The Luna Gypsy

Chapter 9

Ember POV

I look out across the training field and watch as Logan fights with some of the warriors. He’s so skilled. Like a mighty tiger he’s posed and precise, I can’t help admiring the way his body moves. He turns around and smiles that big goofy smile I adore. I quickly look down at the ground, embarrassed at being caught.

*I know where she is!*

Hayden’s voice booms in my mind. My heart soars from his words, though. He has found Amelia. Logan runs off toward the pack house along with Harper, Preston, Devon, and a few other of the top warriors.

Since Amelia has been gone, I’ve felt like I’ve lost my sister. She gave me strength and courage and without her; I feel like I’ve lost the light that boasted me up. She gave me the courage I needed to get through every day. I can see the toll it’s taking on Hayden. It breaks my heart to see him in so much pain, and I can see the pain of losing her in Logan’s eyes as well.

I feel my heart flutter in my chest when I think of Logan. I can’t believe I got him as my second chance mate. He’s so kind and gentle and to look at him, you wouldn’t think so. He’s this big burly guy that looks like he eats kittens for breakfast, but he’s so gentle with me.

Surely, the moon goddess made a mistake in pairing me with Logan. He deserves someone who’s strong and fierce, not a weak and useless wolf like me.

“Sweetheart, are you coming to see Hayden?” My dad asked, walking up behind me, I’m startled because I was too lost in my thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you heard me.” He says, his eyes looking deep into mine. It’s like he is reading my thoughts.

“No, I don't want to get in the way. I’m going to go home and take a bath. I hope he brings her home, dad.”

“He will do, sweetheart.”

My dad leans in, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

Since James I find it hard to be around men, the only ones I feel comfortable with are my dad, Hayden, and Ikelos.

Then there’s Logan.

When I’m with him, my mind gets pulled in two different directions. There’s the part of me that’s scared he will do the same as James, then there’s the old me. The version of myself who's bold and wants to take what’s mine.

I wrap my arms around myself, scared of what will happen if I do give in to these feelings. My heart wants Logan more than anything, but my brain isn’t sure. I’m finding it harder and harder to stay away from him, though. I’ve found myself calling him or mind linking with him just so I can hear his voice. I find myself looking for him in every room I enter, hoping to catch just a glimpse of him.

But when I get close to him, I panic.

All I can see is James. I can still feel him on my skin. When I even think of Logan touching me, all I can picture is James' filthy hands instead of Logan’s. He still haunts me. I swear I still hear him whispering my name sometimes. I hear the door open and footsteps running up the stairs. I pop my head out of the door.

“Do you think we will find her?” I ask my mom.

“We will. I can’t let my son go through the pain of losing her again. I won’t allow it.”

My mom's eyes glisten as she speaks. She grabs a bag and starts to throw things inside of it. She grabs a jacket for her and dad, a change of clothes for them both, and some other things. Her face was full of determination now. She was a woman on a mission.

“Are you and dad going?”

She nodded her head, zipping her bag up and grabbing some pants and a top from her closet. My mom has been a beckon of strength throughout my life, but lately, she has amazed me with how strong she truly is. She has kept everything running smoothly when Hayden’s world came crashing down. She was a shoulder for him to cry on and his support for when he needed someone to lean on.

She was the same for me after James. I could see how badly it hurt her, but she never once allowed me to see. She was inspirational, and I was lucky to have her.

“Yes, and your sister is as well. She’s on her way. Will you be ok? Nolan will be staying behind to run the pack. I want you to stay in the pack house whilst we are away. Chloe will be staying to help him.”

“Ok, mom.”

I turned to go back into my own room and get things ready to stay inside the pack house whilst they were away. My mind drifted to Logan.

*Are you busy?*

I know Logan will be getting ready to leave, but I have to see him before he goes.

*Never for you, what’s wrong?*

His voice was throaty and sexy. I couldn’t help the smile. He was so sweet.

*I was wondering if I could see you before you go?*

I felt shy asking him, but I knew I didn’t want to let him go without letting him know what he meant to me.

*I'm on my way* He interrupted me, making my smile wider.

A few minutes later and Logan was standing on my doorstep. He must have run here because mom had said he was in the office with Hayden. He hadn’t even broken a sweat. If that were me, I would be heaving for breath right now. He had a cute smile waiting for me as the door opened.

“Thank you for coming. Would you like to come in?” He nodded his head, knowing we wouldn’t be alone.

