Chapter 16: The Crypt

Chapter 16

"A date?" I asked with a shy smile. "You asking me out alpha?"

A blush started to form on his cheeks and I could tell he wasn't accustomed to this sort of thing. "Aww he's blushing." I commented to add to his embarrassment.

Clearing his throat he went on, "Is that a yes or a no?" He asked sternly.

"Hmm, well you see the thing is I don't really go out with strangers." I smirked as I saw his disbelieving expression.

"Stranger? I couldn't call someone you've been sleeping with a stranger." Thane smirked as he walked towards me and I backed up all the way into the wall of the hallway.

"Sleeping?" I snorted, "I would hardly call it sleeping seeing that you snore louder than someone sawing wood." I retorted.

He trapped me like he always did and moved in closer towards me until I could feel his cool breath fanning my neck. "Say yes." He commanded.

"No." I stammered as his lips touched my right ear lobe. I struggled to move but if I was being honest with myself I didn't want to and I wasn't sure how to respond either as this was unchartered territory between us. So all I did was place my hands on his shoulders.

He moved his lips down my neck as he trailed kisses. I stopped struggling and I could feel his smile against my tender skin. "Should I stop?" He asked but I barely paid any attention to what he was saying.

I bit my lip to hold in an unwarranted moan that wanted to escape as he bit down on a soft spot on my neck. A wave of pleasure and emotions came rushing into my system when he did that and I couldn't answer him without embarrassing myself. My hands clenched on his biceps as this uncontrollable feeling rushed through me.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked again when he didn't hear a reply.

Knowing that I may or may not regret this later on I gave in and moved my neck further to give him more access. With a soft chuckle he continued his passionate attack and I was weak in the knees shivering with pleasure.

"No date." I suddenly let out unintelligibly as I remembered what we were discussing.

"Are you sure?" He asked before biting the same spot on my neck a little harder.

"Yes." I let out as my answer in a moan.

"Yes we're going on a date?" He asked as he kissed me where he just bit which sent a shiver down my spine.

"We're not going a date. I meant yes as in yes I'm sure we are not going on a date." I cleared my voice and clarified as he finished his torture and looked down at me.

I could see desire and longing in his eyes but this wasn't going any further for tonight. There was lust at first but never love. I wanted to go on this date with him but I wasn't going to let him seduce me into it.

"Please Emery. Go on a date with me." He said again as he removed my hand from his arms and clasped them between his.

"Maybe if you asked instead of demanded..." I trailed off.

"I never meant for it to come off that way." He suddenly said, "I've never actually asked a girl out before so don't blame me on my first attempt." He laughed it off a bit embarrassed. "Let me do this right." Suddenly he was shooting towards the staircase as he bolted all the way down and to god knows where.

I was left confused and surprised. This guy never seems to amaze me especially with his super human abilities. But within a few minutes and before I could decipher where he was off to, he was suddenly jogging his way up the stairs with a bouquet of freshly picked flowers. He stopped in front of me at a gentlemen's distance away.

"Now let me do this the right way." He held the flowers out to me as he asked, "Emery, would you do me the greatest honor of going out with an untrained beast like myself?" He shot me a dazzling yet wary smile as he waited for my answer.

"Maybe." I smiled at him as I dragged on his agony.

"So that's a yes?" He asked as his smile started to fade.

"No that's more of an 'I'll think about it.'" I smirked as I reached over for the flowers. But before I could take them out of his hands he pulled them back towards him.

"Oh no. These are for my date and since you just turned me down I guess I will have to find someone else to go out with me." He replied as he held the flowers away from me and a pang of jealousy erupted inside of me.

"Fine. Go find your date somewhere else." I turned around and as I was about to stalk off towards the bedroom I felt his hand at my elbow stopping me.

"These flowers weren't meant for anyone else, only you. Say yes and I'm- it's yours." He whispered in my ear and I couldn't help but smile when he accidentally slipped up.

"I'll think about it." I replied as a smile grew on my face and I walked towards the bedroom as tiredness took over my system.

With a quick bath and clothed in my pajamas I went to brush my teeth.

However when I looked into the mirror, I noticed a deep red mark on my neck. It was a hickey! I couldn't believe Thane left a hickey on neck. I would've been angry but I didn't exactly protest his actions either.

