The Alpha Who Fell In Love With A Star.

Chapter 13: Blake's Goodbye

Marcy and I slid in the kitchen laughing. It was a tie. Blake is there in the doorway and is pestering me with questions as soon as We arrived.

Marcy says In a teasing voice " She went and got her one of those handsome Single Alphas. Alpha Alexander from the Cedar Mountain Pack, and they are in love"

She walks away making kissy faces grabbing a basket and goes on the hunt for snacks and wine. Leaving Blake and I alone for a moment.

When he sees my mark things start to click in place for him. He gently grabs my hand and sighs a heavy sigh.

"I'm going to miss you." he says softly.

"Miss me?" I laughed back.

" I'm just going to the library, I'll be back soon Blake. I'll even come over for our morning coffee and I'll catch you up on what's been going on."

He looks at me and smiles a fatherly smile.

" Do you not realize, your New mate is not only an Alpha in a different pack. But they are 10 hours away, of course you're going to leave when he leaves at the end of the week."

My laughter and smile disappeared instantly.

I hadn't thought of any of this, The 24 hours had been a blur and I hadn't realized I would be leaving this town. My friends and family, Why hadn't I thought of that?

He sees the sadness in my eyes and nods understandable. He let's go of my hand and walks towards his room. Waving some of the staff away.

I'm left in the kitchen listening to the clattering of dishes and the hustle and bustle of laughter. The feeling is familiar and I never imagined me any where but here.

I look over to find Marcy flirting with the bus boy trying to get him to drop 3 fresh steaks and it's working.

I hear CJ come into the kitchen

"Now little Luna" he calls out,

"What more witchy powers are you hiding, because that was a wildly unexpected thing that you just did. "

I snap back to reality

I forced a smile, " I never thought of these special abilities as being a witch before."

I walk closer to him "bippity boppity boo! I cast a spell on you to grab those 3 bottles of wine and that half wheel of cheese"

Wringing my hands as I make ghost sounds.

He couldn't control the laughter, and his laughter was contagious. making me feel less sad in the moment.

" Oh man, our Beta Joey is going to love you. That guy's got jokes for days and is always pulling pranks back at the pack house."

"Where is Joey" I ask.

CJ looked a little uncomfortable, " well..I'm not sure if I can fully say."

"I'm going to be your Luna, will you hide secrets from me?"

The look on his face told me he was enjoying our bantering.

"Ok, I'll tell you when we get to the library, just remember I'm your favorite person and I was ordered to spill the beans when Alex finds out."

I reached my hand out

"Deal"

We shook hands and stood there for a brief moment before Marcy walks over. Eyeing CJ she gets Huffy " Hey you lazy bones, hurry up and help us grab provisions. The steaks are almost done and I want to eat them while they are hot."

CJ jumps up in attention stance and walks like a stiff robot grabbing whatever he can and tossing it in the baskets.

Marcy rolls her eyes to hide the smile forming on her lips.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to find Blake there with a small chest. He sits it on the counter and takes a deep breath before telling me.

" I don't have children, and I'll never take another mate as long as I live. This chest has things in it I was given when I found my mate and things she was given when she found me. It's nothing special just something We made to give to our children together. You're the closest thing I've had to family for a long time."

I see the tears in his eyes and I reach for his hand.

"Please take this chest of small trinkets and books and give them to your pups. It's been In my closet collecting dust for years. It's time these things get used."

I start crying as he wraps me in a tearful hug. The kitchen goes quiet as Blake and I sob like small children. Marcy and CJ exchange looks.

He plants a small kiss on the top of my head , lifts my tear stained face and says.

" Promise to Visit as often as you can. Let that mate of yours know if he steps out of line just once. Or even thinks about making you sad. I'll be there in a heartbeat to set him straight."

He turns to CJ in a stern tone, "If she doesn't tell him, you give him that message from me."

CJ nods in agreement.

Blake then turns to the kitchen.

All the tenderness he had just displayed was gone. As he went about striking fear back into his unusually quiet kitchen.

"Who told you you could stop working!" He growled.

The kitchen erupted with sounds of "yes chef", "oh f***s" and the clattering of dishes as they ran to do his bidding.

He turns and winks at me.

I linked him a soft, "Thank you."

He links back. " Live your life kid, and I'll see you soon."

I grab the chest while Marcy and CJ bring half the kitchen of food with them in baskets. Marcy is slapping CJ away from the sizzling steaks. As CJ is pretending to be dying of starvation.

We all silently slink out the back door. Leaving the kitchen crew behind and the evening sun giving us just enough light to walk down to the library.

I've got some weird things to find answers to and I hope there is something in one of those books that will shed some light. Is there a hidden Lake? Why did my star glow? and why can I link without the ceremony?

As we walk, I'm lost in thought as Marcy and CJ talk about Cedar mountain. I'm listening but only catch a few snippets here and there.

Big town...starlight festival soon... rouges attacked another town... Ceremony.

Marcy slips her free hand into mine and leans on my arm. " Hello, come back to earth Jade , You ok?"

I lean back and giggle " Yeah just a thousand miles away. I'm thinking about packing up my studio and if the new pack house has a space. Or even a painting spot like the one I have here "

She doesn't say anything, Her hand tightening around mine. I think it's starting to sink in.

We walk in silence, with only the sound of crunching of leaves disrupting our thoughts.