Renegade luna

Escape.

ARLO POV:

After the weekend's antics and really how things have been since Nova arrived, I had expected this Monday's council meeting to be going how it was. The elders were hammering me with questions about our luna. I couldn't argue they weren't valid, but still I needed to convince them to be patient, hard when they were bought up in the old ways...

“So why hasn’t she mated you back?” Caleb, the eldest of the older pack members, was leading the onslaught of questions. I had tried shutting them down but they all complained and were pushing for a vote of no confidence and likely a challenge between myself and my beta, which Lucas had already mind-linked me to tell me he would refuse.

“I don’t see why you can’t just… make her. You are the alpha” Caleb pressed, murmurs broke out among the council.

“Because we do not treat our pack members like that,” I said through gritted teeth.

"Perhaps you've pulled too far from the old ways, Alpha... you need to show your Luna who is boss." I could see some of the younger members' eyes light up. There was far too much testosterone building in this room.

"this is getting outta hand real fast Arlo", Lucas mind-linked at me.

"Perhaps I need to show you whose boss Caleb?" I growled. He backed down, he was far too weak in his older age to take me on.

"I don't envy you, man... God your balls must be blue", Harley, the youngest of the council members, Caleb's grandson, piped in.

I laughed.

"it is a form of torture... but I believe the fruit will be so much sweeter when I get a taste", laughs went out throughout the room.

"how do we know you aren't just lying about finding your Luna? If it's truly torture for you, why is she not aching for you?" Caleb tried to poke me again.

"Perhaps I could try... and test the mate bond?" Harley's eyes lit up. "I'd happily bite those pouty lips of hers, and grab that tight-"

That was enough to flick me over the edge, my wolf came out and I lashed at him with my claws and a piercing growl. Proving to him the legitimacy of my mate bond. "MINE" I hissed.

A shatter caught our attention. I spun, faster than humanly possible, to find Nova standing there white-faced and trembling. A shattered vase of wildflowers at her feet. She turned and ran before I could de-wolf and explain.

“Yeah, the bond is strong in her,” Caleb muttered as a white-faced Harley stayed tight-lipped.

“If anyone questions my rule as alpha one more time, I will uphold the old ways, privately,” I warned before following after Nova.

NOVA POV:

I had to get out of here. My head was reeling. How had I been so stupid? How had I managed to let that mate bond start swaying me? Elixer or no Elixer in my system, I knew better.

I made my way back to the Alphas room, keeping my head down as I passed other pack members.

I locked the door behind me, at least it would give me a moment's warning before he entered because surely he would follow. He would reassure me things were fine. I'm his mate, he would be worried. I had to be fine. He would sense it if I wasn't. I closed my eyes and steadied my breath. I had just slowed my heartbeat as I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said softly.

Arlo slowly opened the door and entered, closing the door gently behind him. His every move seemed overly thought through and cautious.

"Nova... About what you just saw," he began.

"It's fine." I cut him off, trying hard to shake the vision of him half transitioned from my mind. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.

"It's not fine. That's not how I want you to see me."

" You're an alpha. It's fine", I shrugged and gave him a gentle smile.

"the way you looked at me." his voice was low and tainted with sadness. "You looked at me like I'm a monster." I turned, I couldn't face him, I could sense his deep hurt and pain. It was very hard to lie looking at him because it was true, I saw him as a monster. I always had and what I had just witnessed only confirmed how I had always felt.

"It's okay. I just have a lot to get used to living here. This is all new to me". I took a deep breath and turned back to him, hoping he would believe my lie.

"tell me what I need to do, to help" his voice was strained.. he was begging me. Panic rushed through me, I needed to try harder to convince him I would be staying. I took a deep breath and walked towards him, closing the space between us. I had to do something I hadn't done for him to believe me. Simple yet terrifying for me. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. His scent was intoxicating and I breathed it in. I couldn't lie that I wouldn't miss his scent and the ease that seemed to wash over me with every breath of it. His arms wrapped back around me, and I felt him bury his nose in my hair. We stayed like this, for what seemed like forever, until we both broke the hug.

"I need to get back to the meeting, will you be okay?" he searched my eyes, for any hint that I wasn't okay. I smiled sweetly back at him.

" Yeah, I'm just gonna go read by the creek as usual" he smiled back at me and kissed my forehead gently, before leaving me alone.

I checked the clock. I would have no more than four hours before they would be done for the day and they would notice I was missing. I had to be quick and get as much distance between us.

Quickly, I went to the wardrobe, I found my car key and the cash in my wallet, shoved it in my pockets, and left my backpack behind. Surely he would look to see if that was gone. I grabbed my flat sticky phone too, I could charge it in the Van and try and contact Cole. If Cole was still alive, he would help me.

I grabbed my book and blanket, hiding a change of clothes under the blanket, and set off for the creek. No one would think it was odd for me to be walking around with the blanket and book.

Except as I made my way through the pack house, no one was in sight. Arlo must have told them to steer clear of me, after his...outburst. Big mistake Arlo.

I went to my usual spot, sat the book down, and quickly changed my clothes, leaving the ones I was wearing on the side of the creek. Hopefully, this will deter them, even just for a short time.

