The Lonely Luna

Maybe

*Amorah*

I can see the happiness in my best friends eyes but I still don't know how to feel.

"That's great news, Amorah" Marissa says softly.

I shrug, glancing away "If you say so"

"The Goddess is giving you another chance to find love and happiness. That's not a bad thing, Amorah. You were only 19 years old when Brandon died.... your 22... way too young to spend the rest of your life alone." she informs me, gazing at me with a spark of concern.

"Yea, that sounds good and all, but it's just not that easy Marissa. I don't know if I'm ready to love another mate yet." I can feel her eyes on me, but I don't meet them, continuing to look away.

"Don't do anything stupid, Amorah. Just give it some time and see what happens. The Goddess blessed you again for a reason. It may not be the best time... but then again... maybe it is. You've been punishing yourself for Brandon's death for years, how long are you supposed to do that for?" She questions.

"He lost his life Marissa... three years is a small price to pay when he lost his entire life... many more years then that." I reply, muttering the words.

"We don't know that. Maybe that would have been the end of Brandon's story regardless. He saved you and his son... the next Alpha of this pack. Maybe that was what he was meant to do. I can't say why the Goddess does what she does, but I know second chance mates are rare and she blessed you with one for a reason. She clearly thinks your worthy."

I nod my head as I absorb her words, still not sure if I believe them. "I'm not going to do anything hasty Marissa. Right now, I don't plan to do anything at all, except work with Alpha James to find his mate.... this isn't just for Matthew though although he is part of the reason.... but I never want to see anyone else lose their mate. I don't want anyone to go through what I've gone through. And poor Alpha James is already a mess without her. Its written all over his face."

"I bet... its ultimately your decision how you decide to help them." Marissa answers with a shrug. "If your willing to call in that favor then by all means, go ahead."

I look at her, my eyes widening "I just hope Granny feels the same way. I have to get the information to contact the coven from her... hopefully without revealing that I've found my second chance mate. She'll never leave me alone if she finds out and she knows I haven't jumped to accept him... and I definitely don't need her coming here and trying to play match maker."

Marissa laughs, knowing exactly what I'm talking about. My Grandma is a huge fan of the fated mate bond, having been happy and in love with my Grandfather since her childhood, long before she was old enough to actually feel the bond. If she finds out about my second chance mate, the odds of her minding her own business and staying out of mine are very slim to none. I sigh thinking about it and the conversation I'm about to have.

I thought about calling my parents and avoiding the situation with my Grandma altogether but I already know she's not going to let me off the hook that easily. My parents will call her for the information and then nosey Granny will call me anyways, wanting to know what the deal is. The family chain of command. I come from a family of nosey wolves, always gossiping, wanting to know what everyone is doing, whats going on, the recent events... you can barely eat breakfast without them wanting to know what you ate. I laugh though. My crazy family drives me nuts sometimes but without them, I honestly don't know where I would be... losing Brandon was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. A lot of wolves crumble and break after losing their mate but thankfully I have had a ton of support and a lot of motivation to make it through, between my friends, family, and my baby. It doesn't make the hole disappear or the long nights easier but its made life bearable... to a degree.

'Wouldn't it be nice to be happy though?' my wolf Mia whispers in my head. 'I miss him too but if the Goddess gives us a second chance we should take it'

Mia has suffered right along with me, after all she lost her mate too. She's been unusually quiet over the years, grieving, rarely speaking to me. Its made things even harder in a way and has left me feeling like I lost a huge part of my life that day... the other half of my soul and a piece of my wolf. I can only wonder what it would feel like to feel whole again.

'Maybe in due time Mia' I whisper back.

"Ok, Marissa... wish me luck. I'm going to make this call to Granny." I said, forcing a smile on my face.

Marissa laughs, knowing damn well my enthusiasm is fake. "Just stick to what you are comfortable telling her Amorah."

I laugh, thinking about how nearly impossible that is with this old lady. Then I sigh and reach over to pick up the phone. I dial her number and listen to it ring, almost hoping she doesn't answer.

No such luck... she picks up on the 3rd ring.

"Hi baby girl, I haven't heard from you in awhile." she responds after picking up the phone.

"I talked to you two days ago Granny" I reply, rolling my eyes without thinking and grateful that she can't see me. That would have earned me a smack upside the head.

"Two days is too long. A lot can happen to an old lady in that amount of time." she chides me

"Your right, but I'm sure if there were any issues Grandpa would call me." I smile, thinking about how he calls me all the time. My Grandfather dotes on me and is my favorite person to talk to most of the time. "But anyways, Granny I'm going to get straight to the point.... I need the information for the coven, please. The Silver Butterfly Coven."

My Grandma's voice sharpens and takes on a worried tone. "Is everything ok, Amorah?"

