Emerald Eyed Luna

Chapter 7

“Nina, wake up, something is happening, something doesn’t feel right!” Raven whispered urgently.

Sitting up in my wolf form, still since I didn’t have any clothes, I felt it. A very bad feeling. I assumed the bad feeling was Holly being Damian’s mate but now I wonder if it was more. Slowly, we creeped out of our cave and strained my ears. I heard growing and smelled blood.

“Dad, what’s going on? I mind-linked my dad

“HOLY f**k, NINA! Are you okay? Where are you? We are under attack! Get to the safe house NOW!”

Panic sank into me. I ran to our house and under the kitchen island was a bunker. I can clearly hear the growls and cries of wolves. I sink into the mattress we have there and wait it out. It happens, I feel a snap. I screamed as loudly as I could. I can’t believe it my MOM is dead! I felt her life being cut from my mind. I hear my dad’s wails in the distance and I know he will not survive tonight either or will be dead in months. No one survives a mate dying. Your wolf will eventually go bad and you will turn Rouge. I didn’t think I had anything left to cry, but I did. I cried for my mom and when I finally felt my dad’s connection snap, I cried for him too. I am now an orphan, and my best friend is mated to my childhood lover. I cried till I passed out again. Raven kept watch in case she needed to protect me while I mourned.

It is finally morning and I wake up. This isn’t my bed, I think, and last night came rushing back to me. I know I shouldn’t stay down here but I need to find my parents' body and say goodbye. I walked upstairs looking at all the pictures my mom had hung on the wall and I lose it. I smash everything in sight. I am going to town when I feel strong arms around me holding me still. Tears are pouring out and I don’t have energy to fight with anyone.

“I got you Nina”, Trevor said. I was thankful it wasn’t Holly or Damian. I am not ready to face them yet. I quickly realized I was still naked and so did Trevor as he let me go and turned around. Sprinting to my room and put on black joggers and a sports bra and crop top. I pull on my Nike sneakers as Trevor walks in and sits down on my bed. He has been here before but it just feels different now. His sister will be Luna.

“I don’t know what to say, Nina. I am so sorry about your parents. I am sure you already know. Holly had no idea what was going to happen. She feels like the worst person in the world. Damian in worse. He didn’t reject Holly, but didn’t accept her either. Everyone assumed it would have been you…” his voice trailed off. We sat in uncomfortable silence for a while.

“Take me to my parents” I said finally. Trevor just looked at me and nodded. He was always like a brother to me and I let him put his arms around me and comfort me. We walked in silence and I kept my head down. I could feel everyone staring and I couldn’t look into the eyes that I am sure are fully of pity. The girl whose boyfriend was mated to her best friend and lost her parents. I was going to be the pack member that everyone felt sorry for. It hit me right then that I wasn’t going to be able to take the Beta position. How could I? Work under Damian and Holly and watch their love story grow? I am not that strong. I thought Trevor was going to get a promotion. Finally, we made it to where they were preparing for the funerals. Pack life is different. Here at the Red Moon pack, we don’t have funerals in these situations. If someone dies of natural causes, then yes, but warriors that die on the battle field get the honor funeral. Everyone gathers around. The Alpha will say a few words and then they will be set on fire. Their ashes fertilize the ground in the belief that we are giving back to the Moon Goddess by keeping her creations alive. Circle of life. Trevor was sent to come get me for the ceremony. I realized at that moment as we approached the whole pack. He guides me over to where my parents are.

“Nina” I heard softly, I turned and saw Holly and a tear-soaked face and Damian looking at me from behind her. Next to him are his parents, the Alpha and Luna with sorrowful expressions on their faces. I can’t do this now, so I just turn around and walk away to my parents. We lost 27 warriors altogether. I grabbed my parent’s wedding rings and my mom’s necklace she had on. I had given it to her for their 25th wedding anniversary. It was a simple single princess cut emerald on a white gold chain. Putting their rings on the necklace and I got Trevor to put the necklace on me.

I hear the Alpha speak but honestly, I am done being here. Zoning out. I can’t help but think, what will I do now? Do I stay in the same house? Where do I work? I know mom and dad had a saving saved up, so I am not hurting for money, but I can’t rely on it. I was planning on going to college anyway, so maybe I will go to one outside of this state. I can’t stay here, that is all I know. Finally, they start to get fire to the bodies and I watch my parents’ become ash. Well, I know one thing for sure now. My mate is not in this pack. I would have smelled him today. I don’t know if I should be happy about that or not. Happy I am not going to be stuck here looking at Damian and Holly for the rest of my life, but sad I will have to leave into the unknown to find him.

Trevor starts guiding me back home since I didn’t want to go to the meal after. I can’t eat. Walking into the front door, I found the couch and lay down. I hear a door shut and glass moving and I realized Trevor is cleaning up my mess. Working on an auto pilot, I stood up to help him.

“Nina, don’t. I can handle it. You need to eat and relax.”

Looking down, I whispered, “I can’t sit still, I need to keep moving.”

“Okay, well, why don’t you make us some lunch since we missed the meal. He suggested

I nodded and went to work. I wasn’t really thinking and I just made everything. I started by boiling the noodles and cutting the chicken and adding it to the pan. While that was cooking, I made the dough for chocolate chip cookies and had them in the oven by the time the noodles were done. My chicken was cooked and I added the Alfredo sauce and added the noodles. It is my stable, and apparently everyone will say how amazing it is. It is another comfort food for me.

“Nina, we need to talk”. I hear a high squeaky voice from the door.

Straightening my back and prepared myself. I was not ready for this, but here we go. Time to be the daughter my parents raised. And, since Raven has been absent from my mind all morning, I am on my own. She stayed up all night to make sure we were protected that she needed to sleep today.

Turning to look at Holly I could tell she had been crying. Her cheeks are red and her nose from blowing her nose, her eyes are swollen and red. She is wearing leggings and a t-shirt and her hair is in a pony tail. Standing behind her was Damian. His eyes reflect the pain and turmoil he is in. Hearing black gym shorts and white wife beater looking sexy as ever. Trevor had his head showing from the doorway with a nervous look to him. Like, is she going to go all crazy? I had to smile internally because that is exactly what I would do. I am a born fighter, trained and at the top of my class. I wouldn’t be able to kill Damian or Holly but I could get a few hits in before I was pulled off. And they knew it. They were standing tense and waiting to see what I would do. Glancing nervously between them both.

Sighing, I said, “Nothing to talk about. You guys are mates. You will not reject each other. Damian, our fairy tale of love, has come to an end. Holly, our friendship is done, and I will be leaving here soon once I get everything in order. I can’t stay here and watch you two in a mate bond being in love and running the pack as Alpha and Luna, even if I am not made Beta. Being Beta would be worse, having to work closely with you guys and seeing it every day. Trevor could be Beta. Zach could be Gamma. I won’t be the pathetic ex-girlfriend you can’t get away from. I have more pride than that. I might eventually feel different about things, but right now I need to not see you guys ever again.”

I finished my speech and Holly had a shocked and hurt expression on her face. She burst into tears and runs outside through the front door. Damian looks back at her and turns to look at me, opening his mouth to say something, but I stop him before he does.

“Just leave”

I feel a mind-link from Damian. I allowed it through. “I am so sorry, I will forever love you. Please forgive me.”

I shut it off and didn’t reply. Looking out the window, I see him bring her into a hug. He tilts his head and sees me watching through the window and gets a pained look in his eyes. All I can do is turn away before I head to bed and cry myself to sleep, letting Trevor clean the kitchen.