Finding the Orphaned Luna

A Moment between Mates

“I don’t really want to go into detail about it at the moment, but suffice to say that when I was in foster care, I think it was already obvious that I was different. I was bullied, and abused, endlessly. Not just by the kids, who would throw punches, and break bones, but by the adults too. They often used their words, and their cigarettes, and often less… savory things, to make my life a living hell. That’s what I dream about mostly. Not the kids so much, the parents. Sometimes I even dream about what happened to my own, though I always assumed it was my imagination. Now I know what I see is what happened. Somehow, it’s worse, knowing they were killed in cold blood. I always thought I’d be relieved for any kind of answer.” She said, quietly and haltingly. 

He could tell she had never really talked about it, and he knew how hard it was for her to admit any sort of weakness. He grimanced, having spent years refusing to think about how Avery had witnessed it all, had seen the life leave her parents as she hid from the rogues in the closet of their room. She’d been asleep, in their bed, when the house had been broken into. There hadn’t been time for them to do anything but hide her in their panic room, which happened to be their closet. No one could get in once it was engaged, not unless they had the code. Only her parents and his had had the code, and they had found her in there, screaming, only minutes later. She had watched the whole thing from between the slats, as it had been disguised like a closet. He remembered running down the hall of the packhouse to their floor, despite his fathers protests that it wasn’t safe for anyone, especially a young boy without his wolf. He hadn’t cared. Even then, he’d heard Avery’s screams and came running. Somehow he’d been the first one there, and he’d blocked the scene from her view, whispering to her through the slats, trying to calm her down as the fear and anger seeped through his body. His grief was immense, but he knew hers was worse, and even then he’d done whatever he could to prevent her from more pain. His dad had unlocked the panic room when he’d arrived, but it was Conley that carried her from there, shielding her and had brought her to the kitchen with cocoa and cookies until things had been dealt with, and his parents had gotten a bed ready for her in their room. She’d been taken by CPS after the funeral. Her aunt, who had banished from the pack for reasons he hadn’t known, had reported Avery to CPS as a child without a home, and they had come to take her after her aunt had convinced his grieving father that she wanted to take care of Avery for a few days, in honor of her sister. 

His mother had been discovered later, bleeding out in the library. It had been decided that she had been attacked hours after the initial one, when hypervigilance ebbed and exhaustion and grief won. Conley had been on his way to his room with the guards his father had assigned after making sure Avery was being dealt with. The cook, Melody, had taken over for him once she was calmed down enough to be put to bed. He walked by the library, noticed the door was cracked open, and had dragged his guards with him. He had found his mother — Conley stopped that thought, and brought himself to the present. He really didn’t want to think about that right now. He took a deep breath, subtly, as to not alarm her. He hadn’t responded in way too long, having been wrapped up in his own memories. He met her eyes, which had a slight panic coiled in them, which relaxed when he smiled and gently took her hand.

“Thank you for talking to me. I know it isn’t easy now, but I hope it will get easier. I really wish those things had never happened, and while I know I can’t change anything, I’d like you to know that I intend to make sure that you never experience anything like that again,” he smiled, knowing she needed him to be strong and confident, and not give into either the rage at the thought of her being hurt by those she was supposed to be safe with, or the grief at losing their parents. He saw her eyes brighten, just a fraction, and on an impulse he pushed her hair behind her ear and gently brushed his lips against hers. She returned the kiss, slightly greedily. He knew she needed a bit of a distraction, and Goddess knows he wouldn’t mind one either. He pulled her closer to him, and deepened the kiss as she slid her hand up to his cheek. He nibbled her bottom lip a little, pulling away to smile devilishly, knowing she was already ready for more but also knowing they needed to leave if they were going to make it to the pack before nightfall. 

“Alright, that’s enough of that for now. How long before you’re ready to head out?” He asked, grinning ear to ear as he pulled them both to their feet, savoring every place where her body brushed his.

“About fifteen. I’m all packed, I just need to get dressed. I’m assuming you guys have showers and stuff?” She asked, smirking slightly, fully aware of the activity he had been doing just before this. 

“Yes, definitely have showers. We’d be too disgusting otherwise,” he replied, smiling back. 

“Awesome. As I already packed all my toiletries, I will shower when we get there,” she continued, wrinkling her nose, “plus, I like to shower after long drives. So two birds, one stone. Now, are we taking my car, yours, or both?”