The Waning Moon Of Pain

Chapter Four:

After having a long talk with his Luna, they came up with a plan. Freya thought it best to say try to get some girl time with Diana and the others to see if it will help her feel more comfortable and open up easier, while Ulric steals her father away for a moment to talk things over.

When dinner comes around, Freya waits around for Diana hoping she shows. She knows they eat outside, but they come grab their food in the kitchen first then head out. She smiles relieved seeing Diana and Jack walk into the kitchen together. Her eyes looked a bit darker than from this morning, but she looked well enough.

"Diana, may I speak with you for a second?" Freya asks her, stepping over to her.

Diana blinks at her with unsureness in her eyes, but then softly nods her head. She motions to step out of the kitchen with her into the empty hallway. Diana follows her, giving her father a small smile as he tells her he will get their food.

Stepping out in the quiet hallway, Diana turns to the beautiful Luna in front of her hugging her arms. She is a bit nervous that maybe she is going to tell her how she really feels about her being mated to her mate.

"Tomorrow afternoon I am having a little get together at the pool with some of the girls. I wanted to see if you wished to join us? We won't be doing much, just sitting around relaxing, enjoying the water and talking." Freya sweetly asks her, giving her a genuine smile.

Diana looks at her a bit surprised by this. She really expected to be lectured by her to stay away from her mate, but instead she is offering to hangout with her and other women here. She has never been good with girl talk, but maybe meeting others and just listening to them talk will make a nice change for her.

She gives Freya a small smile and nods, "I would love too. It sounds like fun, it's been a while since I've just sat and talked with other she wolves. I am sure my father could use a break from me for a little while. What time?"

Freya glows happy to hear she will join them, making Diana smile a little more for her,

"Around 3pm out at the back pool. You will have a great time."

" Thank you Luna Freya. I will be there."

" Oh please just Freya, you don't need to worry about being so formal with me and Ulric. We are all friends and family here, mated or not okay?"

Freya is such a great Luna, she has such a warmth around her that makes you feel calm. It reminds her of her mother a little, she had the same thing around her.

"Thank you, Freya."

"See you tomorrow." She says waving bye to her and leaves to join the others in the dining area.

Her father steps out of the kitchen with two full plates and sodas. Diana helps him, taking her plate and drink and they head to the back with him, while telling him how Freya invited her to get together with some other she wolves of their pack tomorrow. He was very happy to hear she agreed to go.

The next day she and her father spent most of it outside adventuring on a path through the woods. Besides her small episode yesterday morning, she's been doing fine and the vitamins seem to be still doing their job just fine for her. She even thinks she has gained a bit of weight back, but she isn't going to be hopeful just yet.

They were heading back to the mansion for her to get ready for the little pool party the Luna is throwing today with just the girls. She isn't sure if she is nervous or excited about it, but it will be nice to relax and soak her feet in the water after a nice day's walk through the woods.

"What will you do while I'm at the gathering?" She asks her father, giving him a small smile.

He has been at her side since she lost her mate, he hasn't taken any time for himself in a long while, she hopes he will be okay. He gives her a warm smile, holding her hand as they walk,

"Well Ulric wishes to talk with me, other than that I might just relax in front of a tv for a bit."

She looks at him a bit worried, " Why does Ulric wish to talk with you? What does he want to talk about?"

Her father smirks, looking down at her lifting a brow, " What do you think he wants to talk about? I am sure he has questions about you, but doesn't want to make you uncomfortable asking all of them at once."

She nibbles on her lower lip, looking ahead of them down the path, her cheeks flush, "Well just don't tell him anything that's really personal okay? If he wishes to know those things, have him come ask me and I will tell him if I feel comfortable enough to do so. You know there are things I don't wish others to know just yet, not until I make amends with Rin."

He lets her hand go, putting his large arm around her shoulders hugging her against him, "Do not worry princess, I would never reveal your secrets like that, but I do know he really wants to help you, so don't be mad at him or me if I tell him some things about your condition. He might be able to help you find a better solution at figuring out how to make peace with your wolf again, then my wait and see option."

" Mmmm I don't know. I don't want to burden him with my problems, they have nothing to do with him. I know he's just doing this because of the mate bound, he can't help it, just like I can't get him out of my head half the time. It's driving me nuts, I feel awful and have butterflies at the same time." She groans, leaning against him as they slowly walk.

"Why do you feel awful about it? I know Ulric can never replace Darius, but he is a great man, I couldn't be any happier with the goddess' choice to give him to you. His father Odin was always a hardass on him. But that didn't waver Ulric to be the best for his pack, even when Isaac was struggling."

She lifts a brow looking up at her father, "You seem to know a lot about him."

