Part 3 Tears Under the Moon

A Message from Ophelia

Kade had just made it to the packhouse after a workout with the warriors. He was still lit from the night before. He took a long hot shower and dried off, wrapping a towel around his waist. He was surprised when he came out to find Tabatha sitting on his bed.

"Hey hot stuff. Nice abs." Tabatha said teasingly.

"What the hell do you want Tabatha?" He groaned, taking another towel to dry his hair. Kade had been letting his hair grow out and he now had dreads that hung to his waist. Kade was a hunk by any girl's standards, he had broad shoulders and was all muscle. "Hurry up and put some clothes on!"

"Why am I turning you on?" He said in a low seductive tone.

"Does that work?" Tabatha asked referring to his deep baritone voice.

"Usually," Kade said, pulling a tea shirt over his head.

"We need to talk, Kade it's serious," Tabatha said.

Kade could tell it was serious by her tone. He dropped his towel exposing himself to her. He had expected a reaction but to his surprise, she did not look away. He slid his boxers on and then some loose-fitting jeans.

"Enjoy the view?" He asked.

"I've seen bigger, but still a nice package." She said honestly walking over to him she bent down and picked the towel up walking over and she placed it in the hamper. "Kade, when was the last time you heard from Vanessa?"

"Great here we go with that crap again."

"What crap?"Tabatha asked confused.

"I'm not taking her back! Did she contact you or something?"

"Uh no," Tabatha said, looking at him oddly.

"Oh well in that case I haven't spoken with her since she left," Kade said, obviously annoyed.

"Were you expecting me to say I had spoken to her? You said again and I have never once asked about her?" Now Tabatha was looking annoyed too.

"Well, Vanessa thinks she is so smooth. I figured once she was done doing God knows what she would come running back. The door is closed though." Kade pointed out, "I have moved on."

"Kade Vanessa is missing."

"What do you mean missing?"

"I don't know I'm going to find out though."

"Tabatha, what the hell are you talking about?" Kade asked glaring at her.

"Ophelia showed up here. She said Blaine knew six months ago that Vanessa was missing and he was busy…"

"What do you mean missing?"

"I don't know!" Tabatha yelled at him, "But I'm going to figure it out because Cat would want me to."

"Why would you believe anything those two come up with?"

"I don't Kade, which is why I'm going to go check it out myself."

"How Tabatha you can't just go running through the woods alone."

"Duh, I will drive," Tabatha said heading for the door.

"You don't have a car." Kade pointed out. Tabatha held up the keys.

"I'm going to use Catori's jeep. I'm going to talk to her mom."

"Have you run this past, Zion?"

"Not yet," Tabatha admitted.

"When do you plan to?"

"After I confirm she is missing." She confessed.

"You plan to leave without permission?" Kade stared at her waiting for an answer. Tabatha just stared back at him. Kade finally sighed, "Tabatha Zion gave a direct order. No one is supposed to leave our territory."

"Are you going to snitch on me, Kade?"

They stood staring at each other.

"I'm going by car, Kade not by foot. Perfectly safe." Tabatha said, throwing up her hands.

"Perfectly safe," Kade said, mimicking her, "until you are not!"

"Oh you love us to be damsels in distress then you can come in with your big strong muscles and rescue us," Tabatha said sarcastically. It went completely over Kade's head. He gave her a huge goofy smile as he held his arm up to flex his muscles.

Tabatha rolled her eyes. And shoved him out her way as she headed for the door.

"Hey Tabatha they may have been bigger but I bet I could make you scream the loudest." Kade winked at her. Tabatha did not even bother to respond to that. Kade was sexy but he and Blaine were tight and his thing with Vanessa made him off limits to her.

"Seriously though if Zion finds out you left he will be pissed. I'm not lying for you." Kade said following behind her.

"Fine," Tabatha said walking down the steps, "I do not recall asking you to, just don't snitch. If I'm not back in a few hours something went wrong." Tabatha said as they approached the jeep.

"We were not expecting them. I wonder what's up?" Kade said as he looked toward the edge of the woods and saw a few members of the Silver Crescent Moon emerge.

"Don't know, don't care. Looks like the distraction I needed." Tabatha eased in on the driver's side.

She noticed Kade looking up and saw Chastity soaring above on her broom.

"Tabatha, maybe you should wait and see what Zion thinks," Kade said.

"Which is the best way to avoid border control," Tabatha responded, ignoring his concerns.

"Fine, look three hours and I'm coming to find you myself. Go out on the east end Richard will let you pass."

