As soon as we reached Gio’s grounds my heart pounded in my chest overflowing with hidden pain. Goodbyes are the worst, something I detest with all my soul. The pack waits outside for me, unlike the first time we met. The sight was not that of lifted lips or low snarls but heavy tears and soft sobs.
I have made another home here with the pack and with the females. As soon as they sense me they rush towards me pulling me into their circle some kneeling on the floor holding onto my leg sobbing. Deimos takes a step back allowing us this privacy. I cannot control my emotions but sob with them my lips quivering my body swaying.
A shrill scream of a pup leaves us unsettled and I immediately know its source. Gianna struggles to get out of her brother’s grasp as he tries to clutch onto her. Her arms failing nails scratching her brother’s flesh, cheeks red with discomfort she meets my eyes wishing to get to me.
“Let her come, Gio.” I whisper. He lets her go and she runs to me as fast as her little legs could take her.
“Stay. Please stay.” She whines pulling on the hem of my skirt. Kneeling with a struggle so she could meet my eyes, placing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Gianna looks so pretty today.” I whisper wiping her cheeks with my thumbs. “Gianna look.” I tell her softly placing her tiny palm on my stomach.
“Do you know who is hiding inside?” I ask and she shakes her head soft hiccups leaving her pink lips.
“A pup, just like you. My pup feels alone inside and wants to come out and play with someone. I am leaving so this can happen. Don’t you want a playmate, Gianna?” I ask her.
Her eyes widen and she nods her head a hint of excitement surging forward. “I do but Gio doesn’t let me have one.” She whispers.
“Well, he will. You can play with my pup. I will return as soon as the pup is of age. Can you wait for me?” I ask her.
She shakes her head in disapproval not wanting to let me go but a low warning growl from her brother has her flinching and then slowly nodding looking at her feet hands clutched together. Lips wobbling, tears pool in her eyes again. Deimos comes closer and squats down next to me.
“We have something for you.” He says taking a pink box out of his front pocket. He passes it to me. Opening the box I remove the necklace we custom made for her. It has a small locket with a picture of her and me inside it. I show it to her as she leans forward squinting to see what I possess.
Once she recognizes our faces a small smile graces her face. Wrapping it around her neck hooking it safely I let her feel it on her flesh. “I will return Gia, I promise.” I control my tears that wish to flood holding my sobs within the depths of my throat.
Giving her a soft kiss, I pick her up and stand straight as Giovanni walks towards us. He holds his emotions well hiding them behind his calm exterior. As soon as he is within my reach he takes his upset sister from my arms.
He looks from his uncle to me and with a gentle smile, he bows deeply. Raising back up meeting our eyes head-on he says, “Until we meet again.” An Alpha male has risen one trained and grown by my male.
A chuckle leaves my lips watching the siblings, they are like my own. The bond I have created with them is unbreakable. “Until we meet again.” I whisper struggling to breathe as I scan the pack.
Deimos gives a curt nod to the wolves and a long lingering gaze at the siblings. He opens the car door for me to step in. I take a seat and before he could shut the door my voice booms through, “Call me, Gio. At least once a month no matter how busy you are.”
He nods a smile on his lips, “I will be waiting for the good news, Zia.” His final words to me regarding my pup as the door shut close.
I take a heavy painful breath giving air to my lungs. I do not look outside keeping my eyes on my feet. As the car drives away from the grounds and their scents die I bite my lower lip shutting my eyes close.
I feel his gaze upon my flesh the tingles running down my spine. Our eyes meet. “Come.” He says opening his arms for me knowing the war within. A loud sob leaves my lips wrapping my arms around him thrusting my face into his chest I wail my sorrow. A heavy sigh passes his lips as he pats my back gently comforting me.
The entire ride to the airport has me sobbing and letting my emotions out. I would stop for a while tired and then begin again once the memories of them graze my mind. Deimos didn’t move staying still his cheek leaning on top of my head allowing me to grieve the distance that would come between the siblings and me.
“Comfortable?” Deimos asks me whilst buckling my seatbelt. I nod quickly looking outside the jet window. I didn’t even flinch or get scared like last time when it took off. I didn’t feel anything.
Gianna must be crying now and this thought makes my lips quiver. “That is enough, my female. Stop now.” Deimos whispers his thumbs sliding across my eyelids easing them.
“Yes, Alpha. We will come again soon.” Elriam utters gazing at me with sadness. Her eyes drowning with worry.
“You need to rest, Lumina. I need you to sleep until we land as I know for sure you will not once you meet your females.” He says guiding me to the room at the back. My hand clutched in his as he swiftly passes through the seats walking straight to the back door.
With a click of a button, the door slides open automatically giving me a view of the bed. He pushes me gently and I crawl upon the mattress slowly my palm beneath my belly until I lie flat upon it. Deimos takes a pillow placing it on my side and I immediately turn to throw my leg on it as it supports my stomach.
“Sleep.” He whispers bending down a soft kiss to my forehead. With slow steps he leaves the room, the door sliding shut behind him.
I close my eyes shut not wishing to think about anything and just give the rest my body needs. I have had enough today both emotionally and physically. The soft hum of the jet that plays in the background lulls me to sleep along with the slow bumps it undergoes as it passes through the clouds.
I clear my mind covering myself in the covers inhaling its lavender scent and doze off into darkness hoping I do not dream of the bonds I left behind.
My sleep was not deep as I was often disturbed by the heavy shaking of the jet throwing my body along the mattress and my uncomfortableness of sleeping in an unfamiliar and enclosed space. I would open my blurry eyes to scan the room and slip into slumber again.
What does wake me is the smell of heated food and fresh bread. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast my appetite lost with my pain and anxiousness. My stomach speaks to me begging to fill it and I open my tired eyes.
Removing the blanket off my face I struggle to sit up rubbing my eyes to get rid of the blurriness. The door slides open and Deimos peeps inside. As soon as his eyes find mine he greets me with a gentle smile. “Sleep well?” He asks. I nod hesitantly and then shake my head quickly in disapproval.
He chuckles as he walks over to sit behind me. “You will sleep better once we are at home. Another hour left for us to land.”
“I am hungry,” I whine leaning my back against his chest. Perhaps I have grown to become spoilt but I love the feeling of being treated as such.
“I know. I could hear your stomach all the way there.” He chuckles again earning a soft playful punch from me.
Opening the side drawer he extracts a small brush. “You need to look presentable, no? It is the first time they are seeing their Luna carrying the future Alpha.” He says as he begins to comb my hair making sure to sink into the knots and free them.