Blue Moon Luna

Chapter 13

Saturday June 7

BLUE POV

I woke up snuggled into Crew’s jacket. His smell was comforting. Having his scent on something I could hold nearby meant that I could face taking a shower and remove the twins' smell before I saw my aunt. I checked the time and it was almost 11am. It’s a good job school had finished or I’d be in trouble. I quickly showered. My wolf whimpered as we washed away our mates scent. I dried my hair and didn’t bother with make-up, I felt too drained to bother.

As I headed downstairs, I could smell pancakes cooking and was greeted by a grinning aunt Flora. “Good morning birthday girl. Why didn’t you wake me when you came in?” She said cheerily. She obviously wasn’t too upset. It was the last day of school and I am technically an adult now, so I guess that’s why.

“I got in pretty late, and didn’t want to disturb you, I thought it would wait until now, I hope that’s OK?” I said sheepishly.

She pulled me in for a hug and kissed me on top of my head.

“Of course it is sweetheart. Now I thought we would start with pancakes, then cake, then you can open my gifts, and then the gifts from your friends, and then I have… well I have… a huge surprise for you.” She rambled.

“Gifts from my friends?” I queried.

“Yes, the ones left out on the porch this morning,” she replied.

I looked at her confused. I didn’t have any friends. Oh, but I did mention it to Ezri yesterday, so maybe she felt sorry for me and left something for me. How sweet, I thought.

My aunt nodded to the porch. Why hadn’t she brought it in? I walked over to the door and grasped the handle. “I would’ve brought them in,” she said with a mouthful of pancake. “But there was just too…”

She didn’t have to finish the sentence. I opened the door and there was a pile of bags and boxes taller than me. What the hell? Was this a joke?

I stepped onto the porch and circled the mountain of gifts. There were bags with high end names on them that I recognised. The boxes were professionally wrapped, blue with silver bows. My jaw was literally on the floor.

“They’re not going anywhere” my aunt yelled from inside. “Come and eat your breakfast and you can open your presents once I have seen you eat. I could hear your stomach growling through the floorboards this morning,” she laughed.

I made my way back inside and sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen. Aunt Flora served up pancakes with blueberries and blueberry sauce, followed swiftly by a slice of homemade birthday cake with blue marzipan and a white icing wolf on the top. She was so sweet. I ate it enthusiastically to show my appreciation. She offered a second slice, but I was full to bursting so politely declined.

“I know it’s a day late, and that’s my fault for staying out late, but I am super grateful,” I beamed. “Thank you for always being so amazing,” I sobbed as a tear fell down my cheek.

I wiped it away quickly, but she definitely noticed.

“Don’t be silly,” she replied. “You’re 18 now, you need to go and have fun! Enjoy your time and have adventures whilst you can. Before you know it, fate will bring you your mate, and you will have to settle down and have pups. You don’t need to rush home to your poor old aunt anymore,” she chuckled.

I winced at the word ‘mate’, knowing that I couldn’t be with mine, and I doubt I’d ever be in the mood to have fun ever again. I forced a smile as she bustled off into the living room. She returned with an armful of wrapped presents.

“You may be all grown up, but you’re never too old for presents,” she grinned, and placed them on the table before me.

I unwrapped them eagerly. Gifts were a twice a year thing only. Birthdays and Christmas. We never had enough money between those times to treat each other, so it was always exciting and we appreciated it a lot more than other families.

The first one was a new sketchbook. It was beautiful, with high quality paper inside and a leather-bound cover. I loved it. The next was a small tin of watercolour paints, some new graphite pencils and some brushes. My aunt really knew what I liked and needed. My old supplies were at the end of their life span, so these were great. Lastly, there was a white gold charm bracelet. I gasped. “Aunt flora, this must have cost you a fortune, I can’t accept this,” I cried.

“I have bought a charm every year since you were born, and kept it safe, ready for your 18th,” she smiled softly. “It was your mothers.”

The air left my lungs. My mother? This was my mothers? I had never had anything of my mothers, ever. My mother and father were once part of a neighbouring pack and were killed in a war. My aunt didn’t have time to get anything other than me, so I was taken with no possessions. At least that’s what I had been told my entire life. My uncle Fenix was a member of Lycan moon, so when he and my aunt got together, she had come to live here with him, and this is how I was able to find refuge.

