The Alpha's Powerful Luna

Chapter 10

**Jade POV**

The next several hours were filled with laughter, music, and “I spy”, a game Cameron claimed was a road trip right of passage. I had to admit I didn’t quite get what made it interesting, but I did like Jasper’s comments as he observed his friend choosing one obscure thing after another and we’d usually pass them before anyone managed to guess correctly. We’d spent the afternoon in the car asking each other random questions every time one of us had one pop into our heads. At first it was just Elliott and I but then Cameron insisted that they all join in because in his words “we’ll all be working together to run a pack, so we’ll need some pretty good dirt on each other to get the job done”.

We’d covered a good amount of basic information, I learned that Elliott’s parents are still alive and very nice people. He has a sister who’s about my age, and a brother a few years older in training school for ranked members for a few more weeks. He’s been an alpha for 5 years, and his wolf’s name was Aries. I didn’t have quite as much information about my family to share, but I told him what little I’d been told: they were supposedly rogues who died during an uprising against River Bed 12 years ago, and that I know of, I don’t have any siblings. I told him I just met my wolf a few days ago, but her name was Astrid and everyone paused for a few minutes before returning abruptly to normal conversation. I felt Jasper’s eyes linger on me a little bit longer in the mirror, his brows furrowed curiously, before he turned his attention back to the road. I’d have to remember to ask my wolf if she knew the reason for these reactions later.

The guys told us a few stories from when they were younger and Emma and I tried to nit pick to find a few positive memories to share. It proved to be more difficult than even we thought. We’d thought we would have no problem telling funny stories as the two of us had a funny relationship, but all of our memories had been just before or just after a beating, or while we were being starved or forced out of our “rooms” in the attic and forced to live 2 years of our lives in an old, rundown, disgusting shed. I was trying very hard to be present and not lost in the anger I felt that all my memories with my very best friend in the world weren’t as pleasant as the ones Elliott had with his friends. They were all laced with so much trauma and sadness, I was beginning to realize just how little of a “life” Emma and I had lived so far.

As we got closer to Elliot’s pack lands it began to feel like I could really have some lasting friendships with Cameron and Jasper. As far as Elliott went, everything I heard about him only made me like him more. He seemed like a very nice and genuine person. He even held my hand for most of the drive. I was hoping our time together would be almost like a “do over” of the first portion of my life spent under constant oppression. I knew I could never get my childhood or early teens back, but I was filled with optimism that at least my young adulthood could possibly hold some joy yet to be experienced.

We stopped somewhere along the way for snacks, gas, and to use the restroom. At that point I was able to finally see my reflection and I breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed that all my face injuries were nearly gone and wouldn’t be too noticeable to anyone who didn’t know they were there. At least I didn’t have to meet Elliott’s family looking like I’d just been in some sort of a bar fight.

I was getting nervous butterflies as we continued down the highway (I’d learned that’s what this giant road is called from Jasper) and I knew we had to be getting close to Elliott’s pack. I wanted desperately to get out of the car but I was also afraid to leave the safety of our little group and meet new people. What if everyone in Elliott’s pack hated Emma and I and Elliott and his friends realized how much of a burden we were and threw us into the omega quarters to be forgotten? Or worse, what if they sent us back home?

“I’ve got one, who was your least favorite pack member at river bed?” Cameron yelled over the music, turning it down to hear our answers.

“Cameron! What kind of question is that?” Jasper chastised him.

“A juicy one.” Cameron grinned, completely unbothered by Jasper’s appalled facial expression as he tried to tear his eyes away from his friend and back to the road in front of him.

“Oh, easily Andrew. He’s a slob and a total creep.” Emma answered without hesitation, earning her a high five from Elliott. I could see a smile playing at her lips that she appeared to be fighting. I knew Emma would have a hard time trusting the people around her, especially since she didn’t have the benefit of the mate bond with any of them to build some level of relationship, but I had a feeling her and Elliott would become fast friends sooner or later.

“Jade?” Cameron turned his attention to me.

“Honestly? Luna Krista has always rubbed me the wrong way. That woman genuinely scares me.” I fought back a shiver as I heard Emma agreeing in the background.