After I was finished in the bathroom, I went straight to bed. Thane never falls asleep before me because he never goes to bed before me. I think it's because he believes that I would kick him out of the room if I was waking when he came to bed. Honestly I might've before, but now...now Thane just wedged his way into my life. He always sleeps next to me no matter what. At first it was the floor but then the morning after he told me he was the beast, I woke up curled in his arms and since then he just naturally slept next to me.

Of course I could try moving to the guest room because of pride, but morals be damned because I wanted him near me. I felt safe and comfortable and slowly day by day he becomes less of a stranger to me.

So when I fall asleep and Thane has finished his alpha duties for the night he decides to sleep. But he also never remains sleeping when I wake in the morning. Within seconds of me leaving the bed he is suddenly wide awake and alert as he searches for me and once our eyes meet this strange sense of contentment washes over me and I can't help but smile at the thought.

I could tell he's exhausted every day because he goes to bed way past midnight and on most days when he wakes up before I do, it's always at five or six in the morning. I didn't know if it was my place to tell him to get more rest, because in all honesty I still didn't know what we were besides being classified as mates. I do however try to sleep in on days that he decides to wake up after me.

Naturally I fell asleep with ease but tonight was different as my mind stayed awake until it was midnight and Thane had just taken a shower and was now crawling into bed.

He moved stealthily as he probably assumed I was asleep. As he settled next to me, he instantly wrapped one of his arm around my waist and pulled my body into his so that my head was laying on his chest.

After a few minutes of silence I could tell he was still awake and decided to give him an answer.

"Thane?" I called out.

"Sweetheart? I thought you were asleep, are you alright?" He asked with worry laced in his tone.

"I'm fine." I mumbled.

He lifted my chin so that he was looking at me in the darkness of the room, "Then what's wrong?"

"I want to go on a date with you." I whispered.

With my answer he chuckled and we feel asleep in each other's arms.

~ Morning ~

I awoke to a beautiful sight before me. The flowers that Thane had picked last night were now sitting in a vase of water on the nightstand. There was a card attached to it that read 'For my date. –T'. I couldn't help but smile at his gesture. I was finally ready to kick start this relationship into full gear, even though it was quite a peculiar situation.

Without wasting another second I ran to the kitchen to look for him but I came face to face with a buffet of food instead and attached to it was another note.

'Eat. Dress. Date.

p.s I'll pick you up at one. –T'.

I was annoyed at him for not being here when I woke up and only leaving instructions but I was also excited because he's taking control and planning this romantic gesture his way. He was an alpha after all so I guess controlling was in his blood. I shrugged the thoughts away as I looked at the clock on the wall to see that it was nine, meaning that I had a lot of time to kill before Thane comes back.

I killed time the only way I knew how to, I ate and watched television. Thane was the best cook and I appreciated the Moon Goddess for pairing me with him because I didn't want to see another day without food cooked by him.

When the clock struck eleven I decided it was time to wash my hair and then get dressed. Using almost an entire hour in the bathroom, I washed every inch of grime off my body before I towel dried my hair and wrapped myself in a bathrobe as I walked towards the closet.

On the door of the closet I found yet another note from Thane. 'I suggest comfortable clothing. –T'.

I placed the third note with the others safely in the bedside table as I wanted to keep it as a memorabilia of our first date.

Deciding a cute yet comfortable dress was probably a good option I went with a navy blue summer dress with a floral print which I accented with a brown belt. I walked further into the closet finding a pair of flats to match my ensemble.

Grabbing my watch and a pair of a simple pair of earrings, I quickly accessorized before swiping some lipstick and mascara on.

As I looked in the mirror, the hickey that Thane gave me last night was completely gone. I was surprised because that bruising usually took a few days to faint but my neck showed no signs of Thane's presence. That was peculiar but maybe it had to do with a wolf thing?

By the time I was finished it was already five minutes to one.

Strolling to the living room I took a seat and began my wait for the arrival of my mate.

Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours and suddenly I was sitting in that spot for three hours.

It was four in the evening and Thane never showed up.

Maybe he was playing me. Maybe I didn't mean as much to him as he initially lead me to believe. Maybe this was all just a sick joke he was playing from the start. He's the alpha and I guess he could do as he wish whenever he was ready.

I still didn't give up hope as I decided to check the main floor in case he might've forgotten.

