Chapter 14

As promised Della and Aidan came down a week later to visit bringing Troy and Victoria along with them. Sadly Emeric had to stay behind to watch over the pack, but Della said he promises to visit soon. The past week went by so quick since I spent all my time training with Carl and Quentin, and the rest of the time working on pack paperwork with Quentin. Now that it's Sunday Aidan and Della have to go back today I feel like the weekend went by faster than last week.

"Can I talk to you?" I walk up to Aidan as we are all cleaning up after breakfast. I still need to ask him about getting me my mother's documents and there is no more time to procrastinate. Della's busy making sure Victoria and Troy have their stuff packed and ready to go.

"Of course." Aidan stops drying a plate setting the hand towel down and walking over to the table motioning to the seat next to him. "What's up kiddo?" He asks with a semi concerned look.

"I want to know more about my mother, and I was hoping you could help. My nightmares have come back and Della said she believes it's me remembering that day." I pause to gauge his reaction so far. Aidan sits there silently but I can tell by the look in his eyes he's reliving that day. "I'm not so sure but regardless I still think it's time that I learn about her." I finish waiting for him to react.

"I have all the documents that our pack has on her with me." My eyes widen with shock at his admission. "Della and I already had a conversation about this and she had a feeling you would ask so we brought them just in case." He explains as my anxiety starts to swell. I thought I would have a few days to prepare before reading all her papers, but now knowing they're only upstairs sets me a bit on edge.

"Thank you." I send Aidan a half hearted smile fighting my nerves so they don't show.

"Tessa I would like to apologize." Aidan's eyebrows scrunch up together his face twisting in a painful way. "Your mother was innocent, and I let her down as her Alpha that day." I cut him off before he can continue taking his hand in mine.

"You don't need to apologize. I may not remember that day, but I can remember every day after and you have taken care of me and made sure I had a good life. You and Della have done more than most would so thank you, and I don't want either of you to feel guilty about my mom because you had no way of knowing what was going to happen that day." He squeezes my hand sending me a grateful smile.

"You're family sweetheart, and always will be." I pull him into a hug when I notice the tears swimming in his eyes. The stairs creaking breaks us out of our embrace. Turning I see Della walking over to us with a folder in her hands.

"You may not be blood or even ours, but I still think of you as my daughter." She smiles handing me the folder that weighs more figuratively than it does literally. "Call us if you need anything else and we'll do our best to find out." She hugs me as Quentin comes down the stairs with Victoria and Troy following close behind.

"I love you guys." I each give them one more hug before moving to say goodbye to my cousins. "I'll see you guys soon." Troy and Victoria followed Quentin and I around the entire weekend. Troy was fascinated watching how Quentin's pack differs from Black Moon. I can already see his Alpha like qualities peaking through, although he may have to fight Victoria for it because I saw the way she silently observed and took everything in the same way.

"Can I come back next weekend?" Troy asks eagerly bouncing on the balls of his feet. Della shakes her head rolling her eyes.

"Emeric has to visit one time before you can come down a second time." Della steps in to remind her son to share. We walk them out to the driveway where their car is parked. They decided it was safest to drive down in the car since they have the kids with them.

"Call me when you get home." I demand with a playfully stern face as they throw their luggage in the trunk and climb into their respective seats. Aidan rolls down his window so we can wave to them as they pull out of the driveway.

"Love you!" I yell blowing kisses to them until the car is no longer visible. I sigh as the weight of my responsibilities come back full force. The folder in my hand feeling heavier reminding me I'm still clutching it.

"Do want me to leave so you can read all of it, or do you want me to stay?" Quentin's question breaks me from my staring contest with the forest. He looks a bit worried but hides it well with a loving smile.

"I think I'm going to take a walk, but I'll mind link you if I need you." I promise standing on my tip toes kissing him before heading off towards the woods to find somewhere sucluded to read it in private.

I knew this day would come where I would find out all the answers, but for some reason I don't feel as giddy as I thought I was going to feel. Maybe because I might not get the answers I want, or that this might not help my nightmares at all. Either way I want to know as much as I can about her life, my old life.

I find a patch of grass that's in the sunlight so I don't get too cold. Sitting I take a minute to look around and double check to make sure no one else is around. I take one last deep breath and open the folder.

