The Little Luna

5. A Sleepless Night

Jay woke to whimpering and whining coming from Kayla her head even thrashing around a bit he quickly sat up pulling her into his arms gently one hand on her cheek. "Kayla, it's okay I'm here I've got you" he said softly holding her close. She calmed a little but it was obvious the dream was still raging. "Come on, follow my voice, you're okay. I've got you, you're safe. Come on wake up for me" his words called her significantly she stopped shaking and whining her hand tangled in his shirt.

Her eyes opened with tears threatening to fall.

"There we go, you're safe now" his heart breaks for the deep emotion in her eyes. "I know night terrors aren't fun but you're not alone. I get them too sometimes" he says admitting he had taken a lot but he wanted her to know that even he gets them from time to time.

She watches him silently knowing she can't speak. The night terrors generally leave her stuck in silence for hours. He can tell from her eyes her voice won't work. "If you want to try talking about it I can read your lips even if you can't make a sound. Mine always takes my voice for the first hour or so after. I handle them better now than I did when they started." He says.

She was surprised to hear that night errors make him mute too but she closed her eyes and the only word she could think or try to say was the name of her baby brother "Cason".

Jay read the name on her lips, his arms tightened around her as he held her close. "I had a feeling it was either Cason or the attack. Look up at me" he says he gives her a minute to open her eyes and look into his "You did EVERYTHING you could, you l did your best. I know it haunts you, and I know how it can be. My brother died too, right in my arms. When I was 8, I found him choking on a toy. I didn't know CPR and my little legs couldn't carry me fast enough across the house to my mom for help. I blamed myself for many years. Sometimes I still blame myself but I did the best I could" he says. He hadn't talked about Rylee in many years his heart ached as he said it.

Kayla couldn't think of any words to say after all how do you respond when someone can truly feel that pain on a personal standpoint. No one she knew had been through that at least no one had said it so she was caught off guard at his words. It was silent for a while. She felt safe in his arms but words failed her. What could she say to portray how she felt.

Jay looks over at the clock and realizes they've been sitting there for 3 hours. His alarm was about to go off. He reached out for his phone to cancel the alarm and then looked down at Kayla who looked like she's asleep. He didn't want to wake her, but knew they needed to get up. "Time to wake up. Your grandparents should be landing any time and I've arranged for us to meet them on the landing strip" he says.

Her sleepy eyes open as she looks up at him "not sleeping just tired" she mumbles sounding half asleep he chuckles.

"Jane left you an outfit for today, we can go meet your grandparents and then we'll go out for breakfast and go shopping for anything you want or need" he says making her eyes widen. She jumps up and grabs the outfit running into the bathroom, changing and rushing back her laughs as he goes towards his closet and changes before they head for the door.

"We can eat anywhere you want. And go to any store" he says with a smile he climbed in the back of a big car after lifting her in she was confused as to why he didn't drive but she didn't ask. Instead she got herself buckled and leaning on his shoulder. Before long she'd fallen asleep.

When they reached the landing strip the plane was coming to a stop and he shook her shoulder "time to wake up. The doors are about to open" he says. In an instant she was wide awake jumping out of the car. He followed with a smile. The door to the jet opened and her Grandma stepped out first as soon as she was down the stairs Kayla launched herself at her.

Jay stood back giving them a moment with a smile he'd been waiting for this moment for a year. Her Grandpa stepped out bringing their bags. "You can leave the bags there, I'll get them loaded into the car" he said when he got close enough that Kayla wouldn't hear but her grandfather would he said "You just focus on Kayla, it was a rough night, she had night terrors of Cason's Death which I can explain more on later. For now, just know she was alone when it happened, with him in her arms. I know all too well the heartbreak and trauma that brings." he said.

"Thank you, not just for loading the bags but for everything you've done, the search, finding her, staying up with her through the night, I suspect there's more to it but we'll talk about that later" her grandfather responded. Jay nodded and grabbed the bags he turned towards the car in perfect time to see Kayla run from her grandma right into her grandfather's arms he lifted her up and spun her around. They both had a huge grin on their faces. Jay watched with a smile he knew she was well loved and he wasn't sure if they'd want to take her home or let her stay but either way he knew she'd be safe.

He makes his way towards the car with the bags the Driver had opened the trunk to help Jay load it. when he turned back towards the others Kayla's grandma had walked over to him surprising him with a huge hug. "Thank you. For finding, for bringing her to meet us at the plane, and for keeping her safe" she says.

Jay smiles "I want what's best for her, wherever that takes us. She's been through so much I want her to feel safe." He says the look on her face says it all, she knew that he was Kayla's mate.

"You look divided, what's it about" she says he looks confused and then catches what she means.

"Wanting what's best for her means multiple things. 1, She needs to feel safe whatever that takes. 2, she's to grow up loved and cared for by everyone around. 3, she needs a solid foundation, with good training both physically and mentally in order to overcome the trauma she's faced to be the Queen and Alpha she's meant to be. 4, she's got decisions to make, she could decide to take her fated mate, or she could reject me and take her pack as she pleases, as painful as it could be. 5, I don't want her to know she's my mate, until her wolf tells her so on her 18th Birthday. I don't want it to sway her decisions before then. She may be angry at me for hiding it but she deserves to grow up before any of that comes into play. 6, Most of all no matter what, Moonstone is her birth right and what happens within is HER choice not mine, I may help her come to a decision but at the end of the day that's HER pack and her birthright. I'll support her through it ALL even if her choices hurt me." he flinches when he says that she could reject him.

Her grandmother watched and listened and her heart ached when he flinched and said she could reject him if she wanted to. She put a hand on his shoulder "She won't reject you, that much I know for sure. I was more worried about how you'd treat her." She says and then smiles "Your intentions are pure, your wanting what's best shows that you're ready to make sacrifices that hurt YOU in order to give her what she needs, and for that I know she's in good hands. With you and her Godfather by her side she's going to make a damn good Alpha and an amazing Queen" she says.

Jay tilts his head "Godfather? Who is that?" He asks, confused.

Her grandmother laughs "I suppose Carsen didn't tell you that bit did he?" She's smiling.

"No, no he didn't but it makes sense with their bond, and how adamant he's been in finding her. Now we push just as hard if not harder to find her parents. She deserves to have them by her side as she grows up" he says.

Her grandfather walks over with Kayla on his shoulders "We've got a hungry kid on our hands and she wants a nice big burger" he says with a laugh.

Jay grins "That's easily doable. My favorite diner serves the full menu all day long. I'm not huge on breakfast food myself so that could be why it's my favorite!" He says they all get into the car and head for the diner