“Will you be doing this merely out of duty? Are you doing this as a Luna of this pack or a mate?” Her questions catch me off guard whilst my eyes widen. Digging my nails into the material of my shirt I keep my eyes away from her searching ones.
“Must I answer that?” I ask my voice softening almost questioning. Questioning that surges within myself.
I am met by her silence. I know she wishes nothing but happiness for me and I know her question was not for the future of this pack but mine. “I shall call Alpha Cronus.” She says not wanting to indulge further knowing I do not wish for it.
She is quick to call him fetching her phone from her jeans pocket. I wonder if Cronus knows about this war that was quick to come to our pack. She hands me the phone that I take swiftly holding it over my right ear.
“Elriam.” Cronus’s deep voice strikes through after a few rings.
“Cronus.” I greet him.
“Lumina!” He calls my name with a chuckle the seriousness in his voice quickly dying replaced with an energetic friendliness.
“I need your help.” I am quick with my words, heading straight to the point. I am not shy or uncomfortable with him. He is my family.
“What happened?” His voice turns low and hollow the sound of the chair screeching against the floor tells me he has risen from his seat to hear me.
“Deimos has not returned for a month. I am dwelling in fear, I do not know what to do.” I whisper unknowingly bringing the phone closer to my lips.
“The war, yes? Deimos informed me before he left.”
“I am afraid, Cronus. I cannot bear another repeat of what happened in the past. I asked him who would protect him. He said himself! What if he is in a position where he cannot do so? What if he is in a position where he is calling out to me but I cannot hear him?” I struggle to breathe just from the thoughts of it.
“I understand, Luna. I thought he had returned already but I had an inkling this was bound to happen. That pack does not come under his rule, they will not bend to his authority. His pheromones would not affect them for they are similar to rogues. I knew it shall be a hard fight for him.” Cronus’s words add to my anxiety and I am quick to stand up as well leaving my position of comfort.
“I wish to go there. I wish to help him.” I say. Elriam shakes her head non stop in disapproval her eyes pleading with me again. My safety is all that matters to her, she trusts in Deimos’s strength.
“Lumina, it is not a regular pack. Your pack possesses the best warriors of all, they would have been able to handle it.”
“Then why is he not here! It has been a month, I am not delaying this any longer. Please Cronus, help me.” My hands tremble as I dig my nails into the flesh of my palms. The more he speaks of this pack the more the need to go fires up. I was unaware of this, my mind has been elsewhere. If I were a regular Luna I would stay put as I was told to but that is not who I am.
Silence consumes us and I know he is debating. He is on a rope with two ends, he needs to make a choice. Each choice has its own risk. Either I shall be harmed or Deimos is or shall be harmed.
“I shall send my warriors to help him but I need something in return.” Cronus utters. He was making a deal. This was not the kind of help I was looking for I wanted him to come with me, yet it possessed the capability to work.
“What do you need?” I ask.
“For you to stay back home.” He declares. He is sly with his words and his ways but I take heed to it for I need his warriors’ strength. If it were Deimos he would not make such a deal with me for he would know I would not follow through. The thought brings a quick smile to my face.
“Thank you.” I whisper. He is sending his warriors to death and he is doing it merely because I asked him. He is a good male, a good brother to Deimos and a good friend to me.
“Your answer, Lumina.”
“I shall. I shall stay back.” A whispered lie I tell him. Perhaps he can forgive me later on. He would understand me when he finds his mate. The bond that shall bound him and leave him breathless. The bond that shall tie him to his female where he would take each and every risk to protect her. He will understand.
As soon as our conversation ends and we bid farewell to each other my eyes are turned to the awaiting anxious Elriam.
“Help me slip away without the pack knowing.” I tell her quickly running into the room with my beta hot on my heels. Pulling open the cupboard I grab a bag painted with the colour of ash.
“This is not a good idea.” She says from behind me, her eyes glancing at my male lying upon the bed held by deep slumber.
“I know. But the matter leaves me with no choice.” I reply whilst walking around the house picking up the supplies I need. Water, food, clothing… knives.
“But-” She begins to protest whilst I stop her with a raise of my palm. My fiery eyes turn to look at her.
“Elriam listen to me. This can go two ways, I may be too early or I may be too late. I prefer the first option.” My voice low with a serious depth to it, our eyes meet as I wait for her patiently to contemplate the meaning of my words.
It takes a while for the spark of understanding to light up in her eyes. She gives me a curt nod of acknowledgement as I thank her with a quick smile.
“Kal drinks from the bottle, I taught you how to make his milk.” I whisper to her who thrusts more packaged food into my bag. An older female of the pack had advised me three weeks ago that I can begin switching to formula if he takes it well and Kal indeed did.
Grabbing a shawl covering my hair and face so only my eyes remain bare to sight. If the pack knows I am leaving they shall see it as a negative sign leading to assumptions that shall merely cause unwanted chaos and devastation. If that pack finds me they may use me as bait. I need to be careful with my actions.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“You are in charge whilst I am gone, find ways to calm the fire of curiosity that shall rise within the pack to my absence. Keep the scouts on the lookout, I may send a wolf back to you with news. Do not take your eyes off my male, hold him as if he is yours.” As I run around the house with my quick actions my mouth spills non stop commands to her which she takes in with her hands clasped behind her back, head high and feet held apart. A warrior’s stance.