The Red Moon Pack

Season Two. Chapter 5.

He was struggling and it took some time for him to even realise that. It was due to Sebastian and Kinley that opened his eyes and Nathanial could see how confused, worried and stressed out he was. He did not tell them much at all, but he was sure they were figuring it all out. Nathanial had wanted to spend some time with Penny and so a plan was put into place, on his birthday, for him to take Penny on a date, in her town. It had been great, until Connor arrived and told Penny she was needed at home.

Maximus had offered to go with them, to help with what ever was going on, so he could get to know them better. However, Connor declined, told Nathanial it was something that did not concern him yet, stating that after all, he and Penny had not completely committed to their mate bond. Nathanial did not like it, but Connor had some of his guard buddies ready to get in the way if Nathanial followed, so all he could do was turn away, message is friends and head back to the car. The group of guards, watching and following him the whole time.

He had this feeling in his gut that something just was not right and he wanted to know what it was. He was silent in the car on the drive home, only saying the very basic of things. He needed to think things through clearly. He ended up opening up and telling his friends a little of his concerns at the party, and he was grateful to the support they gave him over the matter.

Nathanial had messaged Penny the following day, within the time frames she told him to. However, he did not get a reply. He was scared, he was worried. He feared she was going to refuse the mate bond they had and it sent him into a mood for four days before Sebastian and Kinley settled him down.

Students at school avoided him, before he had punched another student, just for cutting him off. A number of the leaders were pushing to him going some of the patrols, to learn and grow and understand what he would need to do when he takes over as one of the leaders. Nathanial wanted to, but his mind was always distracted. Always thinking about Penny and wondering what was going on with her, why she would not answer him.

It was on the fifth day when he tried to call that the line was finally answered. However, while he had been exited to speak with Penny, it was Luna Jaimee who had answered the phone. She was careful with her words over the phone. She informed Nathanial that Penny no longer had her phone, but she missed him, however was very busy with studying. At first, Nathanial was glad, knowing that she was ok and she was missing him. Yet his gut told him there was yet again, more to it then that.

He felt, that if her phone broke or got lost, she could have gone to Luna Jaimee straight away to ask to contact Nathanial about it. He had t wonder how his call to Penny got to Luna Jaimee, yet an easy explanation would be they had the number diverted for now. Further, Nathanial knew Penny was still in school like him, and she loved it, told him during their date she was ahead and all ready for her final exams. So being told all of a sudden that she was busy studying, just seemed strange to him.

He expressed to Luna Jaimee how much he missed Penny and wanted another catch up. She seemed hesitant, but after some thought, she suggested a half way trip and meet. She, her twin and Alpha Liam were headed to Ravenwood for some meetings, and she could make up some reason to take Penny along. She suggested if Maximus and a couple of his pack members met up, they could make it look like a meeting between the three packs and it would give him the chance to spend time with Penny.

Nathanial thought to idea was great and after speaking about the idea with Alpha Gabriel their own plans were put into play. He and Luna Iris would go along to Ravenwood, as they too had tings to discuss with Alpha John. Nathanial was pleased he could go with them, and to make sure it was not going to make things too suss, Sebastian would go along as well, to state that both he and Nathanial were there to learn more about pack meetings and discussions. It was a good cover.

Sebastian clearly wanted to stay at the hospital, but did not fight it either. He wanted to be there to help and support Nathanial, and so he appointed Maximus and Stacey to keep a watch on Adira. Nathainal understood why he was worried and kept a close watch on her. They had all chatted about it a few days after the party, after Maximus made him go home for rest. He had admitted to them that he was warn down, but he was staying at the hospital most of the time because he was worried that is what all the intrusions were about. The rouges, the vampires, were looking for Adira and possibly Julian as well.

Nathanial too was worried about that, and when he looked up more information about the day he was out of town on his birthday, he came across the details about what happened when the vampire had been found. He had been climbing a wall of the pack house, towards a balcony. The one that was attached to the room Adira was staying in before Julian’s attack. Nathanial understood why Sebastian felt like Adira was whom they were looking for. Seeing as the attacked on her had all be in the name of the vampire, Alexandra. It was a cause for all of them to be on a tight look out to make sure none of the followers of the vampire found out that Adira was in the pack hospital, unconscious and currently kept alive by machines. If they knew if she was in such a state, he could imagine that the attacked would become worse, considering it was said that the things going on, the attacks on her, were to get her out of the way. It was very complicated indeed.

When their car arrived at Ravenwood, the group of four got out of the car, greeted by Alpha John and his own Beta. They were all pleasant and Alpha John greeted Sebastian like an old friend, once again thanking him for the way they had saved his family in the car crash previously. As another car arrived, Nathanial’s sense went into over drive and his head turned quickly. As they exited the car, Nathanial could see Alpha Liam, his twin mates and then he saw Penny.