"Hey Bailey." I called as I saw her in the living room.

She turned and looked at me with a huge grin. "Hey cutie. Going out?" She asked suspiciously.

I smiled at her complement, "Yeah actually Thane was supposed to be here three hours ago but I don't know where he is." I told her.

"Hmm it seems unlike him to bail on his mate." She confessed confused.

"Does he have alpha duties right now?" I asked hoping she could clear my confusion as well.

She shook her head, "No. Thane instructed Lucas to take charge today because he had something else to do. Maybe his plans for the date are taking him longer than expected to put together." She assured me.

"It's been three hours. I think he would have at least gotten his plans sorted out by now or may have shown up and at least said something." I countered as sadness struck me because he might've stood me up.

"I'll contact Lucas or the alpha himself and find out." She said pointing to her head meaning that she planned on mind-linking them.

"No, it's okay. If he shows up he shows up and if he doesn't well I guess it's his loss." I shrugged it off.

"I'll ask Lucas, don't worry." And with that she closed her eyes and I could tell she was trying to mind-link with her mate.

Within seconds her eyes opened with confusion, "What's wrong?" I asked concerned.

She held her head as she looked at me confused, "Our mind-link is blocked. Lucas is blocking me out of his thoughts and from contacting him. He never does that." She looked concerned and I was starting to get anxious as well.

"What about Thane?" I asked with a little panic.

She closed her eyes one more time but as soon as she opened it with a sullen look I knew he was blocking her as well.

"Bailey is everything okay?" I asked as my concern grew.

I could tell that something was off but she just offered me a little smile unlike her usual happy ones. "Don't worry I'm sure they're just dealing with pack stuff and doesn't want us to know." She sounded like she was assuring herself more than me. I couldn't help but feel a little at fault for bringing my situation to her. "Why don't you go upstairs and change while I go find out what's going on with our boys." She suggested as she pushed me towards the steps.

"What? No way, I want to help." I stopped in my tracks.

"Emery, whatever Thane and Lucas are blocking me from is so that I wouldn't tell you what's going on." She explained.

"Why would they not want me to know? I am the Luna aren't I?" I asked confused.

"There are dangerous things out there Emery and while this pack is one of the strongest and most secure, we do have gaps and those dangers can slip into our land at anytime and you must be protected at all times." She tried convincing me.

"What kind of a Luna would I be if I expect everyone to protect me and I don't offer that same protection to everyone else?" I fought my case.

I could tell I was building a strong case for myself but Bailey still needed convincing, "Emery if I allow you to go out of this house with me the alpha would have my head."

I grabbed her hand and promised her, "Whatever you do for me Bailey is what I request of you. I wouldn't let Thane blame you because this is my choice. As the Luna let me do this, if not for myself but for my pack, let me learn how to become a Luna. Please?" I begged.

She debated what I said for a while until she reluctantly agreed. "Ugh, fine. But you better keep the alpha on a leash before he lashes out at me for bringing you along."

I smiled in triumph, "I promise he wouldn't."

"Great, let's go then." Bailey said leading me out the door.

"Where exactly are we headed to?" I asked curiously as I followed her out the front door.

She turned to me and gave me a nervous smile before replying, "The Crypt."

The tone of her voice sent a chill down my spine but I pushed the nerves away as I was more anxious to see if Thane was alright and find out what kept him.

"What's the Crypt?" I quietly asked as I kept close to her side.

"You just have to wait and see," was all Bailey said as we entered the forest across from the pack house.

I guess Bailey and I were both uneasy as we walked deeper and deeper into the forest towards the mysterious Crypt because it was a silent walk. We both didn't know what was going on with either Thane or Lucas so we were in for some details. Be it good or bad, I had no idea.

We walked for a good twenty minutes or so and I could tell Bailey was on edge because she had to slow down so I could keep up but we were finally there.

There was a rectangular, one story solid gray brick building which wasn't that big but there were no windows and the door was pure metal that looked as thick as the brick walls.

The whole enclosure screamed eerie but the surrounding was dead silent besides the chirp of the birds and the ruffling of the leaves.

As we approached the building I could make out five bulky figures that were all looking directly at both of us. They all had a formidable aura to them and there wasn't anything I wanted to do more than to run the opposite direction but I knew that a Luna would never consider such a thing.

These men were all werewolves and they were guarding the Crypt from who knows what.

