The Waning Moon Of Pain

Chapter Three:

For the first few days Diana did her best to avoid Ulric and Freya as much as possible. Her father was quite helpful with this as well. Wasn't too difficult to avoid them though, with them running such a large pack, they have their hands full, even Ulric more now with his Luna pregnant, he doesn't want her moving around too much.

Diana tried her best to just focus on scoping out the place, but with her weak state she can only move around outside the mansion's ground for right now. Besides feeling off with the new mating bond she has been given, she can feel the days getting a bit brighter for her. The supplements the doctor gave her have been helping her rest better and wake with a bit more energy each day.

Before she knew it a week has past at the Twin Moon pack, the only thing that's been stressful for her is she can't seem to stop thinking about Ulric, smelling his wonderful scent all around the mansion. She has noticed even though she is avoiding him, that he makes sure she is well taken care of. Having a full meal on a plate ready for her, morning, noon, and evening. She eats outside with her father, not wanting to bug their pack and see him, making it awkward.

She woke early this morning feeling more energized than normal. Wanting to try and do a few things on her own today, she heads into the bathroom to shower and freshen up. After her shower she sits back on her bed looking out her window watching the sunrise, coloring the sky while she takes her time, not wanting to spend this new energy too quickly.

Her wolf suddenly shifts in her mind. She only seems to do that if Ulric is close by or his scent is strong in the air. Relaxing watching the sunrise Diana figures she might try talking with Rin and see if she will acknowledge her a little.

'Rin? Can we please talk?' Diana softly asks in her head, knowing Rin can hear her.

Rin stays silent or doesn't show any signs she wishes to talk. Diana sighs looking down at her thin fingers. She can barely look at herself in the mirror half the time from how thin she has gotten. Without her wolf being one with her, the muscles that they easily gain are hard for her to get at the moment, she is more a weak human then anything right now.

'Rin, I wish you would talk to me. I know...I just want us to be happy again...if you would just tell me what you want, I'll do my best to make it happen.'

An image suddenly appears in her mind, an old memory of her and Darius together. Diana's heart aches with her wolf's pain. She sighs, hugging herself fighting the tears.

'I know, I wish I could bring him back, but you know it's not possible Rin.' Diana softly says to her and ends the conversation there not wanting to push Rin too far.

Leaving her wolf to stay locked up in her mind. She stands walking to her door and goes to see if her father is awake. She can tell she is getting stronger already after just a week of being here. Having new things to distract her has been helping and everyone is so kind here.

Opening her door, she freezes finding someone pacing on the other side of her door. They suddenly stop and look at her, she locks eyes with those beautiful big blues again. Heart feels like it wants to jump out of her chest. Even his intoxicating scent wraps around her like a warm blanket.

"Uh...Hello Alpha." She softly says trying not to sound flustered from the rush of the mating bond.

Ulric blinks a couple times out of his thoughts and gives her a handsome smile, keeping his distance even though he desperately wanted to move closer to her and embrace her in his arms. He can tell she is looking better already after being here a week. He has been giving her her space, but keeping tabs on her so his wolf doesn't go crazy. Thankfully her father is willing to participate in keeping him updated on her.

"Diana, I told you. Call me Ulric." He says a bit annoyed she still calls him just Alpha. He can't help wanting to hear her say his name with that angelic voice of hers.

Nibbling on her lower lip a little, she hugs her arms around her, trying to calm her burning cheeks hearing him say her name again,

"Is there something you need...Ulric?" She softly says, her cheeks burning more saying his name out loud to him for the first time.

She feels like a teenager in highschool with a huge crush all over again with how strong this mating bond is. She hopes they can hold out long enough for her to decide what she and her wolf wants before it starts driving them crazy. The longer they hold off from completing the mating process, the worse it gets to try and draw them closer to each other.

Ulric had to try his best to suppress a groan at hearing her sweet voice say his name for the first time. He can just imagine how wonderful it would be to hear her crying his name loudly in pleasure. His wolf then starts flooding his mind with naughty thoughts making him quickly block his wolf to stop him.

Rubbing his hands, he steadies his mind the best he can, not wanting to do anything rash, "Yes, I was hoping you would join me and Freya for breakfast this morning? Freya wishes to meet you."

