The Alpha's Invincible Luna

CHAPTER 5

As the weight of their absence settled over me, sleep slipped away like sand. The clock read 3 AM, casting long shadows in the room. Shivering, I slipped on my jacket and laced up my boots, finding comfort in their tightness. With a deep breath, I stepped into the cool night air.

The moon lit my path as I walked through the pack's territory, watched by silent warriors among the trees. I headed to the old cemetery, the iron gate creaking as I opened it. Steadying myself, I entered the graveyard, retracing a familiar path. Finally, I reached the weathered gravestone of 'Felix Sanders'—a poignant reminder of my father, who had passed away when I was ten.

I settled beside his grave, emotions flooding over me. I gently tugged at the unruly grass around the headstone, wanting to clear away the neglect and honor this sacred place.

Suddenly, a voice pierced the stillness from deep within the forest. "Tessa," It called.

Startled, I turned to see the head warrior emerge from the shadows, his tanned skin gleaming in the moonlight, clad only in a simple pair of shorts. His alert demeanor reflected his responsibilities, the shorts stashed away for warriors on patrol.

“Hey, Aaron.” I called out, glancing at the somber grave behind us.

“I haven’t seen you around lately.” He noted, concern etching his brow.

“I just haven’t felt the need to come.” I replied, my voice steady but heavy with unspoken words.

“Is everything alright?” He asked, searching my expression.

“It’s fine.” I assured him, though uncertainty lingered.

“You know a lot of people can hear you and your stepbrother yelling, right? It’s mostly you yelling at him, then your mom yelling at you.” He said, his voice edged with empathy, reminding me of the tension in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.

“I know. We’re the w*********h of the pack, right?” I asked.

“I didn’t say that.” He replied, his voice low and measured, a hint of secrecy lacing his words. “But I’m well aware that there’s a lot more unfolding within the walls of your home than the rest of the pack might ever suspect.” He leaned against the aging fence that bordered the cemetery, the weathered metal creaking slightly under his weight, as he cast a contemplative glance into the shadowy expanse of gravestones, each one a silent witness to the stories they held.

“Mind your own business, Aaron.” I replied, my voice laced with frustration.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “If you need me to patrol your house, let me know. The more who know the truth, the easier it will be for you.” His earnest tone lingered as he turned, fading into the distance.

I sat there, confusion knotting my stomach. I knew Aaron was the head warrior, but I was puzzled by how he saw through the lies that ensnared me. Why did he believe in my innocence when others labeled me the chaos instigator? It left me with more questions than answers, the truth seeming just out of reach.

I lingered by my father's grave as dawn broke, casting a golden hue over the landscape. The chill of the night faded, but a heaviness settled in my chest. Eventually, the thought of my empty home tugged at me, and I reluctantly turned to leave.

As I approached the house, the sight of the car in the driveway filled me with dread, a reminder of what I wanted to avoid. I hesitated at the door, knowing I couldn’t delay any longer. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside, greeted by an eerie silence that magnified my apprehension and the absence of life within these walls.

I went to my room, comforted by the faint scent of my belongings. As I looked for clothes, I hoped coffee would clear my mind. Turning toward the kitchen, I heard footsteps behind me, my heart racing. I pivoted to find Zion in the doorway, his expression unreadable as he stared in silence.

“Can I help you?” I asked, irritation in my voice. His unwavering gaze felt intrusive.

“I know you don’t like me or my son.” He said firmly. “You think I’m trying to take your father’s place. I want you to understand I'm not.”

With my arms crossed, I shot back, “I know. But that doesn’t mean I have to like you. And who said this has anything to do with my father?” My words were sharper than intended, fueled by frustration and protectiveness.

Zion stepped into the kitchen, the floor creaking beneath him. Leaning against the table, he looked resigned as he attempted to connect. "Tessa, I know we've invaded your space." He said softly, a note of understanding in his voice. I merely turned to grab my coffee again.

I sighed, shaking my head. “Zion, I don’t want to have this conversation right now.” My heart raced as I glanced away, battling a mix of emotions.

“It’s better than what your mother wants to discuss.” He said with a sly grin.