They were also unfamiliar to me as I hadn't met them the day I met most of the pack. They must've been here guarding this daunting building that day.

"Bailey what are you doing here?" A dark, tall, muscular guy with electric blue eyes asked her as we were right outside the Crypt.

"Is Lucas or the alpha here?" Bailey asked without answering the guy.

"They are, but you know the rules, no is allowed down in the Crypt unless direct orders from the alpha is sent." His tone was final and I could tell no matter what Bailey was going to say he wasn't letting us past.

Before she could say anything else I held her back and spoke up as the man seemed to only then notice that I was standing right there, "I am your Luna and you may speak with the alpha if you must but it's my right to go down there." I held my head high and stood my ground as the fearless female I most definitely wasn't.

"Luna?" The man asked stupefied.

"Yes Luna." Bailey answered for me.

The man's face contorted into realization and he suddenly bowed his head to me in a sign of respect, "Forgive me Luna I have not gotten the chance to met you as of before this moment."

"It's alright..." I trailed off as I tried to catch his name.

"Atticus." He replied.

"Atticus if you could open the doors for us and lead us to the alpha, that would be great help." I asserted as I got to the point.

"Luna-"

"Emery." I corrected him.

"Emery, I would be happy to oblige but I'm afraid we can't defy the alpha in his orders." He explained.

"Would you defy the Luna?" I asked.

He looked at the other four guys and I could see the hesitation in their eyes from the dilemma that I placed them in, "I guess we cannot."

"Then I want the doors open now." I directed.

With great trepidation he warned, "I must follow your orders Luna, but the alpha has ordered that you are to never enter the Crypt."

"I will get someone else to open the doors for me if you don't." I warned.

He cut me off before I could go any further, "I haven't finished Luna. You are the mother of our pack and I must do as you command even if that means to defy the alpha's word." With that I was pleased to have suddenly earned Atticus' trust. "But I must warn you my Luna. Down there lies great danger and threats to your life. You may see things that are unforgettable and hear things that are so vile it will make you sick. So now that you know what you're getting yourself into, do you want to enter the Crypt?" He solemnly asked.

I wasn't sure if Atticus was telling me this to scare me out of going or truly warn me but there was no going back. If I showed my weakness I would never gain the trust of this pack to be Luna.

"Yes, open the doors." I surprised myself by sounding more confident than I felt.

I saw admiration but wariness in everyone's eyes as I answered.

"I hope you're ready for what's awaiting you Emery." Atticus said as he lead us to the door and unlocked it.

Bailey gently squeezed my hand in assurance and we walked behind Atticus.

As soon as the doors were unlocked and it swung open I was suddenly hit with a pungent odor that made me queasy. My insides turned as I smelt the familiar rusty scent of blood and the revolting scent of wet dog. That and a few other unidentifiable scents all swirled together made me feel nauseous.

"Walk straight ahead in the corridor and when see the giant steel doors at the end turn left into the room, the alpha will be there." Atticus gave us directions as Bailey and I entered.

"It'll be alright Em." Bailey said as we took a step inside the building.

There was only one dimly lit florescent light above a steep set of stairs leading underground.

"Now or never right." I said determined as I approached the steps.

As we descended the staircase there were only a few lights on the way down making it hard to see but Bailey's wolf vision made it easier to see in the darkly lit area so she carefully maneuvered both of us down until we were at the bottom of the staircase which unfolded into a long hallway with a few light bulbs on the ceiling that appeared ever so often through the winding path.

We followed down the corridor, there were a few other paths going left and right but we kept straight ahead in the tunnel of mazes until we finally approached a dead end. Directly in front of us was the giant silver door that Atticus mentioned where two more guards stood and eyed us suspiciously but said nothing while on the right was another silver door but not as thick or big and I could hear the faint sounds of screams leaking through as it sounded as if people were being tortured. Why was there screaming? Why would people be tortured?

My heart yearned to go towards them and stop whatever madness was happening down here in the Crypt but before I could make another move Bailey was pulling me to the left were wooden doors stood and Atticus told us to go.

When Bailey opened the doors and we entered my eyes instantly fell on him covered in blood and standing in front of a table where a map was laid out.

Thane looked at me unsurprisingly with anger and relief in his eyes. I didn't know what else to do but run to him. After he missed our date and then being led to this ominous and mysterious Crypt I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief when I saw him.