Diana looks at him trying to think it over, she then feels her wolf peeking through eyes to look at him. It made her wonder if her wolf is really interested in him or can't help it because of the mating bond. She should at least meet his other mate and Luna.

"Sure. I'd like to meet her too, but would it be okay if we just ate outside. I don't want to stir up any misunderstandings with your pack. I'm guessing you haven't told them about this?" She carefully asks, nibbling on her lip a bit more.

Ulric wishes she would stop biting her lip like that, it makes him want to pry it from her teeth and put them between his.

"That's fine. I want it to be a private meeting. No I haven't told the whole pack, just my betas, but they will keep it to themselves. I don't want you to be uncomfortable here."

She gives him a small smile and nods, " Thank you. Is it okay if my father joins us as well?"

"Yes of course." He says excitedly that she agreed.

" Great. I was just about to see if my father was awake to head down. I guess we will meet you both down there?" She didn't know why it was so easy for her to talk casually with him, but it felt nice for a change.

" Yes. Thank you for joining us Diana. See you soon." He says, forcing himself to move, giving her a smile and a wave as he heads up to get Freya.

Diana watches him disappear up the stairs. A smile slowly forms on her lips at how sweet he is. She felt glad to make him happy, she was a bit nervous about it, but it needs to be done eventually. Shaking the thoughts of Ulric from her mind, she heads to her father's room next to hers and gently knocks on it.

"Dad, are you awake?"

"Come in princess." He calls through the door.

She walks in seeing him sitting up on his bed in his sweats he wears to bed, he looks like he just woke up a few minutes ago. He looks over at her and smiles rubbing his stiff neck.

"Good morning princess." He says with a tired gruff voice.

"Good morning father. I uh...ran into Ulric. He would like to join us outside for breakfast this morning. Freya will be joining too, he says she wishes to meet me." She says walking over to her dad's things to help get him fresh clothes out and ready.

He watches his daughter moving around the room, getting things for him. He smiles, he hasn't seen her with this much energy in a long time and she hasn't helped him get ready for the day in years. Hearing that Ulric paid her a visit has seemed to have brightened her mood a little as well.

"That sounds wonderful. Just give me a moment and we will head down then." He tells her, rubbing his neck a bit more.

She looks at him concerned at how much he's rubbing his neck, "Is your neck bothering you again?"

"It's just a little stiff is all. Nothing to worry about."

"Still, let me just rub it out for you a little bit. I haven't done it in a long time for you, I'm sure it's stiffer than a rock now." She tells him and disappears back to her room to her things.

When she was fifteen, she started to learn to be a masseuse and a chiropractor. She found it to be very helpful with getting her father more relaxed on his stressful long days working. Eventually she started to do it for all the warriors and anyone who needed it in their pack. With everything that happened last year, she hasn't found the strength to do this again until today.

Grabbing the messaging oil she always carries around with her, she quickly returns to her father's room. He still sat on the bed when she left him.

"Lay down on your stomach, this will only take a couple of minutes and then you can finish getting ready." She tells him, going to his side.

He looks at the oil in her hands, then up at her, "You feel okay to do this? I don't want you overdoing it."

" I'll be okay Dad. I enjoyed doing this for you, I've actually missed it. I won't do it for long, I know having not done it for a while, my hands might cramp quickly, but you have helped me a lot this past year. The least I can do is help with your neck again."

He smiles warmly at her and nods. He moves more on the bed and lays down on his stomach. She moves on the bed with him and gently sits on his lower back. Putting some oil on her hands, she warms them up, then starts to rub out his neck. She frowns at how bad the knots have gotten. He's been so stressed about her.

Her hands moved fluently on their own, like she hasn't done this in over a year. She smiles, feeling the tension in his neck and shoulders relax, getting some of the small knots out and working down the bigger ones. After about five minutes, her hands start to cramp on her.

She sighs, stopping, moving off him, "Sorry I couldn't do longer, but I hope that helps."

Jack sits up, moving his neck more easily and smiles feeling some of that tension gone,

"I'm feeling much better already. Thank you honey." He says giving her a kiss on the cheek and stands.

