I am the Moon Spirit

Runaway princess

When Alyssa’s plane landed it was already late in the afternoon. And if anything had become clearer during those past hours was that she absolutely hated flying. The hollow pitch that formed in her gut when that giant iron box took flight and every shiver that ran down her spine whenever there was even the slightest amount of turbulence made it impossible for her to get any sleep.

Now she was beyond exhausted. Even her wolf seemed to be feeling drained, so while she was waiting for her luggage she decided it would be wiser to look for a place to spend the night before continuing on her way to her aunt’s Pack.

I still have to call aunt Marlene, Alyssa thought as she made her way to her room. She had just checked herself into a hotel close to the airport. But I should probably wait until I’m closer. Otherwise dad will definitely tell her to send me home.

Alyssa didn’t bother turning on the lights when she stepped into the room. She just put her stuff aside and made a beeline to the bed before flopping over the sheets without even worrying about showering or changing clothes.

She felt like all the energy she had left had burned out the moment she closed the door behind her. Which was probably because she still couldn’t take the thought of how her parents might have reacted when they finally noticed her absence out of her head.

Alyssa wondered if there had been any real concern for her well-being, or if it all had revolved around the family’s image and reputation.

Well, she was sure her mom must have been a little worried. She also knew Nash and Logan would worry as well if they heard she vanished during the night. But when it came to her father she doubted he would feel anything other than anger over the fact she disobeyed him.

He must be fuming, she mused as she stared at the yellowish painted ceiling. But she didn't particularly care. The weight of her tiredness and of the guilt she felt for leaving her mother behind was slowly putting her to sleep and all thoughts, no matter how troublesome was feeling less and less important.

It didn't take much longer for her to drift off. And when she woke up almost 15 hours later she could barely remember feeling bad about leaving. She was simply astonished for having slept for so long. She wasn’t expecting to be so tired. But was still glad to be able to have such a replenishing rest before heading to the Lewis pack.

That's why, after taking a very long bath and gathering her belongings, she decided to check-out and continue on her way.

Alyssa never really had the chance to see what her aunt’s new Pack was like. Seeing as usually it was her and her family that went to their home to visit. But if there was anything she could guess it was that the Lewis Pack was most certainly offered a warmer environment than her father’s. After walking around town for almost two hours and then taking a taxi to the forest's border, it was still clear and sunny even though it was late afternoon.

But even now, as she stood there on a shade and enjoyed the fresh smell of pine and wet dirt, the thought that she might have let her family down still haunted her mind.

'Just let that go', her wolf finally said after almost two days of complete silence. 'We're almost where we should be. Keep going.'

"Huh, so now you decide to talk?" She rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on her backpack's straps.

'It's not like you ever listened to me before'.

"Oh, so now I'm at fault?" Alyssa made sure to sound as sarcastic as possible.

'Pretty much. Yes.' She felt her wolf stirring up under the surface of her skin. It always made goosebumps run along her spine. 'Remember I've always tried to push you forward. I've always tried to yank you out of that shell. But you refused me.'

That made Alyssa silent for a moment. She couldn't argue with her wolf on that matter. In part because she would technically be arguing with herself, but mostly because that was the most painful truth.

Ever since she turned fifteen and her wolf awakened there had always been a sort of conflict between them.

On one side was her, Alyssa, trying to fit into a mold her father had so carefully created for her. He wanted her to be the perfect princess: graceful and intelligent, but to only act when ordered to. And on the other side there was her wolf, who constantly encouraged her to move when she had to not when allowed to. Her wolf had always been stronger than she ever could. Alyssa was well aware of that.

Maybe, just maybe, she had been so sure of how inferior she was that she constantly sabotaged her own self. Spending the past years feeling useless just because she didn't feel worthy of a spirit as powerful as the one that lived inside her.

Sometimes Alyssa wondered if her wolf felt like they were trapped inside a cage. Because she was sure she was holding them back.

"I'm sorry I took so long to-"

'Don't apologize. Just keep going, Ally.' Her wolf interrupted her. 'We're almost there.'

Alyssa let out a frustrated huff. "Okay."

~x~

Alpha Beau should have known something like that would eventually happen. He felt a strange twisting inside his chest the night before, but his pride kept him from going to see her: his only girl.

Now he was paying the price.

He just wasn't sure if that was the goddess punishing him for spoiling and shielding Alyssa from everything, or for not having been hard enough. Either way there was no escaping the gravity of the situation now. His little girl was gone and he had no idea where.

Well, he had a few guesses. After all it wasn't as if the girl had many places to run off to. The real problem was: how to deal with the situation?

"Don't look so serious, darling." Theresa managed to give him a placid smile despite being as worried as her husband. "We both know she won't be gone for long."

"We don't know that," his response was uncharacteristically disheartening. He sounded devastated. "What if she get's herself into some kind of trouble? You know there are a lot of rogue alphas out there-"

The king was cut off by the feeling of his wife's arms snaking their way around his waist as he stared out the window of his youngest child's bedroom. The view went as far as his eyes could see over the forest that surrounded their pack lands.

Alyssa's bed was still perfectly made and everything, with the exception of a few pieces of clothing hanging from a single open drawer, was neatly arranged and in place.

"We both know she's at a rebellious age," Theresa pulled him closer and pressed her cheek against his back. "But that's all this is. She'll come back. I know it."

Beau sighed in resignation after a few moments of complete silence.

"Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad. I'm just worried." He patted his wife's hands softly without taking his eyes away from the window. "Teenage girls are so troublesome."

Theresa let out a soft laugh. "Teenage princesses are double that trouble, darling. Maybe we should call her 'runaway princess' when she comes back."