Shadow Luna

CH.19

Annabelle POV

Life has been so great, and quiet. I am almost disturbed that its been too quiet. Drew and Cindy were so cute together. Cindy quickly adapted to her new surroundings, she was one of us now and her angelica and I were the best of friends, always teaming up against our mates. She also helped a ton with the support groups. Right now, we were shopping at the mall close to the village. We just wanted some girl time away from the pack house. Of course, there were six guards with us since we are the three highest ranked females of the pack. I can’t complain though, I felt safe, especially since no one has been able to capture Jason yet.

“I can’t wait for your birthday Bell!! It is going too be epic! I have everything planned already. Just need to find sexy dresses for us to wear. I think…” Angelica was going through a rack and picked something red out. “This one is the one, now let’s go to the dressing room and try it on.” She pushed it at me and then turned me around only to push again into the dressing room. It was a simple red spaghetti strap dress that just flowed down just a few inches short of my knee. I showed my curves off without the material being to tight. It didn’t show much cleavage but made my boobs look plump. I did a little twirl to make sure that I wasn’t going to pull off a Marylin Monroe. I felt comfortable and sexy at the same time. This dress made my black hair look darker and my green eyes glow. I came out of the dressing room to find Angelica and Cindy with dresses in hand. They turn to look at me and their jaws drop.

“Holy Hotness Bell, you look sexy as f**k!” Angelica said still with her mouth hung open. Cindy just nodded in approval.

“Ok I should try something else…” I nervously said.

“Nope! That’s the dress. Go change. We are done here.” She pointed. I salute her humorously and went into my dressing room to change.

We all had bags in hand and then I saw Cindy suddenly freeze as if she saw a ghost. I immediately halted and looked to where she was staring. I didn’t see anything. Our guards felt off and Angelica had a confused look.  

“Cindy! Are you ok?” I asked her, placing my hand o her shoulder. She jolted and shook her head as if waking up from her trance.

“Bell…I think I saw one of them.” She whispered before looking at me. Her eyes were screaming terror and hurt. I knew exactly how she felt.

“Ok we are going back to the pack house now.” I told everyone through the mind link. They all nodded and made haste to our cars. I felt uneasy suddenly, as if something bad is going to happen. We piled into the cars and quickly made it back to the pack house. Colten, Sean, and Drew were all at the front waiting for us with so much worry in their eyes.

Before the cars were parked Colten raced to my door and I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt. He engulfed me and carried me out of the car and into the house. He sat down in one of the armchairs in the living room and placed me in his lap dipping his nose in the croak of my neck. He wrapped his arm around my waist tight and I gently creased his arm and combed his hair with my fingers.

“What happened? I felt your emotions Bell, I got really worried.” Colten said breathing in my scent trying to calm himself down. I felt bad for worrying him.   

“Lily looked like she saw a ghost and we all got on edge. I told everyone that we should go home immediately. I either did not want to stick around if it was a rogue or Cindy have a panic attack. I saw her face, she saw a familiar face, a face that she will never forget Colten. I am sorry that I made you worry.” I said and looked around to find the other couples in the same seated position and me and Colten were.

“I thought it was nothing at first, until I made eye contact with him and them, he had his stupid evil smirk and looked at Bell as if satisfied with what he saw. He vanished once Bell noticed me.” Cindy said.

“And none of you smelled anything?” Colten asked. We all shook our heads.

“They must have used something to conceal their scent.” Sean said.

“No matter we are here now and safe.” I said and suddenly we all stiffened.  

‘Rogues in the south border’ patrol said through the mind link.

“s**t, Lets go! Bell make sure all those that can’t fight go to the bunker, Angelica you know the drill.” We all nodded and did as Colten commanded. I ran outside with Angelica and Cindy and we helped escort all the elderly, pregnant and kids into the safe room. We were almost done settling everyone in when I smelt decay. I turn and found five rogues dashing towards us.

‘Cindy close the doors ad lock them, Angelica and I got this.’

‘Yes Luna! Kick some ass!’ She said which made me smirk. I look at Angelica who is by my side ready to fight. I knew we could handle this. There was a big shadow that cast over us. When the stupid rogues entered the shadow line their feet where trap like in a tar pit. They started thrashing and growling. Angelica extended her claws and slashed their throats. I let go of their feet and they all fall limp on the floor.

