Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Five

A week later

“I told you she would make a terrible Luna,” a female from my pack whose name I don’t know mutters to her friend. We are about to run a pack hunt, our first one with the vampires, but I’m not excited.

The whole pack hates me, probably because I used to be the runt of the pack, but now I’m about to become Logan’s mate and Luna. Most people must find that scary, especially since they have been so mean to me or just ignored me.

“Yeah, it’s strange that Logan is so accepting of Five,” another female says. “His brother is dead all thanks to Five, and now we have formed a pact with the vampires? Like please, can’t he see that making her his Luna is ruining the pack?”

“There is still hope,” the first female says, tapping her friend’s back. “Logan hasn’t officially made Five his Luna yet, so he may still come around and change his mind.”

I try my best to ignore their whispers, focusing instead on the task at hand. As the future Luna, it is my duty to lead this hunt, and I won’t let their words distract me. This is the first time Margaret and her vampires are with us, and I need to make them feel welcome.

“Ah, Five! There you are!” Margaret suddenly exclaims and holds out her arms before embracing me. Her hug is warm and filled with respect. It’s shocking how much more the vampires respect me than my werewolf kin.

I pull away from Margaret and smile at her. “I’m glad you’re here. Our pack can definitely learn a lot from you and your vampires,” I say, trying to show my appreciation for her.

Margaret’s smile widens, and she nods her head in agreement. “Likewise, Five. We can

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learn a lot from one another.” She looks around the forest. “Now, where is that handsome

mate of yours?”

“Do you mean Logan?” I curiously ask. “Or Eric?”

“Logan,” she responds and releases a sad sigh. “No offense, but I wouldn’t want Eric to be out of his cell since we haven’t worked out a way to help him yet.”

I can feel a deep, wrenching sorrow in the pit of my stomach as I think of Eric. The guilt of

imprisoning him devastates me, but it’s for his safety. His overpowering thirst for blood

prevents me from freeing him, and all that is left to do is keep him caged up for now.

“I hope there is a way to help him,” I tell her in a low tone. I wouldn’t want anyone to

overhear. We haven’t told anyone that Eric isn’t actually dead. “I would feel terrible if we

had to keep him a prisoner for much longer.”

“Same here,” Margaret says. “We are all expecting him to step up as the king of darkness

as soon as he can control himself. I might be a pureblood, but Eric is a hybrid created from

my blood and magic–once he has fully awakened to his powers, he will be much stronger

than me. Therefore, we are all very excited for the future.”

This is news to me. I had no idea Margaret wanted Eric to become the king of darkness. Is that why she is being so nice to me? Because I’m his mate?

“I see,” I wet my lips, hesitating before asking, “Is that why you’re being nice to me?”

Her lips form a smirk, but it’s not arrogant. “It was the reason at first, but I actually like. you now after spending so much time with you, Five. You have shown me a heavy load of respect even though I’m not a werewolf, and I appreciate that. Plus, I can tell you genuinely care about Eric.”

I blush and look away, not used to receiving compliments from someone who isn’t my pack member. “Thank you, Margaret. That means a lot coming from you.”

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“Also, don’t forget: as Eric’s fated mate, the vampires will look to you for guidance, Five. You’ll be taking up the mantle of queen soon, and everyone is thrilled–including me. I don’t want to lead; I’m ready to pass this burden on to someone else. Don’t take this the wrong way, I just…I just can’t handle being a leader.”

“I understand,” I say, placing a reassuring hand on Margaret’s arm. “I’ll do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations.”

Margaret smiles at me, her eyes shining with admiration. “I have no doubt that you will, Five. You’re stronger than you realize.”

We fall into a comfortable silence, lost in our own thoughts. I can’t help but think of Eric, locked up in his cell, and wonder what he’s going through. Is he scared? Angry? Lonely?

“I want to see him,” I say suddenly, breaking the silence. “Can I visit him again tonight?”

“Why don’t you bring him something from the hunt?” Margaret asks and nods at Logan, who is standing further away and talking to a few vampires. “I’m sure Logan would give

you some alone time with Eric if you asked him. Just remember not to let him out of his

prison cell.”

My heart warms. I’m grateful for Margaret’s understanding. “Thank you, I’ll go talk to Logan now.”

I make my way over to Logan, who turns his attention to me as I approach. “Hey, Logan.

Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure thing, Five. What’s up?” he asks, his eyes curious and his dimples smile genuine.

My heart thumps as I ask, “Can I visit Eric again tonight and bring him something from the hunt? I miss him…”

Logan’s expression softens, and he nods. “Of course. I’ll escort you to his cell after the

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hunt. But remember Five, he’s dangerous. Don’t let your guard down. He might be your second mate, but…he is different after his transformation.”

“I know,” I say, thankful for his concern. “I will be careful.”

Logan gives me a pat on the shoulder. “Alright then…shall we shape–shift into wolves? I really want to run.”