"Thanks, Kade." Tabatha high-tailed it out there before he changed his mind. She slowed down as she spotted Zara.

"Zara," Tabatha called out.

"Hey I'm going against Alpha orders to check on my friend and I was thinking-"

"Cool!" Zara jumped in the passenger's seat before she could even finish.

Tabatha giggled. "Are you not worried about getting in trouble?"

"Oh, you didn't know I am such a f*****g rebel." Zara said giggling, "I swear I have always wanted to use that line." They both laughed as they headed out of the territory.

"So this friend, do I know her?"

"Do you remember the human girl that lived among us? Kade's mate."

Zara started to laugh, "Uh yes! I caught my perverted little cousin with nudes of her."

"What!" Tabatha turned to look at her. When Zara screamed, "BRAKES!"

Tabatha hit the brakes and when the dust cleared Chastity stood in front of the jeep.

Tabatha and Zara both sat frozen as Chastity walked around to the driver's side door and stood.

"Are you freaking crazy? I could have hit you!" Tabatha yelled at Chastity.

"But you didn't. And I know you saw me back there yet you were in such a hurry that you could not speak. What's your problem?" Chastity asked scowling.

"I had somewhere to be." Tabatha snapped.

"Out of Mystic Moon territory?" Chastity asked and for a moment there was an awkward silence. Finally, Zara leaned over, "Hi I'm Zara nice to meet you."

Chastity looked over at Zara and back at Tabatha with a look of disappointment, "does she know what you are being so tight-lipped about?" Chastity asked. When Tabatha did not respond Chastity stepped back clearly hurt yet she said nothing. "I'm on a time schedule," Tabatha said, removing her foot from the brake.

They drove in awkward silence and finally, Zara spoke up, "I thought you guys were friends."

"Me too." That was all Tabatha said as she continued to drive. They arrived at Catori's cabin and Tabatha used the key to enter.

"Wow, Luna lived here alone? I so wanna be like her." Zara said as she walked over and admired the old records and CD collection. Tabatha went straight to Catori's old room and started going through her things.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Zara called out.

"I don't know. Something with Vanessa's phone number or an address. I need to contact her mom."

"What about Wolf book or f*******: as the humans call it."

"I don't know her name. Besides, I don't have a cell phone do you?" Tabatha called out.

"No, I'm surprised this place still has power. Who is footing the bill?" Zara yelled as she pressed play on Catori's sound system.

Tabatha froze as the sound of artist Monica's voice came easing through the speakers. The song was called commitment.

It started off with the lyrics

It don't take much, a little affection

Just some of your time

That's all that I'm asking for

Feels like this dream will never come true

I just want somebody who

Knows how to listen and give me attention

Who won't break my heart

Good intentions, I ain't hard to please

I don't need a lot, just show me that you care

Can you be there when I need you most?

And when I say I don't

Make me feel secure, forever

I just need someone to love me

When it's hard to

I can trust with all my issues

Someone who is patient and consistent

I need good s*x and commitment from somebody loyal

Understanding, who won't change up

Take advantage of my emotions or my feelings

I need good s*x and commitment

By this time Tabatha had stopped shuffling through papers and was bobbing her head. The words seemed to be everything she was feeling at the moment. By the time Monica had sung

I don't want money

I'd rather effort, somebody real

I can be myself around

Who makes me mad, don't makes me cry

Who knows what it means to sacrifice

If I'm having of bad day, you know just what to say

I can show you all my thoughts and where my demons play

And you won't use them against me

You rather use them to lift me

Can you be there when I need you most?

Make me feel beautiful (oh, oh, oh)

Tabatha was dancing around like she had not in months.

Give reassurance

Forever

I just need someone to love me

When it's hard to

I can trust with all my issues

Someone who's patient and consistent

I need good s*x and commitment from somebody loyal

Understanding who won't change up

Take advantage of my emotions or feelings

I need good s*x and commitment

By the time the song ended Tabatha was completely out of breath and in tears. It felt so good to feel something. She could have spent the entire day listening to Catori's music collection and it seemed to be broad. When she came back into the living area she found Zara flinging her hair around and dancing to next time he cheats by Carrie Underwood.

Tabatha sat on the sofa frustrated, plus she was remembering the time she, River, Chastity, Cat, and Chenoa snuck out of the territory to meet Vanessa here and they all hung out until Zion found out they left without permission.

Zara stopped to look at Tabatha, "You look like you are going through something."

"Just remember how fun times used to be. I have to find Vanessa's mom's name. Maybe Kade will know."

"Her name is Jean." Chastity said making both Zara and Tabatha scream.

