A Return to Happiness (The True Luna Series Book 1)

Chapter 2

Lily

The journey from The Red River Pack back to my home in the Wolferaine Kingdom is not far, only about three hours. It doesn’t make me tired although I’m not happy that Mason, my son, asked me to drive myself instead of fetching me. He should’ve come, he should’ve visited his uncle, aunt, and cousins more. But I understand, he’s a warrior for the King now. No rest for the weary. Yeah, I shouldn’t complain since the journey itself is pleasurable and safe with beautiful scenery of rolling hills and streaming rivers. The Red River Pack is part of the Wolferaine Kingdom, having long pledged allegiance to the Kingdom. The Alpha and Luna of the Red River Pack are good people, they are loyal to the Alpha King.

My brother, Rodney, was originally a warrior of the Kingdom. He went to the Red River Pack under the order of Alpha King Henry, the father of the current Alpha King, to attend to some business for the King. There, he found his fated mate, Celia. As common practice, he, the male, should’ve brought his mate to live with him, but the Alpha of the Red River Pack at that time asked him to stay there, instead.

This practice happens from time to time, a smaller pack can invite the male to live with his fated mate inside the pack as opposed to bringing his bride back to his own pack. The smaller pack needs to have people in, not out. They usually provide the new couple with facilities and jobs and ask them to breed children as many as they can. Well, theoretically.

Rodney, with the King’s permission then moved to the Red River Pack and worked there as their warrior, although now retired, while Celia worked as the healer, still does. They are the proud parents of four wonderful children, making me the proud aunt of two beautiful nieces and two incredible nephews. Rodney and Celia are empty nesters now, that was why they forced me to live with them once my son turned eighteen and left the house for college and in training to become a warrior like his father, uncles, and grandfathers before him. Now, he’s asked me to come back, to work for the King and care for his daughter. The question is, can I? Can I really? Moving back to the Wolferaine, will it possible for me? Will my heart be able to endure it?

One more turn, then my house will be visible. I came to visit last year, the week after Thanksgiving to have a simple dinner with Moira and Mason. Both my children couldn’t come to have it with me, they had the party inside the palace so I spent it with Rodney’s family. After that, I stayed in the house for another week but couldn’t bring myself to stay longer. With Moira and Mason too busy with their work for the King, the loneliness ate me alive. In times like that, I missed my husband very much. Gareth, my handsome, kind, and wonderful husband was a warrior for the Kingdom. He died six years ago protecting the King during the war. He died in vain, since the King too, died.

No, I must not think like that. He was a hero, he was hailed as a hero. We were taken care of, the new King made sure of that. Both my children now work for him, and I too have lived a comfortable life. I just felt… lonely, and sad all the time. That was why when Mason finally turned eighteen and left the house, I immediately said yes to my brother’s invitation.

I park my car in front of the house, getting out to open the garage. Something is off, there’s a car inside it. It doesn’t belong to either Moira or Mason, I know their cars. But the car looks familiar. It belongs to Jennifer, I think. Wait, why does her car here?

And just like that, my question is answered as Jennifer herself comes into the garage through the side door. Her eyes widen, she’s shocked to see me. “What are you doing here?” she asks in a hostile tone.

“I should ask you that question,” I say, trying to remain calm. “Are you house sitting? Did Moira ask you to do that?”

“This… this is my house now,” Jennifer answers, stuttering a little.

Now my eyes widen. “Come again?” I ask politely. “How’s that possible?”

“Moira… Moira gave it to me,” she answers without much conviction.

I exhale. Somehow, I knew it. Jennifer is Moira’s aunt, the big sister of her birth mother. They are close. Still, she has no right to do that, especially since I’m still the one who has the papers of the house. “Moira can’t do that,” I say. “You must’ve been mistaken. The house belongs to me, her, and Mason, not just her. Let me try to mind link her.”

“Don’t bother,” Jennifer says. “She’s with the King outside the Kingdom for an official business, she’s out of reach. You can try phoning her, but I bet she won’t pick up.”

Of course, she won’t pick up. Not when she’s working with the King. “Listen,” I say. “You’re welcome to stay in my house. We have three rooms, and since both Moira and Mason are no longer live here, you can choose any of their room. However, if you are now staying in my room, then I suggest you move your stuff from it before I’m doing it myself.”

