His Missing Luna

Chapter Sixteen

Amelia's Point of View

Eventually Peyton got back into the car. I was staring out of the window looking at everything but the men in front of me and the man on my left-hand side.

"Amelia," he breathed my name in a way that did funny things to my tummy. "Welcome back to Amethyst Moon."

If I thought my reaction was bizarre, it was nothing compared to Vae. She was sprawled on her back begging for a belly rub!

We drove through the gates which were then closed behind us. They glimmered in the sunshine like precious metal.

"They're made of silver," Peyton qualified, answering my unspoken thought. "The fences and barbed wire are too. Except for one small piece of the gate which only the patrol knows exists. If anyone tried to get onto our land it would be extremely painful."

"It wouldn't hurt the humans though?"

"I'm not sure any human would be brave enough to approach our patrol." He replied confidently.

"And if they did?"

"They would be politely told that this is private property and asked to leave."

I liked that, so there was no need for me to argue. Which made a nice change. As Peyton drove on, the road grew wider and more 'car friendly'. On either side of the road there was nothing but grass fields sprinkled with the occasional wild flower. The verges gradually sloped down into a wooded area. The scent of the freshly cut grass drifted into the car. It was sweet and earthy but it had nothing on Peyton's scent.

"Ta-Da!! What do you think?" Finlay sounded like a game show host.

I had to be honest, I was completely underwhelmed. All I could see was grass and trees. Which was fine, don't get me wrong, but I was having trouble seeing what the big deal was all about.

Peyton let out a chuckle. "Why don't you ask your wolf what she thinks?"

"I don't need to, she's bouncing up and down like a child."

'Think how far we can run!' Vae told me in a jubilant voice. 'All this space and no danger. It's paradise.'

I wanted to tell her that there certainly was danger here, and that it was sitting right next to us. But it just seemed pointless to waste my breath.

"You might find this more to your liking," Peyton said as we continued along the road.

Opening up in front of us was a small village. Or that's how it looked to me. Houses were dotted along either side of the road. They were all one story, built of whitewashed stone that made me feel like I was in the meditarian. The sun blazed down over the whole place in a cloudless blue sky. I was beginning to agree with Vae. It certainly felt like paradise.

There were people everywhere. As Peyton continued to drive, some of them started to clap. I had never been so uncomfortable in all my life. They might as well have been waving flags for royalty.

"Can you make them stop?" I whined like a two-year-old.

"I could, but I'm not going to. Some of these people have waited years for this."

A thought suddenly struck me.

"Are all these people wolves?" I asked in awe.

"Yeah. Some packs also have vampires and witches that live within them, but they are few and far between."

"Vampires?" I squeaked. Was he serious

"Does everything take you by surprise as much as this?" He teased. I ignored the jibe and continued to start out of the window with my mouth half open.

"That's our school, over there on the right. We only have about eighty kids there at the moment, so the classes are pretty small. But I'm told that makes for a much better learning experience."

"Don't they go to human schools?"

"Not for the elementary years. When they reach middle school age, then it is up to the parents and children to make the decision about where they want to go. If they stay here, they will learn in depth warrior skills, tracking and such, and will go on to work in our community. The wolves that choose to go out of the borders then have the option of joining one of our companies in the human world or simply finding their own way in the world. They can live here, or there."

"I never knew there was a choice," I said in amazement. "No one ever told me."

"It's a good way of teaching our history too. As well as how imperative it is that we keep our identities a secret. By the time they reach age 11, most kids know not to discuss our kind with humans. It is also pack law and would go against the Alpha, so they physically couldn't do it anyway."

"Did that apply to me too?" I asked. Genuinely interested in what he had to say.

Peyton looked at me unhappily. "No, because when your mother left she severed her ties with the pack."

I felt my bottom lip start to wobble a little.

"Amelia. It was the only way to ensure both of you survived. You mustn't be upset with her for that."

I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my hands. I was an emotional wreck.

"Are you ok?" He asked me with real concern in his voice. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him reach for my hand. But he pulled it back before he made contact.

"Nothing makes any sense." I said in a small voice. "How can you sound so caring about my mother when you-you-"

"I give you my word, I did not do what you think I did. I can only assume that you have good reason to believe it though."

"I do. Which is why I don't believe you."

Peyton nodded once. I saw the muscle in his jaw clench. He was unhappy with what I was saying and yet he seemed to accept it. Which only made me more confused.

"And this is the pack house."

"Pack house?" I questioned. It was more like a pack mansion. And it was so beautiful it made me want to cry.

Peyton pulled the car over and switched off the engine.

"Are you ready?"

"Not even a little bit."

The sound of the door slamming in the back made me realize that we were now alone.

"Amelia," he made my name sound like a prayer. "This is your home, from this day forward it will always be your home. I am trying to put myself in your position. You are in a car with someone that you despise and, given what you believe, you have good reason to. But at the same time, you feel safe, and warm and cared for. That is the mate bond. And I can only imagine how confused that makes you, because you're being pulled in two completely different directions.

For someone who claimed not to know how I was feeling, he was bang on with what he was saying.

"I want you to stay here and I want you to be happy here, but I will not force you. So, for now, how about we take some baby steps. For the next 48 hours use this place to rest up, sleep, get clean and get clothed."

"Bethany wants me to learn about my heritage." I told him quietly.

"I'm sure she won't mind you taking some time to recover first."

"Can I really leave here? If I want." It seemed like an impossible dream.

"Yes. As soon as Bethany feels you have been here long enough, if you want to leave then you can."

"And you won't hurt me whilst I'm here?"

"Amelia, I would pick up a silver knife and cut my own throat before I let anyone hurt you, me included."

I wasn't entirely sure how to respond to such a declaration. Luckily, Vae was able to sum it up in one word.

'Wow' She murmured.

I agreed with her statement wholeheartedly.