A big smile formed on his face as he looked other at her, as she looked around quickly, sensing him. She looked surprised, but he could see the tiny smile that graced her lips and the pink tinge of embarrassment on her cheeks. It would seem that she had not been told he was going to be there and that just made the whole plan even better. He moved forward, to go to her, to hug her and yet, as a secondary car pulled up, she had a slight shift in her expression of worry, before she pulled back a little hugged herself. Nathanial did not understand it, wanted to go to her, however, he felt a hand on his arm and looking around he saw Sebastian next to him, giving him a look and a nod and then turned to face Penny, holding out a hand.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Sebastian, son of Alpha Gabriel. It is a pleasure to start meeting more wolves from other parks, to get to know our wider communities.” he stated, loud and clear.

“I… ah… it is good to meet you too Young Alpha.” Penny said nervously, taking his hand to shake.

“Really… does every single guy that see’s you need to touch you in some way?” a voice spoke up.

“N…. no.” Penny replied, looking down at the ground.

Nathanial looked around, spotting a group of five guys standing net to the car that had just arrived. One of them he remembered as Alpha Liam’s son Bodie. The other one, the person whom had spoken, was Connor. Inside, Nathanial wanted to roll his eyes. He felt annoyed the guy was there and did not understand it at all.

“Now now Connor. Sebastian is going to be the Alpha of Redmoon soon. It is good for him to meet more packs and he was just being friendly.” Alpha Liam stated. “You need to stop worry about your sister, she is in not harms way.”

“Besides! What a surprise it is that Nate has come too!” Luna Jaimee smiled. “Fate must have known, a chance for the mates to meet each other again.”

“Mates?” Bodie asked with a curious glance.

“Yeah.” Connor said indifferently.

“Congratulations Penny! I did not even know!” Bodie stated with a big smile. “Nathanial is it?”

“Yes.” he replied with a nod.

“Good good. I hope you take care of my dear little Penny.” he said with a smile.

“Dear little Penny?” Sebastian asked.

“Penny, Hidie, and Bodie were what we call nappy pals. They were born around the same time and grew up together. Sometimes, it is almost like they are triplets.” Luna Emalee laughed. “Hidie is our daughter as well. So they all have been best friends for years. Like siblings.”

“She HAS a brother.” Connor said strongly.

“Oh we know dear.” Luna Emalee agreed with a nod. “But we also understand your guard duties keep you very busy, so it is nice that Penny has us to help her too.”

They all fell into silence for a moment, Nathanial thinking about this information deeply. He had not know this bit of information and while a part of him got a little worried about Bodie, he could see that the expression was not one of love, but care, like a big brother would do. Yes, he cared for her but did not love her like Nathanial did. Though, he did not understand why Connor seemed tense about the conversation. It made no sense.

After some time, everyone was introduced. Bodie, he had arrived in the car with Connor and another guy called Drake as the guards and his friends Blake and Chris who would be his Beta and Delta when he stepped up, at a time his father was ready to hand over the pack to him. Unlike Redmoon pack, they did not go on age, but on skill and health of the present Alpha. It could be another ten years yet before Bodie was to take over, but it seemed they were all ok with that.

After, they were all led into a meeting room, were there was a table set up with food for them to pick up while they chatted, discussed and made plans for what was ahead. Nathanial determined that Alpha John had lost his mate a few years ago but had his son, daughter in law and his two grandchildren still, so he was a happy man, missed his mate, but kept moving on. His Beta Bill, had a mate and she was the one who set everything up with Alpha John’s daughter in law. It was a nice set up, and timing it well, Nathanial put himself at the table the same time Penny had stepped up to it.

“How are your studies?” Nathanial asked.

“oh.. they are good. Nothing to stress about.” Penny said nervously.

“And the children at the child care centre?” he wondered.

“Cute little things.” she replied confidently. “They make my days worth it.”

“Penny!” Connor called. “You finished, you promised you’d help.”

“Sorry.” Penny said under her breath.

He watched as she grabbed a couple of food items very quickly, not even looking at what she was grabbing and turned away, moving back towards Connor and putting the plate in front of him before she pulled out a chair and sat down next to her brother, placing her hands on the table and looking down at them, not giving eye contact to anyone, not even eating any food.

A frown crossed his face, not understanding what that was even all about. Did she only get up to grab food for her brother? Nathanial could not help but to glance over at Sebastian and noticed he was silently watching from the corner of his eye, the only one watching, as everyone else was engaged in some sort of conversation before the main stuff started.

They looked at each other for a short moment, a look in both of their eyes, an understanding of thought they both have, and something they would need to discuss further when they were alone and nobody could ears drop. Nathanial could sense it. Fell that something was not right with Penny and he was worried, feeling frightened for her. He wanted to know what was really going on, why she seemed on edge around him, and what he could do to help her. He wanted to be with her, he wanted his mate, but he did not know how he could make Penny feel more at ease about them being mates.