Shifting I raced after her as fast as my paws would take me, making sure to follow but not be seen just yet. Suddenly I felt two snouts touch my flank signaling that Alice and Mason had felt my distress and immediately came to check on me.
"She'll be okay, As. She's just not sure that she's ready for it," Alice's voice sounded in my head.
"For now, give her some space, Alice will stay and watch over her," Mason's sounding off next.
"Alice may go talk to her and try to calm her down, but I'm not leaving until I know she's staying!" My voice growled back, letting them know that it would be highly advised not to push the issue.
Alice took off into the woods where Violet had stopped and I could hear her transitioning. "If this doesn't work I will drag her back if I have to," I growled mostly at myself.
"Yeah that will win her over for sure," Mason chuckled in my head giving me a shoulder tap to bring my thoughts back to the present.
I listened to their conversation in silence, hoping that she would see reason and return to us, to me. "I didn't mean to scare her off," I whispered, honestly worried that I might have scared her away from me for good.
"She will come back, just give her time. Alice is already reaching her, listen," Mason spoke, my ears dialing into their words.
"Okay.. I'll give it a chance,"
Relief washed over me as her words echoed through my head.
"Now don't screw it up this time," Mason chuckled and I gave him a low growl in response.
As Mason and I followed the girls back towards the party he shot me a knowing look, "She's right you know, you gotta take this slow, thought you'd have learned that from watching us." He said, giving a soft chuckle.
"Yeah well when the wolf wants what the wolf wants, you lose focus from time to time." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"I understand, boss, no worries." He said as he threw an arm over my shoulders and handed me a glass of bourbon.
"You got it, just show her the guy we all know but at a slightly slower pace."
"Yeah, I'll give her the rest of tonight and tomorrow for her, then I'll take her out on the most amazing first date of her life." I said, smiling from ear to ear.
~~~
The next morning
The next morning, I woke up and after pouring myself a cup of coffee, I walked outside and lit a cigarette as I noticed Mason walking out of his small cabin. I gave him a small wave.
"You up for a territory run once I'm finished?" Without even turning his attention to me I could hear the grin on his face.
"If it keeps you from hounding ol' girl and running our Luna out, then yeah, I'm game!"
"Shut up, smart ass!" I said through our mental link as a smirk graced my face.
These people are truly the best. This pack only formed because those who'd been dealt a bad hand claimed I gave them the ability to stand for themselves, which couldn't be further from the truth. My pack was made up of those people who were strong enough to keep going even when the world repeatedly knocked them down, truly unbreakable spirits kindred to my own.
As I put my cigarette out, Mason joined me just as both Alice and Violet walked out of the former's cottage, making eye contact with Violet, I gave a small smile and a wave before turning to Mason. He gave me a quick nod letting me know he was ready and instantly we both shifted and ran out of the village playfully shoving each other.
~~~
Returning from our morning perimeter run we followed our noses to the hall where we found Alice and Violet handing out breakfast to the pack members just as fast as they could make it.
Mason immediately bee-lined to get in line and just as he did, a woman stepped in front of me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey Azure, you wanna get out of here and maybe hang out?" She asked as she batted her eyelashes, in an attempt to look cute.
"I can check in on you later but right now, if it's all the same to you Rae, I'd like to eat." I said softly with a small laugh as I skirted around her and took a place in line behind Mason.
"Back at it again, huh?" He asked, sighing.
"She got the news like everyone else that I've found my mate, so why does she still try for me instead of looking for hers? It's honestly saddening. I hope her mate finds her soon so this can sort itself out." I said, my voice portraying emotion yet staying even.
When we came up in front of the girls, I held a plate up smiling and for a brief moment I allowed myself to lock eyes with Violet, the food was then put on my plate, and giving a genuine smile I said a soft "thank you," before mason and I took a seat at a unoccupied table to eat our meal.
"Okay, but what's really got the southern pack trying to expand territory? That's what I wanted to know." I conversed with Mason.
"Who knows? It could be loss of food supply, pollution, human expansion, literally, the list goes on and on. Just as long as they ain't coming looking for a piece of our place, it's all good," he said confidently as Alice walked up and sat down with us.
"Where's Violet?" I asked curiously.
"She went for a morning run after seeing you with that one." She answered, nodding at Rae.
"Well, that can't be good, right?" Mason questioned, honestly unsure if he was reading the situation right.
"She seemed more jealous than pissed if anything honestly," Alice said under her breath.
Finishing up my breakfast, I bid farewell to both Mason and Alice as I walked out of the hall, lighting a cigarette. I noticed Violet over by the fire, so I casually walked over as I puffed my smoke.
"Mind if I pull up a seat? I promise I'm not gonna freak you out again, just wanted to check on you, Alice said you run off before eating anything." I spoke, my voice calm and even as I pulled a chair over. "Need one?" I asked, holding my outstretched hand out to her with my cigarettes open and a lighter. As she took smoke and lit it I asked, "How'd you sleep last night?" Just trying to keep the conversation focused on small talk while we smoked our morning cigarettes.
"I slept fine, you?" She asked back as I nodded in response. "Look I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about yesterday, it wasn't very cool of me to run off on you like that, I was just a little.. in shock," she explained hoping to clear the air between us. "No one has figured me out before, I was a little taken aback," she explained truthfully, grabbing her full bottom lip with her teeth as she spoke.
Fuck.
I took a deep inhale of my cigarette and looked at the land around us. "You really do have some beautiful land," she said softly, almost in awe.
We.
"Yes, it's gorgeous out here and so calm, we're a very blessed pack in that regard." I said softly as I gazed about the beautiful valley before my eyes settled back on the most beautiful thing there. "As for yesterday, it is okay, I imagine it is very nerve-racking when someone knows more about you than they should," I spoke softly and put my cigarette out.
"I appreciate you helping to make breakfast for and feed the pack also, that was very generous of you." I thanked her before standing.
"If you need me for anything you can find me at the south bend of the river, of course, Alice should also be around to help you with anything if need be." I relayed before turning and walking towards the southern part of our territory, looking over my shoulder once and catching her eye before taking off into a light jog.
×××××
End of chapter
YOU ARE READING
The New Luna
WerewolfViolet Delacroix had a pretty rough go at life, led by her abusive gambling-addicted father that was left to care for her after her mother's passing. Passed from pack to pack Violet was sent to anyone who would be willing to take her off her father...