Jennifer opens her mouth, but words don’t seem to come out. She knows I’m right, Moira has no right to give the house to her. In times like these, I’m happy that I left the papers of the house in the bank instead of leaving it in the house. I don’t even remember why I did that, my heart just told me to do so. I didn’t feel like bringing all my valuables with me to Rodney’s house, so I rented a deposit box and stored my modest jewelry and important papers there.

“I need time to move my stuff from your room,” Jennifer says, finally finds her voice. “I can do it tomorrow.”

I could probably go with that suggestion, but I want to sleep in my own bed. The bed that I used to share with my husband. We used to make love there. How dare her sleeping there when the other rooms are available. No, it’s my house, my privileged. “Sorry, Jennifer,” I say, trying hard to stay civil. “That’s my room, and I’m not dead, yet. Moira or you should’ve asked me first before occupying it. It’s just common courtesy. Why do you even use my room, though? Moira’s room is big enough and she doesn’t even live here anymore. You could’ve easily just used her room, right?”

Jennifer doesn’t answer me. She turns around with a huff, stomping her feet loudly, voicing her displeasure. I didn’t bother to care and choose to go to my car instead. I grab my luggage and bring it to my room, reclaiming it. This is gonna be a long day.

***

Mason comes for dinner with pizza. Bless his heart, since I don’t want to eat Jennifer’s food inside the fridge and the kitchen counter. Apparently, aside from my bedroom, she has taken over my kitchen as well.

“I’m sorry, mom,” he says. He looks like he really is sorry. “I really didn’t know that Moira has given the house to Aunt Jennifer. She mentioned once that she let her stay from time to time, I didn’t have a heart to tell her no. Besides, I didn’t know that she was using your room. How dare she! I thought she was using Moira’s room. Where is she now, anyway?”

“After I made her move her stuff to Moira’s room, she left. I didn’t ask where to, she did shout at me not to eat her food. Doesn’t matter, I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow. But thank you for the pizza.”

“Sure thing,” Mason answers. “Don’t buy too much, though. You do realize that you have to live in the palace should you get the job, right? Everything will be provided for you, there. You’re gonna be Princess Seraphina’s nanny, it’s mandatory to live in the palace. But don’t worry, mom, you’ll love Princess Seraphina, she’s a good kid. This is gonna be perfect, mom, I promise. We’re gonna see each other every day.”

Princess Seraphina, such a beautiful name, I have no doubt that she is a good kid. I can’t wait to see her, I love children. Somehow, I’ve got this feeling that I’m gonna love her too. Mason has emailed me the nanny contract and asked me to read it carefully before signing it. He also mentioned that I will have to do the interview first, not with the Alpha King himself, but with the Beta and the Luna.

I asked him why, and Mason said that the Alpha King had to go away on an official Kingdom business. Moira was with him along with his Gamma and a few of his best warriors but Beta Bradley stayed behind to tend to the Kingdom in his absence. Mason too stayed behind. He doesn’t usually like to go on a journey where Moira is part of the delegation unless they go to dangerous places where the King’s safety is the main concern.

Mason and Moira, they don’t seem like they get along very well. It makes me really sad. They’re siblings, they have the same father, just different mothers. But now that their father is gone, I fear that Moira thinks that I don’t love her anymore, which is not true. I love her, I have always loved her. I took care of her since she was a baby, when her mother died giving birth to her. Ah, Leticia, my best friend, how I miss her very much still.

“Are you okay, mom?” Mason asks. “You look… pensive?”

“I guess I am,” I answer. “I’m just sad. Look, I know that you and Moira are not close, but please remember that she is your sister. Just try to always be good to her.”

Mason nods. “I do, mom,” he says. “It’s hard sometimes since she doesn’t reciprocate. But I try not to think about it much. She’s distant, but she isn’t exactly hostile to me.”

“Well, that’s all I can ask for,” I say. “Are you staying here tonight?”

“I am,” Mason answers. “Let me mind link Beta Bradley first, I need to ask for his permission.”

“Great,” I say, excited for spending the night with my son. There are so many things I wanna ask him, like whether he has a girlfriend or not now. I know he doesn’t have a mate, yet. He would tell me if he did. It concerns me a little, after all, he’s twenty-two now. “Wanna watch Netflix?”

***