“Your mother bought it for you the day you were born, she got you the very first charm. It’s the little little wolf with blue eyes,” she beamed. “The rest I got each year depending on what memories we had made that year.”

I looked carefully at the charms. A little wolf, from my mother. A moon, seashell, butterfly, heart and paintbrush, to name but a few. And lastly, a crown. That was a strange one, but I didn’t want to question it. I was already incredibly overwhelmed and my aunt could tell.

“I will tell you more later on over a cup of tea. And I have one last surprise. I’m sure you have so many questions, but today I just want you to enjoy being happy. So go open up the rest of your gifts and I’ll be in the living room when you’re ready,” she said, before kissing my head, and heading into the next room.

I took a few minutes to compose myself before I took myself back to the porch. I decided it would be better to open the gifts in my room, so I took several trips until I got them all there. My room was so full, I could barely move. I managed to make it back to the bed and began unwrapping the presents one by one.

The first one was a beautiful black sequin dress and instantly knew who it was from, because they had purposely rubbed their scent all over it. I smiled. They did care!

The next 2 bags contained numerous lingerie sets, some with crotchless panties and harnesses. Wow, these boys weren’t shy, huh?

After I had opened all the gifts, I stood back and looked at the haul. My room looked like a shopping mall. There was clothing and shoes, jewellery and trainers, make-up and perfume, chocolates, lingerie and…. A key. In a small envelope that I opened last, there was a key and a note.

‘It read, ‘Little Luna. I know nothing can make up for the situation that has been forced upon you, and you deserve a castle fit for a queen, but, if you ever feel too overwhelmed, or just want space, or even want to see either of us, here are the keys to our summer home. I have attached directions. It’s yours. Happy birthday beautiful’.

A HOUSE? A FUC*KING HOUSE??? THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A HOUSE? My mind was blown.

I sat on the bed, my mind racing at a million miles per second. This was a lot to take in. I looked down at the charm bracelet around my wrist and remembered my aunt was still downstairs.

I headed downstairs and made a cup of tea before I joined aunt Flora. I'm not sure how many more surprises I could take today. But nothing could top a house….. could it?

Aunt Flora smiled and patted the seat next to her. I sat and she cupped my hands in hers. “Did you get anything nice? From your friends?” She asked. I nodded gently. “Yours were the most special though,” I replied. “Well, I do have one more surprise, that I expect will trump those,” she giggled. Then she pulled out a blue velvet box from the side of the sofa.

“Blue”, she paused. “There have been some things I haven’t been able to share with you until now,” her voice quivering. “I had to wait until you turned 18, and you got your wolf. Your mother made me promise.”

“My mum? What do you mean she made you promise?” I asked. She handed me the velvet box, and I opened it carefully. Inside was the most beautiful gem I had ever seen. It was blue and in the shape of a heart. It was on a white gold chain and looked like it would sparkle even in complete darkness.

“It’s a moonstone,” My aunt said, interrupting my thoughts. “Your mother asked me to give it to you on your 18th birthday. It’s very rare, very precious and is rumoured to possess great powers. Your mother wanted you to wait until you turned 18, when your heightened senses came through and you could shift.” She took a breath. “Try it on” she urged.

I was still a bit shocked by the whole situation, it was a lot to take in. My whole life I thought my aunt had found me by my dead mother and father. Now I was learning that my mother practically gave me to my aunt and had gifts for me, from beyond the grave.

I lifted the stone out of the box, it dangled on its chain and glistened in the sunlight pouring in through the window.

I undid the clasp. “Can you help me put it on?” I asked her. She shook her head. “I’m sorry Blue, but that chain is pure silver, it will burn me if I touch it,” she said.

“Silver? How is that possible? Werewolves can’t touch silver, this is white gold,” I choked. She shook her head again.

“I mentioned that the stone is said to hold great power, but only to the right person. Your mother believed you to be that person, and she needed you to remain safe and ‘under the radar’ until you came of age” she said, standing up and pulling my hair to one side so I could put it on myself. She pulled out a letter and handed it to me.

“It’s from your mother. I’ll give you some privacy to read it in your own time. I’m so proud of you Blue. You have grown into a wonderfully smart, compassionate, brave, strong young woman.”

She kissed my cheek and left the room.

Brave? Strong? Was she talking to the right person? I took a deep breath and opened the letter.