Carefully, I stepped on stones crossing the creek at the lowest part and started weaving my way through the forest towards the highway, stepping on fallen rocks and stones, trying to leave no footprints. I had one shot at this; I couldn't fail.

At first, progress was slow. Every time I made a twig crunch I panicked, looking around, but thankfully, never saw anyone. After a while, I got the hang of moving through the trees and picked up speed.

When the trees finally opened up to the highway, relief flooded over me, but I knew I wasn't out of danger yet. I hadn't thought about how I'd get from here back to mountain ridge.

I started on foot, heading towards mountain ridge, running at a steady pace. Surely a car would come past soon.

When the sound of an engine in the distance perked my ears, I slowed my pace and held out my thumb.

A mini-van rounded the corner, saw me, and slowed down, pulling up beside me. It was a family. The wife wound down the front passenger window.

"What are you doing out here honey?" Her eyes looked at me with concern. I hadn't thought about this, I was technically in the middle of nowhere.

"I was on a date with my boyfriend and we had a HUGE fight and he kicked me out of the car. I just live in mountain ridge if you could please give me a lift." I asked nicely.

" Sure get in, sweetheart," the man said. I jumped in the back, next to their kids. They told me their names were Sammy and Abel. I made up more stories about the fight and chatted with them for the rest of the drive. I didn't realize it was just over an hour from the pack's territory. I guess since I had been unconscious when I arrived, It still made me nervous. I wouldn't have much time to get much distance between myself and mountain ridge.

I thanked them profusely for their help as they dropped me off in the heart of Mountain Ridge city, thankfully, only a block away from my van. Once the mini-van was out of sight, I ran as fast as I could to my van.

To my surprise, she was still there. I got my key from my pocket. A jumped into the driver's seat. Turning it over, took a few goes, but thankfully she started. I checked the clock on the car. It was just after 5 pm. Arlo would surely know I was gone by now.

I took the back roads out of the mountain ridge and went in the opposite direction to the hills of the pack house. Last I heard from Cole, he was on the coast. Dead or Alive, I was going to find him. But first, I needed to ditch the van. I couldn't be sure, but I had a feeling Arlo knew about the van. I was not taking any chances. On the outskirts of a mountain ridge, I found a hire car shop. I pulled my van over on a side street nearby, shoved some of my clothes into a shopping bag, and said goodbye.

In the hire car, I took whatever car they had ready to go in, which turned out to be a black corolla. I tapped my foot impatiently as they bought out the keys. I knew every minute I spent waiting was another minute Arlo could be edging closer to finding me.

I drove until nightfall, and then I drove some more, only stopping to refuel. When my eyes started feeling heavy, I finally gave in to having to stop. I prayed I had done enough to throw them off my trail and had enough distance between us. I found a campground surrounded by trees. I took the spot furthest at the back, with it being the start of fall, I was the only one here, but this was the most secluded.

I looked for my phone, surely it would have been charged by now. it wasn't on the centre console. I checked my bag and felt my blood running cold.. I had left it in the van.

"DAMN IT!" I hissed. I fought back tears as I quickly drifted into a restless sleep, filled with dreams of Arlo's claws.

Arlos POV.

I hadn't been sure Nova was telling the truth. The mate-bond told me she was okay, but the way she spoke seemed uneasy. I guess I'd have my work cut out for me trying to rebuild the little bit of trust I had built with her. Still, I could hardly focus on my meeting for the rest of the afternoon. The tension in the room after my outburst didn't help anything. When 5.30 rolled around, I was the first out of there.

When I returned to my suite, Nova wasn't there waiting as she normally was. Her book was gone from the bedside, as was her usual blanket. She must still be by the creek. I shrugged on a jacket, it was getting dark and they were expecting a storm tonight.

I followed the lingering scent of her to the creek. I never get enough of her scent. I spotted the tartan blanket through the leaves and made my way closer.

"Nova?" I called gently so as not to scare her, but only silence replied. I moved closer, slipping past the trees. Her book was on the blanket and her clothes were sitting tossed on the ground. I looked around as my blood ran cold in panic. Nova was nowhere to be seen. Surely she hadn't tried to swim at this time of year? The water was like ice, she would have gone into shock. I have mind-linked Lucas.

"Get a team together NOW" I ordered.

"What is wrong with alpha?" Lucas linked me back.

"Nova is missing."

It didn't take long for them to assemble by the creek. I had already searched the immediate area and turned up nothing. The search team split up, walking the length of the creek.

If she didn't swim, then where did she go? Surely she wasn't going to the highway? Surely she wouldn't leave. She hugged me, SHE HUGGED ME.

I crossed the creek and started rushing up the hill. I was mid-way up when a glimmer of gold caught my eye. A couple of stray hairs were caught on a branch that had to be hers. I mind-linked the team.

"get the cars. She did a runner. Head for a mountain ridge." Lucas came to my side.

"We have to find her, Lucas." I panicked.

" We will Arlo, just try not to panic."

"No Lucas, the next full moon is in two days... she's either going to turn or it will be a repeat of the night I found her. We have to find her before then."