“Is everything ok?” He asks, keeping his distance.

“Yes, I just wanted to tell you to be careful and to bring her back.”

He smiled at me, looking down at the ground.

“I will do. I will see you when I get back.”

I nodded my head, hating that I was too afraid to tell Logan what I really wanted to. He turned to leave, his hand on the door handle.

“Wait!”

He stopped, turning to look at me again, his eyes asking me questions I couldn’t answer.

“I.. erm.. I was.. erm..when you get back, I was wondering if would you like to do something with me?”

“I would love that.”

He smiled, turning around again.

“Logan, wait!” I shouted quickly again.

“Thank you for being so patient with me and giving me time. I want you to know you are very special to me. I think I'm ready. I will be. I don’t want to be scared anymore, so when you get back, I will try to be the mate you deserve.”

His eyes flashed with pain, making me regret saying anything.

“Ember, you are the mate I deserve already. You’re more than I deserve. I don’t want you to force yourself into something you're not ready for. I want you to do this at your pace. We take things one step at a time. I don’t care if it takes a thousand years. I will wait that long for you.”

My heart melted at his words. He smiled at me and walked out the door, leaving me smiling like a fool.

“He is very special.” My mom said from behind me, startling me again.

“Mom, you scared me. Did you hear that?” I asked her, raising an eyebrow in a questioning look.

“Of course I did. You're my baby girl and I will protect you, even if it’s against yourself.”

