The Deadline

~Chapter 18~

It's been a really tough week. I've been training a lot with Caleb in order to learn how to control Cia and how to use my strength without hurting anyone or anything. I'm a lot stronger than I was. I kind of broke a door when I shut it closed.

Cia is really hard to control too. She takes over without asking or even warning. We were sitting at the living room the other day and Beta Kyle said something about me being a new Luna and that I have a lot to learn about werewolves and stuff. Cia took it as an insult, shifted and dominated Kyle, effectively scaring the shit out of him. Apparently, even if he is a Beta, the second stronger wolf in this pack, I'm still the Luna and my wolf is twice his size. So yeah I'm also intimidating now.

This all seems like I'm a bit out of character. I don't think I could ever describe myself as strong, intimidating, dominant, scary or anything similar to what I am now.

I admit it's both terrifying and exciting at the same time! Caleb says it's normal. I am his equal. He's strong and intimidating and all that stuff so I guess I have to be too.

After a lot of self-control exercises and a lot of fighting training, I can now control her - at least most of the times - and I can decently fight and stand my ground.

I look down at my peacefully sleeping mate and brush the hair away from his face. I can't sleep. My mind is stuck thinking about my life so far. It's been a month since Caleb found me. Two weeks after the deadline I gave him. And I am so grateful that he was able to keep me alive. Being with him is the best feeling in the world.

But my past still haunts me. It's like a rock, tied to my leg, ready to be dropped into the deep ocean and drown me. My family would be so disappointed at me. I know they would want me to forget about it and move on. To only remember the good stuff.

But how can I? How can I remember only the good stuff when the bad are so much more.

The image of my parents murdered and my brother butchered come back to my mind. It's painful. So fucking painful.

I let out a silent cry, unable to contain my crying. I look down at Caleb. I don't want to wake him up. He is so peaceful.

Hey, take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale.

Cia tries to help but it's no use. My breathing becomes heavier and my eyes are filled with tears.

In an attempt not to wake up Caleb I grab a pillow and bury my face in it. I sit there crying for some time but then I feel a hand on my back. It's Caleb.

"I'm sorry I woke you up" I cry but he doesn't say a word. He pulls me into his arms and locks me in his hold.

"It's okay" he whispers stroking my hair until I fall asleep.

~~~

The next day, Caleb is not in the bed with me. I guess he had to take care Alpha stuff. I dress up and head to the pack house to find him.

As I enter the kitchen I run into Kyle who immediately bows his head and adresses me formally.

"Luna Emma, how can I help you?" Kyle asks when I approach him. Since the incident with Cia he's been acting very carefully around me. He never speaks up, he never makes eye contact and he never adresses me without my title. Which is becoming frustrating because Kyle was one of the few persons in this pack that I knew and trusted...

"Kyle I wanted to apologize for the way my wolf acted the other day. I was a new werewolf and knew nothing about controlling my wolf. It was not your fault. So please stop acting like I'm the Boogeyman..." I say and he finally relaxes.

"So you won't kill me if act normal around you?" he asks still cautious.

"No I won't kill you. I'm your Luna, and you're a member of my pack so I will protect you. You can respect me without being afraid of me. Okay?"

"Yeah okay. Sorry for freaking out Emma... It's just that I was used to one Alpha in the pack, now we have two"

"It's okay. Do me a favor, tell Caleb to come find me... He promised me a tour of the whole pack but he's been too busy with Alpha work. If he says he's busy tell him to mindlink me... I'm still working on perfecting mine. I tried to mindlink him yesterday and I ended up talking to some grandma I didn't even know" I say starting to walk away.

"Sure thing Luna" he replies chuckling and turns the other way, walking to the pack house.

I decide not to wait for Caleb but to start roaming around myself. I walk around the neighborhoods of the pack and greet everyone that recognizes me, I got a mini tour from a cute six-year-old girl. A little boy gave me o rose as a gift and his mother offered me cookies. These people are amazing. They are so welcoming and heart-warming. They don't even know me, yet they accepted me as their Luna and made me feel loved.

After I eat some cookies and thank the nice people, I start walking towards the woods. The forest is our territory too. And I plan on memorizing everything about it, until I can find my way around it blindfolded.

As I walk I spot a small building behind a few trees. I approach it cautiously and silently. It looks like a woodshed. I open the front door only to find a few logs tossed around and a staircase leading underground.

Something compels me to climb down those stairs, so I follow my instinct. When I reach the end I open the wooden door in front of me.

Breathless. Stunned. Confused. But most importantly angry.

There in the middle of the room, tied to a chair and staring back at me is a terrified Darien.