The Luna's Alliance

Chapter 7: Leaving Home

It had been five days since the boys were taken. It had been three days since Alpha Cain and his family were murdered. It had been two days since Lucy's father had been declared Alpha of Southern Forest. Yesterday, Lucy agreed to enter a mating alliance with Alpha Jace of Northern Forest pack to finalize the peace treaty.

That is how, in less than a week, Lucy's world was flipped upside down. Today was her final day in the Southern Forest. That evening a driver would take her to her new pack. She was nervous about making the trip alone, but after the devastating events of the past few days, she couldn't ask any of her friends to leave their families for an unknown period of time. Southern Forest needed time together to heal. Freddy promised to visit often, but he was now in training to be an Alpha. Lucy doubted he would be able to get away often. Besides, it was only two months. Then she would see all her friends and family at the reinstated Harvest Feast Gathering, hosted by her new pack, and de facto by herself as Luna.

Lucy sighed and looked about her room. The walls were still light pink from when she begged her father at seven years old to paint them. A few stuffed animals in her bed, a diary on her nightstand, and posters of boy bands completed the look of a little girl's room. A glimpse in the floor-length mirror caught a trespasser who clearly didn't belong; herself. Lucy had matured more than she thought possible in the past few days. Now it was time to leave her childish things behind in search of a woman's life.

Her father and Freddy would also be moving soon after. They would move into the east wing, meant for the Alpha’s family, making space for Alfred to move into the west, where the Beta would settle as his new home. No one was in a hurry, except Lucy.

The decision of what to pack was plaguing her. She would only allow herself three bags of luggage. Any more than that and her future family might assume she was materialistic or egotistical. She would not be seen as a superficial Luna who brought with her more pairs of shoes than good sense.

Because she wasn't sure what events and activities might be required of her in the North, she used two of her bags for a varied wardrobe. One had casual items for training, hiking, and sleep. The other suitcase held her formal items for dinners, political conferences, or other Luna-related duties. Undergarments, makeup, and shoes took up every other inch of available space.

That left one small bag for personal items. She glanced sadly at her bookshelf. So many titles she had yet to escape into remained stacked and mocked her from the shelf. While she loved the feel of a book in her hands that she could literally flip through, Lucy would have to be content with a digital library. She queued through a long list of downloads, then put her laptop and charging equipment into the last bag.

Next went her cell phone and headphones. Wolves rarely use texting and email to communicate within a pack, since a mindlink is much more convenient. They were more often multi-use cameras, music players, etc. However, Lucy was about to be too far away from anyone she was able to mindlink. Until the Luna Ceremony, she wouldn't be able to link her new pack members either. If it wasn't for Imogen, Lucy would've felt quite human.

She scoured her desk for any other useful items. Surely Northern Forest would have notebooks, blankets, and all the other comforts of living. She paused at the framed photo on her desk. Lucy was much younger with braids in her hair. She held two fingers like bunny ears behind a toddler-sized Freddy. Her parents were behind them kissing as they so often used to do. This was the last photo her mother ever took. Lucy carefully wrapped the frame in a cozy gray scarf and placed it in her bag.

With no room left, Lucy decided to wear her mother's citrine jewelry and matching earrings from her father. It looked a bit ridiculous paired with her leggings and oversized sweater, but she wanted to be comfortable on the car ride. Not to mention, she didn't feel much like dressing. The process of leaving her home was becoming more depressing by the hour.

"Lucilla Edwina… I can't believe you are leaving me." Lucy jumped and turned to see Alpha Edwin standing in the doorway to her bedroom.

"Good afternoon, Alpha. I didn’t hear you knock," Lucy replied sarcastically. She took a deep breath to bring her heart rate back down to normal. Edwin’s sawdust musk soothed her.

"I'm serious. Who is this woman packing up my baby girl's room? Only yesterday you were destroying the carpet with your easy bake oven, trying to cook enough mini pizzas and whoopie pies for the whole family for dinner. I don't remember allowing you to grow up," her father reminisced sadly. "Who's going to help me manage this house now?"

"Oh, daddy! Mrs. Norton has been the housekeeper for years. She runs things like a Swiss clock. She'll do great until Freddy and Alfred find their mates. Maybe I'll even be able to visit and help train those poor, unsuspecting women," Lucy answered with a knowing smile. Lucy had spent so much time running through lists with Mrs. Norton, who had asked that exact same question earlier.

"Mrs. Norton won't let me eat after eight o'clock. And she sneaks vegetables into everything. You never thought of your poor old dad, did you?" Edwin complained.

"Alright, since you can't send me to my room anymore, I have a confession. I've been instructing Mrs. Norton on your dietary needs for years. After mom, someone needed to take care of you."

"Ah-ha!" Edwin exclaimed, pointing his finger accusingly at Lucy. "I should have known. Traitor!"

Lucy knew her father was trying to lighten the mood, in much the same way she had. They were both putting on a show for the benefit of the other to no avail. Lucy couldn't stop worrying about her father's impending loneliness. Flashbacks of him standing alone on the packhouse steps days ago to address the crowd rushed back. She ran into his arms for a big hug, hoping to squeeze some extra comfort into him.

