The Alpha's Secret Luna

17. HOMECOMING

After Harrison had quite thoroughly praised me, three times in fact, I sent him back through the link. He had wondered why it was a struggle for me to do it outright and I explained it was because all other times was because I wanted him there, I needed him. Whereas this time I wasn’t so sure of his intentions, he found my concern adorable and bid me a kiss goodbye before he headed back to research what he could. I decided to take a quick shower to refresh myself, the warm water soothing my weary muscles. I was carrying so much tension, I had a pit in my stomach that everything was going to blow up in my face. Why hadn’t I just told them all the truth to begin with? It would be worse for them to find out now after all these years. Would they still love me? Still care for me. My brain was so focused on thoughts I didn’t hear the knock at the door, or Penny enter.

“Washing away your worries?” I jumped as she startled me, nearly falling over in the shower. She caught me by my elbow and got splashed by the water, running her hair. “If this is a sign as to what is to come for helping you, this is a bad omen.” She laughed as she picked up a towel to dry herself off, she threw me one over too.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I can tell. I brought you food, thought you could use some sustenance after your… activities.” She ended with a grin.

“You’re going to a nightmare to deal with now.” I laughed as I headed to get dressed. It was calming to not have to hide me and Harrison now from them, I wasn’t embarrassed about it and in our world, it was very much encouraged to show your affection to your mate. It was more the teasing I would have to endure, the knowing glances and sly comments from them all.

“I just love it. My best friend and my Alpha, it’s like a dream come true!” She giddied as she fell back on the bed.

“How did lunch go?” I changed the subject quickly as I got myself dressed.

“Dull. Marc was very upset that you weren’t there, so was Anthony actually. Iain was called away for something so couldn’t really ask him anything.”

“I didn’t think Anthony took much notice of me.”

“He was asking Carlos all sorts of questions about you, was talking about a Cora he knew years ago…”

I panicked, had Anthony figured me out?

“Relax Cora. Turns out we didn’t need Iain there to find out what we needed; Anthony explained that the Cora they knew was killed in the fire. It devastated the pack and they never recovered. Rumour going around was she was playing all three men against each other and started the fire to take her own life and damaged Shadow Bane at the same time. Killing her adopted mother, sister and the Alpha was an ‘unavoidable tragedy’.”

“Great, now I’m a slut, murderer and pack destroyer.”

“Oh yes, you’re infamous around these parts. Marc even suggested that perhaps she didn’t die and the fugitive we are chasing is in fact her coming back to finish the job.” Penny chuckled.

“This isn’t funny.” I shot her a warning glance.

“It is a little bit. They’ve made you out to be the villain, they wouldn’t suspect that you would come waltzing in here so confidently.”

“Not so confidently anymore…”

She patted the bed for me to sit down next to her, and she turned me, so my back was to her. She started brushing me hair, my mother always used to brush my hair and style it in beautiful plaits, and curls.

“They asked Lyam about his mate, he said he didn’t have one and very smartly didn’t say she was here. They made it easy for us to ask about theirs. Turns out Anthony has a mate, a Cleo. I remember you telling me about her. Marc doesn’t have one, he got a bit shifty and clammed up before we could ask him further. They say that Iain never had a mate. So, our option of getting him to reject you is out, seems we only have the demon route.”

“Actually… we may have another.” I could feel Penny twisting my hair, she was braiding it and twisting it up.

“I’m all ears.”

“As you know Iain never marked me.” I felt her eyes fall to my neck. “No Harrison hasn’t either. But he couldn’t mark me as a warlock, which means Cassie could never be bonded to him either.”

“Hmm.” She hummed continuing the hairstyle.

“How did you are Carlos ‘mark’ each other? As you don’t have a wolf either.”

“You are my best friend Cora, but there’s something that even you shouldn’t know the details of. Let me say that I can shapeshift and that is all I’m going to say on that matter, rest assured that man is well and truly marked as mine.” She pulled my hair tight. “But what point were you making?”

“Iain never did anything to bond to Cassie, and the only one she has ever… you know.”

