The New Luna

Chapter Twenty One (Violet's POV)

I listened to his words and nodded along, knowing that his experience and mine would be completely different. I was thankful for his addition though and showed him that by placing a soft kiss on his lips. My eyes darted to Alice as he said those words and my heart ached for her, knowing she had such a hard life before and during the transition. My mind continued to race and I doubted anything could pull me out of the rut I was digging my mind into.

"I'll talk to her about it when we do our border check before the end of the night," I finally responded, a knot growing in my throat and stomach. Finally, I took Azure's finished plate and my picked at one, and returned them inside where most everyone had finished and begun their evening to-do list.

"So what is in store for you this evening?" I asked Azure as I began cleaning up the hall absent-mindedly. The sun had only just barely begun to set so we still had about an hour of daylight left in the day.

He simply had begun to help me tidy the place as he replied to my question, "Not a whole hell of a lot really, just helping Mason to store any new provisions for the pack as might go out looking for Greg again. Other than that I'll be waiting right here for you to get back baby."

He whispered the last part into my ear as he came up behind me and turned me around capturing my lips in a heated embrace. Suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throat brought him back to reality, chuckling as he turned to face Mason.

"Oh like you're any better, bro."

"Well no but we got things still to do get, you know?" Mason replied as he stroked the back of his head.

"Yeah yeah, let's just go so I can back to Our Luna as soon as possible." Azure responded, jokingly side-eyeing me as they began to walk away.

"You ready?" I jumped at Alice's voice coming from the left of me. I quickly finished the cleaning I had started and then made my way over to her waiting form.

"Yes, I'm ready, are we doing the territory run now?" I asked her as I grabbed a jacket off the coat rack in the hall, earning a giggle from Alice.

"That's Azure's jacket, I find it ironic that you picked it out," she explained as I stared at her dumbfounded. I drew the jacket closer and gave an inhale, taking in his scent of herbs. I rolled my eyes at her questioning gaze before we made our way out of the hall.

"Let's start at the North quadrant," she said as we began our journey towards the North boarder.

"Alice, can I ask you something personal?" I questioned as we walked.

"Of course," she replied simply as her eyes scanned the surrounding woods.

"What was turning like for you?" I asked in a small voice, afraid the question would trigger something in her. She stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, her eyes melancholy.

"It was as close to hell as I ever want to get," she explained simply, and that was all I needed to hear.

As Mason and Azure meandered their way to the slaughterhouse; where all fresh kills were skinned, butchered, and stored, they began discussing the relative idleness of the day.

"It's been to lax, I'm constantly trying to be ready for something to just finally go off, you know?" Azure relented to his beta.

"Of course man, but at this point maybe its lax around here because we've secured enough to make sure if, hard if, something does happen we're ready. Take a breath, if not for you, do it for our pack. They see more of you than anyone except now maybe Violet." Mason said as a grin began to spread over his features.

"She's amazing right? Like I'm not the only one who sees it?" Azure's voice sounding like a teenager needing to be validated.

"No man, chicks got stones on her, wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her wolf I'll freely admit!" He said before letting out a dry laugh.

"Her and Alice could easily form a coupé, you realize that, right? One bad day and this could turn into their pack before our eyes." Azure said as they walked inside and began setting up three deer carcasses to begin the process on.

"Don't tell them that we know that though. Hey, by the way, you ever find Greg?" Mason asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Nope, haven't seen hide nor hair of him since he needed to talk." Azure sighed out as he slit shallowly down the deer's stomach in front of him.

Meanwhile, Alice and I had now made it to the south quadrant and things were looking pretty scarce. There wasn't many animals out tonight as it was nearing winter, and the wind had died down, leaving the woods to feel still, almost too calm.

"Something's off..." I heard Alice say from beside me and instantly I was on edge, every nerve in my body began to heat and goosebumps sprung out over my body.

"Let's just keep going," I found myself whispering a response to her and quickly cleared my throat, pushing myself to feel braver than I was. Suddenly, across the path of our boarder came the snap of a twig and I instantly jumped away while Alice was quick on her feet, standing securely in front of me.

"Who's there?" She called into the dark of the night receiving only silence as an answer. "We need to leave now," she said in a hushed voice, slowly taking a few steps backwards. From out of nowhere I felt the heat of a person standing behind me and every hair on my body stood erect. Just as I was about to call out to Alice in warning I felt someone's strong arms wrap around my arms and torso, effectively pinning me against their chest and holding me firmly. Alice spun on her heels and a loud growl tore from her lips as she faced my captures who looked oddly familiar.

"Let her go Jaz," Alice spit in warning and I instantly recalled the woman and two men from the exchange with my father.

"Tell your Alpha we want 5 millions dollars by the end of the day tomorrow or she's dead," the woman Jazzy spoke from behind me and I knew they were referring to me. I instantly attempted to struggle against the arms the held me and I was only met with a stinging prick on the side of my neck.

Then everything went dark.

×××××
End of Chapter