Amy
Ms. Jenny, Sophia and I sneak out of the castle through the back way like thieves. Once outside, I look around the place and it is stunningly beautiful. The sun is going down and the view is amazing over the houses. It looks like a paradise village. The houses are organised in a pattern that gives the settlement an amazing look.
“Wow! Who knew this place could even exist?” I mutter mostly to myself but Sophia hears me and chuckles.
“You even have time to judge the appearance of the place?” she asks me with a playful smile on her face.
“It is so beautiful here that I can’t fail to appreciate the fact,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes. I want to laugh loop but my stomach feels so we empty. I think it has even coiled inwards. If I were in normal circumstances, I would have got my phone and taken a quick picture.
“Let’s go now before they realize you are missing,” Ms. Nelly says while getting hold of my hand.
We walk through the the settlement, half running and half walking. There are few children playing about in front of the houses. A little girl around five years runs from the front of a house and stops in front of me. I stop walking and look at her in confusion. She gives me an adorable smile and I notice some of her teeth are missing.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Sophia tells me but the girl has caught my attention. I give her a smile and wave good bye to her before Sophia grabs my hand we continue moving. I glance over at the girl and find her still waving at me.
“What’s with the girl?” Sophia inquires.
“She’s pretty. I think she likes me,” I reply her with a shrug.
“You think everything is pretty,” Sophia tells me.
“Something’s are not,” I try to defend myself but she waves me off.
“Little children adore the Luna. They believe she can bless them,” Ms. Nelly says as she leads us to a house bigger than the others in the neighborhood. Sophia releases my hand and looks at me with wide eyes.
“Oh my goodness, Amy. I hadn’t thought of that!” she exclaims and then covers her mouth with her hand.
“About what?” I wonder.
“You are the Luna of the Redclaw pack since you are Jace’s mate. I mean Jace is the rightful Alpha. You are the only Luna of this pack,” she says.
“Is there supposed to be another one?” I inquire.
“Dwayne should have a Luna because he is the acting Alpha of the pack,” Sophia replies.
“But he doesn’t have a mate,” Ms. Nelly adds.
“Why is that?” I ask her.
“I don’t know. There is a rumour that the moon goddess cursed him because he is a wicked individual but no one knows for sure,” Ms. Nelly replies.
“I don’t know if anyone would want to be stuck with Dwayne forever. I would really pity that woman,” Sophia says and laugh. The sound feels sore in my throat. I am really thirsty, and hungry. I wish I had eaten something sensible in the morning other than the chicken burger that I ordered.
Ms. Nelly knocks on the large door of the big house and waits. Sophia and I stand behind her in anticipation. I hope this goes well so that we can get rid of the beast. I really want to see Jace and engulf him in a tight bear hug, and never let him go . I miss him so much more than I miss to have something in my rebelling stomach.
I will do anything to have him back. I will even agree to move in with him tonight. God! Just let him be safe.
The door is opened my a middle aged lady with small reading glasses on.
“Jenny?” the woman looks at her over her small glasses.
“Nerola. I want to see Sir. Menny right now,” Ms. Jenny tells her.
“Why? Is there a problem?” Nerola inquires with concern in her eyes.
“Alpha Jace is in the castle with Dwayne. She is his mate: The Luna,” Nerola’s eyes go wide when Jenny holds my hand.
“Hurry. Come in so we can talk inside?” Nerola says while opening the door wide for us to enter. The house is beautiful inside with modern decorations everywhere. The leather couches sit in the middle of the living room surrounding a small table decorated with small golden sculptures. For a moment, I remember when Jace told me he used to be an artist. I wonder if he had found some artwork pieces left before he got into this mess.
“Wait a moment. I will go inform him. Make yourselves at home,” she says and gives me one last look before disappearing into the other room.
When we are left alone, I take my time to scan the house. It really is fancy. Whoever Sir. Menny is must be really respectable to own such a house.
“Who is Sir. Menny?” I ask Jenny.
“He is the trainer of the pack warriors. He greatly supports Alpha Jace and might be of some help,” Jenny replies.
“How can we trust him when he is the one who trains those men who protect Dwayne?” Sophia inquires.
“That is his duty as the trainer of the pack to train warriors that will defend the pack. He has to obey the ruling Alpha as for every pack member. He never really supported Dwayne. He is on Jace’s side,” Jenny replies.
“I hope what you are saying is true. I know guards are all over the pack territory looking for us. It would be so easy for him to hand us over to Dwayne if he is a traitor,” Sophia says and folds her hands in front of her chest.
“Where are the others? I mean Jose and the rest of the family?” I finally remember to ask Sophia.