Laura Farley, her name is scrawled across to top of first page. I already knew her first name because my dads let it slip when I was pretty young. It says she died when she was only twenty one. That's means she had me when she was eighteen so she must of found her mate right away. The first page is just basic information such as birthday, height, eye color, etc. There doesn't appear to be a picture in here which I'm kind of thankful for because I don't think I'm ready, and I can always ask Della and Aidan for one if I want to.

Flipping to the next page it's her initial documents from when she joined Black Moon Pack. She moved when she was eighteen right before I was born, but it doesn't say where she came from. She must have left her old pack right after she finished school. It also says she didn't come along with anyone. I know my dad is also no longer with us but I assumed they at least moved to Black Moon together. I hope he didn't die before that because that would mean they didn't have a long time together, and I can't imagine the pain she must have felt. The rest of the page is just placement information like her room number in the pack house.

The next page has a bright neon pink sticky note at the top. "We interviewed your moms friends right after she passed to find out if you had any living relatives we could call. This is what they told us." Della's scratchy handwriting is unmistakable. Picking up the sticky note I place it on the back of the last page.

The next two pages are quite worn with a few wrinkles showing there age. They are handwritten notes in Aidan's formal handwriting clearly meant to just jot down certain thoughts. It's all a bit scattered but I can still piece it together.

My mom worked in the pack house kitchen and specialized in pastries and cakes. The first person Aidan interview was a women named Rose whom worked alongside my mom. She says that my mom was a private person mainly keeping to herself but kind to everyone none the less. My heart clenches at the next line. "She always bragged about how beautiful her daughter is." . I try my hardest to swallow the lump in my throat as the words blur from the tears welling up in my eyes.

It says that once I got old enough she would bring me along with her. The conversation turns to family, but the basic questions are left with vague answers. My mom never talked about family or her past. The next sentence feels like a punch to the gut even though deep down I already knew. "She said Tessa's father died shortly before they moved here.". It just sucks that any blood relatives I have are no longer here, but that doesn't change the fact I'm incredibly lucky to have such a loving and caring family.

I didn't expect anything to come out of this but I guess there was a part of me that was hoping that there might be someone else out there that's connected to me by her. So far I'm not finding anything that would explain how she could be connected to my dreams but there are still a few documents.

Turning the page I almost jump startled by eyes that look identical to mine staring back at me. The photographs glossy finish shines in the sunlight peaking through the clouds obscuring part of her face, but I can still see her. My head throbs as a few small bits and pieces of memories come back to me. Mainly just of her smile or her in the kitchen baking things. It confuses me slightly why it took seeing a picture of her to bring them back, but I'm not going to question it too much just enjoy the fact I now have a least that.

The hair on the back of my neck raises as the feeling of being watched overwhelms me. Looking around I figure it's Quentin checking up on me since I've been out here a while, but I don't see anyone even in the tree line. A nervousness settles in the pit of my stomach. If it had been a pack member just waking by they would have made their presence known and not have lurked in the dark cover of the forest. I set the picture of my mom back in the folder shutting it preparing to leave.

"Tessa!" Quentin's voice invades my mind causing me to jump slightly. Dread seeps into my veins at the terrified tone of his voice.

"What's wrong?" I don't feel the eyes staring me down anymore but that doesn't mean that they're gone, so I remain calm and collected on the outside hoping they aren't close enough to see me mind linking.

"There's a breach on the border. I'm on my way to you right now, but I need you to run home as fast as you can." He instructs sounding desperate. Not knowing the full extent of what exactly a "breach on the border" means I don't hesitate to tear off towards our house. Clutching the folder I jump over fallen trees and duck under low branches cutting through the woods to get home as fast as possible.

Two large wolves jump out in front of me snarling at me, but one of them quickly shifts to their human form.

"Sorry Luna." The man says with apologetic eyes before shifting back. Both circle around me creating a protective barrier.

"Tessa!" Quentin's voice bellows through the trees as he appears throughout the brush sprinting over to me. "Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?" He looks over my body for any injuries before taking my face in between his hands.

"I'm okay." I nod vigorously wrapping my arms around his neck pulling him down into a hug. My heart is still racing and I can feel his pounding along as well. "What going on?" I ask as he takes my hand in his dragging us now towards the pack house. The two wolves follow us one on each side.

"A few warriors on patrol smelt a unfamiliar scent along the border, but it was too late whoever it is already got inside the pack." Now I'm confused. If it was only one person why is everyone freaking out. I don't see any pack members as we approach the pack house front door which means they are all already hiding.

