A Tale of Three Lunas-Completed

Chapter 13

Zinnia's POV

"Yes, she did and she had a great bedside manner. Where are you taking her and why does she have that collar on her neck?" Leilani asks.

"Oh, I was just bringing her to an intake hut. She fled fr-"

"Oh no, this won't do at all. Take that collar off her neck, bring someone to carry her bag for her, get her out of that disgusting dress, then bring her around my way. I will need help with my baby and I want her to be the one to help me."

"But ma'am, she has yet to go through the complete intake process. She is only a part of the pack provisionally until we can interview her."

Leilani gives him a look that makes me think that I will not be taking that nap I was looking forward to anytime soon.

"Or I could just interview her now." he says, giving Leilani a wide smile.

"That would be lovely. Thank you for all your hard work, Romy."

"Of course, princess."

She frowns and he laughs, removing the collar from my neck. After we go to the castle, a building I didn't ever think I would set foot in, especially not my first day here, I am led to another waiting room. Eventually, exhaustion overtakes me as I imagine how cozy I would have been in that warm little hut.

~~~~~~~~

"Ahem, Miss? Excuse me."

I hear a man clearing his throat and immediately remember where I am.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"There is no need to apologize. I have been informed about your situation. My name is Everett and I am the Beta of this pack." he says, reaching his hand out to shake mine.

"Its very nice to meet you."

"So, I hear you are from the West Moontrail Pack?"

"Yes, sir I am."

"Did you come across any Ihowtons?"

"Um, I still don't know what those are."

"Hmm, how long were you with your pack?"

"My whole life, almost 18 years."

I am led to a room with a long wooden table and spread of food that smells so good it makes my stomach rumble.

"Please have a seat and enjoy some food. I know you probably haven't eaten or slept well in the last few days, but we want to get you acclimated as soon as possible."

I barely register anything he says after 'enjoy some food'. I wanted to find out what these Ihowtons that people kept asking me about were, but once I saw mashed potatoes, steak, corn, rotisserie chicken, rice, vegetables, bread, cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies, I find myself preoccupied with the delicious smelling food before me. My energy comes back to me as I take in the mouth watering food.

The Beta stays as I eat and once I'm finished, someone takes the remaining dishes and a few more people file in.

By the time the door closes, I see that the room has about ten others inside and they are all looking at me. I suppose my look of confusion causes the Beta to speak up.

"You have to understand, Zinnia, that we have not heard anything from the West Moontrail Pack in years. We were not aware of anyone who has been able to leave. We have no idea what is going on there. A few of us are suspicious of you because you are coming here so close to the Alpha Prince's inauguration."

"Oh, I didn't know. We don't get news like that. I only came here because my parents brought me here when I was a kid and I thought I could be safe from my pack here. I can answer any questions that you guys ask me."

"Whenever we try to send someone in there to talk to your Alpha, get in contact with anyone in the pack of the Council members, or get any information, he blocks or threatens. He is responsible for many werewolf rights violations. We could have gone in with a bunch of warriors, but we didn't want to be responsible for anyone in your pack getting hurt unnecessarily. He has a perimeter around the pack with these specialized animal traps that would alert them to our position."

The traps. Those damn traps that I was so proud of. He used them to keep us in and others out. He tricked me.

"Can you tell us more about the events surrounding your escape from your pack?"

"Okay." I didn't realize I was living under such a domineering regime. "I guess it started when I wasn't in my bunker during an attack-"

"Your bunker?" the Beta asks.

"Yes, everyone has a bunker in their house for when there are attacks on our pack." A bunch of people who are sitting being writing something down.

"Do you guys get attacked often?"

"I'd way about once a year."

"So what happened that day?"

I spend the next few hours telling the people in the room about my life in the pack, what happened that led the pack to turn on me, the entire history of the traps, my trial and them burning my house and how I escaped. They also ask about the incoming Alpha, Shawn. A few things I didn't tell them about were my pack mark and KJ's dreams. I edited my mark from the story because I knew once I mentioned it, they would ask to see it and I was not about to lift my shirt for this room full of adult men.

Once we finish, I am led to what I am told will be my room while I am helping Leilani and the baby in her wing of the castle. The room is absolutely gorgeous, modern and luxurious, all set up for me to live comfortably in with my bag already unpacked. I finally get the chance to lay down in a plush bed, but even though I am exhausted, I can't sleep. I keep thinking about KJ, about the circumstances he is living in and how much he risked helping me to escape.

The one thing that I am holding onto is what he told me, that we would see each other again.

The Beta and the people in the meeting said they were going to get in contact with someone who they think could help and they would put the situation in his hands. The person is from a pack that I didn't know existed, but I should have, just based on the name.

The East Moontrail Pack.