“They all came to help Jace find you. Alexa remained behind with Ellen’s kids since she is heavily pregnant,” she replies. Hearing that really makes my heart melt. I can’t believe how much these people, or wolves, have really sacrifised to come over here and rescue me. Alexa must be so worried sick about her family. Jace’s family is all in danger for my own safety. This brings tears in my eyes which I immediately blink back.
“You should know that I really appreciate your efforts as a family to risk your lives and come over to this hell to save me. It means so much to me to know that you care so much for Jace and me,” I confess and my voice cracks at the end. I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry. I repeat this mantra in my head so that I can remain strong for everyone who is trying so hard and for Jace.
“You don’t have to thank us. You are like family to us and you mean so much to Jace. We are family and we are all together in this. We are all here for you and for Jace,” she says and pulls me into a tight reassuring hug.
“We are also here for you,” a deep striking voice booms from behind me and I immediately pull out of the hug. A strong goodlooking tall man stands at the entrance of the living room with a confident smile on his face. Nerola is standing beside him with a sad smile on her face. He walks towards us and his eyes scrutinize my appearance.
“Your highness,” he says with a slight bow when he stops in front of me. I don’t think I am ever going to get used to this royalty and respect.
“Oh, please. Just call me Amy. This is all too much respect,” I tell him while blushing with a slight embarrassment of being bowed before by this old man.
“I refuse to call you with your given name. I insist on calling you, your highness, dear Luna,” he says with a firm voice making me not argue further.
“If that is fine with you,” my voice is so low almost like a murmur.
“I have been told of what has brought you to my house. Just give me your orders ma’am and I will command my warriors immediately,” he tells me. I first look at Sophia and Jenny who nod at me. I first organised my thoughts so that I make out something sensible. Maybe it is high time I acted like the Luna I am supposed to be. I raise my chin and look him in the eyes.
“As the trainer and commander of the pack warrior, I vowed to protect and obey my Alpha and Luna. Now that you are here, your wish is my command,” he says.
“Your rightful Alpha is in danger, and he’s needs your help as the pack he was born to lead. Your Alpha’s enemy is also your enemy. Do the right thing and have his back. That is what you should have done from the very beginning of this evil reign,” I say in a surprisingly confident voice. Whoa! I can’t believe I said that without stumbling over my words. It’s like that is what I was meant to say and I said it out without rethinking my words.
“Yes, your highness. I will gather my loyal warriors and fight for Alpha Jace’s rightful throne. We are going to protect him and bring him to his glory. Trust me, dear Luna,” he says.
“I trust that you won’t fail your Alpha,” I tell him.
“I promise you that we won’t fail him.”
“Now go ahead. There is no time to waste. The sun is going down and soon it will be too late.”
“Yes, your highness,” he responds in a very firm voice and drops one knee to give a more warrior-like bow.
I now feel very positive that we are going to be able to not only save Jace, but also get him back his throne. It is still strange in my mind that Jace is loyalty and a werewolf. At some point I wish this was a nightmare and I will just wake up and everything will go back to normal but I really want Jace to get justice for the murder of his parents and the trauma he went through as a child. Dwayne deserves to pay for his evil deeds.
Menny and his wife Nerola lead us the pack training grounds where darkness has started to take over.
Menny communicates through the pack mind and wolves start coming out of different corners of the woods. In normal circumstances, I would have freaked out of my mind and screamed out of my mind seeing a lot of wolves of different sizes and colours gathering around me, but this is not a normal situation. My normal ended this morning before I had a knock at my apartment door. Actually, my normal ended the day I met Jace and fell in love with him at the first sight.
“Assemble!” Menny commands and the wolves assemble in uniform smart lines. I think this is a daily routine since they have mastered their positions.
All their eyes are fixed on me and their muzzles up sniffing the air. Am I the one smelling unusual. Definitely, because I am the only one who isn’t a werewolf.
“I command you to show some respect for your Luna. I think I trained you better than sniffing her scent in front of her,” all of them lower their heads and look down. If I saw that yesterday, I would be up on the peak of the highest tree, but now, I just smile at the willingness of each one of them to help Jace.
“As warriors of Redclaw pack we vowed to protect our territory from invaders. There have been invaders in our pack the entire time and we have been harbouring them. The moon goddess has finally brought back our rightful Alpha and we are going to get back his throne from Dwayne,” he says.
“I am so glad that they are going to help,” I murmur to Sophia. I then realise that the spot she was standing on next to me is empty. When I start to panic, a white furry wolf with thin black stripes on the back walks from the woods and stands infront of the assembly.
“That is Sophia,” Nelly tells me with a secret smile. I stare wide-eyed at the tough looking white wolf hardly believing that she is the jovial girlfriend that shared recipes with me last weekend. I wonder how Jace’s wolf looks like.