Chapter 147: Crescent Moon

NATALIA

My heart races faster the closer we get to Crescent Moon borders.

I haven’t been back in months, and I have no idea what will happen once we get there.

Will they blame me for abandoning them?

I was their Luna and I left them without a second thought.

~I'm no better than Xavier.~

“It will be alright, my Moon. They'll understand why you left,” Chuck says, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

“You don’t understand,” I say, shaking my head. “I left and didn’t look back once. I’ve barely thought of them since... Since everything went to hell. I was their Luna...”

“You are also a mother and did what was best for your child,” he interrupts. “Have you ever thought about moving back there? This was your home growing up. And Xavi is technically still in line to be Alpha.”

I haven’t thought of the possibility of staying.

My relationship with Ariel is finally in a good place and I don’t know if the distance between us would ruin what we’re building.

For the first time in our lives, we aren’t at each other's throats over petty things.

But then I think about Xavi... would the pack ever accept him as their Alpha if he doesn’t grow up there?

How would he ever gain their loyalty?

“I don’t know, Chuck. I haven’t thought that far... The time we’ve spent with Ariel and Alex at the Royal Pack has been so great,” I say. “Besides, I can’t expect you to just up and leave at the drop of a hat.”

“My home is anywhere that you are, Natalia. Whether we live in my old cabin or a literal palace, you are and always will be my ~home~.”

Maybe Chuck is right.

Home doesn’t have to be a place. We could build a life together anywhere.

I realise now that there is still so much we haven’t discussed.

Where we live is just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, Chuck wants to adopt Xavi, but we haven’t discussed the possibility of having more kids. Surely, Chuck would want one to carry his bloodline...

“We’ll figure everything out,” I say. “But first I need to introduce you to my ex-in-laws,” I tell him as we get closer and closer to the Crescent Moon Pack.

The sound of howls echo around the car.

“Let’s hope for the best.”

ARIEL

“We’re about five minutes out,” Dad informs the warriors driving with us.

I stare out the car window, taking in all the familiar sights.

~The ice cream parlour Dad took me to after training sessions. ~

~The bowling alley I spent so much time at with my old squad. ~

~The boutique next to it that Dianne always tried to drag me into, before giving up after I knocked over one too many mannequins. ~

The places look the same, as if nothing has changed.

But everything has.

I'm not the same person I was back then:

A bright-eyed warrior.

Now I'm battle-hardened and wishing for simpler times.

A time when I didn’t have to worry about my safety while entering the pack I grew up in.

The howls of the patrol wolves surround us as we enter Crescent Moon territory. They run alongside our cars until we stop at the pack house.

Dad puts the car in park and steps out to greet Alpha Blake.

I take one last deep breath and open my door. Jo is by my side immediately while the other warriors, Mark and Anthony, fall in line behind us.

“Welcome back, Ariel,” Blake says with a bright smile. “Or should I say Queen Ariel?”

“You helped raise me, Alpha. I think we can leave the titles,” I say, giving him a tight hug.

“Then you’ll have to start calling me Blake, if we’re leaving the titles. I'm guessing our King insisted on a few guards for you,” he says, eyeing the warriors that surround me.

“Yes, I also brought a few guests along for the journey, too.”

Natalia and Chuck finally exit their car and I wave them over. Natalia quickly unstraps Xavi from his car seat, and then they walk over to join us.

“Natalia!” Blake exclaims. “Oh thank Goddess, you’re safe. Carol will be over the moon to see you. Look how big Xavi’s gotten.”

Natalia’s body sags in relief at Blake’s enthusiasm. “Hi Pops. I’m so happy to see you too! I'm so sorry for not calling...”

“None of that, my dear! I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”

“How about we move inside to discuss the reason for our visit, Blake,” Dad suggests.

“Excellent idea, Peter. We can head to my office,” Blake says. Then he turns to Natalia. “Carol is in the kitchen helping out some of the cooks with dinner if you’d like to say hello.”

Chuck follows Natalia as she makes her way inside. Blake looks at him for a bit before shrugging. My father and I walk to Blake’s office.

Jo joins us inside while my other two guards wait just outside the doors.

Blake’s limp grows more pronounced as he walks through his office and sits down heavily behind his desk.

He doesn’t even wait for us to sit down before he starts talking.

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I'll just get to the point,” Blake says. “The Pack’s gone to shit after Xavier took off on his mad quest to get you back, Ariel.”

~Gone to shit, indeed.~

Ariel

It’s bad, Alex. So bad.

Alex

WHAT HAPPENED!? Are you okay?

Ariel

Yes, calm down. I'm talking about the Crescents...

Ariel

They’ve lost more than half their members.

Ariel

Barely enough warriors left for three patrol groups...

Alex

Did you tell Alpha Blake that we’re willing to send warriors to help?

Ariel

Yes. Goddess, Alex. You could see some of the tension leave him...

Alex

I’ll give the warriors a heads up that there is a deployment coming. See if we have any volunteers. Then we can discuss who to send when you’re home.

Ariel

Thanks, ily <3