She smiles, happy to have helped him. It's been a long time sinces she's felt this good, she hopes it lasts. After father quickly cleans up and gets dressed, they head down together, walking to the back of the mansion to their spot they have claimed this week enjoying the outdoors while eating.

Catching Ulric's scent getting stronger now, she spots him and Freya already seated outside with the table setup and full with food and drinks for them to enjoy. She grips her father's arm a little, feeling a bit nervous about this. Jack looks down at her daughter and gently pats her hand on his arm.

"It will be okay princess. One step at a time right?"

She looks up at her father, relaxing. She is glad her father is here with her, helping her through this. He's the reason why she hasn't given up. He never gave up on her and her brother when he lost his mate, no way is she going to be disrespectful to him and give up on him.

"Right." She says sweetly and continues to head out the doors to the table.

"Sorry for the wait Alpha Ulric and Luna Freya, hope you haven't been waiting long for us." Jack says greeting them first to start it off warm.

Ulric looks over at them, his eyes on Diana, not able to look anywhere else. She looks even more amazing in the sunlight, with how the sun made her soft pale skin glow and her emerald eyes shine. He stands to greet her father, shaking his hand,

"No at all, we only just arrived ourselves. Please sit." Ulric moves the seat out on the other side of him for Diana.

She looked at him unsure for a second, but she didn't want to be rude. Stepping over she softly sits down in the seat, letting him push her chair in like the gentleman he is. His thumb lightly brushes her shoulder when he lets go. She gasps, stiffening at the sudden flow of sparks going through her.

He jumps a little as well not expecting that, accidentally touching her shoulder. He quickly takes his seat, giving her a small apologetic look, she returns it with a small smile letting him know she's okay. Her father takes his seat on the other side of her.

"Diana, this is Freya. Freya, Diana." Ulric says wanting to get them introduced right away.

Diana looks over at the small woman next to him. She was beautiful, she had the perfect smooth golden blonde hair that hung past her shoulders. Bright hazel eyes, her skin has a nice soft tan and she had very soft, kind features.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Luna Freya." Diana says sweetly, giving her a small smile, hoping that she doesn't hate her for having a mating bond with her mate.

Freya gives her the brightest smile she has ever seen, it kind of made her feel all warm inside. She can see the luna in her from just that one smile,

"It's lovely to finally meet you as well Diana. How are you two enjoying your stay so far?" Her voice was small, but sweet.

" It's been really great so far. You have such a beautiful home and land here. Everyone is also very kind as well. Thank you again for letting us visit and explore the place." Diana says warmly to her, glad she is being civil and not showing any signs of hate.

They start to fill their plates as they continue their talk.

"Is there anything that you have seen so far that is your favorite?" Ulric asks, eager to learn more about her.

Diana looks down at her plate, cutting up her sausage links to distract the flutter in her stomach, sitting next to him and having a nice conversation.

"We haven't explored too much yet. Just took a few strolls around the mansion, but I do enjoy the garden, it's very lovely."

Before she starts eating, her father pulls out her vitamins from his pocket, handing her one. She gives him a small smile as a thank you.

"What is it that you are taking?" Freya asks, slightly concerned.

Diana looks at the large pill in her hand and then over at Freya, "Oh this is just a supplement pill. Your pack doctor Howard was kind enough to give them to me. Told me to take them twice a day with a full meal. He said it will help give me the nutrients I need that my body is lacking to make on it's own at the moment. They have been very helpful actually, I feel a little stronger each day."

Ulric smiles, happy to hear that, he could tell she has been doing better from her father's reports, but seeing it with his own eyes and hearing her say it just makes him overjoyed that his home is helping her. Freya smiles happy to hear that as well, but she didn't understand,

"Why is your body not making the right nutrition you need, are you ill?"

Swallowing the pill down, drinking the full glass of water. She lets out a soft sigh and gives Freya a small smile,

"Mmmm no, I'm not sick in any way. It's just with what happened, it can take a heavy toll on our bodies." She carefully says not really wanting to talk about her lost mate.

Freya eyes soften, feeling a bit bad for even asking now, "Right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you..."

Diana quickly holds up her hand reassuring her, "No, it's fine. No need to worry. I just need to take it a day at a time is all. Thank you for your concern."