I smile, reminded of why I’m here in the first place. “Yes, let’s hunt.”

We strip into our wolf forms and take off down a path that leads us to a nearby forested area. I revel in the feeling of being free as my legs carry me faster and faster through the trees, my fur catching on twigs and leaves. The smell of pine fills my nose as we dash past the tall trunks, chasing after a delicious elk for dinner. The whole pack is with us, and so

are Margaret and the vampires.

The hunt is exhilarating, and we all work together seamlessly, using our primal instincts to bring down the elk. The vampires are graceful in their movements, moving with such speed that it’s almost hard to keep up with them. But we wolves are no slouches either, and we soon catch up to them, biting at the elk’s flanks and bringing it down with a coordinated attack. Blood and meat are shared amongst our pack, and even the vampires

have a few bites.

After the hunt, Logan leads me back to Eric’s cell. I shift back to my human form, and he hands me a large chunk of elk meat. “Here, bring him this. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“Thanks, Logan,” I say, taking the meat from him. “I’ll be careful.”

He nods and steps back, watching as I approach Eric’s cell. The newly turned hybrid is already waiting for me, his eyes brightening as he sees what I’m carrying. “Is that for me?” he asks, his voice gruff.

I nod, holding out the meat between the bars of his cell. “Yes. I thought you might be

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hungry.”

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Eric takes the meat from me with a grateful nod, tearing into it with his sharp teeth. There’s a quiet moment between us as he eats, and I can feel the tension between us. He’s

still my mate, but things are different now. He’s not the same person he was before, and

I’m not sure what that means for us.

“Thank you,” he says, licking his fingers clean. “It’s good to see you again.”

I smile softly at him, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “It’s good to see you too, Eric. How are you feeling?”

He shrugs, a flicker of pain crossing his expression. “I’m still getting used to the changes. It’s overwhelming, but I’m coping. Thanks to you and Logan.”

I nod, understanding completely. “You’re welcome. Just know that we’re here for you, Eric. The whole pack.”

He smiles, and there is a genuine flicker of gratitude in his eyes. “I know. And I appreciate that more than you know.”

There’s a pause between us, and I can feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. I know that we need to address the elephant in the room: he is different now. But I don’t know where to start, how to bring up the fact that we’re mates, but everything has

changed.

“Eric,” I begin, but he cuts me off with a shake of his head.

“Not now, Five. I know we need to talk, but not now. You’ve done so much for me already. Just…let me get used to this first.”

I nod, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I don’t know if I’m ready for that conversation either. But I know that it’s coming, sooner or later. For now, I’ll just be there for him as a

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“Of course,” I say, smiling at him warmly. “Whenever you’re ready, Eric. I’m here for you.”

He nods, a soft smile curving his lips. “Thanks, Five. That means a lot to me.”

Eric continues to chew on the bone, and I sink down on the floor, eyes kept on his beautiful face. His skin looks more flawless after turning into a hybrid, and I swear his muscles are way more toned now. I try not to let my gaze linger too long, but it’s difficult. He is my mate and unbelievably gorgeous.

As I watch him, a wave of desire washes over me. I try to push it down, to focus on the fact that we need to talk and figure out what our relationship will be like now. But it’s hard to ignore the pull between us.

Eric finishes the bone and looks up at me, a playful smile curving his lips. “What’s on your mind, Five? You’re staring at me like I’m a juicy steak.”

I laugh, feeling a bit embarrassed at being caught. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it awkward. I was just lost in thought.”

Eric chuckles, standing up and walking over to me. He crouches down in front of me, his eyes meeting mine through the prison bars. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be embarrassed around me, Five. We’re mates, remember?”

I nod, feeling a warmth spreading through me at his proximity. “Yeah, I know. It’s just…different now.”

“I know,” he agrees, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We can figure this out together, Five.”

I feel a shiver run down my spine at his touch, and I can’t help but lean into it. He smells so good, like pine trees and earth. “I want that,” I whisper, feeling vulnerable but also

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relieved to say it out loud. “I want us to figure this out, Eric…I just…I feel so bad sharing a bed with Logan and then knowing you’re locked up in here.”

Eric’s expression softens. “It’s for the best. I have a moment of clarity right now, but once I get hungry again, it will shift, and I will start snarling like an animal.”

I nod, understanding the situation. “Right. And I don’t want to put you or anyone else in

danger.”

“Exactly,” Eric agrees. “But we can still work on our relationship, even if we can’t be physically close right now. We can talk, get to know each other better, and build a stronger

bond.”

I smile at him, feeling hopeful for the first time in a while. “I would like that.”

“Good,” Eric says, grinning. “Then how about we start over? My name is Eric, Eric Winter.”

I giggle before taking his hand in mine. “Five, just Five…”

His grin grows. “Any chance of making that Five Winter in the future?”

My heart skips a beat. “I would love that.”

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