The Heir of Crescent Moon

Chapter 9 - Ziomara

A/N:

I missed a chapter so I deleted the original chapter 9 and here's the correct order. I will still post a new chapter so you will end up with an additional chapter of this story.

Cory POV

It was hours before I could leave and head home to prepare the pyres for our own people. Lucien agreed to text James if there was any change to Areli or Cecilia and any of our people still there. I still hadn't seen my phone anywhere. I would just have to order a new one. I let Violet remain behind after Beta Miles introduced his mate to her. She deserved a chance to say goodbye.

I was glad to see that Jo had doubled the guards and patrol at home. A direct attack was unlikely because of all the security measures that Evergreen had set up over the years, but we couldn't take a chance right now. We'd already lost too many today.

It was a little after three when the guard at the gate let me know Evie was home with a person unknown. A rogue.

“Evie's home. We need her to look at this shit.” I said, dumping the bag of phones I'd brought with me on the conference table. James and I stood up and headed to the front of the pack house. The moment I saw her exiting the vehicle, an intense relief flooded me. She was fine. She hadn't been there. She had been far away from the chaos and death. She ran to me, and all I could do was open my arms and hug her tightly when she went into them. I could feel her fear and worry as she shook in my arms.

“I'm so glad you weren't there.” I whispered. She pulled back, and Tenoch whimpered in my head.

“What happened?” She asked, looking from me to James.

“Come inside.” I said.

“Wait, Zi....”

I looked over at the pretty brunette getting out of the passenger side. I was hesitant to involve her, but she was about to be a pack member and employee.

“Do you trust her?” I asked Evie. She nodded. “Then we can get the pack joining done now. We could use her help.”

Ziomara was pulling up a toddler into her arms from the back seat. The little girl was stunning and sleeping. I asked someone to park the truck on the side of the pack house so it wouldn't be in the way and we walked inside and into my office.

“I would have preferred not to rush this, but due to recent events, I would like to invite you to join the pack now, so we can get down to business. I know you must all be tired, and I will let you settle and rest after we debrief, if that's alright with both of you.”

'Get to my office. Evie's friend is here, and I need her to help so I would like to get them up to speed and settled as a pack member.' I mind linked Jo.

“Alpha Cory, before we proceed, I think there's stuff you should know about me.”

“I really wish I had time to listen to your story, but there's not a lot of time, Miss Johnson. Right now, the only thing I have the capacity to ask about you is, will this endanger our pack?”

Ziomara looked down and then over at Evie. I sighed and sat back.

“OK, I'm listening,” I said. Jo opened the door to the office and entered. He came to stand next to me.

“Please continue, Ziomora. This is my Beta Josue, and that is my Gamma, James. Forgive me for not giving proper introductions before. It’s been a long day.” I said. Technically, my day hadn’t ended since I woke up yesterday at seven.

“I don't know how much Ev has told you about me, but I am a hybrid.” She said, passing the toddler to Evie, who cradled the sleeping little girl against her.

“She's told us nothing but that she trusts you and wants you for this job. She spoke highly of you, but told us you should be the one to explain your situation. You being a hybrid does not impact your qualifications to join the pack or work for us.”

“I -uhh. I am a hybrid, as I said. Werewolf and Witch. My parents were fated mates, but even knowing this, my last pack didn't like hybrids and shunned us. When I turned nineteen and my wolf didn't come, they shunned me even more. As such, I wasn't allowed to hold any kind of status in the pack. That's how I ended up studying away from the pack. I went to MIT and became a security software engineer. I wanted to prove my worth to the pack.”

“Three years ago, the youngest Alpha's son decided -” She took a deep breath. “He raped me.”

I could feel James becoming agitated next to me. This is a sore subject for both of our families and to the entire pack. Mom's pack survivors spent years trying to heal from the nightmare they lived at the hands of the people that killed the rest. I even remember when I was little how some things would trigger Mom. I didn't always understand it, but I knew something bad had happened to her.

“I went to the Alpha at my parent's urging, but I should have known nothing would happen to him. Instead, we were all beaten. My parents died, and they left me for dead in the forest.”

“Instead of dying, I got my wolf that day. She healed me and helped me run away.” She looked down at Molly, who was sleeping again in Evie's arms. I did my best to pay attention to Ziomara instead of looking at Evie with a baby in her arms. It was doing things to my heart that I didn't want to think about.

“Molly is the product of that rape. I haven't contacted anyone from the pack since. I'm too scared...” Her voice shook, and she couldn't continue talking, but I understood what she feared.

“You think if they realize that Molly is the Alpha son's child, they will take her away?” I finished for her.

“Yes, Alpha. I haven't joined another pack because I can't risk them finding Molly.”

“We can protect you.”

“You don't understand. The Alpha...is ruthless. If they discover Molly, they won't hesitate to do whatever they deem necessary to get to her. That includes declaring war against any pack that shields me. This is why I'm telling you my story because taking me in could potentially invite a war to your doorstep.”

“I don't know how much Evie has told you about our pack and our adjacent pack, Guardian Moon.” I said, flicking my eyes to Evie.

“Nothing other than you are different and would accept me.” She answered. I nodded.

“My mother, the previous Luna, and his mother, the previous Gamma Female,” I motioned to James, “along with about twenty other women here, are abuse survivors. We have the best program set up for abused pack members, from therapy to education and technical training. Being a survivor isn't a liability. It's a strength. It means you've survived more than many people will ever go through in their lifetime. Protecting you and your child is a risk we're more than willing to take up. That's not just me talking, but an entire pack that has already proven they will protect pack members that have gone through hell and survived.” Her shocked face and that small glimmer of hope I could see in her eyes made me continue.

