Broken Luna

The Alpha

~~JEM POV~~

“Alpha,” looking over and nodding at Talon as he greeted me. I could see my beta had something further he wanted to say, yet his gaze shifted to his mate, Karma, who had a big smile on her face.

Smiles aren’t what I want. I am frustrated. Bran was being vague. Apparently getting my mate wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. He was off somewhere and wouldn’t say where. And it was pissing me off. That wasn’t Karma’s fault.

But still. I wasn’t in the mood. I just wanted my mate, my luna. For her to be at my side. Sighing, “Karma, what is it now?”

Sheepish - that was one word for her expression, Talon was tense. And I knew it was probably something I wouldn’t like much. But I trusted them both. Despite the headaches that they could both give me. Despite Talon knowing I’d not lay a hand upon Karma, he was always protective and weary. I hadn’t understood before. Now I think I might.

Talon was about to speak when Karma clearly spoke something through mind link. It was almost amusing in the moment to see the skulking look upon my best friend's face as he huffed and folded his arms over his chest. Karma looked back to me, “there was a situation early this morning. We came across a wolf - “ 

“An Alpha rogue,” Talon added, Karma twisted and glared at her husband. I tensed, worried that perhaps someone had been injured. Even without a pack, a rogue alpha could be powerful. Dangerous.

“Well, yes an alpha rogue - but she was just injured and scared,” Karma continued causing me to frown. A she-wolf wasn’t commonly born alpha. I can’t remember the last time I’d heard of one. Let alone rogue. “See… The poor thing. It was her first shift - she endured some -” Karma winced, “traumas… as we’ve confirmed when I took her to the clinic…”

“Karma… You took an alpha rogue… to our clinic?” Karma waved it off like that wasn’t something I should be concerned about. Yeah. There it was. A growing headache.

“She couldn’t shift back at first - but I helped -” helped? I set a harder gaze on Talons bubbly blonde. Talon growled lightly.

“I uh. Did a blood bond - so we could communicate…”

“Karma!” I chastised with a growl.

Talon wearily watched me, tension clear in his form, “she locked the room so I couldn’t stop her.” He clearly was soar over that fact. Karma yipped a little ‘tattle tale’ at her mate before she continued.

“Jem - Alpha… Please. Just. Willow and I felt it. She’s alone… She has no one… It was her first shift. I knew she is meant to be here with us… I felt it. Willow felt it...”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Trying to hold back the growl of frustration. It was difficult sometimes to fully understand and accept what Karma said. But I also knew that there was truth in her words. I hear her belief in them. And I am no fool. Karma is of an old witches bloodline - not just wolf. The spirits speak to her in ways I don’t understand. But it has never lead down a wrong road.

Sighing heavily I leveled another look at her. Wondering if maybe this would be the time luck f****d off from her ‘spidey senses’ as Bran jokingly called them. “Fine. Take me to her.”

Karma hesitated, “just - please be calm around the girl….” she wasn’t trying to be rude, I knew it, but I felt my patience tested even further until she spoke again, “the poor thing has endured… abuses - alpha she’s understandably frightened easily right now. Aggression will just panic her and her wolf… She isn’t comfortable around males.”

I look to Talon, who has looked to the ground. Jaw tense. Not expecting the guilt that played over his features. Why I wasn’t sure. Though if it was over whatever abuses they’d found about - it could not have been good for his second to get a look like he regretted perhaps being his usual aggressive self around the girl. I expected it had been Karma that had stood up for the wolf.

Talon would have likely wanted to throw them in a cell.

By the book. Rules and all. I nodded, waiting for Karma to take me to the woman. I could sense my wolves. Colossus rarely spoke to me. He came out when he needed. But as Karma nodded and started to lead us. It was a little confusing to sense Colossus there, silent but present in my mind, all while Wraith paced in my mind.

Odd. But perhaps he was intrigued by some young alpha rogue she wolf stumbling near our borders. Why Wraith felt a sense of restlessness now as we moved away from the pack house towards the clinic I couldn’t figure out.

An anxiousness settled in my second wolf. Colossus was not anxious - he was ever the unmoved one of the three spirits that shared our bodies. Steady. Unexpected was the anxiety - the sense of anger…

What is it Col? He didn’t answer. Just giving a low whine I was unaccustomed to from the brute.

Karma stopped us and quietly slid into the room. That was when the most mouth watering scent hit my nostrils. But it wasn’t exactly a scent that was brand new to me. It wasn’t unknown.

