Stolen Soul

Chapter 9: Prayers answered

Luna Amara

I hear Landon start to stir in the bed next to me, its late and I am exhausted.  Its my daughter’s birthday today, she is eighteen. I would have met her wolf today.  I woke up crying this morning and have not stopped, losing her has been the hardest thing I have ever went through.

The day that it happened I was unable to register anything, my mind was blank, I kept thinking this is a trick, she was going to show up, but each night as I went to sleep without my pup, as her bed laid barren, and the sounds of our home stayed silent, my anger rose.

Landon spent all of his time searching for her, reaching out to the packs located in Vermont, New York, Canada, even as far south as Georgia, trying to locate the vampire dens.  He reached out to witch covens in Canada and all along the east coast.  The witches did not want to locate the vampire dens, only willing with our protection, and the packs lives came first.  Most warned that if vampires took her, she was likely not alive. He continued to search, taking any help he could get.  He fell behind in Alpha duties, pushing them off to his beta more times than I could count. We should have held each other close in those years, used our bond to heal, but we did not.  We grew apart, we stopped talking, each dealing with the pain alone. 

I was a broken mess, a horrible Luna.  My pack diverted their eyes from me, fearful to show the pity they felt for me. At home, I would cry and lash out, spending hours in Rose’s room reorganizing her things, sitting in her rocking chair pleading with moon goddess to return her to me.

We were not blessed with another child, and my sweet girl did not return.  As I fell further into my depression, my sweet sister Penelope gave birth to her first child, a son. My nephew, Noah brought me back from the darkness.

His eyes reminded me of Rose’s so bright, and full of life. He had ten fingers and ten toes that he loved to suck on, and his giggle was the sweetest melody.  While my heart ached for my loss, it found joy in my sister’s happiness.

I poured what little love I had left into my nephew and my pack, accepting the loss of Rose. While I know Landon feels that she is gone, but will never admit it to me, I have always held out hope that she would return. I still pray to the moon goddess, asking her to keep Rose safe, to bring her home, and most nights I still shed a tear for my daughter.  Tonight, I shed a lot of tears.

Landon’s voice tentatively wakes me from my fitful rest as he whispers, “There is a rogue she-wolf that has entered the territory, I need to go interrogate her.” As he kisses my check, I wave him away, feeling the comforting tingles of our bond linger on my skin.

As he leaves the room, my mind registers what he has just said, a she-wolf is entered Crescent Moon on the night of my daughter’s birthday.  Hope fills my chest, but I push it down not waiting to feel the pangs of disappointment.  However, I cannot settle back to sleep, feeling like she is here. Closing my eyes tight, Landon connects with me via the mind link and tells me the rogue wolf is my daughter, Rose.

I bound out of bed, unconcerned at my unkempt hair, or that I am running towards the conference room in pajamas.  I take each step two at a time, and almost fall down the stairs at least twice before slamming my body into the conference room.

Her scent, musky and salty hits me immediately. My daughter is all grown up, beautiful, healthy, as she asks, “Mom?” I take her into my arms.

She folds her body into my embrace, and I relish her scent.  Her breathing is short and ragged, keeping pace with my winded gulps of breath as tears stream down my face. It doesn’t even register that I am praying to the moon goddess, thanking her for returning my pup, until I hear my own voice.

I continued to hold her in my arms until the pace of our labored breathing slowed and deepened. As I loosened the cocoon of my arms, she stepped back and asked “was I taken?”

Unable to recount the story myself I turn to Landon, and nod for him to tell her what little we know of the day she was taken.

As he recounts her leaving with his sister Genesis that day, tears begin to well in my eyes.  Shifting I turn and see my daughter has streams running down her checks.  I take her hand in mine and caress the back of it with my thumb.

When he is finished detailing how we searched for years with not a single trace of her whereabouts, she sniffles, and tightens her grip of my hand.

The boys, Matt, Sam and Luke fidget nervously behind us, clearly uncertain what to do, when Lexi turns to them and says, “Thank you.” The shock on the male wolves faces at her response to this evening is evident, each stopping their movements and staring blankly at my family.

Aware of the emotional energy in the room I turn to the them and thank them each individually before dismissing them.

Turning back to my daughter as she wipes her eyes and steadies her breathing, I ask her to follow me. We ascend the stairs to the fourth floor of the pack house; this floor is the Alpha’s floor.

“Where are we going?” Rose asks.

To our living quarters, we have a guest room that is rarely used that you can stay in until we have your room set up to your liking.”

“I can’t stay here; I have to go back to school.”

I turn to Landon, terror taking over my thoughts.  He can see my concern, and mirrors his own.

“Given the circumstances we would like you to stay with us, we could send a guard for you to resume classes once things have settled,” my alpha states in a commanding tone.

“I like living in the dorm, its where my friends are, and I have to be able to train for cross country, I don’t need a body guard.  No one has been after me; I am just a normal girl,” Rose pleads.

“Rose, please understand our concerns,” I beg her.

 “Don’t call me Rose, my name is LEXI,” she screams in clear frustration.

“I’m sorry Lexi, its already late, can you stay for the weekend and we can discuss next steps over breakfast tomorrow?” I supplicate.

Thankful she agrees, and we show her to the room. I grab fresh clothes and show her where the towels are located in the attached bathroom.  She thanks me, and then asks if she could get a computer as she has an assignment to complete for school.  I promise to have one brought to her by morning, and leave her to shower and rest.

I had held onto hope for 15 years, and the shock of her returning is overwhelming. Although I am exhausted, every nerve in my body is alive and awake. As I enter my room, I find the balcony doors open and Landon sitting outside with a whiskey in hand.

“Hey love,” I coo as I approach him.  Gently touching his arm, as I lower myself on his lap.

“I’m still in shock,” he croaks out.  He gulps done his drink shifting under the weight of me.  I turn to take in his features. He has aged well, still the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on. His eyes have more life in them tonight, more hope, but also a hint of fear.

Reading his mind and his emotions, I hold him tightly, “I hope she stays too.”