Running Wolf

16: acceptance

Okay, I'm a butt for not updating in so long so here's m another. Oh, and could you check the other books out too? Pls?

Words: 1210

..

"What do you mean dad's dead? Again?" Katya nearly screams, her voice trembling.

Caleb leans against the wall, head hung low. She could see his fingers moving along with his bouncing knee. When they were young, he use to dig the nail of his thumb into the side of his index finger, it was nervous habit that he did. Katya assumes he still has it.

"It happened so fast. I think it was after our birthday... two years ago. Our birthdays are March 15 so yeah. It happened March 20, 2012. We were just chillin' and dad was talking about how it's the first day of spring and he loves that. How much he misses you and Ma. How he was even considering checking up on you. And I kept feeling this pain, I don't know who or what it was. Dad thought maybe it's the bond I missed you. That why I attacked these guys." He gestures to Elijah of them. "I thought it was them. The pain was worst than ever."

Katya avoided looking at anyone. "It w-wasn't them."

"Then who-" but Katya cut him off with a sharp glare.

"Can you j-just finish the story?"

Caleb sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. "And then it happened so fast. The windows blew up but dad was so quick too, he got us down the hall and through the back door. He gave me a takeaway bag, some guns, a book. It was like he knew- he knew-" Caleb was interrupted by his own sniffle, he wiped his nose aggressively.

Katya tears were streaming freely now as Charlie and Oliver rubbed her back and tried to wipe away some of the tears. Elijah didn't look up from his folded arms, he didn't know a lot about his mate but he did know he hated seeing her cry.

"He told me to keep running, to not look for him. And I yelling at him because I-I already l-loss you and Ma and everyone. P-papa was all I had for eight years. I couldn't loss him too. He said if he made it he'd know where to find me. I was gonna argue but he pushed me out and slammed the door closed.

The fire got bigger, and then there were so many gun shots. I knew he was gone."

Just as he finished Katya stumbling from her place on the carpet rug, grabbing at his shirt and pulling him closer, sobbing into his shoulder.  Her whole body was shaking badly.

"After my b-birthday... I got r-really sick. I'm chest was hurting and it feel like I couldn't breathe. What that you? From the fire inhaling or something?"

Caleb laughs bitterly. "Probably me. The thing about the bond is that if I get a paper cut, you won't feel it. It's not major but if it's something bigger, like you getting clawed or some something, we'll both feel it. When you use magic, I feel it and vice versa."

"So what were you doing?"

"Drugs. Like, a lot of them. I was drinking too. And it my first time. I nearly black out at one point."

"That's what the doctor said. I had symptoms of someone who's being doing drugs for years." She laughs wetly.

"Yeah. Sorry about that."

There was a long silence before Elijah cleaned his throat. Everyone turned to him.

"I need to know what you've decided on. We have to keep the pack informed about-"

"You're gonna tell your pack about all that was said in here?" Katya said, eyes hard and narrowed.

"Not word for word but yes, our pack will know. We don't keep secrets in this pack. That's not want a pack is." Elijah said.

Katya nods, thinking for a minute.

"I decided that... we're going to my house."

"But that wasn't-"

"It is now. You, Oliver, and Charlie can come over and so can my brother. Kia, Ian and Tyler can stay here. My uncle and Ma will be there as well. That's enough people if anything is to happens, no?" She questions.

Elijah pursed his lips. He never intended for anything to happen or for his mate to feel uncomfortable. He just wanted her to understand and feel safe.

"Whatever makes you comfortable. However, if anything is to happen while we're there, we will leave immediately.  Okay?"

"Sure." She said as the door knocked. Luke's head peaked in.

"Alpha, the pack is waiting. Hello babe." Elijah growls in which Luke puts his hands up in surrender. He waves towards Katya. "You still look very familiar."

Everyone rose from their sitting, all of them walking past Luke. Katya was the last one out but a hand pulled her arm back.

"I swear I'm gonna find out who you are, okay baby doll?"

"Don't call me that."

"Hmm, he told me you were feisty."

Before she could as who he was, Luke pushes her forward. "You better get going, I think Alpha wants you in his sight at all time. And I'm just playing with ya. Don't look so scared, alright? We're family."

He pats her back a little to hard before she walks away. That kid is weird. She thinks.

..

In the mess hall is where everyone meets. It's big enough to hold what feels like hundreds of people. And it is. Oliver told her they have nearly 500 people. It was suffocating just hearing that number.

As soon as Elijah stepped on to a small platform, silence went over like a wave to everyone. He had their undivided attention. He look strong, powerful, but also reserved. All the qualities that lured Katya to him in the first place. She thinks those are what keep her here now.

"As you know, there have be a few times were a breach has happened, because we don't engage in any type of violence, since... The warring period, it would seemed that they are going after our Luna."

Katya felt some of the stares fall on her as Elijah paused to let his message sink in. It made her skin crawl. Whispers went around like wildfire.

"However, you all know our code: if one falls, all shall come. If you are not willing to fight for this pack and the wellbeing of you're Luna, leave now."

The was an eerie silence until Elijah's face breaks into a smile, and cheers go round.

"Wait!" Katya yells, getting up from her sit on the floor beside Charlie and running up beside Elijah. She felt Elijah step back but she takes his hand, linking them together.

"Um, I would like you all to know that I'm am very grateful for your cooperation . I know this isn't something you usually have to decide. Also, I want everyone to know, I will try with everything that I have to keep you out of danger." She could feel her knees quake and she bits her lips, eying everyone around her.

"Who are you?" Someone asked from the back.

She looks around at everyone. She was shaking, so nervous she wouldn't be accepted. She sees little Maxwell and when they make eye contact, the little girl smiles largely. Katya smiles back.

"I'm Katya, your Luna."

And at that, Elijah squeezes her hand as everyone cheers.