"s**t, you scared the s**t out of me!" Tabatha yelled.

"Sorry." Chastity said.

"How did you do that?" Zara asked, her eyes glowing with curiosity.

"Um, it's a spell I actually walked in with you guys. Maybe if Tabatha wasn't acting all secretive I could help." Chastity said glaring at her.

"Wouldn't want to pull you away from Queen Chenoa for too long," Tabatha said snidely

"It's Alpha, not Queen." Chastity said correcting her, then realizing she already knew this she said "why are you acting funny?"

Tabatha just rolled her eyes and left her standing there to go search the room that was once Catori's mom.

Chastity came in and sat on the bed studying her, "How come you won't just talk to me and tell me what I did wrong?"

"You did nothing, Chastity it's me just drop it," Tabatha said looking through the boxes left behind in the closet.

"I hate the way things have changed. We didn't use to lie to each other and now we do it so easily," Chastity said sadly.

Tabatha pulled out an old photo album, "Who lied to you?"

"River, he said he did not know where you were going."

"Oh my God look at how little Cat was. She is so freaking adorable. Zion would love these pictures."

Tabatha looked up at Chasity and saw that she looked really sad she felt bad for being a b***h to her, "River did not lie to you. He didn't know where I was going, only Kade did."

Chastity eased off the bed and came to stand next to her. "Zara, come look at what we found!"

Zara was still shuffling through the old records when the front door opened and River came waltzing in. "Guys we have company!"

Tabatha and Chastity walked into the living room to find a highly pissed-off River.

"What the hell Tabatha! I was with you last night and you don't mention your sneaking off here without me?"

"River you scared the s**t out of me. I thought Zion was with you." Tabatha confessed

"So Zion does not know about this?" River said.

"No look Ophelia came by the bar today and told me Vanessa was missing. I had to find out if it was true."

"How would he know?" Chastity asked.

"I don't know. If she is though Catori would help and she is not here so it's up to me." Tabatha concluded.

"No, it's not." River said.

"You were not her only friend." Chastity chimed in.

"So it's up to us not you." River said sharply.

They all stood looking back and forth until finally, River said, "So what do we know?"

"We know Vanessa's mom's name is Jene," Tabatha said.

"Keys," River held his hand up and Tabatha tossed him the keys. They followed him out locking the door behind them.

"You should have come to me, Tabatha." River said feeling some kind of way about being left out.

"Sorry." Tabatha said.

"At least you two made up." He nodded toward Chastity.

"I didn't know we were mad at each other." Chastity said, completely confused.

"Oh" was all River replied.

Zara did most of the talking because everyone else rode in silence. "Do you know where we are going and how?"

"Sort of I spent time on this side of the River before the Vargis came along." River explained.

"Cool." Zara looked over at Chastity and she could feel her sadness. She was an empath so her energy was bringing her down.

"So Chastity, what are you doing back in Mystic?" Zara asked. Chastity frowned as if the question confused her, "It is my home, so I thought."

"I thought Silver Crescent was your home now," Tabatha mumbled.

"I would call it a second home. My home is where Catori is." Chastity said quietly.

"You were gone so long just thought you moved," Tabatha pointed out.

"No not all I mean Noah wanted me to but I told her no. I like my cabin and…" Chastity did not finish; she just turned and looked out the window. "Maybe I should have stayed. At least I was wanted there."

River looked over at Tabatha but she too was staring out the window. Pretending she did not hear Chastity's last comment.

"Well, I am glad you are back, Chastity. I missed hanging out with you I bet Nyla has missed you too." River said teasing. She did at this point let out a small laugh.

"Oh River, how are your mate and children?" Chastity asked.

"Ladonna is great and so are the babies but she is not my mate." River explained.

"So you just slept with her and got her pregnant as you did me?" Chastity asked, trying to understand.

"Shots fired," Zara mumbled.

"Uh well Chastity I know we did not really have time to discuss everything but maybe we should do that um alone." River said awkwardly.

"Don't mind me," Tabatha said as she enjoyed watching River squirm.

"Did you chase Nyla with her too? Did you talk about your dad and Zion, stuff like that? I guess I don't understand I think I thought that you cared about me differently than you did and if I would have known that you did not I think I would have slept with George instead."

"George?" Tabatha turned all the way around in her seat to look at Chastity.

"Who the f**k is George?" River growled.

Zara could not help but laugh this was an interesting group of friends she had made.

"George is a member of the Silver Crescent Moon Pack and he taught me a lot of things. Did you know that sometimes when people have s*x they suck on each other's-" Zara reached over and covered Chastity's mouth.

