her frown, but she nods her head. “If we get asked, you know they have the power to make us submit to their questioning.”

I dislike the word submit, knowing I can make them all submit now by using authority in my voice, however I don’t think anyone should rule that way, placing trust instead of fear into the hearts of our pack.

“It’s ok Estelle. I assume that will happen when I’m reported missing. I have no doubt I’ll be far enough away they won’t send a search party for me. I’ll be leaving a note for Melinda as well, I’m sure she’ll understand.”

Mandy nods her head. “I understand Aliana. What do you need us to do?”

I smile as I thought they’d never ask. We spend the next hour going through my plan. By the time we’re done changing things slightly, everyone seems content with what’s been discussed.

“So, who’s going with you?” Blaine asks.

I look at him, confused. “No one, I’m going alone.”

He crosses his arms across his chest. “No, you’re not. Sorry Luna, there’s no chance I’m sending you away on your own out there after what we’ve seen.”

I don’t get a chance to answer as Nuria stands, looking at me. “He’s not wrong. I don’t belong here. I’m coming with you.”

I furrow my brows but nod my head. Elijah also stands. “I’m coming too. Same as Nuria, I don’t belong here…..that, and the fact that I’d be the only outsider here. I doubt I can be protected without you here.”

Mandy turns to face him, with a sad look in her eyes. “What about Lottie?”

I see Elijah wince when Loretta’s pet name is said. “I love her and I don’t want to leave her. But she’ll be safe here, and if I stay I’d be putting her in danger, just because of what I am. She will understand, and I’ll leave her a note also.”

I feel sadness emanating from him, but I understand why he wants to come. Not because he wants to but because he wants to protect Loretta. My heart shatters at the fact that some wolves are so unaccepting of new species here.

I take a deep breath and stand from the table myself. “Very well, then it’s settled. We’ll start preparations right away.”

Mandy raises an eyebrow. “When is it you’re planning on leaving?”

I had an inkling she would ask this at some point. I look down to her swollen belly and as we’ve discussed before, she’s mere days away from giving birth.

I smile softly at her. “We’ll leave just after your little one is born. It will be the best time to leave, when there’s a new-born distraction, one that everyone needs.

She looks down at her hands and I hear her release a breath she had been holding. “I’m glad you’ll meet them.” She says in a small voice.

I go round the table and envelope her in a hug. “I know it’s been hard, and the pregnancy has been rubbish, but I would never miss it for the world. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

She hugs me back with a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

I help Mandy up and she goes to leave, and I wave her off. Blaine, Estelle, Albion and Nina also leave the room.

I’m left with Elijah and Nuria, where we dive into more details on what we need to find on our upcoming journey…