Luna of the Golden Moon

The Lake

“Oh….” My stomach ached when I felt sick again, wanting to throw up; climbing out of the bed where Caleb was still sleeping, his big body taking up almost all the space, but I didn’t complain, not when he was holding me close, not letting go before I was able to get out of his arms.

My feet were taking light steps over the old wooden floor, opening the door outside to see the setting sun; just how long had we been sleeping?? I didn’t have time to think about it more, running up a few steps, feeling the sickness that had no mercy over my begging. I hated this, every second of being hunched over, holding my hair to the side, and trying not to cry, feeling sorry for myself.

I didn’t want this. I know what I had told Caleb before we mated, but… that was before I realized how insane it was to live in the world of Alphas. It was nothing like being a Delta, having next to no change from a regular human, especially for me living outside the pack.

I needed to wash my face, so I walked slowly to the small lake just a few hundred yards down, crouching and closing my eyes when my hands were inside the cold water before splashing my face a few times, scrubbing like it would make a difference.

I was pregnant.

I got up again, taking the first steps into the calm waters that were taking me into its arms, welcoming me back when I smiled, striding further until my whole body was submerged in the coldness before diving into the dark abyss.

My eyes opened in the dark water. Navigating was easier since I had shifted, but then again, this wasn’t my old high school swimming pool, where I had set local records that still lasted. Not that it mattered anymore; I was not Emilia Jackson since I had met my Caleb.

In a heartbeat, I had lost everything from my old life, no matter how simple.

I broke through the surface, took a deep breath, and realized I was in the lake's center, my body feeling stronger than ever. If my mother had let me compete, I could have made it state or national.

“Luna?!” My head bobbed up and down, taking small strokes, hearing my mate’s voice calling me; he sounded upset. He had woken up and realized I was gone to my huff as if I were stupid enough to try running again. I was still feeling the slight pricks on my neck after his fangs.

“I’m here, Cay... at the lake….” I was swimming around some more, not wanting to get up, already knowing that he would demand I get back to him when he came out from the cabin.

He stood by the stony shoreline, looking out over the waters, and became even more upset that I wasn’t in the shallows but had gone out into the deep alone.

“Luna, get back here. Now!” Caleb's voice was straightforward and scared, staring at me from a distance, not knowing how to get me up fast enough.

I snorted, took another deep breath, and felt the intense fear when submerged in the dark water; it was Caleb's.

“Get out of the damn water, and don’t you ever scare me like that again!” He was scolding me when I was coming up, smiling at his angry face, looking like he wanted to kill me for diving down to my confusion over his anger since I had just been swimming.

“Caleb, listen…” I was about to tell him about my records when he cut me off, making me stare at him in disbelief. There was no yellow anywhere; this was just him and his terrified, dark charcoal eyes demanding to get me back up to the rough beach waiting for me.

“No, I don’t want to f*****g hear it! This is the second time you have left me; this is unacceptable!” He was rumbling when I stopped still in the water. Did he just tell me that I had run away? I was just outside the cabin, and this was what I wanted to do. For the first time in a long time, I was having fun and not just being some freaking Luna-in-waiting!

Caleb’s scowl disappeared when he still hadn’t taken one step out into the calm waters I was standing in, sighing like he knew I was right.

Rubbing his hands over his face, trying to calm down the anger and fear that had taken over his heart, he lost it over me being outside the cabin and enjoying the water for the first time in what seemed like forever!

“Emilia, I can’t swim.” He looked at me with his handsome face, like he would rather have died than told that to anyone other than me. I lost my anger as well. Oh… oh… I didn’t know that… I just…. I loved being in the water…

Caleb sighed again, having his hands on his hips, head tilted down, and looking gorgeous in the dying light when I was still staring at him, not knowing what to say. Didn’t pack wolves learn to swim?

“We do, but I can’t.” He looked embarrassed, and I couldn’t understand why; that wasn’t so bad. there were many things I couldn’t do that he did all the time; I could teach him… if he wanted to…?

I still smiled when he sighed heavily, like he didn’t want to. I reached out my hand and came closer to the shoreline, seeing him doubt every step into the water and hate every second of it.

“Hey… hey…. Look at you…standing in the water baby, you are doing great…” I was coming up at his face that was still tense; every part of him was when I smiled more, walking backward, taking him along before feeling him stop when it was reaching my hips, not wanting to go any further.

“Cay, it's fine… just relax….” I was closer, taking my hand and stroking his face. He was still tense and on edge; he hated this, didn’t he?

“Yes.” I snickered, hearing him just say one word back. He looked at the water like it would swallow him whole. Trust me, he was too big for this small lake. I bet he could stand in the middle and still wouldn’t need to have his head under the surface.

“Funny…” He frowned when I laughed some more, knowing he would get angry at me for teasing him, but he was doing great, and I was right here with him.

Caleb was finally looking down at me like he had been lost in the water when I shrugged, coming closer and kissing his bare chest; okay, so I wasn’t that funny; did I need to be that as the Luna?

His face changed hearing my thoughts, looking guilty again, feeling his arm around my waist, giving me warmth against his chest in the setting sun; I still couldn’t believe we had slept all day, and I was still tired but happy that I was feeling the water around my legs.

“Emilia…. I’m sorry… I’m yelling at you… again…” He was taking deeper breaths, trying to make sense of what was happening inside his mind, and I could feel that, too. Yeah, I know he was. It was okay to be scared of things; that was human nature.

“Yes, but we are not humans, Luna…. I am supposed to lead the pack after my father and… I can’t let anyone know… its weakness, you understand that, right?” I tilted my head, seeing his deep eyes like I needed to; I could feel he was.

Yes, I understood. Caleb didn’t want anyone to know that he couldn’t swim, even if it was nothing to be ashamed of in my eyes.

Caleb snorted back, picking me up and making the water rush down, creating ripples around us in the calm lake when I was already wrapping my arms around his neck, smiling at his own. He was impressive in everything, and I loved that he told me his secret. He had waded out to me even if he hated every second.

“Let’s get back inside; I want to take my beautiful pregnant mate back to my bed….” I lost my smile the slightest time I heard him say that. Yes… that sounded nice…

I looked one last time at the lake before turning my head towards Caleb's, closing my eyes, and being carried back to the cabin and warm bed by my mate.