Broken Halves

Chapter Two

POV: Dani

I watch from the window as Jorden meets with the pack. I know what he is telling them. I know, and I can't bear to hear it. A tear slowly slips down from my left eye. Successfully falling onto my neatly folded hands where they lay on my lap.

He's gone. My Cole, he is truly gone, every part of him. His body vanished shortly after his death. Jorden spent hours wandering the territory trying to see if his remains had simply been moved from his final resting place, but Cole was never found.

In the beginning, I was clouded by grief and tried to convince Jorden that it must have been a sign. He only grasped me by the shoulders and shook his head with sorrowful eyes while telling me that I am only making the loss worse on myself and him.

For the first few weeks since the loss, Jorden and I could be seen leaning heavily on each other. We have too; everyone else we've ever been close to is gone. Cole, Jorden, and I were all who remained of the Richards family; the power trio who was meant to stay strong and carry on together. But now we have lost our strongest link. Cole was important to the both of us and now only we truly know the extent of the pain in which the other is suffering. Standing up swiftly, I am walking before I even realize it; subconsciously heading out of the house and to the rest of my pack.

"What are we going to do about the Luna?" A pack member calls out, unaware of my presence. "Yeah!" Another shouts. "She doesn't have Alpha Blood; she can't rule us." A third voice speaks up. "She isn't even a wolf!" Past Dani would have cowered in shame and fear at their words, leaving Cole to put them in their place. But Cole isn't here and it is the least I can do to step up into the role the Moon Goddess intended me to have. 

Before Jorden can speak out to calm the crowd I open my mouth and talk. I am still Luna whether they like it or not. Cole helped me to gain my confidence over this past eleven months. Therefore, I step up beside Jorden and face the pack with the poise I imagine Cole's mother would have. I must lead this pack just as my mate did before me. I know my role, and I will rise to it.

"I am pregnant with Blood Moon's heir." Majority of the pack members gasp; whether from surprise or outrage, I will never know. Even Jorden stares at me with widened eyes as I have yet to tell him the news. I ignore their surprise and open my mouth to continue talking. "I may not be an Alpha, or even a wolf, but I was mated to one. I am your Luna just as The Goddess intended me to be. Your Alpha's child lives inside me. My baby will grow up in this pack with their family and along the way; I will take care of all of you just as my mate has." My voice is thundering as I do my best to portray my message in a way that is both commanding, yet passionate. 

"That is a promise from your Luna Blood Moon; you will do best to head my words."  Jorden clears his throat from beside me settling the pack's attention on him once again. "Dani will remain your Luna. I will take over as temporary Alpha until, if the pup is a boy, is of age." Jorden grabs my hand and pulls me up onto the makeshift stage; the same stage where I officially became Luna, and Daniella Richards.

Jorden lays his hand gently around my waist pulling me close to his side. "Your Luna is personally under my protection." He pauses for a moment to calm his emotions before beginning to speak again. "I know I can never replace Cole, as an Alpha or a mate." He starts to tear up. But in true Jorden fashion refuses to let a tear fall. "But as his best friend, his brother, his Beta, and as a mateless wolf--" I and others gasp at Jorden's declaration. I never knew Jorden was aware of that fact about himself. Cole would have known; Cole knew everything about Jorden and me.  

"It is my duty to take care of his mate and unborn child as if they were my own." Jorden finishes his speech effectively ignoring the continuing whispers of the pack. I squeeze his hand that lies at my waist, offering him my comfort and thanks. Jorden smiles gently showing me he has received my message before continuing his speech.