The Escaping Luna

The DINNER

Everyone at the table applauded him and started to fill their plates. The table was full of conversation and laughter. Jillian and Kaia were talking about how to get back into some normal routine and how Jillian and Nigel needed to get in contact with their brother. Jillian sits straight up and starts to smell the air. "OMG K, where is that smell coming from? It's amazing. It smells like coconut and wet earth." She started to look around and her eyes locked on the man who had just entered the room. She gets excited and starts to bounce in her seat and her wolf Noel starts yelling "MATE! MATE! MATE! That is our Mate!" Kaia responds to her, saying "That is my older brother Tomas. He will be the Alpha when my father steps down." Wide-eyed, she looked at me in shock. "K, he's my mate."

*Alpha Hardin*

As dinner was wrapping up, I asked for everyone's attention. "I think the next point of business needs to be addressed. Girls, we must contact your families. I am positive they are going to be thrilled that you are safe. Now, Jillian, I understand you are from Summer Springs. Am I correct?" Jillian nodded her head and replied, "Yes Alpha. My brother Mason is Alpha of Summer Springs."

"Good, good. Nigel, could you please contact your brother and ask if he can join us here at Winter River? Not only to reunite with his siblings, but so that we can discuss how to come together and defeat Luca Dracos." Nigel agreed and left to make the phone call. "Eve, you are from Autumn Leaf, am I correct?" Eve just looked at me like a deer in headlights and nodded her head. "I believe so Alpha Hardin, at least that is what I have been told. I don't have many memories of my pack or family. However, I had overheard Luca mention that as the pack he took me from on several occasions." "Then that would mean Alpha Samuel would be your father. I know him well. I will contact him tonight." Eve just smiled and I went on with what else needed to be addressed.

"My hope is to have everyone here within a few days, until they arrive. Please make yourself at home. Whatever is ours, is yours. No need to be shy or hesitant. We are all family now. Kaia would show everyone to their rooms. Tomas, could you and Jillian please meet me in my office?" I stood and took my leave, and everyone else went to meet with Kaia.

*Earlier before dinner*

*Tomas POV*

I was late for dinner due to needing to check in with the guards at the south gate. There has been a strong vile scent around the southern border, and that scent is associated with rogues. It smells like a mix of rotten eggs and rancid meat. They may not have gotten close enough to be seen, but their scent says they aren't that far off. With how strong the smell is, there are quite a few of them. I mind linked Bryce asking him to get 30 of our warriors, at least ten of them elite, and to investigate. The one thing we know for sure is that we don't know who exactly is working with Luca and who isn't. I tell him to check in with me as soon as they discover their finds.

Walking back to the pack house for dinner, my wolf Aztec is pacing back and forth, and on edge. He is driving me crazy, but his actions are keeping me on high alert. "What is your problem Az? Your pacing and whining is making me mental." He just lays down in the back of my mind whimpering. I shrug it off, knowing he will settle down soon. I walked through the door, and headed to the dining hall. I could hear everyone chatting and laughing. Hearing laughter in the house is a good feeling. When Kaia disappeared, so did the laughter. Having her back has brought life back to normal. I step through the doors and am smacked in the face by the most beautiful scent I have ever smelled. A mix of honeysuckle and lemon mixed with something I'm not sure about. Aztec is howling and jumping up and down in my head telling me our mate is here. "I smell her and feel her buddy, help me smell her out." We turned the corner to go to the table, and that's when I saw her. Sitting next to my baby sister Kaia, is the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen. Her long blonde untamed hair, piercing green eyes, skin like cream. This. Is. Our. Mate.

Just as we notice her, she notices us as well. I'm frozen in place and all I can do is stare. I run my hand through my hair, take a deep breath and step towards her. I see she is excited, and she turns her head and whispers something to Kaia. I approached her and she jumped into my arms. Feeling her in my arms feels like I have found my missing piece. We hold each other in silence before I hear Kaia clearing her throat. "uh hum...Jillian, this is my older brother Tomas. Tomas, meet Jillian. Jillian is also a victim of Luca Krone. That is how we met." I started to laugh and told her it was nice to meet her. She smiled bashfully and whispered "You too!" I put her down and she returned to her seat next to Kaia. I quickly sat down next to her, and waited for our dad to start eating so that everyone else could eat also. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Every move or sound she made sent my heart into overload. I felt my mother approach me from behind and place her hand on my shoulder. She bent over and whispered in my ear, "She's beautiful Tomas, I'm so happy for you both." As quickly as she was there, she was just as quick to go back to her seat. How did she know? Then again, it was mom. Nothing ever gets passed her. I resumed talking with Jillian and Kaia, and heard my dad getting everyone's attention. He talked about how Jillian and Eve's family needed to be notified that they were found and alive. He mentioned having their families and Alpha's of their packs come to Winter River to form a strategy to take down the king bloodsucker. When he mentioned Jillian and myself meeting him in his office, I got nervous. As he got up and moved towards his office, I looked at my mate. "I guess we should follow him. The sooner we are finished with this meeting, the sooner we can get to know one another better." She agreed, gave me her hand, and we went to see what was so important.