Peaches

XXVII

"Peach, are you okay you were making noises in your sleep?" Raph asks.

"I'm okay," I say abruptly. "I'm still a little out of it."

"If you're not feeling okay we should stay," He says in a protective caring tone.

"I am... feeling okay I mean, I'm fine."

"Okay." He kisses my forehead. "I have some paperwork to sign I'll be back in a minute." He leaves and I exhale a breath I've been holding since I woke up. I head into the bathroom and splash my face with cold water. Why is this coming back to me now? Why is he coming back to me now? I tell myself it's a manifestation of guilt, that I have to tell my mates before the ceremony but I don't want to.

I know it'll only hurt them and it happened so long ago that it shouldn't even matter.

Maybe it's because both Nat and Anna know now and it feels wrong to keep it from them or maybe it's the fact that it didn't feel wrong, that makes me feel guilty. Being with Luke those times felt right and it's not like we had sex. We both knew our mates were out there and neither of us were willing to jeopardise that but maybe we did anyway because what I felt for him was more than just sexual attraction.

Why does any of this even matter anyway, I'm not going to tell them there's no point. Our mating ceremony is tomorrow night. It feels right. They're my mates and I love them. I've waited so long for this. Worrying about this is arbitrary when someone literally just tried to kill me and almost succeeded. If I was alone when I smoked like I usually am I would have died and someone is going to be angry that I'm not dead.

A knock on the bathroom door grabs my attention.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay peaches?"

"I am physically fine I promise just ask the doctor."

"Okay, I have to head back to work something came up but Anna and Natalie along with Nathan are outside and ready to take you shopping if you're up for it, you don't have to say yes."

"Of course I'm up for it I've been sleeping in this box for the past three days. What came up?"

"I don't want to bother you with it," he says pulling my shorter frame into his.

"I am the Luna of this pack who else are you going to bother with it?" I say looking up at him. A smile of gratitude and relief flood his face upon hearing me claim my title.

"There was a challenge at the Oakwood Pack, the new Alpha's here to negotiate terms."

"Shit," I say. Challenges are rare. Alphas have superior blood therefore to challenge an alpha for their position is usually a death wish. "What happened?" I ask.

"I'll tell you later but now, go out and come home looking as strong on the outside as you are on the inside to greet our guests," he says and bends down to kiss me on the lips. "Go have fun, Anna has my card and I expect you to come home with enough clothes to fill a walk in wardrobe."

I watch him walk out the door and Anna and Nat come scurrying in. Nat barges at me and takes me into her arms.

"I was so worried about you asshole," she says. "They wouldn't let us in the room and Raph told us we should go home and let you rest but I was worried you were dying or worse and we haven't been able to sleep we've been so worried," she says in one breath. I look up at Anna and Nat and notice the redness in their eyes and the purple under them.

"I'm okay I promise," I say. "Now I believe I owe you a shopping trip."

They both smile.

"I do have a certain assholes amex card and PIN number."

"Let's make it rain motherfuckers," I say laughing.

They both put their arms around me and they lead me out of the hospital room only to almost crash into a man I hadn't seen in years.

"Nathan? What are you doing here?" I ask.

He begins to reply only to be interrupted by Anna. "Apparently since I haven't slept in three days and let you get assassinated, I am no longer an effective guard. Your boyfriends put me on probation," she sighs sounding annoyed but also guilty.

"If you're here who's guarding the Alphas?" Nathan is the boys official guard and has been ever since they graduated together.

"Themselves Luna, they asked me to inform you that my protection better lies with you right now," Nathan claims while standing like a soldier at ease.

"Whatever he can carry our bags," says Anna with bitterness.

I smile sadly at him realising that my attempted assassination broke people that weren't just me.

Anna and Nat gossip about random things as we sit in the black Range Rover, driven by Nathan. Or they're just talking I haven't been listening to anything they're saying. My mind is elsewhere. Elsewhere being him... Luke. The only man who I've ever had eyes for that wasn't them.

"Reine...REINE," Anna yells snapping her fingers in front of my eyes.

"Yeah sorry you were saying..."

"Nat was saying actually we need to buy dresses for the dinner tonight."

"Dinner?" I ask.

"Yeah dummy the one we've been talking about," says Anna.

"Don't worry baby, i think her mind is on the two hot hunks we left earlier," Nat teases.

"Or one I left along time ago," I mutter under my breath forgetting that werewolf hearing means they both heard me loud and clear.

"Luke?" Nat asks. "How is your mind still on that guy?"

"Is that the guy you used to hook up with?" Anna asks.

"Umm yeah."

"Why are you thinking about him, I always thought he was just a distraction for you. I mean I heard you guys and he was a damn good distraction but still," Nat says.

"I don't know maybe its guilt. I should tell them," I said.

"No no do not bad idea bad," Anna exclaims.

"I had a dream," I said.

"Well keep it to yourself then you know telling them won't lead to anything good," says Anna.

"Oh poor Reiney it'll be okay," Nat says kissing my forehead and holding me close.

A tear falls down my cheek from pure exhaustion of thought. I take a deep breath in as Anna wipes away my tear. The shock and logic across her face melting into sympathy. I take another breath.

"I feel like looking hot tonight, anyone else?" I ask under shaking breath and shaking smile.