Her Unexpected Luna

Chapter 3

Thalia

Jasper and Thalia had spent a week at Acacia moon recovering and healing their poorly maintained bodies. Alpha Ryan had even offered Thalia to participate in a few of their warrior training classes. Acacia moon was a very passive pack and focused on more defense to protect their lands and their pack members. Their warriors we're known to be some of the toughest and well-endured wolves out there making whatever it was they chose to guard with their life, impenetrable. Thalia was interested in learning some of these defensive moves herself to better protect herself and Jasper at the same time.

"I have to admit Thalia, I'm quite impressed at the skills you have," Chase said.

Chase was the high-ranked warrior that had helped her bring Jasper to their packhouse.

"I would even go as far as to say you are on the same level as me," He said crossing his arms in approval.

He was covered in sweat and trying to catch his breath. They had been sparring for a few hours now and Thalia had finally been able to pin him. He was unable to immobilize her though, which made her feel pretty proud.

"If not higher" Thalia teased as she walked over to the nearest table and grabbed a bottle of water to down in a matter of seconds.

She had been feeling 10x better now that she was able to have a moment to properly hydrate and get some nutrients in her body. Her pale skin was starting to look more natural instead of sickly, even finding herself more agile and didn't seem to feel exhausted all the time.

As if he could sense what she was thinking he shot her a smug look

"That's what happens when you take care of your body the right way," He said. Thalia rolled her eyes with a chuckle.

"When you're forced to constantly always be on the run no matter the time of day, whether we just closed our eyes to try and get more than a few hours of sleep, or just sat down to eat a nice hot plate of food that took us a while to get the money for. Sometimes it's not that easy" She said.

Chase dropped his smug look and shot her apologetic eyes feeling bad for his smart remark. Thalia admitted to being a little harsh but she shot him a smile to make him feel better.

"You know" He trailed off as he made his way towards her to grab his bottle of water.

"You wouldn't have to worry about that if you guys made yourself at home here. After all, you have the toughest and most fearless wolf around these parts to watch your back" He said with his lips curling up into a flirtatious smile.

Thalia's thoughts were interrupted by a loud feminine cackle echoing throughout the gym. She turned her attention the see Alpha Ryan and his Luna Lauren approaching them.

"Tell me you aren't talking about yourself?" She questioned Chase jokingly with a ruffle to his wavy chocolate brown hair.

"Hey now, he will get there soon. Once he beats his big brother in a fight that is" He said mimicking his mate's chuckle along with another ruffle to his hair.

Thalia studied the three for a second before it finally clicked in her mind like a lightbulb.

"Ah! little Alpha" Thalia said pointing her finger at chase with a teasing smile causing him to roll his eyes and blush a bit.

"On a serious note though, he isn't wrong. The safest place for you both would be, behind our walls" Ryan said turning his attention to Thalia in a professional manner.

Before Thalia could get a word out, Lauren glared at her mate and spoke up.

"I apologize for these two, don't let them make you feel obligated to entertain their idea of a believed safe haven," She said in a motherly tone.

Thalia felt strangely relaxed by Lauren's presence and demeanor alone. She had reminded her a lot of her mother, the thought of that bringing tears to the back of her eyes but refusing to show that emotion and push it away quickly.

Alpha Ryan sighed and nodded his head as if he were apologizing.

"I know more than anything of what it's like to be out there for a long period of time. Afraid of letting anyone near, in fear of what's following you and catching up to them" She said with a pained expression on her face as if she were reliving memories she tries to keep away.

"But there's going to come a day... where someone comes along and will refuse to let you continue to live the rest of your life like this. They are going to want to bash down every single wall you have put up for yourself, but to turn around and help rebuild those walls but with them on the inside." She said as her pained expression turned to love.

Ryan's hand snaked around to pull her into him with a grin on his face as he placed a kiss on the side of her head.

"And trust me when I tell you..." She said as another unidentifiable expression flashed across her face as she quickly glanced behind Thalia and back to her.

"Having more than one person in your corner could help relieve the fog around your mind" She said quickly and in more of a quiet tone. What did she mean by that?

Before Thalia could question Lauren, a familiar scent flooded her nose causing her to swiftly turn around to look behind her. Jasper was leaning up against the doorframe of the gym. Without hesitation Thalia darted over towards him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace as he held her close to him returning her hug.

"I was so scared!" Thalia confessed in a shaky tone trying not to think about what could have happened.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time" He said softly to her as he planted a kiss on her forehead and pushed himself away to glance towards the two brothers and Luna who stared at them in silence.