"I'm so not ready for whatever you are about to say!" Zara yelled.

Tabatha's mouth hit the floor, "Chastity! You naughty little witch!" Tabatha squealed, "tell me more!"

"No no no!" Zara said, "I think that this should be discussed delicately and um in private."

"Spoken like a true Luna," Tabatha said, "I want all the details…later." She looked over at River he was fuming. Tabatha tried to pretend she didn't notice but she felt like he deserved it. He was having s*x not considering anyone else feelings. They pulled in front of a children's home and River got out after mumbling give me a second. He slammed the door and walked over under a tree where he paced back and forth yelling obscenities.

"So you were mad at me?" Chastity asked.

"Yes." Tabatha finally admitted.

"Why what did I do?" Chastity asked.

"You left me when I needed you the most. When I thought we needed each other. Because as always Chenoa comes first and everyone loves her more so I get left out as always. I just thought since he both lost pups we could relate but nope I had to deal with it alone." Tabatha opened the door and slid out slamming the door behind her she walked over to River and River saw her coming he opened his arms and Tabatha lay her head on his chest and cried.

"I am not a bad person." Chastity said looking at Zara.

"I didn't think that for a minute. I think she has just had a hard time. The girls in the pack are not nice and I think she is just in pain. I know she cares a lot about you. Should we get out?"

"I did not want to remember I'm not like her I wanted to pretend it did not happen so I wouldn't have to feel the pain but seeing River makes it difficult and I am angry." Chastity explained.

Zara nodded and Chastity opened the car door. River and Tabatha walked back over and they all entered the building stopping at the front desk.

"Hi my name is River and I am looking for Mrs. Jene."

The woman behind the front desk looked at River over her glasses, "Jene hmm and who are you?" She said eying him suspiciously.

"Friends of Vanessa, her daughter." River said politely.

The woman picked up the phone and punched in a few numbers, "Jene there are a bunch of teenagers out here looking for ya." The woman said.

"Teenagers," Tabatha mumbled.

"I don't know they say they are friends of your daughter." The woman snapped hanging up the phone. She went back to doing her work ignoring them altogether. A few minutes later a woman came out she looked them up and down. "Did you all go through security?" She asked them.

"Uh no." Zara was the first to speak.

Jene glared at the woman sitting behind the desk, "Ruby everyone goes through security."

"There are a bunch of kids." The woman said snidely.

"Most school shootings are done by kids and I don't give a damn if it's the Pope, everyone goes through security!" Mrs. Jene snapped, "One more week and your Marla's problem."

River tossed his hands in the air, "no guns ma'am just here to chat."

Mrs. Jene looked River up and down. "What is this about?"

"We are friends of Vanessa and we kind of lost contact with her. We knew you worked here and well we thought maybe you could help. Sorry for barging in on you at work but it's kind of important to us."

"Follow me, kids." Mrs. Jene led them through huge doors and around what looked like a nurse's office and into her office. All of their eyes wandered around looking at everything.

"Cat use to work here before she came to Mystic. She worked in the kitchen. She learned to cook from her mom." Tabatha was explaining to Zara.

"Wow, it's amazing," Zara said.

"Cat, are you talking about Kaleigha?" Mrs. Jene asked.

"Yes, she is our Luna or was," Tabatha explained

"Was?" Mrs. Jene held a finger up, "I think I better have a seat."

Mrs. Jene slid the glasses off her face and pulled a chair out. "You all can have a seat as well."

"Mrs. Jene where is Vanessa? We came because well uh we heard um that-"

"She is missing?" Mrs. Jene decided to help her out.

"Yes," Tabatha said.

"Unfortunately this is true."

"Oh no!" Chastity exhaled.

"Shit." River mumbled he had been hoping it was not true.

Tabatha just wiped at her tears because she now knew Vanessa had been missing now for nearly a year. "When did she go missing?" Tabatha asked.

"We have to find her guys!" Chastity shrieked, "this is horrible."

"Well good luck with that the police did not get very far." Mrs. Jene said sadly.

"Yes, well they are not us." Tabatha said, "we have resources the police don't have."

"We should start where she went missing." River said, "Alpha Lucas' abilities would come in handy."

"Do you think he would help?" Tabatha asked.

"We have to try." River said.

"Chastity, do you think you could contact her with a spell?" Tabatha asked.

"Maybe if I had some personal things of hers. It's worth a try." Chastity said.

"Maybe if I had her scent I could try to sniff her out but it's been so long," Zara said.