He opened his arms welcomingly as I approached him and I buried my face in his neck as it didn't bother me that his clothes were covered in blood which I hoped wasn't his own.

"Thane are you okay? Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I frantically asked as my eyes searched every visible part of his body.

He pulled away and looked at me curiously but I could still see the anger boiling in his eyes. "I'm fine, it's not my blood," he said looking down at his t-shirt and my now ruined dress, "The date!" He suddenly exclaimed. "I'm sorry Emery. I'm so sorry I lost track of time with what's been going on and forgot to inform you that we need to rain check."

"No it's okay. When you didn't show up I was worried that something may have happened. Are you sure you're fine?" I asked as I held his face in my palms to inspect for any bruises which there were. "Thane you're hurt" I gently brushed the cuts and bruises near his lips, cheeks and eyebrows.

"They're just scratches I'm fine." He kissed the inside of my wrists as he held them in his hands and lowered them away from his face. "Now tell me, why are you here?"

"I was worried. I didn't know what else to do."

"Who let you down here?" He asked as his anger now seeped into his voice and expression as he looked behind me at Bailey who was now with Lucas.

"Don't," I chastised. "It's not her fault. I asked her to bring me to you."

"And who opened the door down here?"

"Atticus." I whispered.

He blew up, "I strictly prohibited him and the rest of the guards from allowing you down here and he defied me?"

"Thane stop it." I said placing my hands on his shoulders. "I commanded him to let me down here. You said yourself that I was now the Luna of the pack. How am I supposed to protect your people if I don't even know what I'm protecting them from?"

"You can help protect our people without putting yourself at danger and coming in here." he seethed.

"I'm your equal Thane. You said so yourself and I want to protect our people as much as they protect us. Don't blame Atticus or Bailey, they were only doing what their Luna requested of them." I explained so both the guard and my friend wouldn't get their ears blown off from the alpha because of me.

"You are my equal." He said apologetically, "and you have no idea how proud I am right now for what you have done. Defying me in the process or not, I'm happy to see you taking on your Luna responsibilities without being asked to." I could tell Thane was still a bit pissed but most of his anger subsided as he finally understood the meaning behind my actions.

"Answer me honestly Thane," I started my inquisition, "what's going on down here? What is this place?"

I could see the same fright, as the one he held when he told me he was a werewolf, in his eyes. "This is where we keep the rouges."

"Rogues? Why are you keeping them down here?" I asked inquisitively.

"Because they are vile dangerous creatures. They don't know how to live as civilians. They are wild, untrained wolves who have no pack training and cannot be trusted because they don't know loyalty to their pack or alpha which is probably the reason why they got kicked out in the first place." He explained rather angrily.

"What makes them dangerous?" I hesitated to ask.

Thane looked at me with viciousness, "They enter our territory and kill our pack members. Worst of all they try to kidnap the alpha's mate and do unmentionable things to her just to weaken the pack and take it over." With that Thane pulled me closer to him in another hug and I now understood his fear but I couldn't help but think why he had blood on his clothes if he only held rogues captive down here.

"Thane?" I asked as he looked at me. "Why are your clothes stained with blood?"

"There's been an increase in the number of rogues around our territory and today they decided to attack." He hesitated before he went on, "We also tortured the ones who enter our territory to kill."

"You hurt them?" My eyes literally bulged out of its sockets.

"We don't have much of a choice Emery. They may be withholding information from us about other rogues or packs that could attack at any time."

"And you think its fine to torture them so much that your clothes are covered in their blood?" I asked repulsed as I stepped away from him.

"It's the method our pack has used for centuries. This is what keeps us alive and this is exactly why I didn't want you down here." he continuously ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Your method may be helpful but that doesn't mean its right." I said disgusted by his actions.

He walked toward me but I took a step back and realized that we were the only ones in the room. Bailey and Lucas must have stepped out to give us space.

"Emery I can't change what's been done for centuries. It's what I was taught to do. When I do this the only thought that runs through my mind is protecting this pack, protecting you." he said helplessly.

"It's an archaic method Thane!" I yelled at him. "Would you ever consider finding another method?" I asked.

"Would that make you feel better?" He asked carefully.

"Yes. Torture them in a way that wouldn't physically hurt them. No more blood please." I begged him.