“Yeah well her daughter is my least favorite. She’s completely obnoxious and a total spaz.” Elliott grumbled. I laughed, surprised by Elliott’s unique but accurate take on Amelia. She didn’t normally get that type of reception from men.

“Well, I for one thought they were all just lovely,” Jasper said dryly. His sarcastic delivery completely caught me off guard and an involuntary cackle bellowed out of me. As I collected myself, I caught a glimpse of Jasper smiling when I realized that everyone else only started laughing after I did. Maybe he wasn’t so serious, maybe his humor just got lost on everyone else.

Not long after, we took an exit off the highway and a few minutes later we were headed up a mountain road. I couldn’t help but stare wordlessly out my window, taking in all the colors and life taking up all the space around us. I couldn’t believe this beauty would be so close to my new home.

About five minutes later, we pulled up to a large and formidable gate. Something about it made me feel safe, like my abusers from river bed would never reach me here. A tall, muscled man knocked on the drivers side window, and as soon as he saw Jasper’s face he stood up a little straighter. “Good afternoon, beta! I’ll be opening the gate in a few moments” he said, rushing back to his booth and pressing a button. The gate silently swung open, and we quickly drove through. I turned around to see the gate coming to a heavy close behind us. This security was nothing like at River Bed. I shuttered to think how unsafe we truly probably were at all times living at river bed. If they’d let us out so easily back there, I wondered how easily they let all manner of intruders in.

We made our way slowly down a paved road and I saw some smaller cottage looking houses mixed in with a townhouse community, and some even larger homes lining the street as we got further down. We came to a dead end, and Jasper put the car in park and turned it off. I was wondering what happened when I peaked out the front window to see the most massive mansion I’ve ever seen in my life. It made river bed look like a run down little shack. This place looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, the size of a castle with the architecture of a cottage I would easily believe fairies, elves, and even princesses lived in. This structure was nothing short of breathtaking.

Before I could tear my eyes away from the splendor before me, my door swung open letting in a heavenly crisp mountain breeze. It was strange, almost like I’d smelled this air before.

“Love, are you ready to go and meet my parents? My sister has been in warrior training and visiting friends the past several months, so she won’t be home until Friday afternoon but she can’t wait to meet you either. My brother still doesn’t have an exact date he’ll be back yet, but he’ll probably be eager to get home and meet you once he hears the news.” Elliott gave me a reassuring smile and offered me his hand. I took it and slid gently out of the car, noticing the pain in my ribs was decreasing. Hopefully by tomorrow morning they’d be close to fully healed. I hugged my arms to myself when I noticed it was quite a bit chillier here than I was used to this time of year. Elliott seemed to notice my shivering and grabbed a sweatshirt out of the trunk, tugging it gently over my head and taking my hand once I got my arms in.

Emma walked closely behind us and i fought back happy tears as I realized Elliott had given her the jacket he was wearing. Cameron and Jasper trudged along just behind us as we made our way to the massive wooden front door. As Elliott lifted his hand to open it, I jumped as the door swung open to reveal a couple standing right on the other side. They were both smiling ear to ear, the woman with shiny dark hair the same color as Elliott’s grabbing him into a tight hug. “I’m happy you’re home! I missed you!” Her eyes were a striking green and her smile was blindingly beautiful. She looked at Elliott as if he were her favorite person in the world.

“I’ve only been gone 2 and a half days, mom.” Elliott laughed, hugging her tightly anyway.

“Still happy to see you without the alpha’s obnoxious daughter on your arm,” the man with long dark hair with streaks of grey said jokingly. His dark eyes that looked just like Elliott’s twinkled mischievously and I was beginning to wonder why this couple looked so familiar to me.

“About that, I wanted to introduce you guys to someone in person.” Elliott held his hand out to me and I took it. “I did meet my mate at river bed, actually. This is—“

Elliott was cut off by the man whose eyes were boring into me with an intensity that scared me. “It can’t be.” He said incredulously.

I looked away from the man and over to the woman, who had her hands covering her mouth and tears in her eyes. “I’d know those eyes anywhere, emerald and amber. And that pale skin with the copper hair. The spitting image of her mother.” She said through tears. Before I knew it she was running toward me, enveloping me in a tight hug. “Jade! You’re alive!”