Jasper locked hands with Thalia as they made their way over to the group. Jasper bowed his head in respect to the Alpha and Luna who now stood before them.

"I appreciate everything you two have done for Thalia and me," Jasper said in a polite tone.

Thalia had noticed Chase's expression of sorrow mixed with confusion towards her. She furrowed her brow and turned her attention to Jasper and ignored it. She couldn't help but feel like she was going to choke on the thick tension that suddenly filled the room once Jasper had made his appearance. She felt like she was missing something.

"And overhearing your conversation, with all due respect Alpha and Luna. It is for the best that Thalia and I continue forward on our own." He said.

Thalia narrowed her eyes at Jasper using her full name and not his normal Thali nickname. It sounded funny but not in a good way. Something seemed a little off about him. More than just being protective and on alert. Ryan had pulled Lauren closer to his side as he partially stood in front of her in a protective stance. Mates were always overprotective and possessive of their fated. But when it came to an Alpha and his Luna, that possessiveness and urge to protect was almost 10x. Maybe it was just an internal instinct to always protect the mother of the pack considering she is more than just a mate and future mother to their pups.

"You're obviously not putting your companion's safety first if you think you guys can keep at this for much longer," Chase said with a hint of aggression in his tone causing Jasper to snarl at him which in turn earned him a warning growl from Ryan.

"Look we can better protect you if you told us what's got you running from border to border, we can.." Lauren had started but was cut off by an agitated Jasper.

"Our business is none of your concern," Jasper said in a calm but cold tone as his eyes flashed black temporarily.

This causes Ryan to push Lauren behind him completely, her small frame disappearing altogether.

"Do yourself a favor and never speak to her in that tone again, young wolf" Ryan warned, his eyes flashing black as well.

The sound of everyone's rising heartbeat felt as if they were beating inside Thalia's ears. Being blessed with sensitive hearing that was abnormal for a regular wolf like herself had its perks. But it also had its weaknesses. Thalia brought one of her hands up to place pressure on one of her temples as she squeezed her eyes shut. Noticing this Jasper backed down and apologized to the Alpha and his Luna. Thalia had finally spoken up managing to get a word in

"Jasper is right. I can't allow the only pack to ever show us as much kindness as you guys have just by bringing us into your home, offering us food, safety, and medicine, and even new abilities to help us out there, risk yourselves and your pack members for our sake" Thalia said sincerely making eye contact with all of them as Lauren poked her head out from behind Ryan.

"If harm were to come upon anyone here because of me, Because of us" She added motioning to herself and Jasper.

" I couldn't live with myself," She said with her voice being a little shaky as tears threatened to pour down her face. She wasn't used to all of these emotions and began to feel annoyed at their sudden presence.

Lauren came out from behind Ryan to approach Thalia, taking both of her hands into her own, placing a small wool bag into the palm of one of Thalia's hands as she closed her fingers over it securely.

"I know," Laura said with just as much emotion in her voice as if she were holding back her tears.

There was something about Lauren that Thalia couldn't get enough of.

"This is a little taste of what has been keeping you guys safe here. It will disguise your scents as the scent of foxes. You must stay close together at all times for it to protect the both of you" She said.

Thalia has heard of items like these that were typically obtained from witches.

"I hope one day you can overcome whatever it is you are trying to leave in the dust," She said speaking more to Thalia than she was to the both of them.

Lauren pulled Thalia into a tight embrace, hesitating at first before Thalia allowed herself to indulge in her show of affection and return her hug by wrapping her arms around Lauren tightly. Every memory Thalia ever had of hugging her mother came flooding into her memory. The last memory was of the last time she ever saw her mother all those years ago. Thalia was fighting harder than ever to not let herself burst into tears and finally tore herself away from Lauren. After composing herself she reminded everyone of her appreciation and allowed everyone to see them off.

They were gifted new bags with fresh untorn clothes and nonperishable food to tie them over for a while along with a stack of cash that Thalia had tried to give back but Ryan and Lauren refused. They were even gifted with a vehicle that Thalia didn't know they had. They didn't use it very often and were more than happy to give it to them.

Everyone they had met over the past few weeks including the gamma and beta of the pack, along with their mates and the doctors that cared for them said their goodbyes with one last hug from Lauren as Jasper and Thalia headed back onto the road. It was a bittersweet goodbye to Thalia but didn't seem to phase Jasper.

They traveled in an awkward silence not having a designated direction in mind. Thalia had slipped on the necklace that came inside the little wool bag that was gifted to them. She had hoped it would do what it was promised.