He shrugs, "Max and I are very close. He told me all about the boys when we got the chance to catch up. Just like I'd brag to him about you and Freki."

She smiles, shaking her head, " I'm happy you have a good friend dad. Max is a great guy. I remember he enjoyed me calling him uncle Maxy when I was little. Odin scared me though." She says and laughs a bit remembering that very large man, he was like a giant beast.

She has no idea how a sweet of a man like Ulric was raised by a giant like Odin. He must take after his mother, she's the sweetest person. She almost balances out the scornful man she is with. She doesn't even want to know his reaction to this whole situation.

"Anyways, I just feel wrong dragging him into this. I just wanted to find peace in his pack. All I wanted from him was his blessing to test the waters here, see if he would accept me if I found my purpose. That's all I still wish from him, he has enough to handle and my problems shouldn't be added to it. It makes me feel awful that he is linked to someone like me as well as I feel like I'm being disrespectful to Darius by having these feelings for him, even though it's just the mating bonds doing. He could never really love me, he loves Freya and they really are a perfect couple, just like Darius and I were perfect." She rambles and sighs, getting that load off her chest.

Jack chuckles giving her a squeeze looking down at her,

"Whether you want him to help you or not, he is still going to do it. You know how stubborn us alphas can be, especially when it comes to our mates. I know it won't be exactly the same love you and Darius had, or how Ulric loves Freya, but not every love is the same. You two will find your own way to love each other and as long as you both are happy, that's all that really matters."

She doesn't know when her father got so good at being supportive and knowing what to say, but he is right and hearing it helps ease her nerves about this a bit. There are things though she is afraid of him finding out and ends up rejecting her because of it. One thing she knows for sure, she doesn't deserve Ulric or any one for a second mate. She doesn't know why the moon goddess would give her a second chance with a mate and with someone as perfect as Ulric.

Reaching the mansion, she kisses her father on the cheek and heads to her room to get changed. She had a bathing suit, but she is very self conscious of how her body looks right now and she has some scars she wishes others not to see. She plans to wear the suit, but with a baggy shirt over the top and gym shorts.

Putting her hair up in a messy bun after she finishes getting changed. She checks the clock on her side table and starts to head down to find the pool area out back. It was a beautiful day to enjoy the sun with a few clouds in the sky for some shade. Spotting the pool, she smiles a little hearing others talking and laughing already, being the last to arrive at the party.

"Diana!" Freya waves at her to come over.

Two other women sat around her, one a brunette with brown eyes and the other a golden blonde with blue eyes. They look over at her as she walks over joining them at the table under the umbrella.

"I'm happy you came, Diana. Let me introduce you to the girls. This is Jean, Beta Mark's mate soon to be wife next year and this is Stacey, Beta Zach's mate and wife. Girls, this is Diana."

Freya motions to the brunette first then to the blonde. Diana kindly shakes both of their hands, giving them a small smile. Jean seemed nice, but Stacey had this unsure, annoyed look in her eyes, but still gave a half fake smile at her. Even drew her hand quickly away like Diana was sick.

"Luna says you are from a small pack called Blue Moon?" Jean kindly asks to spark up a simple conversation.

" Yes, it's about a three hour drive from here. My father and I came here to visit. My father is good friends with Alpha Max." Diana says not wanting to get into too much detail as to why she is here.

"So then this is not your first time being here right?" Jean asks.

"No, I came here a couple of times when I was a child."

" Are you and your father enjoying your stay so far?"

" Yes, it's been great."

Freya motions for the omega waiting off to the side to serve them to come over. "Let's get some refreshments." Freya says and tells the omega what she wishes.

Stacey stayed silent most of the time, not looking in Diana's direction. Jean, Freya and Diana kept a simple conversation talking about the places that's great to visit here at their pack that Diana should check out sometime.

Diana seemed to notice though that the more they casually talked, the more annoyed Stacey was getting, which made her a bit nervous at why she was getting upset. After about an hour of chatting Stacey couldn't take it anymore. Slamming her hand on the table, startling all three of them.

"Ugh! I can't do this Luna, I'm sorry, but how can you sit here and chat with her so naturally? She doesn't deserve any of your kindness!" Stacey growls, glaring at Diana.

Freya gives Stacey a motherly stern look, like her child just talked back to her. "That's enough Stacey. I have already told you, it's not her fault or even Ulric's. This is the work of the moon goddess and we will not disrespect her ways."

Diana's eyes widened. They know about her and Ulric? Then she remembered Ulric telling her he told his betas about this situation, it would only make sense they would tell their mates about it.

"She is an outsider! And knows nothing about our pack. You are our Luna, not her! If another woman showed up mated to Zach, I would be pissed. You better stay away from the Alpha, he is not yours!" Stacey growls and snaps more at Diana.