"I wonder if your mother would let you go."

Lucy's voice came out muffled into his chest. "You know she would, dad. Let's not go through all this again. I'm already packed."

"Maybe," Edwin relented and released his daughter from his embrace. "Although she wouldn't let you go empty-handed. This is for you."

Edwin handed Lucy a thick manila envelope. "It's a bank account and a few other financial documents that Northern Forest knows nothing about. I've put it solely in your name, with Freddy as your death beneficiary. Your mother insisted we start one for you when we found out you were a girl. She said that the world still didn't play fair, and you deserved every form of protection we could give you. I didn't understand her much at the time, but I get it now. Even the most cunning wolf can be trapped. I don't want you to ever feel stuck."

"Thank you, but I promise I can take care of myself. I learned from the best people in the world." Lucy shook her head, but her father pushed the envelope into her hands regardless.

"Fine. I'll take it. Thank you," Lucy submitted, shoving the envelope into the last spare space of her smallest bag. "But I'm still sure I will be fine. Besides, this isn't a final goodbye. I'll see you in two months for my ceremony. If you don't like what you see at Northern Forest, you can speak up then."

"Oh you know I will, little girl," Edwin growled protectively before picking up her two largest bags and reluctantly carrying them out of her bedroom.

***

Finally, luggage was stowed in the trunk, tears were shed, and farewells spoken. Lucy found herself in the back of a large, black town car headed for her new home with the Northern Forest pack. Their territory was a few hours' drive north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, made scenic as they wound around the mountain passes. The high rock walls had been blasted and cut into the mountain, which enclosed the road on either side. Many people would suffer claustrophobia, but Lucy had always been awed by mankind's endeavors to shape and tame the immensity of a mountain. Other times, the road seemed to disappear completely on one side, and Lucy had an unobstructed view of a valley cascading down below. Autumn used every warm color in its palette to paint the landscape. As Lucy savored the drive, she felt lucky to be one of the few people in the world to gaze on such majesty.

The sun set as the drive continued. Lucy didn't usually get motion sickness, but the combined forks in the road and an ascending darkness churned her stomach. She decided to make conversation with the driver to take her mind off it.

"Please, sir. I didn't catch your name earlier with all the commotion. I am Lucy Butler," she introduced herself.

"Yes, ma'am, I know. My name is Derek. It is an honor to escort you, Miss Lucilla," he said, tipping his hat to her in the rear-view mirror.

"Please, call me Lucy," she insisted. Derek ignored her and focused his eyes on the road.

"What is your role in the pack, Derek?" Lucy appealed to him again.

"I am a chauffeur, as you can see," Derek answered, rather confused by the question. "Although, I can assure you, Miss Lucilla, that I am a highly trained warrior too. The Alpha would not have left you unprotected for a moment."

Lucy furrowed her brow. She had not intended to insult her driver.

"That thought never crossed my mind, Derek. I simply wished to get to know you since you are the first member of my new pack that I am meeting. Tell me, do you have a mate?" Lucy continued.

"Yes, ma'am. My lovely Evie is currently pregnant with our second pup now."

"Well, I am so sorry then, to have taken you away from her at night. I'd like to visit her soon, and offer my congratulations and gratitude. If that is alright with you, of course."

Derek shifted again in his seat and went silent. Perhaps he had a good reason not to accept Lucy's offer to visit. She figured it was best not to pry. Just then, Derek's phone rang through the car's speakers. The caller ID on the console read 'home' but he quickly sent it to voice-mail.

"Please, Derek. Feel free to take your phone call. Turn off the speaker so you may have privacy. A call from home is always important." He hesitated, so Lucy added firmly, "I insist."

Derek re-dialed the phone. He spoke in hushed tones and quickly ended the call. After another few minutes, Derek smiled in the mirror and glanced at Lucy.

"Thank you, ma'am. My older boy fell from climbing a tree this morning and broke his arm. I've been anxious to hear how he's recovering," Derek explained.

"Oh, I had no idea. Surely another driver could have been arranged so that you could stay with your son today," Lucy suggested.

"No! Please, Miss Lucilla. This is a very good job in the pack. And it has been my honor to escort the next Luna safely onto our lands. Please, do not trouble yourself with my family's trivial concerns."

"You are a valuable member of this pack. Your family's concerns are now my own," Lucy fought back.

"You are… interesting, ma'am. I'm glad of your kindness, but I'd still rather you not mention any of this at the packhouse. Please," Derek concluded and turned back to the road for good.

Lucy knew their conversation was over. She may not mention any of this at the packhouse, but she made up her mind to visit Derek's wife, Evie, and their boy as soon as possible. She wasn't trying to appear compassionate. Lucy actually did care about the members of her pack. These were her new kinfolk. She was eager to form real relationships, which could only begin with a beginning.

With that settled in her mind, and the night too dark to enjoy the view, Lucy slumped down in her sleep. Lucy’s thoughts wandered onto her intended mate, to whom she would soon be presented. She barely remembered Jace as a boy, so she allowed her imagination to roam. The conjured images of hunky men soon mellowed into dreams as she fell soundly asleep in the backseat.