Banished by the Alpha

Going Back?

Cory POV

            “Dad, I should come to. He’s MY mate after all, and me being there could give us an advantage.” I beg.

            “No Cory, if anything goes wrong, I don’t want you to be in any danger. Connor and I can handle things and if all goes well, we will call for you and the rest of the family to join us. Our goal is to get a home on pack lands but not back in the pack house again. I’m sure Connor will have to agree to at least a certain number of years without challenging Alpha Lucas for his position.” He gives Connor a sideways glance with the last part. “And of course, we will have to discuss your becoming Luna.”

            Wow, I hadn’t even thought of that. I was so excited about having found my mate, and how attractive I found him, that I hadn’t even thought about how him being Alpha would make me Luna. Could I be a Luna? Did I want to help run a pack, and the largest pack in the Midwest at that. Even when dad had been Alpha, I never considered it because that was Connors thing, he would take over from dad and I would find my mate and be a productive member of the pack but, nothing special. I would have to ask mom what being Luna was really like and what would be required of me. If I didn’t think I was up to the task, could I even deny my mate? I seriously doubted it.

            I went to bed thinking about all the things the next few days and weeks would bring; moving back to the pack house, becoming Luna, my mate and everything finding him would mean.

------------

             I woke up to my alarm blaring at 6am sharp. I curled into my warm blankets for a moment before realizing it was today. We’re going back to the pack today!!! I threw on some jeans and grabbed my favorite t-shirt, a comfy V-neck with a little line of chickens on the front. After pulling my, currently shoulder length hair up in a half ponytail, I ran for the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast.

            “What are we packing? Everything or just essentials?” I ask mom through a mouthful of cereal. I wanted to get started right away so we could leave the second dad contacted us.

            “First you still have morning chores to do. Then you will pack your clothes and essentials. I’m guessing that even if the meeting doesn’t go exactly as we hope, you will still be moving in with your mate sometime this afternoon.” She states simply. “We will have to sell the animals and consolidate the rest of the farm before the entire family moves back to pack territory, Hun. It isn’t going to be an overnight move.”

            Why do I still have to do chores? It’s such an important day! I scarf down the rest of my breakfast and rush out to get the chickens fed and watered and tend to the goats and pigs. If I still have to do chores, I’m going to do them as quickly as possible. I hate hauling hay and straw; it’s going to be in my clothes and hair again. Normally this wouldn’t bother me but I wanted to make a good impression today.

            By the time I get back to the house from the barn, dad and Connor have already left. I grumble about not getting to go with them and Opal whines along with me. We wanted to go and like mom said, even if things don’t go exactly to plan, I’m still going to live with my mate today. I run upstairs and toss the few clothes I own in a bag, including my new graduation outfit that I doubt I’ll need now. We’ve already had the last day of school for seniors so I’m officially a graduate, even if I don’t attend the ceremony. I’m sure mom can get it from the school at some point. She did say it wouldn’t be an overnight move for everyone.

            I find Emily bouncing around her room, packing everything in sight into several luggage bags. She clearly didn’t get moms memo about not moving overnight, I chuckle to myself. She stops when she sees me standing near her door, watching.

            “OH MY GOD! Can you believe it?! We are going HOME!” She squeals with delight so loud I think she might split my ear drums. I’m glad she’s so excited and I somehow had a part in her excitement.

            “Calm down Em, mom said not everyone will be moving today since they have to consolidate the farm and stuff.” I try to prepare her for the disappointment that mom will inevitably spring on her soon enough.

            “Well I’ll bunk with you then cuz I’m leaving today! I can’t stand living on a farm and I want to be back in the pack house, where I belong! I could even have a real chance to finally find my mate!”

            I was actually thinking about throwing my small bag of things over my shoulder, shifting, and letting Opal run us to the pack border. I didn’t care if I had permission and in wolf form, it wouldn’t take us very long. This way, I would already be close when the meeting was over. Emily seemed to notice that I was lost in my thoughts and quickly guessed what I was thinking and raised her eyebrow at me.

            “Don’t even think of running off. I know that look. You want to let Opal out to run and I’m sure you were contemplating letting her run you straight back to pack territory. You are NOT leaving without me.” She was adamant about the last part.

            “Fine… I’m going out to the orchard then. I’ll blow some steam off on Connor’s equipment while we wait. I can’t believe it’s only 1pm.” The meeting is probably just starting.

            As I head out to the orchard it feels like I’m being watched. I assume it’s the animals since they always think I have treats for them but I can’t quite brush off the feeling as I drop my bag by one of the trees and get to work stretching before throwing some punches at the punching bag that Connor has hanging from the biggest of our apple trees. It won’t be long and this little farm I’ve gotten so used to living on and helping run, won’t even belong to my family anymore. Just as I reach the orchard I hear a low growl come from behind the garden shed.