Diana looks at Stacey, it hurts a little hearing her say that because of the mating bond, but deep down she already knows that.

"Stacey!" Freya growls in her Luna tone making Stacey shrink back and huff.

Diana gives Freya a small smile, "it's okay Freya."

"Stacey. I understand where you are coming from. He is your Alpha and Freya is your Luna, you have every right to defend their happiness, but I promise you I don't wish to disturb their happiness either. That being said, it is also none of your business. This is a problem between me, Ulric, and Freya. The three of us are working through it to not cause any more problems in the future. Please, if you truly respect your Alpha and Luna, leave it just between us and try not to make this any harder on them then it already is." Diana says in a calm tone, showing she isn't upset at all.

The three of them look at her in surprise, not expecting her to be so calm and understanding. Stacey half expected her to bite her head off back. Freya couldn't help smiling, looking at Diana, now she sees why she got the nickname Little Luna. She stayed calm and was kind with her words, but authoritative as well.

Stacey sighs looking over at Freya, "I'm sorry Luna for stepping out of line."

"It's okay Stacey. I appreciate you looking out for me, but everything will be okay. This isn't easy for any of us to wrap our heads around."

Stacey stands, " I'm going to take a dip and cool off."

"I'll join you." Jean says standing and they step over to the pool, getting in.

Freya turns to Diana giving her an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry about Stacey. She's been my best friend since we were little, she's always been over protective with me. She even stood up to Ulric a few times when he was being hard headed."

Diana smiles and takes a drink of the refreshing punch in front of her, "It's fine, I'm not upset about it. I am happy you have someone to watch out for you besides Ulric and thank you for being understanding about this strange situation. I just came here to heal, the last thing I expected was to find a second chance mate."

" Of course. I don't think anyone could expect that, but just know I am here for you as well as Ulric if you don't feel comfortable talking with him yet. Ulric isn't the only one that felt something that day. At first it was a shock to me, but after talking it over with my wolf Sue, she told me that this is supposed to happen, she just doesn't know why. She felt incomplete until you showed up." Freya says being open and honest with her.

Feeling her cheeks heat to Freya telling her this, she smiles a little. "Really? I do feel really comfortable around you. Obviously a bit more comfortable then Ulric right now because we aren't attracted to each other. You two are great, and I am very grateful for your generosity, but I really don't want to burden you two with my troubles. You both have enough to deal with, between the pack and you growing those two beautiful pups in you, you both don't need my baggage ruining this wonderful moment for you two."

" I appreciate you being concerned, but even if you weren't mated to Ulric, we planned on helping you find your peace here in our home. No wolf should ever go through what you have been through in one lifetime. I can already tell you are looking healthy each day since you first arrived here, which tells us that you are meant to be here. Whether it be with us or not, the moon goddess will help guide you."

Diana tried her best to not roll her eyes at her mentioning the moon goddess. She knows others worship the goddess very much and would get upset if she spoke ill of her. Only her father knows she isn't happy with the moon goddess right now.

"Yeah, she does enjoy giving me a crazy path." She softly says taking another drink of her punch.

" If you don't mind me asking...how does your wolf feel about all this?" Freya carefully asks, knowing from what Ulric found out yesterday.

Diana looks at her not expecting a question like that. What is she supposed to say, that her wolf doesn't speak a word to her. That will just make her ask more questions and have her talk about things she is not ready to say or bring up to others just yet.

"Uh, she...is confused about this as well. We are just...taking it a day at a time, see where this takes us." She says lying and quickly finishes off her glass.

Freya softly nods, she could see the uneasiness in Diana's eyes, telling her she is lying about what her wolf feels. Ulric may be right, she is lost in the dark. Her wolf isn't speaking with her. Not wanting to push her any more, she lets it go, giving her a warm smile.

"We will get this figured out together, do not worry." She reassures her.

" I think I'd like to soak my feet for a bit, would you like to join me?" Diana asks wanting to get off this subject.

" Love too." She says happily.

Diana stands and helps her. Freya isn't that big yet, but Diana can't help feeling the need to watch over her. The last thing she wants is something to happen to her new mates first mate and their pups. Setting a cushion down next to the edge of the pool from a chair, she helps Freya sit down, then sits next to her, soaking their feet.

Stacey seems to be in a better mood now as they come over to them and start talking about random things, getting to know each other a bit more.

Diana hasn't had a nice gathering like this in a while, it felt nice and the more she got to know more about Freya, the more she felt this strong need to keep her safe no matter what. She is very precious and nothing like Diana, more the opposite. She doesn't fight, loves to bake, and spends her time with the children of the pack. Diana enjoyed fighting and training more, learning new ways to keep everyone safe and healthy. She loves kids, but everyone's happiness was important to her.