Updating Them

Harlyn

I’m sitting with my brothers and mother. Isaac and Lotta are sitting and playing with my mother, who already looks far healthier than she did before.

“So, why do you have guards, Harlyn?” Colton asks. My mother and Samuel also look at me like they want to know.

“They are not guards like the palace has, they are beta’s,” I explain. “They aren’t mine, they are Alpha Wayne’s,” I say, and look between them, deciding now is the time to just say it. “I’m engaged to him,” I say while holding out my hands. I watch their eyes widen.

“You’re engaged to an Alpha? Samuel asks in disbelief.

“What does he look like, Harlyn?” Mother questions.

“Is he your mate?” Colton asks, and they continue to ask questions while I laugh slightly at how quickly they are asking questions without giving me a chance to answer them.

“Why isn’t he here? Surely he should have come as well?” Samuel looks at me with a confused expression.

“Mummy said he wasn’t allowed to come with us,” Isaac speaks, and Samuels's eyes widen. Laughing my head shakes.

“No, Mummy told him to stay at home to look after the pack,” Thorin explains, which I’m grateful for as Isaac certainly made it sound like I didn’t want Wayne to come. It would be ideal for him to come here, but he can’t.

“Wait. So when you marry him, you become Luna?” Colton asks. His eyes are wide with realisation and astonishment. I thought that would be the first thing they realised. I will become a Luna; I, the wolfless leech and wretch, will be Luna.

Thorin begins to tell them stories about the pack and Wayne. He explains about Moonlore Pack and our home. He tells them a lot about Wayne and how much he cares for us. My family’s awe grows with every word he speaks. He speaks like an adult most of the time, and I can see that it has caused questions.

They are questions that I can not answer. Thorin is different from Lotta and Isaac. He sounds more grown up and understands more than they do.

“I think we should grant Mother a break to eat and maybe gather more strength?” Samuel suggests and picks up Isaac and Lotta from my mother's embrace. “Why don’t you three join me? I will show you to the games room we always played in when we were younger. Then your mother can catch up with some friends,” Samuel suggests. I know he means Lucy, but I want to know who his wife-to-be is, but I guess it can wait.

“I’ll stay with Mummy,” Thorin argues. His hands grip my leg, but he needs to stop trying to protect me.

I kneel ahead of him and smile, trying to show him I’m fine. “It’s safe, Thorin. I won’t go far. Go have fun with your uncles. I promise no harm will come to me, so go have fun,” I reply.

“But...” Thorin leans in towards me, ensuring no one else can hear. “What of the angry man you mentioned?” he whispers, and I know he means my father. He had been listening one day outside of the room when I discussed my father.

“He is not here, I swear. Should I see him, I will come get you to be my little warrior,” I promise before kissing his cheek and standing up. “Go on, have some fun.”

Thorin nods, releasing his hold on my leg. He reluctantly joins the others as they leave the room. I look at the Betas, nodding to them so they understand to follow and stay with the pups. I’m fine. The worst I will get is verbal abuse. I don’t know how my father will react to the pups.

Left alone, I walk through the manor’s halls, the weight of memories here pushing down on me. As I walk into the garden, I find solace on a weathered bench, surrounded by nothing but silence. Out here is free of my fathers abuse, it was mostly within the manor than outside. My phone chimes and I rush to answer it, I don’t bother checking who it is, I just know it will be Wayne.

“Harlyn!” He says, his tone full of worry. I hate that I’m the cause of it.

“Wayne,” I say, and a smile dances upon my lips. I’ve missed him, and I didn’t realise how much I loved him until this time apart.

“My love, this distance is unbearable,” Wayne confesses. I can understand his issue, as I feel the same way.

“You will be fine, Wayne. How did everything go on your end?” I ask, needing to know if things went well or not.

“The rogue king has vanished once again,” he sighs. I can hear the frustration in his voice.

“That’s promising, Wayne. Have you uncovered any clues as to why he continues to return?” There has to be a reason, if he finds out, it solves the attacks.

“Nothing yet. Harlyn, my love, I miss you and want to have you back in my arms,” he admitted. I nodded, understanding his yearning, as I felt the same.

“I’m only visiting, Wayne. Control your wolf, and I will be home soon, I promise.” Understanding tugs at me, I don’t have a wolf, but know I miss him, so I can only assume he feels worse with his wolf’s emotions mixed in.

“I may not last, Harlyn. I am tempted to come there and join you, just so I can see you,” he admits. We’ve barely spent a moment apart since our relationship changed from friendship to more, and our separation weighs heavily upon us both.

“Don’t do that, Wayne. The pack needs you. I am safe, the pups are safe, and I will be home soon,” I try to reassure him and urge him to stay with the pack.

“Promise to call later. I hate not knowing if you’re okay, Harlyn.” My head nods despite him not being able to see me. I don’t like that he is worrying and it’s caused by me. This isn’t like when most people return home to family, where everything is sunshine and roses. Mine is like a doomsday again.

“I promise, my love,” I whisper.

“I love you, Harlyn. Stand firm, my Luna-to-be. No one has the right to diminish your light.” Wayne says, and I feel the words giving me courage. I am his Luna-to-be. No one can change that, I’m worthy, he seems me as worthy.

“I will; I promise you, Wayne. Take care. I love you,” I murmur, feeling reluctant to end the call. I have to, though. As I end it, I realise just how much I missed him. It feels like forever since I heard his voice. I will return home soon, as soon as I find out who Samuel is marrying and when. I need to make my mother aware that she can’t do this again, even if it is to ensure I’m here to watch Colton marry next. It’s wrong. She should eat.

I look around the garden that surrounds me. There have been barely any changes since I left. My eyes go to the palace, and I quickly turn away from it. I can’t dwell on what happened. I won’t get lost in my feelings that come from the palace either.

Wayne is my life going forward; nothing and no one can change that.