The secrets of the shadow pack

Chapter 5

Luna Amanda

"Alexis, I hope you are at the temple. I will be there in 5." I quickly sent the voice text to my daughter. I don't want her to be late. She needs her weekly blessing from the highest priestess that comes to see us from my best friend's pack.

Brainy is the Luna to the MidNight Pack. She was born into the Shadow pack, but when she found her mate, Richard, she transferred to his pack, and that is when I met her. She was across the road from me. We hit it off from the moment we met, and have been close ever since. She is the sister I never had. Her daughter and my daughter, Lexi, are best friends, and her son, and my son, Axel are friends. Although Axel left overseas to study and train two years ago, they still remain in touch.

Axel is actually returning home today. I am so excited to see my baby. Yes, I will always see my pups as my little babies. We are going to have a BBQ dinner with the pack, and the Midnight Pack, of course, is always invited. I want to discuss the lotus festival coming up with Brainy. She always had great ideas when she has the strawberry festival, and she promised to let me use some of her decorative stands and games she did for the kids.

I arrive, and head inside the temple. I feel relieved when I see Alexis. She is standing by the stone. "Hi baby." I kiss her head, and I grab the stone. I notice that it is getting heavier. Hmmm. That is strange. That only happens for 1 reason.

This is a magical stone, gifted to this pack by a troll many years ago. The Alpha then made a pact that benefited them both. The Alpha wanted something special to tell his Luna apart from the rest. They made it so that only the Luna and future Lunas to come will be able to lift the stone. No-one else can. No matter who tries. Only the woman meant to lead this pack will be able to touch it and hold it in her hands. I twirl it in mine, and it is definitely a little heavier. Eventually, when the new Luna arrives, it starts becoming harder to lift it. Once the title of Luna is transferred to the new Luna, then only she will be able to lift the stone. I guess it might be coming sooner than I expected, especially since Axel is returning today. I am so excited.

"Have you seen anyone trying to mess with it, honey?" I ask her. She shrugs. "Everyone tries to, mom. Kids get curious when they see you lift it, put it down and then no-one else being able to pick it up. It makes everyone want to try to pick up the stup1d rock." She passes her fingers over it. She tries to lift it and groans. I chuckle. "You definitely won't be able to pick it up. It isn't for you," she rolls her eyes.

"It's weird how only you and Rosslyn can lift this stupid rock. My friends and I all tried the other day. None of us could, yet Rossy was tossing it from one hand to the other like nothing. Once she placed it back down, we all tried to lift it, and couldn't. She thought we were pranking her. She even asked if she was a joke to us and later stormed off when we laughed at her inquiry. She really didn't believe that we couldn't lift the rock." It feels like my heart is beating a million miles per hour.

"Alexis, did you say Rossy, as in Brainy's daughter Rosslyn has lifted this stone?" She looks scared, but nods slowly. "Is that a bad thing, mom?" she asks. I grab her hand and sit her on the steps.

"Lexi, there is something you need to know. Only the Luna or future Luna of this pack can lift this stone. There was magic placed in it. Once I became Luna, I decide to stop telling people this. I didn't want every young woman or little girl obsessing over it and all wanting to come try to lift the stone. I figured the Luna would be attracted to the stone, the same way I was." She nods. "Yes, Rossy walked in here to pray with us one day, and she walked straight to the rock, or stone and lifted it. She said she felt like it was calling out to her. She told us that the pretty stone wants her to hold it. It was weird, but I felt like we were intruding on a moment of hers with the rock. It was so weird, because it just looked like an old dirty rock, yet she was so intrigued." I chuckle.

"That's because Rossy doesn't see an ugly rock. She sees the magic in the stone. I can't believe this, Lexi. Please tell me you are not lying, because this is the best news ever!" She stands up. "I'm not lying mom. Now you tell me you are not lying. Is my best friend really going to be our Luna? Is she going to live here? Oh, my goddess. I'm going to live with my best friend." She starts screaming. "Darling, you are loud." The highest priestess arrives, and she begins getting everything ready for the prayer.

"Lexi, have you or any of your friends told anyone about Rosslyn being able to life the stone?" she shakes her head. "I don't think so." I smile. "Great. Don't say anything to anyone. Axel returns home tonight. He will see her for the first time in years. We should let him have that. We don't take these moments away from anyone, so do not talk to anyone about any of this."

"But mom, Rossy is my age. She can't be his mate yet." She is right. Rosslyn is still underage. She won't even feel a mate bond yet. "That's alright. Your brother will have to learn to navigate that on his own. I am just so very happy. I hope you find your mate young as well. I want a lot of grand pups running around here," Alexis frowns.

The highest priestess walks over to us. She closes her eyes, and she grabs Lexi's hands. "Oh my dear." She opens her eyes, looks at my daughter, then she closes them again.

I see tragedy and so much heart break coming. She turns to me. "May I please see your hands." She grabs mine and her eyes shoot open right away. She walks away from us, and she begins packing her things. "I'm sorry. I need to go," she says and just walks out, leaving us both confused.

"Honey, Axel has arrived earlier than we anticipated." Aaron, my wonderful mate mind links me. "Your brother is here. Let's go, but remember. Do not say anything to him." I wrap my daughter in my arms, and we head back to the pack house. I try not to think of the highest priestess's reaction, but it's hard not to worry.

I run and hug my son when my eyes land on him. My wolf yips happily to see her pup. "Wow, you seem really happy to see me, or is it something else?" he jokes. I hug him and give him a big kiss on his cheek. "I am so happy to see you, son. I have missed you so much my pup. Please never leave us again." he chuckles. "I don't plan to. Unless I don't find my mate. Eventually, I will want to tour the world to find her." It brings me great joy to hear my son excited about finding his mate. Wait until he finds out she is not far away. Alexis lights up, and I am afraid she will spoil the secret for Axel, so I ask her to go help the kitchen staff with the baking for tonight. She loves to bake. She gives her dad a hug, and that is when we hear it.

Those howls can only mean one thing.

My body begins to tremble.

"No, No, No, Aaron no," I feel myself falling to the ground, while my son and mate both rush to me.