"I promise I would stop hurting them if that makes you forgive me." He pleaded.

"Yes just don't put our hands in anymore blood." I sighed in relief by his revelation. "I always wanted to be a doctor to help other so I can't bear to stand here and allow others to get tortured for something they may not know."

"No more bloodshed." He promised as he pulled off his t-shirt and discarded it across the room so I wouldn't have to witness the revolting blood he was covered in even if some of it stained my dress.

"What happened today?" I asked to distract myself from the now shirt less and abs exposed Thane. What a sight.

"About twenty rogues entered the east of our boarders this morning and were headed to the pack house. Two of our border patrol died in the process of fighting them off. We kept a few rogues alive for questioning." He revealed the gory details.

"Why were they going towards the pack house?" I asked with fright.

"They said they wanted to officially be acquainted with our new Luna." Thane said and his eyes suddenly turned blood red and I could tell his wolf was surfacing as his anger took over.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here and alive. I have you and this entire pack to protect me." I said walking back to him.

He placed his arms on my shoulders as if ensuring that I was real. "I just...I can't imagine what I would do to myself if something ever happened to you. I was so far when they entered that I was certain I wasn't going to make it on time." He said placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

At that moment I needed him to know that I was here and nothing was going to happen and I badly wanted to show him that with a kiss but the Crypt was hardly the place to have our very first kiss. The thought both frightened and excited me by how close we've grown over the past few weeks that I've been here.

"But you did and I'm here. Safe and in your arms." I assured him.

"We should get back home." He sighed.

"Aren't you going to show me the rogues?" I wondered curiously.

"Definitely not." He answered seriously.

"Why not?"

"Please just listen to me this once. I don't want you beyond that door for a reason." I knew he wouldn't budge on the subject so I began formulating a strategy of my own.

"Okay." I said deciding not to fight him on this yet. "You look exhausted."

"Fighting off wolves isn't an easy task, especially in the morning." he winked as if to impress me as we exited the room with his hand wrapped around my shoulder.

The room across from us where the screams were coming from was still being heard and I nudged Thane to get him to make it stop by fulfilling his promise.

He released me as he nodded to one of the two guards to open the silver door. The guard used a special glove to push open the door as he unlocked it and it then occurred to me that the stories were true. Silver was poisonous to a wolf that was why the doors were made of silver so the rouges couldn't escape without burning themselves.

As soon as the doors opened I was suddenly overwhelmed by all the screaming. I couldn't bear to picture what those wolves must be going through

Thane eyed me cautiously to ensure I stayed in placed as he entered the room. I couldn't muster the courage even if I wanted to enter that torture chamber.

Within seconds of Thane entering, the room went silent except for a few muffled whimpering of persons still reeling from pain. But it was over. Thane stopped the torturing because I asked him to.

"Thank you." I said to him when he exited the room.

"No. Thank you for finally making me realize what I was doing." He said instead. "You were right, that method of getting information was outdated and we should've stopped it sooner."

I nodded in agreement, "Can we go meet the families of the two wolves who died before we go back home?" I asked when Thane led us up the steps of the Crypt.

"You read my mind Luna." Thane grinned at me proudly.

It was hard meeting the families of the two wolves from our pack who past. One of them was an older male wolf with a mate while the other was a young female wolf who just turned seventeen. Thane told me he didn't allow wolves to fight in battle with rogues until they were eighteen or nineteen but the girl's family said she admired me and was around the area where the rogues came into our territory and made it her mission to protect me.

The other wolf's mate said that he was on border patrol and while she told me the story of how they met I knew that she didn't want to be here without her mate. Thane once told me that some wolves choose to follow their mates to death because they wouldn't know how to live without their other half. Luckily they didn't have any children so a child wouldn't be left orphaned because of reckless rogues.

I kept my composure while listening to both families' stories and sharing my condolences with them and giving them words of wisdom and encouragement.

While Thane discussed the cremation details, which happened to be another ritual, with the families I stood outside their homes looking up to the sky and couldn't help but blame myself.

These wolves, these people died because of me. They died protecting me. A lousy human who didn't even want to help lead their pack with their alpha a few weeks ago. A weak, useless human who couldn't help protect them in time of need. Who once almost ran away because I was too weak to face the truth of who they are. But I came to respect them and truly understand who they are and they are now my people. It was my responsibility to protect them and instead they died protecting a nobody like me. They died for nothing.