They fall into a small awkward silence for a moment, eating their food. Jack glances at Ulric and Diana, seeing Ulric constantly glancing her way trying to figure out what to ask her. Diana's cheeks are slightly pink, knowing he keeps looking her way. He decides to help strike up another conversation.

"Luna Freya. I've been wanting to ask you how your check up the other day went? Max told us you are having twins, congratulations."

Freya's eyes bright up like the stars and her smile as bright as the sun, bringing her hand to the small bump of her belly already, gently rubbing it.

"It went very well, they are very healthy and strong. In a week we will be going back to find out the gender. We are both hoping for two boys." She says excitedly.

Ulric smiles, enjoying that beautiful joy on his mate's face, he leans in, giving her a quick kiss, gently placing his hand over hers that's on her belly.

Diana watched them, seeing how very much in love and happy they are. Her hand subconsciously goes over her belly, her heart aching to her thoughts. Why would the moon goddess give Ulric a second mate like her? He doesn't need her to be happy from how happy he looks right now with his true mate.

"That would be wonderful. Having boys would help with continuing your family's tradition of having two Alpha's. I've been wanting to ask, forgive me if I'm stepping over a line here, but will you be having someone take Isaacs place?" Jack asks them, being curious about this for a while.

" Dad, that's none of our business." Diana whines embarrassed her father would ask such a question.

"No it's okay Diana." Ulric reassures her giving her a warm smile and looks over at Jack,

" Honestly we haven't decided yet. It has been a year since he has passed, and it has been rough managing this large pack on my own, but for right now my father or Alpha Max helps me out when I need an extra hand. We have talked about it over many times, but it's a really big responsibility and I don't have the time to fully train a new Alpha at the moment."

" Didn't Alpha Max and Luna Molly have two girls as well? I know it's not normally common to have a female as the alpha, but there are some packs out there with female Alphas now. Would one of them be willing to step up?" Diana asks curiously, throwing a suggestion out there.

"I am not saying I'm against a female being Alpha, but no, they wouldn't be good for the position. They didn't grow up learning the ways of being an Alpha. I would have to train them, plus one just got with her mate in a different pack and then the other is turning eighteen this year and going to college."

Diana nods looking down at her food. " Oh I see. Sorry I forget sometimes not other female daughters of Alpha's learn the way. My father taught us both together just in case me and my brother needed to work together to keep our pack safe."

Jack smiles proudly and nods, " Yep, I wanted you both to be prepared for anything. But you also took on the role of Luna at a very young age. You always enjoyed being there for the pack and helping others, keeping the peace when I was struggling. You are the best daughter an Alpha could ever have."

Her face turns red from her father praising her, " Dad! Stop it." She cries out embarrassed, saying that in front of Ulric.

The three of them laugh at her being flustered, her father grins even more.

"Our whole pack even called her Little Luna. She was so adorable at how much she glowed hearing people call her that when she was little."

Diana groans covering her face, she is starting to regret bringing her father along. Ulric chuckles, loving her reactions from her father's teasing.

"I remember. I might have only visited your pack a couple of times, but I remember how tough she was even at a small age as well as having a big heart. Seeing you being there for your father during your mother's funeral, comforting him at such a young age, actually inspired me to be the best Alpha my pack could ever need, to be that strong during hard times." Ulric says warmly, praising her as well.

She felt her heart just skip a beat, feeling the butterflies in her stomach. She looks over at Ulric, her cheeks still flushed from their teasing and praises, but it surprised her that he noticed her back then.

"Really?"

He gives her the warmest smile, that makes her insides want to melt and feel those strong lips against hers,

"Yes, you inspired me Diana."

Today ends up being a great day for Ulric, at this very moment she gives him a real smile for the first time. Even jack couldn't believe what he was seeing. He hadn't seen his sweet daughter smile like that for a long time, but the brief amount of joy quickly disappeared from her face.

Ulric watches her eyes get wide for a second in shock and fear. She then quickly drops her head, gripping her shaking hands. He looks at her worried, his wolf whines in his head at her reaction.

"Diana, are you okay?" Ulric asks her, reaching out to take her hand, but she quickly stands to move away from him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I need to go. Thank you for the lovely breakfast and it was great meeting you Freya." She quickly says, giving Freya a strained smile and rushes off to the garden.