I look around and hear a loud howl from Colten. I sigh in relief know that that was his call that all was clear. Angelica and I went close to the doors of the safe room and mind linked Cindy to open. The girls are helping me bring everyone out safely when I heard Cindy scream. I turn and see her about to faint. I race to catch her in the nick of time. Check her pulse and feel her temperature. She is just unconscious nothing more. Drew is next to me taking her out of my hands.

“What happened he asked?” He asked.

“I don’t know, I heard her scream and collapse.” I said shaking my head. Then We both got up from the ground Drew carrying Cindy in his arms. I feel Colten snake his arms around me and enjoy the tingles of our skin touching. I turn to look at him and smile until I caught the scent of a rogue. I stiffen and turn to look over Colten’s shoulder. My eyes widen when I saw who was behind him.

“Greg?” I manage to breath out still in shock. He was just wearing basketball short. His muscles are bigger and tighter, he was still lean, and his eyes were red. It was not a good look for him. “How” I said covering my mouth and looking up at Colten. He had a worried and confused look on his face. I cupped his face and flashed him my smile.

‘I love you Colten, don’t forget that.’ I mind link him.

‘I needed to hear that more than you know’ he said.

‘He is my past, not my future.’

“What happened?” I finally spoke up.

“We found him among the rogues, but he wasn’t fighting. I recognized him instantly and brought him here to explain.” Colten said. Greg nodded and looked up at me with so much hope and endearment. I did not feel right having him around. I knew that the Greg I once loved was not the same man standing in front of me.

“Hi Bell.” Greg finally spoke up I could not saw a word or move, still in shock that he was here.

“Lets discuss this in my office.” Colten said breaking the tension. He swopped me up and carried me to his office with Greg followed by Sean right behind.

Colten sits in his seat behind his desk with me in his lap. Greg stands in front of the desk awaiting Colten’s orders. Sean takes a seat on the sofa close to the door.

“Sit Greg.” Colten commands. Greg takes a seat and rubs his sweaty palms on his shorts.

‘Colten, whatever you do please do not let go of me, please.’ I asked Colten through the mind link.

‘Why bell, is something wrong?’

‘I just don’t feel right, there is something off with him.’ I say back. Colten tightens his grip around my waist, and I turn my face to bury it into his chest and inhale his calming scent. I didn’t even feel bad that I was displaying this behavior in front of my ex-fiancé. Colten then cleared his throat.

“So, Greg, you are alive and a rogue. Care to explain your story and why I should not kill you.” Colten said. I look up at Greg and see the hurt and fear in his eyes.

“Um, Alpha… that day Alpha Jason abducted us I thought I had lost my life. Instead he just knocked me out. I woke in this cage in a barn looking building. There were six other cages with men in them and Jason came and bit every one of us. We were told to just keep our mouths shut and obey order. After our transition he made us train and conditioned us. He would fight us into submission. He would make us beat the new she-wolves into submission. If we didn’t, he would kill the girls in front of us. I hated it every day. Then when the day came for me to beat a woman… Jason pulled me aside and took me to a compound a little far away from the barn and took me into a room with a window looking into a dingy exam room. That is where I saw Anna for the first time. She looked pale and beaten. Jason put a silver chain around my neck and left. Then I saw him enter her room and… and… God I am so sorry Bell; I could not break free to save you. I saw him crease your cheek waking you up. I saw the terror in your eyes. Then I saw how he beat you, kicked you, whipped you until you bled. When he was down, he picked you up from the floor and took a towel and wipe away all the blood. You were unconscious. I felt so helpless. He was enjoying touching all over your body looking at you as if you were his property.” He paused and sighed heavily. “When he came back to get me, he told me that if I didn’t obey, I would have to watch him do it all over again but worse. He threatened to rape you in front of me.” He shook his head and brought his palms to his eyes rubbing them. “I couldn’t see you being tortured like that again, so I did what I was told.” He said looking straight at me. “I started beating all those women. I wish I died that day. When I heard that Alpha Jason wanted to ‘take his Luna back’ I didn’t know it was you until that night at your Luna ceremony. We were ordered to take the Luna, when they pointed to you, I could not believe my eyes. I was so glade you were safe. I was going to approach you when I forgot that I was a rogue ad had to flee from the border patrol.”

“So, you where there that night. I knew I saw you, I thought it was just a hallucination.” I said. He chuckled and combed his fingers through his dirty blonde hair.