“That's not all. Guardian Moon is a pack that takes in refugees, rogues wanting a second chance and lost souls needing a place to call home. If you join us, you will find that their pack and ours are more than neighbors, we're family. They are also an incredibly unique pack. It is home to not just wolves, but werecats, jaguars, bears, tigers, witches and vampires.” Her eyes went wide at this information. I didn't blame her, Guardian Moon was truly unique.

“The mate pairings in the pack are a combination of any of those I've mentioned which means there are hundreds of hybrids in that pack and ours.” I looked over at Evie again, and she gave me a proud encouraging smile. It's a smile that says how proud she is to be a part of Crescent Moon and Guardian Moon. “I think, if you're willing to give us a chance, you might grow to call this home in more than just your allegiance. You and Molly. You are both welcome here.”

“If you're sure that I won't pose a risk, Alpha Cory...”

“I didn't say there was no risk, Ziomara.” I corrected. “What I said is that you've gone through enough alone and that if you give us a chance, we are more than happy to take on that risk and promise to do our best to protect you.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and all she could do was nod. I grabbed the ceremonial knife from my desk drawer.

“You joining the pack will also make Molly a pack member. The protection will extend to her.” I told her. She nodded and held out her hand. The pledge was simple enough, and once it was done, we got down to business.

“We've set you up with a little house a few streets away from the daycare. It's a three bedroom, two baths with a small yard. I think it will be to your liking. We have a small warehouse of used furniture for people that are moving out of their parent's houses or people that have a need to start over. I've already had the house furnished with the basics, but if you find you need anything else to make it comfortable, please let us know.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, on to more pressing business, before I let you both rest, I'm afraid.” I said and pulled out the bag of electronics.

“Blue Moon was attacked during the Full Moon celebration. As per a long-standing agreement that our packs have in place, both Crescent Moon and Guardian Moon members were present. There were many casualties, unfortunately, and even more wounded.”

“Who-” Evie started to ask, but I needed to continue. I needed to get this all out at once.

“There is a war brewing. Has been for a long time. It's something I will go into depth at a later time. The story is too long, and I promise to give you the full details another time, but for the moment, I need any information you can extract from these devices. They belong to the people that attacked us. We've gotten a few before, but the moment they are accessed, they fry. This is the biggest amount we've been able to recover. Please be careful and please try. We need to find the people that have hurt our packs before they believe they can attack again. I don't know how they knew that Blue Moon was the least guarded pack of the three, but they did, which means we don't know what other information they may have about us. We are well protected here, but I need to make sure we are well protected anywhere.”

“Yes, Alpha.” They said.

“Go rest. I'm sure you've had a long drive. I want you both to meet me in the new building tomorrow. Evie, your dad is already migrating some tools for you to work there from the main office. Whatever else you need, give me a list, and I'll make sure it's ordered. This is priority number one right now.”

“Cor- Alpha Cory.” Evie corrected herself since we were in an official meeting and in front of a regular pack member, but while I understood it, it somehow still hurt to be addressed so formally by her. “I need to know who was hurt. Please. No one would answer my phone calls. I've been panicking since last night.”

“How could you know?” I frowned.

“I don't know. It was a feeling. My heart hurt, and I couldn't breathe.”

“And the moon was red. A sign of death. That's why we're here early. We drove as fast as we could.” Ziomara answered.

“Have you always felt what others feel?” I asked Evie.

“No. I don't even know WHO I felt in pain. Which is why I was concerned. My family-”

“They are fine. Your mom and Everett are still in Blue Moon helping with the wounded. Your father is around here somewhere.”

“And the rest? Your family...” She asked timidly as if wondering if she had a right to ask.

“Areli, Cecilia, and Lucien were wounded. Lucien was conscious when I left and stable. His mate was stable, but unconscious. Areli...” My heart clenched. “She had to go into a medically induced coma. We almost lost her. Violet... Violet found and lost her mate last night.”

“Oh Cory. I'm so sorry.” She said, tear gathering and falling from her beautiful green eyes. I could only nod.

“I have to call Mom and Dad to let them know. There's been a lot of loss today. The pyres will be burned this evening, so please, go rest, Evie. It would mean a lot to see you there.”

“Call me so I can make sure to attend?” She asked.

“I can't find my phone, but I will mind link you.” I answered her.

“Thank you.”

They got up to leave when Evie stopped and turned around. I stopped breathing at the image in front of me. Her warm and concerned face, holding a child in her arms.

Blessed would be the man that ended up bonded to her, to be able to see her like this and know she was his. Cursed was I to know she would belong to someone else because the moment I saw her running toward me when she arrived, I realized just how deeply in love with her I've always been and continue to be. I was truly and thoroughly f****d.

“I'll be moving into the house with Zi. I need some independence, and she could use the company while she settles in.” She smiled down at the sleeping toddler in her arms. “And Molly could use a friendly face while she adjusts.”

“Do you-” I cleared my throat when I felt it crack. “Do you need any help moving your stuff?”

“No. I should be fine. We'll use the trailer to move whatever I need. Thank you. You should all go nap. You look like you've aged twenty years in one night. We need our Alpha strong.” She said.

I gave her a small smile, but I wouldn't get any rest until tonight. There was too much to do. I had to visit the families of everyone lost. I needed to make sure our security was all in place. Uncle Lalo was supposed to come out to let me know if they had enough people to up their security and I needed to make sure my family was going to be safe. Evergreen is going to suit up Blue Moon to the teeth. Last night would never repeat. I still needed to call Mom and Dad.