“I know. She wants to kick me out.” I said, feeling the weight of my situation. He stepped closer, invade my space, making me feel trapped between him and the cold counter behind me, anxiety knotting in my stomach.

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to maintain my composure despite my racing heart.

“I’m not doing anything.” He answered, his gaze fixed on me with a strange mix of amusement and confidence, his smirk making my skin crawl.

“Move back.” I commanded, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Why would I do that?” He challenged, his tone dropping to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper, as if we were the only two people in the world.

“Get the f**k away from me!” I shouted, frustration boiling over. In my bid to push him away, my coffee flew from my cup, splattering across both of our clothes and creating a mess that mirrored the confusion of the moment.

Zion screamed, the searing pain of the burn radiating from his arm, and I could feel the sting spreading through my own hand and arm as well. Panic surged through me as I rushed to the sink, the sound of running water barely drowning out his cries. I thrust my hand under the cold tap, the icy cascade offering a momentary relief from the throbbing heat. Just then, Mom burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm and concern, ready to assess the chaos unfolding before her. “Tessa. What the hell is the matter with you? Do you only know how to respond with violence?” Mom yelled.

As I looked at Zion, I saw him grimacing from a burn on his arm. Mom's concern grew as she examined the injury, but for a split second, Zion wore a sly smirk before quickly masking it.

“Come to the bedroom. I’ve got some cream.” Mom said, leading him away from the busy kitchen.

I muttered, “He f*****g set me up.” Unease and suspicion twisted in my gut. “What are those bastards up to?”

Mom stormed into the kitchen, frustration radiating from her. Without warning, she threw a ceramic coffee mug at me, missing my head and smashing against the wall. “What the hell?” I yelled, shocked. “You need to stop this bullshit. Right now.” She snapped. “If you can’t get it together, find somewhere else to live.”

“He set me up!” I retorted, desperation in my voice.

“How did he set you up?” She shot back, disbelief in her eyes. “Do you even hear yourself? You're delusional. Get your act together or pack your things. Make your choice.” With that, she stormed off to her bedroom, her footsteps heavy with anger.

As I returned to my room, the cool air provided a slight relief from the lingering discomfort of my burns. I carefully wrapped my injured arm and pulled on a long-sleeved shirt to hide the pain.

I heard the front door click as my mother left for work and Arlo’s light footsteps as he entered his father’s room. I stood in the hallway, bag over my shoulder, ready to leave, but the shifting tone of their conversation held my attention, urging me to listen longer.

“What the hell just happened?” Arlo exclaimed.

I heard Zion lean against the wall. “I don’t think we’ll have to wait much longer to kick that b***h out of the house. We’ve got her cornered.”

“And what about Eliza? Is she still in the dark?” Arlo asked, intuitively.

“She has no clue.” Zion replied, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “She believes Tessa is the one behind this chaos, that she’s acting out of spite towards me.”

Arlo chuckled, relief flooding over him. “Perfect. We can operate without a worry while Eliza’s at work.”

“Exactly.” Zion replied, his laughter lifting the tense atmosphere. “Tessa’s our final barrier. Once she’s out, we’re free.” His eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Are you still thinking of finding more girls? This pack has a lot of talent.” Arlo asked.

“Yeah, but we need to be careful. This pack isn’t as big as our last one. We can’t operate on the same scale,” Zion warned.

“I know, but I have a couple of girls in mind.” Arlo smirked.

“Not Tessa’s friends. Even if she’s gone from the house, she can still cause trouble.” Zion cautioned.

“Fine.” Arlo sounded defeated.

"Tessa." The Alpha mind linked me.

"Yes, sir."

"I just got another call from your mother. The second one in less than 12 hours. You and I need to have a sit down. We are going to discuss your attitude and your constant contention towards your family. I'll let you know when I want to see you." He ordered, and with that, he cut off the mind link.

That f*****g b***h. She's really trying to get me banished. Or worse, thrown in the dungeon for the rest of my life. How could my mother do this to me? Why is she just automatically taking their word over mine? I mean, I got hurt to. She didn't seem to care about that.