Finding the Orphaned Luna

Conley

Conley watched as Avery carefully clicked the door behind her, and smirked as the bathroom fan turned on, giving her an illusion of privacy. He could still hear every word she said, and he could even hear what the person she was on the phone with said. Attempting to turn his mate out, a slow smile spread to his face as he pulled out his own cell phone from his trousers that had been discarded at the edge of the bed. He noticed that he had a couple calls and texts from his dad, his Beta, and his sister. He grimanced, realizing they’d been at it for much longer then he’d thought. Seconds just melted when she was in his arms.

 Finally. She was here.

 He’d been alone for what felt like ages. He’d watch packmember after packmember, mate, mark, and marry until everyone he’d grown up with had left him. His mother had even left him, and he and his father had never been close. He would never admit to anyone in the pack, but his father had turned to alcohol to comfort him following the loss of his mate, and while he was never abusive, he was certainly absent. Conley had had to be everything for his sister, because his father still had to lead the pack despite how little of him was left. At the end of the day, he’d have almost nothing left for his children. Conley loved his father desperately, and had wanted nothing more than to take over the pack so his father could rest, and maybe find something to bring the light back into his eyes, if only for a second. Alpha Andrew loved his children fiercely and had protected them from harm at all costs, and always made sure they were taken care of.  

Conley had just taken the responsibilities of Alpha about six months ago. His father had been holding out until Conrad found his mate, but last year he’d been injured in a rogue raid and had taken so long off work to recover that Conrad had to step in and help his father’s Beta manage. Without their Luna, and with a weak Alpha, the pack had desperately needed some strong leadership, so Conley had decided it was time. After that, his father never really came back as Alpha. He was still around and helping Conrad learn, and he looked better than he had in years now that the mantle of alpha had passed from him. The official ceremony had not taken place for the same reason Conley hadn’t been made Alpha years ago; his dad wanted him to have his mate by his side first, for the good of both him and the pack. Plus, he wanted Conley to have the time to travel and search for his mate, while visiting other packs and making connections that could be useful to him when he became Alpha.

Conley sighed, and returned his thoughts to letting everyone know what was happening. 

Dude, she’s my mate. I found her. He texted his Beta, Dalton, and was surprised when his phone buzzed just a second later.

Bout damn time you let someone know what the hell was going on. Bet you were busy though. ;)

Dalton, shut the hell up. We’ll be back tomorrow. Conley blushed slightly and smirked as he hit send. Then he had to call his father, and he was again surprised by the speed of the answer, seeing as it was past 1am.

“Hey, C. What’s been going on? Are you okay?” Conley immediately winced at the worry and pain in his dad’s voice. He really should have made sure to call earlier. 

“Yeah dad, I’m fine. I'm better than fine, actually. I found her, Dad,” he said quietly into the phone, despite knowing she couldn’t hear him. He heard his dad pause, and he felt some of the tension ease. Avery had been like a daughter to him, and it had almost broken him as much when she had been taken as when his mate had been killed. Conley’s mother’s death was in no way his father’s fault, but Avery ending up in foster care… That could have been avoided had his dad not been so absorbed in grief he couldn’t see straight. Not that Conley, or really anyone, had ever blamed him; they understood how devastating losing a mate was. But, he knew his father had been blaming himself for Avery’s absence for all the years she’d been gone. 

“You found her? That’s fantastic, son. I can’t believe she’ll finally be coming home after all these years,” his dad paused, and Conley heard his voice breaking just slightly, “she will be coming home with you, won’t she?”

Conley chuckled at the trepidation his father expressed and decided it was time to end his suffering completely.

“We’ll be back in the morning. Both of us. Oh, and dad?” Conley smiled as he paused. His dad sucked in a breath, clearly fearing something was wrong. 

“Is everything okay?”

“It’s better than okay. Avery’s my mate, dad,” He replied, revelling in our absolutely delicious it was to finally say that. He heard his dad gasp into the phone, and he could have sworn he heard the tears in his voice when he responded.

“Son.. I don't even know what to say. That's absolutely wonderful. I suspected that when you played as children but I really was never sure, and obviously I couldn’t have been until you both came of age. But truly Conley, I am so damn happy to hear that things seem to be working out, for everyone. And for us to piece our family back together, if only a little,” Andrew’s voice was definitely quivering with tears now. Conley decided to let him have some time, and they said their goodbyes, and he heard the other line click as his smile got bigger. 

He was looking at his phone when he felt Avery’s panic hit him in the gut through the bond. He heard her breathing increasing, her heartbeat racing, and he could smell her fear. He quickly crossed the distance between him and the door of the bathroom. 

“Avery? Everything okay?”