The two wolves that flanked us stay outside guarding the front door as Quentin ushers me inside and down a random hallway. He approaches one of the many painting lining the wall, tilting it to the left slightly unlocking a small portion of the wall. Pulling the hidden door open Quentin checks the hallway for anyone before yanking me inside.

"What the hell?!" I whisper yell as he shuts the wall/door behind us shutting us inside the secret room. Turning around Oliver is consoling a worried Emma who's holding Otis close to her chest. "You said it was only one person why are we freaking out?" I argue resting my hands on my hips.

"One person can cause a lot of damage." Quentin's response reminds me that this pack has been through hell, and they aren't going to be taking any chances. Although that doesn't mean we need to send the pack into a panic over every sign of trouble.

"Was it a rogue, you said the scent was unfamiliar? What if they needed help?" I urge as Quentin heads to the small desk searching for something in the drawers. My family raised me to not always assume rogues meant bad news, and right now there could be a child rogue searching for some help on our land just like Della.

"Or what if it's a vicious monster who wants to inflict harm on our pack?" Quentin snaps at me. My anger flares as we have a small stare down neither one of us backing down. I slam the folder down on the desk between us.

"Our pack needs us right now and I'm not going to cower away to save my own ass." I spit out clenching my fists. Stomping back to the door I feel around until my fingers graze a small hatch, pulling the wall/door whatever the hell it is pops back open allowing me to slip through. I can hear Quentin calling after me but I don't slow down, walking out the front door I gain the attention of the two wolves stationed there. "Does one of you know where Carl is?" Even though he just joined the pack the warriors welcomed him with open arms. It helps that he's got such a charismatic personality, but I was still a bit surprised how fast he adapted to the pack. Both wolves look at each other before shaking their heads.

"Where are you?" Linking him will be much faster than trying to find him myself. I'm hoping he's already near the border evaluating the situation. He'll be on my side with this.

"Eastern sector past the hospital." He doesn't sound scared or worried further solidifing my theory. Walking to the tree line I shift heading over to him. The sound of paws hitting the ground behind me only pushes me to run faster. I've made up my mind and I don't need Quentin to try and convince me otherwise.

Seeing warriors gathered around through the trees I shift back throwing on my shirt I walk over to Carl. "Was it a rogue?" I don't waste a second getting straight to the point. Carl turns to me with a relaxed demeanor nodding his head.

"Yeah, only one but they were in and out pretty quick." He announces as a furious Quentin storms over to us. His hair is disheveled and his eyes glowing with anger.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" He shouts but I can hear the vaulnerablity behind his voice. The few warriors still lingering make their way out of the clearing giving us some privacy. I grab Carl's arm making sure he stays put.

"I told you it was nothing. I felt their eyes on me and I could have told you they weren't a threat, but instead you dragged me into hiding scaring the whole pack half to death." I state calmly hoping to decrease the tension.

"You what!? They were near you?!" His eyes widen as he starts pacing around in front of us tugging at the ends of his hair. Sighing I walk up to him wrapping my arms around his waist to gain his attention.

"I'm okay, you're okay, and the pack is okay. I know rogues are touchy subject here, but not all rogues are bad. It could have been a kid looking for help. Della was a rogue once and you know first hand how amazing she is." He chuckles nodding his head before brushing a lock of my hair out of my face. My own words get my mind racing. Could it have been Jasper? It's a stretch but you never know.

"I'm sorry it just brought back a lot of bad memories." Quentin apologizes and I can see how much today is taken a toll on him. He looks exhausted and worn out and it's not even lunch time. Carl uses the moment of silence to speak up.

"We should probably go let the surrounding packs know so they can keep an eye out." Carl always the voice of reason. I drop my arms from Quentin's waist and intertwine our fingers together turning towards Carl.

"Alright let's go. We need to update the pack as well." Quentin's nods looking guilty. We need to sit down and have a long conversation about how we respond to situations like this because this certainly isn't the best option.

****************

Song: you should see me in a crown by Billie Eilish

Hey Everybody, I hope you are all staying safe. I'm going to try and update a bit more since I'm going to be having some more time on my hands. Plus I'm super excited for what's to come in the next chapters! I also would like to thank everyone for 6,000 reads on Rogue To Luna! To every person who has read it, liked a chapter, left a comment, or supported it in any way thank you. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and if you did don't forget to like and comment! Until next time.

~Stella Gordon