Willows Salvation- Crescent Moon Book 1

Chapter 22

We reached the pack that sent out the distress call but nothing seemed to be amiss. Everyone was going about their business smiling and laughing, kids playing. We shifted back and stood at the edge of the wood line to the clearing of the little village. I turned to Leo "Are you sure this is the pack that needed our help?"

"Yes, this is it. The white woods pack which is them sent me a message saying they were under attack by the Blood Moon Pack. I don't get it."

Bella jumped in and started running her mouth. After recent events with Willow, I really had no use for her but she was one of the best warriors in the pack so naturally, we had her come. I just wish she was seen and not heard. "Does it look like they are under attack. NO! Maybe you read the message wrong, Leo. Geez, what a waste of our time to travel all the way out here for no reason!"

Leo and Bella started bickering back and forth growling their responses at each other. Rolling my eyes I turned back around to watch the pack. Red flags going off in my head it hit me. This was a diversion. Someone wanted us away from the rest of the pack. "Fuck we have to go. This was a diversion. We need to get home NOW!"

I took off running as fast as my legs would go shifting with ease. I never turned around to see if the rest of the pack was following me I just needed to get home. I needed to check on the rest of the pack. I needed to check on Willow. The journey home would take me a few hours thinking of the possibility of loss spurred me on to run faster. Glancing to my left Leo was by my side. He really was the best Beta an Alpha could ask for. He kept up with the pace I set and we reached the manor in record time.

I woke up feeling very disoriented. At first, I wasn't sure where I was then I remembered. I felt like the weight of the world was on me. My body ached and my ears were still ringing some. Looking around the room I remembered what happened. Fear instantly took me over. I was attacked by a witch my father hired. I walked to the open door and had to lean against it for support. I could hear the yelling coming from downstairs and just stood and listened waiting for my strength to regain.

"Chris you can't go up there right now. She is asleep and needs her rest"

"I can do whatever I fucking want to. I need to see her so move out of my way Athena."

"Chris calm down man" Leo was so levelheaded but wasn't too happy to hear Chris yell at his mate. But he also knew how worried he must be about her.

"Don't tell me to calm down. We were sent out on a wild goose chase so that the witch could be sent here to what attack curse hurt Willow.

I could hear Trixie's voice now and it had an icy tone to it. "Well for someone who won't accept her as his mate your awfully concerned about her"

Chris let out a gut-wrenching growl and everyone's voices started erupting at once. That was it I needed to get down there and defuse the situation. One foot in front of the other Willow. When did walking become so hard? I finally made my way to the top of the steps in time to see Chris shaking and Leo and Athena keeping him from pouncing on Trixie. I tried to scream stop but it came out as a whisper. So I cleared my throat and grabbed the railing of the steps. I walked down a few and had to catch myself. Damn knees. "Stop" Well something came out of my mouth but they were screaming so loud and arguing that they didn't hear me. Stumbling down a few more steps I finally got it out "Stop" okay that wasn't as loud as I hoped. Athena looked up at me and let go of Chris flying up the steps.

"Willow, what are you doing out of bed?"

Resting my head on her shoulder I took a deep breath "I could hear the screaming and had to do something" my knees buckled again and Athena caught my weight slowly sitting us down. Chris ran up the steps all arguing and fighting dropped. Putting his hand under my chin he lifted my head so I could look at him. "I'm sorry Willow. I should have been here"

My heart started to ache. I could see in his eyes he was truly sorry and was beating himself up for going to do what his pack did. Which was to defend and protect others? Tears started welling up in my eyes. He leaned in and picked me up cradling me in his arms he sat back down. I nuzzled my head into the crook of his neck and started to let the tears fall freely.

"It's not your fault you had to go."

"Well, I shouldn't have. The whole this was a ruse to get us away from the manor. Away from you. I won't make that mistake again. Trixie, how are we going to keep that witch from finishing her mark?"

"As I told the girls earlier I will put a protection spell on the house and I would like to give something to Willow that I can enchant to also ward off the effects of the mark if there are any considering it isn't complete."

"What do you mean to give her something?"

"Like a pin, a necklace, a ring. Something that she can wear at all times to keep her safe at least for now.

I could feel him look down at me and then to everyone else. He put his arm around me almost as if he was protecting me from something. Then he looked up "I got it! I know what you can use"

He carried me down the rest of the steps with Athena right behind him and set me gently on the couch in the living room. I could see the corner of the garden from here and wanted to go out there so badly. He ran upstairs and was back before we had a chance to comprehend where he went. Walking up to Trixie he handed her a little black box. Opening it up a very pleased smile spread across her face. "Yes, This will do nicely. Be back soon" Just like that she was gone.

Chris came and sat beside me on the couch pulling me close. I welcomed his embrace. I was kind of cold and the heat of his body felt amazing. I don't know why but being next to him like this I felt so safe. Athena got up and went to get me something to eat and Leo followed behind her. He picked up my arm and looked at the pink scars on my wrist. Taking his thumb he rubbed across it. It felt so sensual. "Are you okay?" I turned to look at him and wasn't sure of the answer. Was I ok? Let's see in the last month I escaped my pack, wound up here, was thrown in a dungeon, found out I have a mate who doesn't want me, was attacked by one of his best warriors, was attacked by a witch and then marked by the same witch. Was I ok? I never got a chance to answer him because Trixie returned.

He left me on the couch causing me to miss his touch and went to her. "Here you go Alpha. I hope this means you are moving in the right direction. I know what this necklace means to you" She handed him the little black box and he came to me on the couch. He opened it slowly and what was inside took my breath away. In it sat the most beautiful moon necklace I had ever seen. It was a crescent shape with a Diamond between the moons points. On one side of the diamond sat a sapphire with Celtic scrollwork on either side etched into the moon. It looked very expensive. "I want you to have this Willow. It was my mother's. It will help to keep you safe."

"Chris I can't take this. Please. It's too expensive and a family heirloom"

"You can and you will. When Trixie said she needed something I knew that this was it. It was my mother's Luna Necklace and I think she would want you to have it."

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. When he wrapped his arms around me it felt so right. I pulled back and placed a kiss on his lips. He really did care. He wanted me. Maybe not as his Luna right now but the thought was there. He returned my kiss lightly. I let go of him and grabbed his hand leading him towards the stairs. It was time to not be so scared.