Jack stands to go after her, "I'll go check on her." He says hurrying after his daughter.

Ulric watches them disappear. He growls slamming his fist on the table, startling Freya next him. She reacts by taking his fist into her small hands, kissing his knuckles to calm him. He looks over at her and sighs, relaxing,

"I'm sorry." He says softly, feeling bad for making her worry like this.

"Your fine my love, I know you can't help it. You want to be the one to comfort her and help her. She will come around, you are doing great being patient with her, which I know is not easy for you to do. Go after her, just to make sure she is okay, it will help ease Blake's concern." She tells him, giving her support for her mate.

He looks at her with so much love in his eyes, taking her hand kissing it, "Are you sure? I will stay if you want me too."

"I'll be fine Ulric. Just go, I will be right here waiting for your return okay?" She says sweetly, giving him a quick kiss, which he turns into a breathtaking one, he loves leaving her breathless for him.

"Your the best. I love you." He says giving her one last sweet kiss before standing.

"I love you too." She says happily back, her heart full of love for him.

Freya watches her mate disappear after Diana and her father. She sighs relaxing in her seat, gently rubbing her belly. She hates having to share him, but she knows this is the right thing to do for him and their pack. As long as he and Diana have a mating bond, she has to bear with letting him be with her to keep him stable. He already has enough to deal with on his shoulders, she doesn't need to add more to it. She knows he loves her always, their connection will only get stronger.

Ulric walks with a bit of a haste, but not too quickly. Last thing he needs is to startle her, he just needs to know she really is okay and that he didn't do anything to upset her.

'Something is not right. ' Blake whimpers in his head.

He slows his pace worried at what his wolf means,

'What's not right?'

'Diana. Her wolf. She hurt Diana, I saw it in her eyes.' Blake says and whimpers more.

That didn't make any sense to Ulric, why would her wolf be hurting her. Is that why she is so thin, is there more to her mate's death than what he was told? All he knows is that Darius died protecting her, that's not Diana's fault or her wolf's.

Following her sweet scent, he soon hears them close. She ran to the gardens. He spots her and her father on the bench and she is crying in her father's arms. His instinct to go to her almost takes over, but he suddenly stops hearing her start to speak with her father as he tries to sooth her crying.

"She still hates me, dad. She didn't like that I was getting comfortable with Ulric. She won't talk to me. But she lashes out at me any time I try to smile again. What am I to do? I've apologised to her so much, but she continues to put that horrible image of Darius's dead body in my head." She cries out, hugging her father tighter.

Ulric couldn't believe what he was hearing, her wolf was hurting her. She blames her for what happened? Why would she need to apologise to her wolf? There were so many questions going through his mind about this and his wolf is angry with his mate hurting herself like this. He wants to force her wolf out and put her in her place, but Ulric knows that's the last thing he needs to do.

Stepping back out of view, he continues to listen to them. He knows this is disrespecting her privacy, but he promised he would help her get better. The moon goddess brought her to him for a reason.

"You just need to give her time honey. Keep trying to reach her, I know she will come around eventually." He softly says to her, but Ulric could hear the slight annoyance in his voice from his wolf. He's probably pissed as well that her wolf is doing this to her.

"How much longer do I have to wait? It's been a year now and I have another mate, but I do not know how she really feels about him, I don't know anything. I'm in the dark, I feel so cold and alone. I miss Darius. I just want this to all be a bad nightmare and wake up in his arms again."

Hearing her cry about her past mate, wishing to be with him, surprisingly didn't make him mad or jealous, but sad. He has no idea what she is going through, but he and Blake will never put her down when talking about her past mate, that is a line they will not cross. He will show her she is not alone and she can smile again, he will get to the bottom of this, even if he has to corner her and force her wolf to talk it out with her. This is not how a wolf should act with their human. It's time he has a private chat with her father and find out all the details of what happened that day.

Fighting the urge to go to his crying second mate, he returns leaving her be to her father to comfort her for now. He wants to talk over this with Freya and get her opinion, so he doesn't make a rash decision. He has made those in the past, he won't make that mistake with Diana. He is glad he has Freya at his side, without her, this would drive him crazy trying to figure out how to help Diana.