The Luna Eclipse

16

~Maria Pov~

They've been in his office for hours. Ever since they walked away, they haven't come out since. I sigh as I lay back in his bed.

~Ashtons Pov~
*Earlier*

"I said, what are we doing this year."

I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face. I knew this time would have to come at some point. Just honestly didn't think it would be today. I stood up and walked out of the living room. Justin and Joesph followed behind me.

We reached my office. It was fixed. There was no broken desk or ripped books and bookshelves. I haven't been in here for about a month now. I have a lot of paper work to catch up on.

I sat in my chair behind my desk. The placed themselves in the chairs in front of the desk.

"So. What's the deal?"

I sighed. "March 13. About 5 years ago there was a raid. A few rouges showed up at our territory. Back then the old Alpha and Luna were in charge, my parents. It was a small family. A mom a dad and two kids. They looks malnourished and sick. They needed help."

Joesph looked at me then at Justin.

"My dad was an amazing alpha. He was nice, caring and gentle. But also back then, we didn't have to worry about any threats. At least from what I knew of. So he brought them in. He took them to the pack doctor. Had them fixed up. Brought them into our house and let them stay with us."

I had to take a breath. I was getting angry.

"Th-they stayed with us for weeks. Then they betrayed us."

Justin rubbed his eyes.

"We were having a gathering of the whole pack. Thousands of us had gathered at the meeting grounds for the pack ritual to accept the family as one of our own. The family, my dad, my mom and me were all standing on the stage. Things were going good, until I noticed my dad's eyes getting cloudy. Meaning of course he was mind linking. He then looked at me and my mother worried. Everything was quiet then suddenly a-an arrow c-came out of nowhere and shot right through my mother's neck."

I stood up, turned around and placed an arm on the wall. A was trying to calm myself down.

"She died."

I breathed in heavily.

I turned back around a sat down. Justin had his eyes closed, he too was hurt. Joesph was shocked.

"Then we were surrounded. Rouges everywhere. Coming from all angles, there was so many of them, to many. More than just a few thousand. They attacked us and killed everyone. Wolves and people running around everywhere. Only a handful thousand of us made it to the end of the day alive."

A wiped a tear from the side of my eye.

"The next day when I went back to the spot and all the rouges were gone. All the bodies were still there. My dad, my mom.. and my little sister. The next day those of us we did survived buried all the bodies and I was crowed Alpha."

"Wait. A 5 years ago, March 13? That was around the time I came."Joesph added.

I was quiet and I put my head in my hands.

Justin pitched in,"I know. We thought you had something to do with it. We were going to.. exterminate you."

Joesph kept quiet.

I continued, "But after we did an investigation, and took you in for questioning we found out you had nothing to do with it. But..you have Justin to thank for you being alive. I was so angry and he's my best friend. I wanted to kill you the second I saw you again but he stopped me. I went on a killing spree after that and tracked down every single last one of the wolves who attacked us that day. I killed them all and took in the kids."

"Why couldn't you tell me this?

"Joesph. I almost killed you. A big misconception with you, you could be dead right now."

"But I'm not."

"So every year around this time we go to the burial grounds and have a ceremony and honored those who died. But with Maria showing up..I wanted to do something different."

"Every year? How have I not known about this."

"It didn't concern you, so we didn't bother. It just a reminder of how I almost killed you also."

"I may not have killed anyone, but I was still at this pack when it happened. Therefore, it does concern me. As for you, I'm still alive. That's all that matters. I'm grateful for everything you have done for me Ashton. Honestly."Joesph said as he lowed his head in respect.

Justin also bowed his head. I smiled.

We stood up and began to walk out the office. Joesph walked out first.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?"I asked.

"Maybe, maybe not."Justin said while closing the door behind us.

"So what are we doing this year? There ceremony is in about 3 weeks."he added.

"I think I have an idea."I responded.

~Maria's Pov~

I had finished reading my sacred book when there was a knock on the door.

Ashton then came inside. I jumped up in excitement. Then calmed down as a saw the stressed expression on his face.

"You okay?"I said sitting down.

He sighed then sat on the bed next to me. He laid on his back and rubbed his face. He then patted his stomach.
I moved and straddled him.

"Yeah I'm okay. I just missed you."He said with a smile.

I smiled back then kissed his lips. He had soft lips and I noticed his sent changed. It was still cinnamon and vanilla but it had a swirl of strawberry to it. I parted his kiss and raised my eyebrows.

It's like he read my mind. "That's yours. When we mated it mixed our sent together. Like it?"

I blushed. I was wearing his hoodie and he tugged at the bottom of it.

"What?"

He frowned. "It's covering my mark."

I smiled at him and slowly took the hoodie off.

He looked like a kid going after candy. He placed his hands on my waist. I kissed his lips again.

"I want to mark you."I said.

"Okay, my Luna."