As we left the families in mourning, Thane and I headed back to the pack house as the sun was setting. We were both lost in our thoughts as we silently acknowledged the pack members in the house. Thane wanted us to stay downstairs and have dinner with the pack but after everything that I learnt today from the torturing and the deaths I couldn't even think about stomaching my food so I left Thane to his meal and worried expression.

I went straight to the balcony outside Thane's room and just sat there as I stared idly watching the sun disappear over the horizon.

I felt numb. Was this what being a Luna entailed? Did I have to stand witnessing the deaths of my pack and the unsuspected rogue attacks?

"Sweetheart? Are you okay?" I was frightened by the sudden voice of Thane as his hand rested on my shoulders. "Hey, why are you crying?" His question had me bewildered until I touched my check and indeed there were tears. Thane knelt beside me and gently brushed them away with his thumbs.

"I didn't realize I was." My voice came out croaky.

"Is it the Crypt? Is it the torturing that have you worried because I assure you today was the last." He guaranteed.

"Partially yes, but it's the wolves that died today."

"Sweetheart, their deaths aren't your fault." He assured.

"Yes they are. If they weren't trying to protect me they would still be alive. That young girl died because she wanted to save me."

"You can't blame yourself. Any of the pack members would give up their lives for you, for me, for each other. It's who we are. It's what my grandfather, my father, myself and every alpha before us trained our pack to do. You're their Luna. You have to forgive yourself and focus on the rest of the pack." Thane talked some sense into me.

"How do you do it?" I asked.

"Years of practice and training. When I was younger and learnt about wolves dying to save me I was grief stricken too but my father taught me to harness that guilt and turn it into my strenght by helping the pack to become stronger and more fearless."

"I don't think I could do that." I said honestly.

Thane gathered my hands in his, "You can. You're the Luna of the pack, you're my mate. You're stronger than you think you are and the Moon Goddess chose you for a reason."

"But I can't protect them." I objected.

"Yes you can. You may not be able to help them physically but by just showing up to pack meetings or helping the wounded, you make them feel safe. You give them the assurance they need." He pulled me up so I was standing as he did the same and gestured with his finger, the garden down below. "You see all those roses?" He asked pointing to the extreme left of the garden where the roses were secluded from the rest and marble benches littered the area.

"What about them?" I asked curiously.

"Every time a pack member died my mother planted a rose. Be it old age or death in combat, she planted a rose for them." He revealed.

"Where does your mom keep her gardening tools?" I asked.

"Tomorrow I'll show you." He promised as he planted a kiss on head. "Now let's get some sleep, I'm exhausted."

We walked back inside and I was feeling a little better but I had to remind myself that this was about the wolves that died, not about me. They were the heroes and I wasn't going to make the situation about me feeling responsible. Tomorrow I would plant the flowers in commemoration of our great warriors.

"Thanks for the flowers." I smiled at Thane as I spotted the flowers Thane left for me this morning.

"There's that smile I love." Thane grinned at me as he headed towards the shower.

By the time Thane was finished in the shower, he was out cold in his bed. I was shocked that he went to bed before me but I knew he was exhausted from a long day.

At that moment a thought occurred to me. This was my opportunity. I knew Thane was never going to let me go into the Crypt again, let alone allow me behind the giant steel door.

He was asleep and I wasn't near him so he wouldn't wake up if I left. Deciding not to think much of it and investigate why the rogues entered our pack in the first place, I quickly changed my dress for a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers before I turned the television on in the living room just in case Thane woke up, he would assume that I was watching TV.

I sneaked into his office on our floor and after some digging I found a flashlight and wondered why he even owned one.

There were two members of the pack downstairs when I headed out who gave me curious glances but with a smile and nod their way I confidently exited the house in case they got suspicious.

I crossed the drive away to the part of the forest Bailey took us to and with some luck I found the hidden trail that lead to the Crypt. I turned on the flashlight and walked along the path to the eerie place of doom.

I thank the heavens when I spotted the creepy gray building in my reverie and Atticus still on duty.

But as soon as I walked up to his confused expression a hand clapped down on my shoulder and I was positive that I was busted.

A/N

Dun, dun, duuun! I wonder what's going to happen next 😉

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