"Where did you kids say you were from again?" Mrs. Jene asked.

"Vanessa lived among our people at Mystic Moon. She was mated to Kade." Tabatha explained.

"We were friends before that though we use to hang at Kali's cabin before she met Zion." River explained.

"You know Zion? Where the hell is Kaleigha she left me a package and told me not to give it to anyone but her or Zion." Mrs. Jene said.

"When? Cat has been gone for seven months now?" Tabatha asked.

"It was about seven months ago." Mrs. Jene said.

"What was the package?" Chastity asked.

"I'd rather not say I gave her my word." Mrs. Jene said.

"Mrs. Jene um how much do you know about Catori or Kali?" River asked, looking at the girls. They were all unsure how much information they should share.

"I know she is different. Special I guess you could say." Mrs. Jene said.

"Uh, could you be a little more detailed?" Zara asked.

They all looked at her suspiciously and she looked at them in return.

"The boy that Vanessa was with Kade." Jene said, "he was part of your family."

"Yes." They all responded.

"Then why is he not here?" Jene asked.

"Bad breakup but he helped me to sneak out to come here and find out if the rumor was true and when I tell him you can bet he will flip the world inside out to find Vanessa. He has not been the same since she left." Tabatha explained.

"I guess we will all have to trust each other a little here. Okay, so I know that when Kali came to see me she said people were after her." Mrs. Jene noticed them all look away. "What are you not telling me?" Mrs. Jene asked.

Zara was the one least close to Catori so she spoke up, "Our Luna perished in a battle with the God of war Heron."

"Perished what, what are you saying? Is Kaleigha dead?" Mrs. Jene grabbed her heart and when no response came she broke down into tears.

"No, I can't lose them both." Mrs. Jene cried. It was heartbreaking to watch and all the girls were in tears as Mrs. Jene cried for Catori.

"Her husband Zion you know him." Mrs. Jene asked.

"Yes, he is our Alpha." River said clearing his throat.

"Please tell him to come to see me soon as possible." Mrs. Jene said as River held her hand and patted her back.

"Of course, we will Mrs. Jene I'm sorry we had to bring you this terrible news." River knelt down looking her eye to eye, "Vanessa was a good friend to me and if she is out there I will bring her back to you. You have my word." River said to Mrs. Jene and looking him in the eyes somehow Mrs. Jene knew she could trust him.

"You have my word too," Tabatha said, placing her hand on top of theirs.

Chastity walked around and hugged Mrs.Jene, "Mine too, you know Vanessa taught me to twerk." Chasity explained, placing her hand on top of their hand.

"I guess that leaves me." Zara said, "I'm in!"

Mrs. Jene smiled at the group of kids as they began to ask her a thousand questions.

"Did she seem upset?"

"Did she mention anything odd?"

"Did the police have any leads?"

"You say she never actually got on the bus?"

"Did she have any enemies that you knew of?"

"Did anyone contact you after?"

"Did they find her belongings?"

By the time they had finished questioning her, she was exhausted. "Okay, this is the number of Zion's secretary if you need anything don't hesitate to call. If you hear anything, call and we will check in once a week okay." Tabatha hugged Mrs. Jene and they waved goodbye heading back to the packhouse. Tabatha was sure Kade had everything needed for Chastity to work one of her spells.

"Tabatha," Chastity said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah."

"I do not love Chenoa more than you, just different. I left because I thought she would need me more. I know you lost your little one and your mates and your pain was great. I just thought you had River and Zion and your parents. Noah has no one. She lost her sister, her other half and then Michael died and Dorkis had to leave again to protect the blade. She was leading a new pack and she had no one but Kevin and in truth, she does not like him because she feels he hurt, you. I just thought she needed me more. I am sorry if I was wrong. Catori told me not long before she left she couldn't be in two places at once. I know how she feels now because I wish I could have been there for you too."

Tabatha sniffed, "thank you Chastity I am sorry for being mean to you I guess I was just hurt."

When they pulled up back at the pack house Tabatha told Zara and River to go ahead, she pulled Chastity by the hand and led her away.

"I want to show you something."

"What is it?" Chastity asked as they came to a clearing. It was where she was once buried. Chasity's breath caught as she saw what Tabatha had done. She had made a tombstone for her baby. Right next to her daughters, there was a heart-shaped arch connecting the two. "Now they have each other and will not be alone." Chastity knelt as Tabatha said, "River picks the flowers for her every week he brings them fresh flowers."

Chastity grabbed her hand pulling her down next to her they held each other and cried.