"Everything is fine, Granny... with me and the pack anyways. But I've decided to help a pack a neighboring pack find their missing Alpha. We are hoping to find a witch that can assist with a locator spell and help us track the Alpha down." I explain, refraining from going into too much detail.

My Grandma is silent for a moment, just long enough to make me worry that she's going to fight me on this.

"Granny" I prompt after another moment passes.

"Are you sure everything is ok, Amorah?" she asks again "Is there anything that you aren't telling me?"

Damn it.. I was hoping she wouldn't ask, but I can't lie to her. "Yes there is something I'm not telling you and I really don't want to talk about it right now, but just know that I am safe and so is my pack. That's the most important thing."

Granny remains quiet for another moment before eventually speaking up "I'm going to trust your judgement Amorah and trust that you know what your doing. Just know I love you and I hope that eventually you trust me enough to tell me what this is really about."

I almost break when I hear her words, tears coming to my eyes. "I will Granny... I promise I'll tell you all about it, when the time is right."

"Ok baby girl. Your parents have the information. I'll call them and have them send it to you. Don't be surprised if you get a call from them as well. You know your nosey mother will want to know what's going on." she replies.

I laugh, knowing exactly where my mother inherited that trait from. "Thank you, Granny. I love you and appreciate you more then you know."

I talk with her for another minute and then hang up the phone. It only takes about 5 minutes before I receive a text from my mother.

I read the text out loud to Marissa

"Your Granny told me to send you the contact information for the Silver Butterfly Coven and then promptly told me to mind my own business and stay out of yours. That nosey old woman has no room to talk but I'm going to take her advice and leave you alone... FOR NOW. I expect an explanation in the near future, though. Love you, Amorah."

I finish reading the message with a chuckle, while glancing up at Marissa.

She laughs too. "Well Amorah, I think you got off easy."

I shake my head "FOR NOW" I said, repeating the words "I give it two days before she's here demanding an explanation."

We both laugh, thinking about my strong and hard headed mother... but at least now I can call the coven and see what they have to say about the matter.

*Ava*

I head out of the pack house, determined to take a walk. I need fresh air and a few moments to myself to think about what's going on.

The strange sense of emptiness I have inside is starting to weigh on me. Its so new and a feeling I never want to experience again. I've been connected to Abbi since birth, in a way that only twins can understand. Our connection is even stronger considering that we are wolves and can literally feel the twin bond between us.

I sigh, heading off into the woods, but staying in my human form. I don't have long so I don't want to take the time to strip down and shift. I wonder through the woods aimlessly for a few minutes and then loop back around, coming back towards the pack house after walking in a large circle.

I'm heading for the steps when I feel a sensation as though I'm being watched. I turn around but there's nothing there. I listen for a moment, but don't hear anything. I turn back to the steps but stop as I see a tiny little chipmunk perched on the step staring at me. It's surprising. It's not often that small animals come out of the woods. Most of them can sense that we are predators ourselves and hesitate about getting too close. This tiny little thing is sitting on the step though, fearlessly staring at me. I look into its eyes, feeling an odd connection to the animal.

I stoop down and hold out my hand, having no idea why I'm doing so. I suck in a breath, holding it tightly as the animal takes off down the steps, jumps on my hand and then races up my arm. It stops on my shoulder, delicately balancing there.

Could this be?... a familiar? My familiar?

The chipmunk makes a soft sound, almost as though it can hear my thoughts and then rubs up against my face. I laugh lightly, reaching my hand up and touching its little body. It climbs back onto my hand and I bring it towards my chest, cuddling it to me before heading back into the pack house.

I head to Michael's office, opening the door and sweeping into the room without knocking.

He glances up at me, his mouth open to greet me but the words dying on his lips as he eyes the animal in my hands.

"Ava, what is that? A chipmunk? What are you doing?" he asks, looking so confused. I almost want to laugh but I refrain, smiling widely at him instead

"I think it's my familiar" I reveal, stretching my hand out as I cradle my tiny new sidekick.

"I think it's a wild animal, Ava. What the hell?" he answers, clearly not amused by my response.

I draw my face down into a frown, eyeing him in a manner that let's him know I'm not pleased. He shrugs his shoulders "Well, it is. Chipmunks are wild animals, Ava... isn't a familiar supposed to be like a cat or something?"

"That is so stereotypical, Michael." I inform him. "This must be a sign that I'm really starting to come into my witchy side." I smile "And a familiar can be any animal, not just a cat. They just show them in TV shows because they can't force wild animals to behave on set." I roll my eyes " Now me and Alvin are going to spend some time together, getting to know each other." I smile again, then sweep out of Michael's office while I hear him calling behind me

"You named the damn thing already?"