It was … Uniquely hers…

Talon looked ready to shift as I refused to let Karma close the door behind her. My mind was not its own. Karma looked surprised as she was greeted with what would no doubt be the stormy swirl of black and gold. The eyes of Colossus.

Fear in her face. Still she growled and protectively stood between me and the female. Colossus had not taken control from me - in forever. Only during battle when I’d nearly made a foolish mistake. But now it was his voice that shook the walls, “what was done to her?!”

Karma got a look of realization, I could feel fear rolling from her yet. The form behind her was shaken by the intensity. “Colossus… You have to calm down. You’re scaring her…” Talon looked ready to shift, ready to fight at feeling a threat to his mate. But Karma looked steadily. Despite the fear of Colossus - she did not back down. “She needs gentleness, quiet. Not anger and rage. Even if it’s not directed at her. It won’t help right now.”

Talon growled warningly at me. While Karma kept between me and the trembling form. It could almost be amusing to think of her small form being placed protectively between us. My form was much larger - more powerful. I was the Alpha and Colossus was enraged that she’d stand there and act as if he’d hurt the girl.

“Talon… Honey I know you’re worried but please don’t do that. He’s just worried about his mate…” realization seemed to hit my friend. But he was not calmed. On edge as he give a growling whine at me. At Colossus. I felt Wraith howl in pain at the idea of his mate being afraid of them. Colossus trying to understand. But he was a more - primal and instinctual creature. Less of emotion and understanding. But looking back to her - to our mate…

He relinquished control back to me. Despite how it hurt the stone heart wolf to be the cause of his mates fear. Not understanding why she’d think he’d do her harm. When he wanted to devour anyone whom would dare put a hand on her.

We stepped forwards. Her dark brown eyes flickering between what must have been her and her wolves eyes. The intense dark brown that had taken me in not but a day before. To the most mesmerizing golden brown that was warm, sweet like warm honey.

She cowered back and clung to Karma’s arm. Getting a slap to the face would have been less shocking. Hurt etched my features, “I would never harm you… Jude… I’ve been trying to find you…”

The girl still looked afraid - confused. Uncertain. The flickering colours of her eyes made me think she might be speaking with her wolf. I gave a pleading look to Karma, her own had a sadness. I could hear both womens hearts hammering. I’d frightened my mate and my friend with losing control of Colossus. Karma looked to my mate and smiled, “he can look and sound scary sometimes, but he’s really just a big ol’ teddy bear. He’s our alpha - he can keep you safe,” she hesitated, looking back at me.

I longed to step closer, to pull my mate into my arms and bury my face into her neck - to enjoy the warmth of her and let her scent completely invade me. Karma looked back, “Alpha… I know this is hard but - I - ...could you please wait outside for a few minutes? Can you let me help you both out here. She trusts me.”

I didn’t want to leave her. Ever. I wanted to be the one she trusted. To be the one she clung to for comfort. Wraith whimpered in my mind. But I forced myself to nod. Talon following me out. Looking at him with desperation. “What happened to her, Talon?”

He couldn’t look me in the eye. It just made my heart sink further down in despair. I needed to know. But at the same time I didn’t want to all the same. I wanted to demand he tell me! I felt frustrated he seemed ready to withhold the information…

“Jem. I might not always agree with Karm… But I think she might be in this. Let your mate tell you when she’s ready. It -” he winced, “Karma feels those she opens up to on her own will help heal the wounds of the mind.”

My jaw was set. Wraith whined, Colossus growled. “I should have followed her yesterday. I shouldn’t have let Bran tell me we could find her today instead when she’d run…”

My fist hit the wall. I wanted to strangle my brother at that moment. I wanted someone to blame. But deep down I knew if I should blame anyone.

It was me.

Never again would I fail her. I would be there to protect her. I would devour anyone who had an ill thought of her, and would give endless suffering to any that had harmed my beautiful mate. Talon reached out and put a hand on my shoulder, “let Karm help her Jem. You know she can…” He tried to smile at me, worry still etched in his brow, “the girl already trusts her. You know she’ll do nothing to harm the girl. She was willing to stand between you and Colossus to ensure she was safe.”

That was true. Not many could stand against a mythic alpha wolf - when clearly they stood between them and what they wanted. Most coward and ran. Karma was a different sort of wolf. She had more back bone then most men.

Colossus felt a little calmer. Like he thought of that. Respected that. Accepted that Karma was a worthy guardian and friend to his mate.

Still I ached to go to her. To be with her.

I stood outside the room. Listening to the quiet melody of Karma’s voice as she spoke to my mate.