“Yea, I am just glade that you are safe and happy Anna.” He said with longing in his eyes.

“So do you remember where that barn was located and where Jason’s main compound is?” Colten asked.

“Yea I know where the barn is, but whenever I got to his compound it was through windowless vans.” Greg said.

“Well for your information and easy submission I will allow you to stay under strict supervision. I need to know that you will do well in my pack before I accept you. Is that understood?” Colten said

“Yes Alpha. Thank you.” Greg said very cheerfully.

“If it’s ok with you Alpha…may I have a private word with Anna?” Greg said

“She is Luna to you” Colten growled, and Greg shook in fear.

“Sorry…Luna” He nervously said.  

“It’s ok Colten.” I said placing my hand on his chest. Colten nodded got up and placed me back down on his seat. He glared at Greg as he was leaving with Sean following behind. Before the door closed Colten linked me. ‘please keep you link open.’ ‘I will’ I said back. I knew Colten was not comfortable with me and Greg alone, I am so grateful he understands that I need to have closure.

“I guess asking you out for dinner is out of the question?” Greg began, I was glade that he hadn’t lost his sense of humor. It helped to break the ice.

“Yea, you got that right. That’s just asking for a death wish.” I said and chuckled at the end.

“Is he treating you right Anna?” He asked with a worried look. I smile and blush nodding my head.

“Yes. He is my knight in shinning armor and a gentleman. He was the one that rescued me from Jason’s compound.” I said, “And he is my mate.” I said and saw the hurt flash behind his eyes.

“I guess I can not compete with that. My wolf already told me that I have a mate out there waiting for me. And how can I ever challenge a natural born Alpha with royal blood.” He said running his fingers through his hair. “It just sucks that our future was taken away from us. I wish that we never went on that stupid hike... I wish I fought harder…Anna…” He took a deep breath. I started shaking knowing where this conversation was going.

“Stop Greg… don’t say it because I can not reciprocate. Our destiny wasn’t each other; we were meant for someone else. You will see when you find your mate. This world, this new life that was given to us is far beyond our basic human experience. I thought I loved you, I thought that we were meant to be. But when I met Colten it was like fireworks. I know that the love I had for you was more like that of a sibling. We grew up together and were Best friends before we became a couple. With Colten its like a burning fire that can never dissipate. I am sorry Greg, but I know that this was meant to be. I hate that we were subjected to so much trauma, yet I know now we are stronger for it. When you find your mate, you will see how much you are willing to do for her.” I said and felt a swell of pride and love. I knew it was coming from Colten since he was listening in our conversation.

“I know your right Anna, you were always right. So… can we still be friends? I would hate to lose my last connection to my past.” He said. I felt hopeful that he accepted our new situation.

“Sure, just no touching me. Colten would not take that well.” I said and we both laughed like it was old times.

“Yea I get it. I was the same back in high school. You sure know how to turn heads even when you don’t mean too.” He said and scratched the back of his neck. I found that hard to believe since I never felt like I was that pretty.

“Ok whatever, I was not that pretty back then you liar.” I said.

“Yea you weren’t pretty, you were gorgeous and more so now.” He said and we laughed again.

“Well since we are done here, I need to go back with Colten, I can feel him getting anxious.” I said and we both stood up right before the door burst open with Colten marching to me. My poor mate missed me. I smiled at him and opened my arms to embrace him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tight. He dipped his nose in the croak of my neck and inhaled deep while I did the same. I love smelling him, it was like a breath of fresh air.    

‘I love you so much Bell. I am glade you got your closure.’ Colten linked me.

‘I love you Colten, always and forever.’ I linked back. Then there was a cough and we looked up to see Sean and Greg watching us. I blush and turn to Colten.

“Let’s go have some dinner. Greg, I don’t think it wise for you to join us. The pack would want to kill you and the survivors would have a panic attack. Ill have someone sent you food in your room.” I said and he nodded his head. Colten kept his arm around my waist escorting me out of his office. I am sure Greg felt really intimidated with strong aura oozing off Colten. 

Colten told me during dinner that Greg was going to have a guest room, and there was always going to be a guard with him. He was to stay in his room until another pack is willing to accept him. I almost felt bad that Greg was going to be all locked up in that room like a prison, but at least it wasn’t the dungeon like they did with all other rogues.