I Thought She's My Luna

CHAPTER 3

Jessica

Wes was gone?! NO! It couldn't be.

I looked at Rachel. "If this is some kind of prank, it's not funny."

I shifted my gaze behind Rachel's shoulder, hoping that Wes would suddenly appear.

"It's not. Wes really left, and he will never come back." Tears streamed down Rachel's cheeks.

My mind suddenly awakened from the thoughts of denial, and I covered Rachel with my arms. This girl in front of me is now alone in the hands of her abusive father.

How could Wes leave, and how could I be so selfish with my feelings for Wes?!

"Shh... Don't cry, Rachel. I'm here for you," I comforted her.

I was devastated by Wes's action. It was so thoughtless of him to come up with such a decision.

Rachel slowly pulled away and gently wiped her tears.

"Let's not ruin your special day, Jes, for someone like Wes, a coward and a jerk!" she said indignantly.

I was itching to ask her what really happened, but it would be better to listen to her, and I hope her mood will be better the next day to speak about it.

While still wondering what drove Wes away from the pack, I seized Rachel's hand.

"You're right. Let's have fun tonight!" I smiled and led her to the buffet table.

As Rachel and I approached the buffet, I discreetly signaled my Mom to call Wes.

Mom nodded, and then she leaned on Dad's ear.

"Try this, Rachel." I took a piece of one of the appetizers laid beautifully on the table and placed it in her mouth.

"Mmm... This is so good!" Rachel beamed as if she was never upset.

"We serve only the best." I winked.

"Because Luna Nora knows best. You're lucky to have a mom like her. Maybe that's the advantage of being a human." Her momentary cheerfulness was replaced with melancholy and nostalgia.

"I'm sure your Mom would be the same if she were here." I tried to brighten her mood, but Rachel shook her head.

"No, Jes, I saw how the she-wolves in our pack raised their pups. They were very rough on them. They didn't even care if their toddlers climbed high places, and for the teenagers, they let them do whatever they wanted. They don't respect the word mate." I couldn't disagree because what she said was true and the reason why Mom made the rule about locking the doors.

A few years ago, while doing her night rounds, she caught one of our members in his room hooking up with one of the she-wolves from Blood Moon who wasn't his mate.

I feel bad for Rachel right now, but I shouldn't show her pity.

With a cheery expression, I placed my hand on Rachel's shoulder. "But you're not like that, Rachel. Your brothers raised you well. And I am always here for you. We may not be biological sisters, but you'll always be my younger sister in my heart."

Rachel's features lightened up, and she gave me a quick hug. "Thank you, Jes. I'm so glad to hear that, especially now that I need you the most."

"You don't have to thank your sister." I winked and smiled.

I offered her another appetizer and then decided to join Mom and Dad in entertaining the guests. As we continued conversing, Dad whispered to me, "I need to speak with Rachel."

Dad moved closer to Rachel, "Can we talk for a moment? There's something I would like to discuss." I heard Dad whisper.

"Can't you do it after the party?" I asked Dad.

"It's urgent," he answered firmly.

"Sure, Alpha Grayson, I'd gladly speak with you." Rachel turned to me. "I'll be right back," she said, and they both started heading out of the ballroom.

But before they could reach the entrance, a man who looked the same age as my dad appeared, escorted by tons of men.

"Would you look at that? She's now a fully grown-up she-wolf." His eyes were on me.

The room suddenly fell silent.

Who was he?

Mom rushed beside Dad. "How did you get in?!" she questioned.

"Go back to our daughter Nora. You too, Rachel," Dad ordered.

Mom immediately dragged Rachel to where I was.

"Who's that man, Mom? I've never seen him before," I inquired.

"He's a nobody," Mom said sternly. I noticed her gaze never left the man, staring at him as sharply as a knife.

"You're not welcome here, Collin, so get out of here and take your smelly puppies with you," Dad snarled.

"Hahahahaha!!! Too late. I have already breached your protective barrier, and my puppies are scattered everywhere. So..." The man named Collin ambled towards Dad. This man had an overflowing confidence, which made me find him intimidating.

His next move surprised me. He grabbed Dad's throat with one hand.

Trained to be an Alpha, my body responded quickly.

I grabbed Collin's wrist, "Get your filthy hands off my father!"

"Ooh... Feisty little wolf. Just like your father but as pretty as your mother." He smirked, and then...

"Aaaaaahhhhh!!!" I screamed as I went flying and slammed my back on the ground.

"Charged!" I heard Dad's command.

Bone-snapping noises filled the room as everyone shifted into wolf form.

"Can we shift?" I asked my wolf.

"Pretty wolf? Are you there?" What the hell?

"So you choose to remain quiet when I really need you?! Fine, I will fight in my human form!" I grumbled.

I pushed myself up, and a groan escaped me as I tried to straighten my back.

Once I was on my feet, a familiar hand grabbed me. I turned around and saw Mom holding Rachel in her other hand.

"We must go." She began pulling me and Rachel away.

I snapped out of her hand. "No, Mom. I will fight."

Mom's eyes grew wide. "Duck!"

The three of us dodged, and I felt a bushy fur brush against my bare shoulder.

I met the wolf's eyes, snarling at me.

"Is that all you got?" I scoffed.

Preparing to attack, I put one foot backward and my palms on the ground.

"Go to hell!" I growled.

When I was about to pounce at the brown wolf, a menacing growl made my muscles rigid. And a big black wolf jumped before me.

Dad!

He grabbed the wolf's throat with his mighty canines and ripped it open in a second.

"Leave! Now!" I heard a voice in my head, and it sounded like Dad.

Dad's wolf turned to me, and I heard his voice again. "Go," he was pleading this time.

"But Dad..." Mom began dragging me with my eyes fixed on Dad.

"No, Dad, I want to stay and fight with you!" I tried to pull away from Mom's firm hold, but Rachel grabbed my other arm. They kept dragging me until we reached the back of the house, where a lady in her mid-age was waiting for us.

"Claudia, it's time." She told the lady.

Mom finally let go and faced me. "This is Claudia. She's a good friend of mine. She will take care of you for you until we arrive."

"What are you talking about, Mom? What's happening?! And what do you mean it's time?" Tears found their way out of my frustrated eyes. I hate that I didn't know anything and couldn't do anything to help either!

"I'll explain everything to you later. Just go with Claudia. We will meet you at her house." Mom cupped my cheeks. "Please, Jessica."

Defeated, I nodded.

"That's my girl." She kissed me on the cheek. "Now run as fast as you can and never look back."

"You're scaring me, mom." I didn't like her choice of words.

"Just do as I say." She veered her attention to Claudia. "Take these two girls now."

She let go of my face, and without uttering another word, she turned around and sprinted towards the house.

"Mom!" I cried out, but she never looked back.

"Let's go, Jessica!" Claudia pulled me, and we started running.

We kept running and running until...

BOOM!

The deafening sound pushed me to a halt. Nightmare welcomed me as I spun around. Our house turned into a big ball of fire.

"I'm going back!" Rachel said and rushed in the direction of the house.

"I'm going back too!" Before I could take a step, the world started spinning, and my legs had grown weak.

My back finally touched the ground. I tried to move a finger but was too weak to do so. Even my eyes couldn't open wide.

Things around me began to blur until everything got consumed by darkness.