She walked over, kissed me on my forehead, and pulled me toward the door. She had her bag and mine.

~~~

Hayden POV

“Ok, are we all ready?” Zak asked.

I look at everyone standing before me, grateful for what everyone is doing here for me.

“Hayden, wait,” Fayly shouts, as she jogs toward me.

“Ike said he can’t say too much, but we need to be careful. The gods and goddesses are up in arms because the moon goddess interfered with Amelia. Apparently, some have taken it as an opportunity to try to take the rest of the Gods down and if that happens, we are all screwed. We didn’t know about Amelia until you figured it out or I would have told you. He did tell me to tell you all is not what it seems.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, looking at my big sister.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t have a clue. He talks in riddles and it’s confusing as fück, it’s a good job he’s good-” I hold my hand up to stop her from finishing her sentence.

“Looking. Goddess Hayden, your mind is filthy.” She jokes, making me shake my head.

“Bring her back for me,” Ember says, walking toward us with her arms held open. She pulls me and Fayly toward herself, giving us a big group hug. I watch as her eyes flicker over to Logan.

“I'll keep an eye on him. Go say bye.”

She nods and walks over to him. Watching how much her confidence has grown since James fills me with joy. She’s starting to come back out of herself. I think Logan is the reason for that as well.

“Ok, let’s get this show on the road!” Mason shouts, clapping his hands together.

He is just as eager as me to get Amelia back. I can’t believe that in a few hours I will get to see her again. I will get to hold her in my arms and tell her how much I love her and missed her. Everyone stands around as Katalina waves her hands and a portal opens up. I recognize the forest in front of me straight away.

This is the forest I explored with Amelia.

“Remember, there are magical creatures in this forest, so be respectful and vigilant,” I say before stepping through.

“Hayden.” Draven is waiting on the other side.

He clasps my hand in his and pulls me into a hug as he pats my back.

“Draven, thank you so much for helping us with this.”

“Don’t mention it. Amelia is very special to me as well.”

I watched as everyone stepped through the portal. Each greeting Draven, Mason pulled him into a big hug, the two old friends happy to see each other. I just wish it was under better circumstances.

I look out into the vast forest, swimming with magical creatures. The sun is just starting to rise in the west, casting a soft pink glow over everything, making it seem more magical. My mom, dad, Fayly, Alex, Mason, Zak, Harper, Milo, Nina, Logan, Draven, and Katalina all stand before me, waiting.

“Nina, I can’t for the life of me remember the way,” I confessed.

Zak, Milo, Logan, and Draven all nodded their heads in agreement. It’s a blur in my mind. I can see it but I can’t remember it. I can remember what happened and the conversations I had, but I just can’t see where it took place.

“This way.” She says, heading forward through the forest.

“Nina, stop. Let me go first.” Milo shouts, trying to run ahead of her.

“No Milo, I will go first.”

I chuckle, hearing the two of them bicker. They love each other immensely, but they bicker like a couple of school kids.

*How are you holding up?*

My dad asks as we weave our way through the trees, keeping an eye out for anything that might want to harm us or enchant us. I learned my lesson about this forest the first time I was here. The forest seems eerily quiet. Last time I remember that magical creatures followed us most of the way, but that might have been because of Amelia. Draven said she was like a beacon of light in the dark to them. I can’t hear a thing today though.

*I will be better when I have her in my arms*

“Shh,” Nina says from the front of the group.

Everyone stops talking and stands in place. Eyes darting in every direction, looking for the threat Nina heard. Zak and Harper are standing back to back ready. My own ears twitched, trying to see if I can hear anything. Nina’s head turns in every direction. The forest is silent. You could hear a pin drop.

“For the love of the goddess Nina, what is it?” Zak shouts in frustration.

Throwing his arms up in the air as he does. He and Amelia are very alike, both dramatic. Harper turns around and slaps him. Zak ducks, trying to escape her wrath. She is a perfect match for Zak. I know Amelia will approve.

“We’re almost there.” She informs us.

We keep walking deeper into the forest for another 30 minutes when the sound of a roaring waterfall is the only sound I can hear. We all stand looking over the edge.

“I see what you meant about waterfalls now,” Mason says, patting Logan on his back.

“It seems more…”

“Ferocious.” I finished for Zak.

“Yeah.” Zak, Milo, and Logan all said.

“Ok, which way.” my mom said cheerfully.

“Down,” Nina replied deadpan.

Everyone looked down, and that’s when I saw it, the large gaping black hole behind the waterfall.

“Remember, it will be naturally colder, but we have to keep pushing through,” Nina shouted so everyone could hear her as she climbed onto Milo’s back.

Draven jumped down first. Followed by my dad, Mason, and Alex. Milo started to climb down with Nina.

“Zak I’m fine,” Harper said in a mocking tone, as she was swatting Zak’s hands away.

He was trying to get her to climb on his back so he could carry her down. She leaped forward and spins in the air before landing gracefully at the bottom in a crouched position but her left leg is stretched out and she holds her left arm out as well much like the black widow character does, she even flipped her hair back as she looks back up blowing Zak a kiss. Zak rolled his eyes, jumping down behind her.

I stood for a moment, trying to stop my heart from racing.

I was going to see her.

Actually, see her and very soon, it was like I could almost smell how close she was to me. I remember walking through the cave. I just couldn’t remember where it was. I remember the cave was the last hurdle before we reached the Seraphic clan lands.

“Come on, slowcoach,”

Fayly nudged me with her shoulder as she stepped beside me. I turned to my big sister. My heart was hammering in my chest.

Fayly took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes twinkled in the sun’s rays with her unshed tears.

“Hey, stop worrying. Everything is going to be ok.”

I could feel nothing but love pouring from Fayly. I was lucky to have such an amazing big sister.

“Now, I have to try and top Harpers' landing.” She giggled as she jumped off with her arms out by her side like she was diving off a cliff into a deep pool of water.

