Avenging His Luna

Scarlett “Come Scarlett, we must go to him. He’s so sad and enduring so much pain.” My wolf was in pain for our mate. I reluctantly opened my eyes and slid the covers off, shivering as the cold air hit my body. It had been so long since I had given in to her, but I needed it tonight as much as she did. I reached for my robe which hung over the headboard of my small bed and draped it over me before starting across the room. I paused at the door, pressing my ear against it and listening to see if anyone else was awake and walking through the hall. Not trusting the silence fully, I placed my hand on the knob and turned the handle slowly, trying to avoid the creak my door so often made when the latch first gave way. I pressed my ear to the crack and listened again. When I had still not heard anything, I opened the door fully and emerged from my room. I walked quietly down the hall, carefully avoiding every plank that would creak and give me away. I led myself down the stairs which led to the back door and searched the window to ensure no one lingered outside. Only the moon stared back so I pushed the door open and breathed in the cool air. “Lead me, Willow.” I said to my wolf as I closed my eyes and allowed her to guide me. I trusted her completely to take me to my mate, knowing that if I kept my eyes open and guided myself, I would fear the consequences of sneaking out, causing me to turn and run back to the pack house, back to my room, and be the obedient female I was supposed to be. I felt the damp grass beneath my feet and became more aware of the crickets chirping. I could feel the ground harden and knew I had stepped onto one of the paths leading through the forest. The air felt colder and there was soft scurrying through the underbrush. Fear started to creep in, hoping Luna wouldn't realize my absence. Willow kept control, forcing my feet to take one step after the next. I took a deep breath and practiced my techniques I had honed over the years to manage my anxiety. I needed my mind to be walking somewhere other than where my body took me, somewhere my mate and I could join in happiness and peace. I smiled, forcing the vision of myself walking down a winding path through the woods to the beach where my mate stood in bare feet looking at the gentle waves of the lake. I walked over to him in my vision and laid my hand on his arm. He looked at me with his deep blue eyes and smiled before bending down and wrapping me in his arms, scooping me up and swinging me around as we both laughed. Falling to the ground, he rolled overtop of me and leaned down to kiss my lips. Little footsteps came running from down the sand and I turned smiling as bouncing blonde curls ran toward us. My feet stopped and the vision started fading away. A deep sadness fell over me and a tear crept out of the corner of my eye. I opened them to see that Willow had once again led me to the jail. I stared at the brick building. Memories of my parents finding me in this same spot rushed through my mind. They always thought I was sleep walking and I never did anything to dissuade them. Six years ago, I would sit and wait, watching for new warriors to enter the building for their shift, waiting for the old shift to leave. I always hoped to be drawn to one of them. I never was. Willow always led me to the building, but I would never be allowed inside. I would never be allowed to see if my mate was hidden behind those brick walls. I walked the familiar path over to the far back corner. Looking down, I saw the dirt spot once so frequently occupied that it still had no vegetation. I stood there staring at it, contemplating. Did I want to sit down, allowing myself to feel the familiar comfort I knew would come from leaning against that wall? I need it tonight. I took another step forward, then turned, lowering myself into position and leaning up against the cool bricks. It was as if they held a special power. Every time my back made contact, a powerful feeling would grow inside me until it manifested in my chest, carrying away all fear and sadness. It was so comforting. I used to think the pack held some type of secret artifact locked away that gave me this power. I was young and dumb. I finally realized it was my mate locked away in prison that soothed me. Being close to him was a comfort. What kind of broken was I that I would continue coming and sitting next to a felon in order to ease the pain that was my life? I sat there a bit longer basking in the warmth his closeness provided before I stood and started back up the path to the house. Willow whimpered softly in my head, and I understood her pain. I wanted my mate too. I desperately wanted someone to share my life with. Someone to talk to, joke with, someone to play board games and watch movies all night. That wasn’t in the cards. I didn’t have a mate. Well, maybe I did, but if he was locked in prison, there was no hope of my vision manifesting. Anyway, even if he wasn’t, the vision was impossible… I opened the back door of the pack house and quietly padded back up the stairs toward my room. I stopped, hearing humming coming from above. I felt frozen. Had she heard me? I stepped backward, reaching my foot for my previous step when her booze-soaked voice reached me. “Come now, little pet. You don’t think you can run away that easily, do you?” I inhaled as much air as my lungs would willingly take before climbing the stairs again. She sat on the top step, wearing a long silk nightgown with a matching robe overtop, a martini glass in one hand, and a cigarette hanging from two fingers in her other. “Where have you been?” She asked annoyed, still looking out the picture window at nothing in particular. “Sorry, Luna.” I responded, looking at my feet. “I was sleep-walking. Did you need something?” I asked. I was terrified. I knew what was coming. She turned her head in order to lock eyes on me before walking down the stairs, closing the distance between us. “I need to know where my belongings are at all times,” she said. I hated how she referred to me as her belonging, even if legally it was true. “I also need to not have to make my own drinks when I run out!” She threw the remainder of her cup’s contents right in my face. I closed my eyes but still felt the burn of alcohol in them. “You know you aren’t to leave this house without permission. I’ve warned you enough.” She threw her glass at the stairs. Shards cascaded down the steps as she grabbed my throat with that hand and slammed my body against the wall. “Don’t let it happen again.” She snarled in my face. She clearly had downed a whole bottle and was on her second. That was probably why she had been looking for me, so that I would walk down the stairs to bring her a new one. “This will teach you.” She growled as my arm started to burn. “Ouch, please, no, stop!” I shouted. She removed the cigarette from my skin and took a stumbling step backwards. A sick smile was plastered on her face, and she chuckled. “Clean this up.” She sighed, looking at the debris lying all around our bare feet. Then she turned and walked up the stairs and down to her room, using the wall to support her. Tears were flowing from my eyes. I walked as carefully as I could around the glass, but not without slicing into my big toe. I walked on the heel of that foot the rest of the way to the cleaning closet, trying to avoid having an even larger mess. I passed through the kitchen, stopping at the freezer for an ice cube before reaching for the supplies. Taking a napkin on my way back through, I wrapped my toe and then worked at getting all the glass swept. I had just finished and started carrying the shards to the kitchen to throw them away when the side door flew open, and I was hit by the strong smell of whiskey. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. The two were a true match, constantly marinating themselves. He looked at the dustpan full of glass I held and shook his head. “She’s been drinking, huh? Good, she should be out cold before I get up there. Is she in bed or did she pass out somewhere else?” “She should be in bed.” I replied, keeping my eyes on the floor. I had enough punishment for the day. “Huh, well go to bed yourself, I don’t need you creeping around the house keeping me awake.” He mumbled as he stumbled toward the stairs. “Yes, Alpha Felix,” I replied.