Gypsy Moon

Chapter Forty-three: ----

. . . . . . (mid July)

They were all laughing or singing again, but they didn't sound as carefree after their Alpha had spoken. I turned my head idly, listening to each of the pack members. Bryce would periodically purr before speaking to me, his voice was cheerful every time I turned towards him when he purred.

The Alpha was speaking softly with his Luna, his voice was tense and she was sad. I focused on them long enough to learn they were talking about my branded eye. I tuned them out and focused on the two humans, Kyle and Lilian. She said that they were a mated pair, which was interesting because I had not known humans could have mate bonds without a wolf in the relationship.

I was also surprised to learn these humans could mind link. There was no other explanation. I had only heard the type of half-spoken conversation like they had around other wolves. They seemed like they were discussing construction plans for a packhouse.

Wait... I frowned. Earlier, the Alpha called them by their pack name. This was the entire pack? How the f**k does a pack end up with only five members left? And only two actual wolves? And their Luna has healing powers? That makes her a special wolf. How did a Luna with healing abilities get her pack taken down to this?

But, no one seemed upset, not as if they had lost members, they were calm and cheerful. This pack made no sense. They couldn't be a rouge pack, could they? No, no one smelled sick, and the humans were talking about building a packhouse. Building? I blew out an annoyed breath through my nose and heard them shift in the vehicle behind me. This can't be the whole pack. I mean, she is a wolf that can heal, so why isn't she in a massive, powerful pack? Why only her mate, a couple of humans, and a cat to protect her? They don't SOUND like idiots, but they sure are acting like ones.

I huffed angrily and Bryce purred questioningly. I shook my head in frustration.

"Bryce, I think it's time to stop for dinner." There was a long pause, great, they are all mind-linked again. I growled softly, my fingers digging into the soft leather chair.

"Yes Luna." Bryce spoke slowly. I know he was looking at me. They all were, I'm sure.

I no longer doubted them. They were telling the truth. Sir was dead, they saved me, and they truly are good people. They are also colossal morons. They are more concerned about the temper tantrum the random kid they picked up is throwing than the safety of their Luna. A growl began deep within me as I heard bodies moving.

"Hey, pup?"

I snarled through my teeth and clenched my fists, shaking with a sudden wave of rage.

"s**t!"

The camper rocked as Bryce jerked it to the side of the road and jammed the stick in park. Doors opened rapidly and cool night air flowed around me. Someone picked me up, he smelled like warm grass, and I heard two of them shift. There was a short pause and the pack ran away from the noise of the highway.

/:Now she's out in the open.:/

The one carrying me set me down with the first c***k of my bones, and I heard him shift as well. My body contorted against my will, and I felt my joints snapping and fur sprouting from my skin. A moment of intense discomfort as my fingers became claws and a sudden quiet. I felt the wind caress my fur, and cheers and howling erupted around me.

What? I was panting and my heart was racing.

/:Protect our Luna.:/ Someone huffed a laugh as I startled and skittered in place at the new voice. /:I am your wolf, Gyam.:/

/:Gyam?:/

/:That's my name, what are you called?:/

/:I don't have a name.:/ Rage washed through my body. Our body. Our senses slowly melded together fully, and we shook our fur out and took a deep breath.

The wolves around us all smelled excited, happy. The human female was cheering, and we smelled the sweet breath of our Luna as she blew gently on our muzzle. We turned towards her and lowered our head submissively. A long silence followed. She softly growled a question.

Our answering growl left no question about our intent. She is OUR Luna.

We felt the Alpha step towards us, his authority was crushing, but we held our ground and raised our head defiantly. Every muscle in our body was painfully tensed as we faced the Alpha.

/:Her mate.:/ His voice was calm and soft, but his command was unmistakable. /:Your Alpha.:/

We blinked hard and pulled our head back and his aura eased. We could feel the mind link expanding and the voices of the rest of the pack greeted us. We tilted our head and turned towards Bryce's voice, but...?

/:Outstanding!:/ f*****g cat practically purred over the mind link. We growled impatiently and our Alpha's voice answered with a chuckle.

/:Welcome to the family, pup.:/ We huffed in annoyance and sat back on our haunches. These idiots were our pack. Goddess save us all. We squinted in irritation at our Alpha.

/:Gyam.:/ We nodded our head and his body relaxed. He very gently lay his muzzle on top of mine and heat pooled in my core, flooding through me with a wave of sensation. We could feel the pack around us, ghosts in our mind as the pack bond established.

/:May I heal your eye?:/ Our Luna glided towards us and lay her muzzle over ours just as our Alpha had done moments earlier. The familiar pulse of her healing energy blazed in our eyes, the heat pulsing in time with our pounding heart. Our breath was torn from us in shock and then calm warmth soothed us.

My wolf separated from me, and I shifted back abruptly as he lost consciousness. A soft body caught me before I actually hit the ground. I balanced myself, my eyes closed, and the soothing growl of my Luna calmed me.

I turned my face towards her, and she blew her sugary breath over me. I opened my eyes and let them focus. As I expected, my left eye was still useless. Sir had used silver to make the brand for a reason. It had been almost six years since I could see clearly through my right eye. My Luna looks like the Moon Goddess herself. I smiled and followed my wolf into unconsciousness.

. . . . . .