The Rising Moon Pack

Chapter 36

Maria POV

Jase and I headed back to the kitchen in silence. Lunch with our mom had been eye opening, to say the least.

“I’m gunna go check in with Matt.” Jase told me, quietly.

“Yeah, no problem. I said I’d help Mrs Davies with the lunch rush, but if Matt needs healing let me know okay?” I asked him.

He nodded,walking down the hallway quickly. I sighed as I pulled my apron on, my mind at war with my heart.

“What’s the matter, sweet girl?” Mrs Davies asked me kindly.

“It’s just… ugh.” I sighed again, my heart aching. “I thought my mom was a bad person. Turns out she’s just someone who was young and dumb, and made a series of bad decisions, not fully understanding the consequences. I’m torn; I don’t know what to think or feel.” I admitted.

“People do strange things when they’re desperate.” She said to me quietly, and I nodded.

Something felt familiar about the words she had said to me, but I couldn’t place it. Maybe it was because this was something I had been telling myself often.

“I don’t know what to do. I know I have to tell my dad, and even if I don’t, the responsibility to punish her falls to Jase once dad hands over the title. I don’t think I could bare it.” My voice was barely above a whisper, and my eyes filled with tears.

Mrs Davies pulled me into a tight hug, her sweet scent wrapping me up. “Every soul has the ability for redemption, even hers.” She whispered.

I pulled back in shock as I remembered where I’d heard those words before. I looked Mrs Davies in the eyes, and for a moment her eyes glowed, light bouncing from the Opal orbs.

“Emeera?” I whispered, shocked.

She placed a finger to her lips, motioning silence. She winked at me before going back to dishing up lunch plates. I needed answers, but I wasn’t going to get them out loud.

“Emeera, what are you doing here!” I linked Mrs Davies.

“”I’ve always been here, silly girl. Someone had to keep an eye on you.” She responded, chuckling.

“But how? You’re the mother of all emerald wolves. Why are you hiding here?” I asked,confused.

“Hiding in plain sight is a good way to not be found.” She replied.

“What are you doing though? You’re a goddess! You should be in the Kingdom above.” I practically shouted at her.

“Maria, you’re a goddess. Do you live in the Kingdom above?” She asked me calmly.

“Well.. no. I guess not.” I reasoned.

“I do have a home there, one I share with Selene. However, I also have a home and a family here. I’m only one half of this body.” She told me.

“So you’re Mrs Davies’s wolf?” I asked her.

“Yes. Emily has been my human counterpart since she came of age. I’ll move on again when she goes to the Kingdom above.” She answered.

“But why?” I asked.

“Because I need to be close to our goddesses, for guidance. Not only that, but I like to be at one with nature. Being able to feel the ground beneath my paws is truly gratifying.” She responded, and I nodded.

“So I guess in some weird way, Mrs Davies and I are related after all.” I mused.

“Yes, Emily is also an emerald wolf.” She told me seriously. “She’s been a goddess since before your mom was born.”

“Does she know who my moms parents are?” I asked.

“That’s a discussion for another time,love.” She answered cryptically, and I looked at her, puzzled. She returned my expression with a smile, asking me out loud, “Can you start serving these, please? I’m running out of room to prep.”

“Yes, of course.” I answered, grabbing plates piled high with food.

“We’ll talk later” she linked me, as I walked out the door.

Jake POV

“Charlie. How are you?” I asked him.

I had stepped out from the meeting to give him a call, and I was glad to hear his voice.

“Hey Jake. We’re all good down here, any news on when you’ll be bringing the Luna home? Lottie has been chewing my ear off about it all week.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, listen, about that.” I answered him, rubbing my hand idly through my hair. “We need you down here, ASAP. Some new developments have come to light, and we need a full team meeting.”

“Oh, that sounds…interesting.” He said, carefully.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, impatiently.

“Well… who’s going to look after the pack with me gone? You know if I want to leave I’ll have to bring Lottie with me. And if Lottie goes… Mae will follow. That means none of the ranked members will be here.” He told me.