“No, I don’t.” Now Penny was being difficult. She knew my point but was going to make me say it out loud.

“Conor is the only one Cassie has ever been with, they are bonded, marked and mated. She feels the full bond.”

“You’re telling me that you and Harrison have been going on long enough, and feel strongly enough about each other that your wolves have mated, but you still haven’t marked each other or accepted your role as Luna?”

“I always stopped him from marking me, for fear of the repercussions.”

“But you couldn’t stop Cassie from marking with Conor. I hate to tell you this Cora, but you are well and truly bound to that man. No force on this earth would drag a wolf away from their mate.” She had finished my hair by this point, and I turned back round to face her, she took a second before her face exploded with joy. “Oh, you genius!” She gave me a huge kiss which surprised me slightly. “Brilliant. If I could kiss Cassie right now I would.”

“Haha let’s just calm down a second, Harrison is looking into the bylaws of the Guild to see if there is anything written about this type of thing. Although my first human mate exists and still alive, if my wolf half had found their mate and marked then we think that the Guild can’t stop our claim.”

“Oh Cora.” Penny was getting tearful now. “It’s such a relief, I really didn’t want to have to go down the nasty route of demons and devils.”

“I know, I wouldn’t want too either. I wasn’t comfortable with that idea, it seemed too dangerous, and I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger.” Penny was shifty, and silent. “What?”

“There was a part I didn’t mention about that plan, thought it best to keep to myself until we had exhausted all other options. But we don’t have to worry about that now.” She shook her head and regained her composure.

“Oh, you have to tell me now.” I teased.

“It’s just a little thing…”

“How little?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“You know I mentioned about how the warlock would carry something with the insignia of their benefactor.”

“Yes…”

“That is in the most common circumstances. I would think that Iain is anything but common so if Iain doesn’t carry such an item, then it’s possible that he would have a brand on his body somewhere, where it would have been burned into him.”

“That doesn’t seem so bad. How do you know about this?”

“I carry one. A branding of my coven, I was given it when I was a baby as a sign of my family’s commitment to our benefactor. I hide it as I do not worship this demon, nor take my powers from them. I’ve had no interest in finding out who they are and simply ignore it most of the time.”

“I’ve seen you naked before and never noticed it.”

“I hide it with an enchantment. Carlos is the only one who has seen it. It only breaks when my concentration is broken from it.”

“And what would break your concentration?” Penny raised a look at me. “Oh… oh!” I pulled a face as I realised. “Someone would have to sleep with Iain, to… completion.” The words felt disgusting to me. “To then see it?”

“Yeah… Now you can see why I kept that little tidbit to myself.”

“Hopefully, we don’t have to deal with any of that.” I shuddered at the thought, before shaking it off. Suddenly I was very hungry and noticed the plate of food Penny had brought up for me.

“Marc has released you from party planning duties, and Lyam will be up shortly. He suggested that you both go exploring the grounds to report back to Anthony and Carlos about any weak points. Also gives you two a chance to go looking for Alicia.”

“Lyam seems a little on edge about this whole ordeal, maybe with Alicia so close to all this he’s worried about her.” I muffled between stuffing sandwiches into my mouth.

“Understandable. With finding out about Iain using you, he’s concerned that Alicia has been as well.” Penny’s head dropped. “I swear, if they have laid a hand on her.” She clenched her fist, and a burst of flames spew forth, catching the bed covers on fire before she quickly patted it out.

“I’d kill them before they had a chance to explain themselves.” Came Lyam’s stern voice from the doorway, his eyes darker than usual.

“I wouldn’t stop you, just ask that you give me a hit or two.” Penny seconded my request.

“Have you found any sign of her?” Penny asked as I finished off my food, Lyam shook his head sullenly.

“I have an idea; I doubt she’s there but it’s worth a shot. They haven’t rebuilt it, or even cleaned it up properly but I’m sure I saw a building still standing amongst the wreckage.” I through a jumper on and headed to the door with Lyam.

“Where?” He asked confused as I walked past him.

“I’m glad you’ll be with me for this Lyam. We are going to see my old home. What’s left of it anyway…”