She pulled her legs in as she spun round in the air before landing upright with her arms in the air like a gymnast. I shook my head and smiled at my big sister whilst she and Harper high-fived below. Everyone is down there waiting for me. I take one last deep breath as the butterflies start to flutter in my stomach at the thought of seeing Amelia soon. I leap down, landing in a crouched position.

“Everyone stay together. Amelia didn’t look great the last time I saw her. She said she didn’t want to get into more trouble.”

Mason, Zak, Milo, and Harper all growled at this. I didn’t blame them, it infuriated me. As we walk step inside the cave, I can’t stop the images playing in my head. It’s from the last time we were here. Me slipping over on the ice and pulling Amelia down on top of me. Her laughing at my balancing skills. The way she clung onto me for warmth. My heart hurts as I think back to then.

All this time, the seraphic clan had been keeping her from me. They knew Amelia was my mate, yet they didn’t do fück all about letting me know she was safe.

“Stop!” a loud voice boomed deeper inside the cave.

It echoed off the walls, making it seem bigger than it was.

“You are not allowed to be here. Turn around and we won’t harm you.”

A different voice shouts, this one timid and shaking as he comes to the end of his sentence. A dry laugh is my reply. They really think they can stop me when I’m this close. Even the moon goddess herself couldn’t stop me right now. I step forward, my wolf on the surface.

“And who’s going to stop me?” I growl.

I know my eyes are glowing with my wolf. I can feel him just below the surface. The smell of fear leaks from the cavern, coming from the voices just ahead of me.

“We can’t let you pass.” A brave man steps forward.

He has a tremble in his steps, but he doesn’t back down. I can see him now. His dark hair looks unkept, his skin is tanned, and his clothes are all white just like the dresses Amelia wore. Every time I saw her, she was wearing a white dress.

“You have something that belongs to me and no one is going to keep me from her,” I say through gritted teeth. Irritation prickled across my skin as my anger thrummed through my veins, overpowering all my senses as it seeped out.

“Don’t hurt them.” My mother shouts as I step toward the man.

I can see him holding something small in his hands as he chants in a language I don’t know. As I get closer, his voice gets louder, like he’s shouting the words now. His eyes go wide as he realizes nothing will keep me from my mate much longer.

“It’s an incantation! It didn’t work.” I hear Nina gasping from behind me.

“I'm sorry.” He stammers as I hit him, knocking him towards the cave wall.

His body slides down, landing in a heap.

“Who’s next?” I ask, looking at the other men who are in my way.

They both step aside, allowing me through. I can hear the rest of the group behind me, so I keep walking forward. Getting closer to her with each step I take. I emerge through the entrance of the cave to the forest of Sohesis.

It's exactly as I remember, apart from the fairies are not flying around now and there are a lot more spears than before. Men and women are surrounding the entrance, each with a spear pointing at me, making a growl erupt from my chest.

Florence, the leader, steps forward.

“Alpha, why have you come here with all the aggression? We are peaceful.”

“Lower the weapons, then.” My dad growls beside me.

I feel Zak step up to my other side as well.

“What do you want, Alpha? We have nothing else for you here.”

Her eyes dart to Alex before looking back at me. She has a smirk plastered across her face and I just want to wipe it off for her. I have never wanted to hurt a woman before, but she was getting close to being on the list.

“My mate is here.” I snarled, my wolf close to the surface.

“Your mate died, Alpha. We had a ceremony for her. She died to save you, did she not?”

That was it. I lost all control listening to her words. I shifted and leaped forward, landing on top of Florence. I could smell the fear coming from her. She turned her face to the side to avoid my sharp teeth.

“Son, get off the lady.”

My mom shouted, her voice getting closer and closer to me with each step she took. She ran her fingers through my fur and pushed me back.

“Put these on. Now!” she scolded me.

I climbed off the woman and shifted, putting the pants on that my mom had given me.

“I’m sorry about that. Now my daughter-in-law, where is she?”

My mom's blue energy started to pulse around her.

“Now I want you to know, if you lie, I will know.”

Florence looked around her, stunned.

“She ran away last night. We were just about to go and look for her.”

Florence stands with her head held high.

“She’s lying.” My mom declared.

“No. She ran away last night. I've sent some of my men after her to bring her back, but they haven’t returned yet.”

*I don’t trust her, there’s something off but I don’t know what.*

“Search everywhere!”

I roared as I made my way toward one of the huts that reeked of jasmine and spearmint. I walked through the door and almost collapsed onto the floor. I could smell Amelia everywhere. I followed my nose through another door and almost cried. On the floor was a sack filled with what looked like hay. No pillow and just a thin tatty sheet that wouldn’t keep anything warm. A small chest of drawers had some stones and flowers on it. I walked over and saw a picture of me and Amelia that was in my office. She must have taken it. I pick it up and place it in the pants pocket my mom had given me before.

*She’s not here.* Mason sounded gruff.

I took one last look around the small room. This is what she must have meant the last time I saw her. She was running away and didn’t know if she would see me again.

I have to take a moment to compose myself. I was so close to having her back, but she’s gone again. She has slipped through my fingers once more.

My heart thumps painfully in my chest as I make my way across the small clearing and straight for the bítch that kept my mate.

The sound of men cheering comes from the forest surrounding the village we were standing in, stopping me from slashing Florence’s throat open.

They were getting closer and closer to us.

The stench of vampires flows from the same direction as the cheering. I could see Florence tense up the louder the voices got. You could see the sweat beading on her forehead.

“Who are they?” Zak growled.

“We have been getting attacked by other beings. They are coming back for more of our food. We must hide.”

Florence turns to leave but is stopped by Nina.

“Who are they?” I hissed.

She takes a deep breath before throwing something onto the floor and disappearing into a cloud of smoke.