The True Luna's Kiss

Chapter 16

Sirona stood under the hot water cascading down over her skin. She couldn't remember the last time she had a hot shower. It was usually luke-warm water in a bucket with a cloth to clean herself. This was heavenly.

Alice had given her a variety of soaps to use for her body and her hair. She had patted Sirona gently on the shoulder and given her a small smile, before closing the bathroom door to give her some privacy.

Sirona had let the tears roll down her cheeks in the solitude of the shower. She let out her pain, her fears and felt the water wash them away. It was in this shower, in this private, hidden room of Alice's bathroom, she finally felt safe. For the first time in so many years, she felt safe here. She never wanted to leave the shower. Never wanted to go and face the reality waiting for her outside of here.

She was either going to be rejected and likely put back into that cell or.... she didn't even know.

"Or our mate will want us and take us with him, to his pack!" Briar said, calmly.

"He is an Alpha!" Sirona had responded. "I am broken. Why would he want a weak, broken woman to be his Luna. I can't even speak. I wouldn't even be able to reject him even if I wanted to."

Briar didn't answer straight away. She sent her strength to her human counterpart and took a deep breath.

"Whatever happens, I am with you," Briar said, gently. "And we need to go and face this."

Sirona leaned her head against the tiled wall and sighed. She knew her wolf was right. She couldn't stay in this cocoon forever. She slowly reached up and turned off the water, before stepping out of the shower. Using a fluffy towel that Alice had laid out, she slipped into a white robe that hung on the door. Another deep breath allowed her to open the bathroom door. The bedroom was empty. A set of fine clothes were laid out on the bed. Dark jeans and a silky, pale green top. Undergarments were laid on top of the clothes, and a pair of sturdy boots, with a slight heel sat on the floor.

Sirona sat down on the bed, so soft under her bare legs. She ran a hand over the clothes and took some time to focus on her breathing. She could do this. She could face her mate and whatever he had planned for her.

But she would not end up back in that cell!

Alice had laid out the clothes the Omega brought for Sirona on the bed, before she heard the roaring and bellowing from the hallway below.

Rolling her eyes, she quickly left the bedroom and walked to the top of the stairs.

Alpha Gabriel was in a rage, swirling around in the centre of the hallway, glaring at anyone that came near. His aura was almost visible, a dark smoky shadow that seemed to coat his very skin. It made Alice shiver. She spotted Max in the crowd and gave him a smile. He returned it with a wink, which held so many promises and made her toes curl. The Moon Goddess had been testing the sheer beauty of her creations when she made that one. He was drop-dead gorgeous.

Her attention was pulled back to Alpha Gabriel, her new Alpha who roared.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY MATE?"

Alice took a deep breath and wiped her palms on her jeans. She took a few steps forward, down the stairs towards him.

"Alpha Gabriel," she said softly, but not weakly. "Your mate is upstairs." She watched as the rage seemed to melt from his eyes. She held her hand up as he started walking towards her, ready to find his mate. A dangerous move, she knew, but she needed to buy Sirona more time. That poor woman had been through enough for a thousand lifetimes. She needed to help her where she could.

"I thought it best she be given a chance to shower and change before the trip. Perhaps even have something to eat." Alice went on, slowly lowering her hands.

The rage, again, flickered in the Alpha's eyes but muted. He clearly wasn't used to being told what to do. Gabriel looked at Alice. He took in the resolve in her eyes, but also the nervous tremble. She knew she was walking a dangerous line.

"Please," Alice whispered, lowering her head. "Give her some time. She has been through so much. Please don't overwhelm her. I can see you want to give her a chance."

Gabriel's face softened slightly, and his voice dropped low. "Why would you say that?" He asked. "She's my Mate. Why would I not give her a chance?"

Alice flushed. Maybe she had said too much. Some things should be Sirona's to share. Alice bit her lip.

A strong, warm hand slid into hers, and Alice felt the tingles shoot up her arm. She looked up through her lashes to find her mate staring at her. He just nodded. Alice swallowed and looked up, finding that the crowd had been dispersed. Only Gabriel, Marcus, and Max remained with her.

Alice trembled again, almost imperceptibly. But the men saw it. Gabriel relaxed his stance, blinking a few times to clear the simmering frustration from his eyes. Max slid an arm around his mate, comforting her.

Finally Alice plucked up the courage to speak.

"Sirona has been through a lot," she said. "What you have already heard is just the tip of the iceberg. It has left her mute. She can't or won't speak."

Gabriel let the words hang in the air for a moment as he tried to stay calm. What the hell had they done to her? What else had she suffered? He nodded at Alice to continue. Alice sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to speak, but Gabriel wasn't looking at her. His eyes were transfixed at the top of the stairs.

The scent of orchids had filled him, eliminating any residual rage he had left. Because there she was. Stunning, glorious, perfect.

His mate.