“You’re right. Two seconds.” I told him, as I pushed open the meeting room door.

“Alpha Ben. Is there any chance you have room to cater for 3 more members from my pack?” I asked him.

He turned to face me, a smile forming on his lips and around his eyes. Noah looked hopeful, knowing I was asking if there was room for Mae to come visit.

“Of course, son. Whatever you need.” Ben told me, and Noah practically jumped across the table and kissed Ben across both cheeks.

“Thank you thank you thank you!” He cried out happily.

“Get off me you big baby!” Ben joked, laughing.

Noah pulled him into a hug, and I registered the surprise on Ben’s face that melted into comfort. We had begun to feel like family, and I knew that was all Ben had ever wanted.

I watched from the door way, enjoying the way Ben’s happiness lit up the room until I was distracted by Charlie, who was shouting at me through the phone.

“Jake? JAKE! Hello, are you still there?”

“s**t, hey yeah I’m still here. The Alpha says there’s room for 3 more. Tell the girls to get packing. Also, ask Mae to bring Noah a cell phone. I’m tired of checking for d**k pics every time he asks to borrow mine.” I told Charlie, laughing.

“On it.” He told me. “Wait, wait! Who do I leave in charge?” He asked.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll give my dad a call, I’m sure he won’t mind standing in till we get back.” I answered.

“Okay, we’ll be there late afternoon. We can’t wait to meet the new Luna.” He replied.

“See you then. Drive safe.” I said, hanging up.

I went back inside the meeting room, and noticed all the faces of Alphas staring at me expectantly.

“Who’s ready for lunch?” I asked them, packing away my notes into my leather folder.

Alphas one by one began to leave the room,before all that was left was Ben and I. I noticed he was sitting in his chair, staring at the floor.

“You okay, sir?” I asked him, gently.

“What? Oh yeah, I’m fine.” He smiled,but it didn’t reach the eyes.

“Are you sure?” I pressed.

To my complete horror, Ben broke down. He sobbed into his hands, and my heart broke for him. He stood from his chair and walked towards the window, tears splashing across the floor with every step he took. I followed him, and stood quietly next to him, waiting for him to speak.

“How am I supposed to do this?” He asked me, pained. “Kate always handled guests.”

“If it’s an issue I can always call Charlie back and tell them not to come.” I reassured him, gently.

“No, no.” He answered. “They need to be here, this is an important decision. I’m just being silly.” He wiped his eyes with a hanky, frown lines deep in his face.

“Sir, you won’t have to do it alone for long.” I told him. “You hand over to Jase in 2 days. You have our support. You know Maria will take to the Luna position like a duck to water, so why not let her now? Rely on Jase for a while,heal. He’s smart and capable, he will work it out. You need rest.” I told him, and he raised his eyes to meet mine.

“You’re right.” He told me. “I need the rest. My heart feels beyond shattered right now, and I’m tired.”

“Why don’t we call off the Alpha meetings early?” I suggested. “We can keep Taryn here, and just have one big meeting with my team, his team and yours. Once a decision has been made, we can go from there. That’s less strain on you, less need to pretend to be okay. You can be yourself and feel your feelings behind closed doors. We’re your family, we won’t hold it against you.” I reassured him.

“Yes, that sounds better. I’ll ask Jase to handle it.” He told me, tiredly. “What else did you need to speak to me about?”

“Well, Maria has already started to show you, but there was more to it than what she showed the Alphas.” I told him, and he looked confused. “How about we go for lunch,adjourn all meetings this afternoon until my friends arrive. We can meet Maria privately,and she can show you everything?” I suggested.

“Sounds like a plan, I’m starving.” He told me, chuckling.

“The more time we spend together, the more like you I find Maria is.” I laughed, shaking my head.

“I wonder what’s for lunch?” Ben pondered, walking out of the room. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that I had helped prevent a complete breakdown of the Alpha. I followed him to the dining hall, my stomach rumbling loudly.