The Rising Moon Pack

Chapter 16

Jake POV

Luna Kate jumped quickly into action.

“Benny, you stay here and mind our guests.” She said, decisively. “I’ll take Cassie, baby Leon, and Maria to the pack doctor.”

“Maria, baby. Are you ok?” I asked her, concerned.

“I’m fine?” She answered, confused.

“Cassie, would you mind escorting me to the hospital?” Luna Kate interrupted. “We need to get Leon checked over, we don’t know the level that she healed him and he could need urgent care.”

Maria’s eyes widened, in shock.

“I’m sorry, I did WHAT?” She squeaked.

“Not here, Maria. We will talk about this after Leon has been assessed.”

Maria was still holding baby Leon, who had curled up in her arms and was sleeping peacefully. Cassie reached over to take him back, but he clung to Maria for dear life.

“I’m sorry, Cassie.” Maria said sincerely, “I didn’t know that I could do that, I just sang to him because that’s what my instincts said to do.”

“It’s alright, Luna, I understand. I’m grateful for your help.” Cassie smiled gently. “ Are you okay to carry him to the hospital?”

“Yes, of course. I want to know he’s ok!” Maria said, firmly.

“ Do you need me there, baby?Actually scratch that, I’m coming. I need to know you’re ok, too.” I told her.

“You’ll be late to the meetings, babe.” She told me. “You need to go.”

I looked over at Noah and Ben, who were both chatting animatedly about what had just happened. I could see the pride in Ben’s eyes, and the way Noah smiled proved to me that he felt just as proud of his future Luna.

“Noah, fill in for me. I need to go and make sure they’re both alright.” I linked him, and waited a moment for him to relay the message to Ben. Ben turned and waved me off, so I knew I had his blessing to leave.

I followed Maria and Cassie as they made their way to the pack hospital. It was the other side of campus, and I could see that Maria’s arms were beginning to get tired of the weight she was carrying. He may have only been a year old, but Leon was a chunky little wolf pup. I admired Maria’s resilience, she knew that he wanted to remain in her arms and so, she kept going, fighting the dull ache that was slowly burning at her.

Maria POV

After a walk that felt like forever, we reached the pack hospital. Little Leon was a dead weight in my arms, but every time someone tried to take him away from me, it made him cling to me tighter. I could feel that Cassie was growing worried, and I wanted to be as reassuring as possible.

As we walked into the waiting area, Dr Jenkins approached us. It was clear my mother had linked ahead, as he seemed to have two rooms prepped for us. We walked into the room one by one, and as I moved to place Leon on the bed, I felt Bella linking me.

“You need to hum to him as you place him down.” She said. “ He’s a baby, and right now you’ve provided a beacon of calm. He will cling to you because he feels safe, and you need to put him down. Hum to him, he’ll let you go and then Cassie can take over.”

“Cassie, I don’t want to alarm you,” I turned to Cassie, Leon still in my arms. “In order for him to let go, I’m going to have to sing to him again.”

“Do what you have to do, Luna.” She answered.

“ Bella, do I just hum the same song? What do I do?” I asked her.

“No, that was the healing song.” She answered. “Follow my melody.”

This time, Bella began to purr a lullaby and I followed her. I leaned gently over the bed, and Leon sighed contentedly as he rolled right out of my arms.

“Luna, that was amazing!” Cassie whispered,excitedly.

I turned to my mom, and to Jake who had been quietly watching. Jake looked so proud of me, but there was a look on my moms face that I couldn’t quite place. Was she upset? Did I do something wrong?

Jake POV

We all watched with bated breathe as Dr Jenkins completed his exam over tiny Leon. He checked for signs of concussion, as well as feeling around for any broken bones he may have gotten in the fall.

“Well, Miss Cassie,” he turned to Cassie and smiled, “ Your little pup is one lucky boy! It seems that the Luna’s daughter has completely healed him. No broken bones, no concussion, not a single mark on him.”

Cassie smiled and spun Maria into a hug.

“Thank you, I’m so grateful! My baby is ok because you healed him!” She cried, happy tears splashing onto Maria’s shoulders.

“ You should thank my dad.” Maria smiled weakly. “He’s the one who caught him. If he hadn’t, things could have been much worse.”

“ I will thank the Alpha!” Cassie nodded. “But you did something great today, Maria. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Miss Maria, if you could wait in room 2 for your own assessment, please.” Dr Jenkins stated. “ I’ll be right in, I just need to chat with Miss Cassie about keeping Leon for observation.”

“Of course, Dr.” Maria nodded. She turned and kissed Leon on the forehead, and he smiled gently in his sleep.

We waved goodbye to Cassie as an omega led us to room 2. Maria fidgeted nervously on the bed, causing Luna Kate to sit herself down beside her. I decided to take a seat on the visitors chair, out of the way.

“Mom, how did I heal that baby?” Maria quietly asked.

“I don’t know.” Luna Kate answered, not meeting Maria’s gaze.

“Bullshit.” Maria snorted, and my head snapped up in surprise. I looked up, and was met with the glowing silver eyes of Bella.

“Maria Jade Johnson how dare you!” Her mom said, shocked.

“That’s not Maria.” I interrupted, calmly.

Luna Kate looked at me as if I’d grown two heads.

“Her eyes, Luna.” I said. “That’s Bella speaking.”

“You’re damn right it’s me. When are you going to stop lying to her, Kate?” Bella spat.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kate stuck out her chin, defiantly.

“Tell her the truth before she finds out herself, or face risking the bond.” Bella stated, threateningly. Then, just like that, she was gone and Maria’s green orbs were in her place.

“What is she talking about,mom?” Maria asked.

Kate sighed. “Maria, I wanted to tell you. Honestly I did-”.

She was cut off by Dr Jensen entering the room. He walked in reading charts, completely oblivious to the conversation he had interrupted.

“Miss Maria,” he started, “How are you feeling? Any pain anywhere?”

“No, Doctor. I feel fine. A little tired, but otherwise fine.” She answered honestly.

My heart ached for her. I could feel that she was hurting, her mom was keeping a big secret from her, big enough that Bella would completely lose her s**t in the hospital room. Whatever it was, it had to be a big deal, and I’m guessing was probably related to what went down in the dining room. Instinctively, I got up and went over to Maria, putting space between her and her mom. I pulled her into my chest and held her close, allowing her to feel the beat of my heart. I felt her begin to relax beneath me, and Kate, sensing that I was protecting my mate, moved to the visitors chair across the room.

“ Alright, Miss Maria.” Dr Jenkins said, looking down at his chart. “One more thing, is there any chance you could be pregnant?”

I felt my heart drop through my stomach.

“No, of course not. I only met my mate last night.” She answered, blushing a scarlett red.

“Are we sure?” He pressed, gently. “I know how it is when you first meet your mate. Are you certain there isn’t any chance, at all?”

I growled deeply in my chest. He was making my Luna uncomfortable, and Flynn was making it known how little he liked it.

“My apologies, Alpha. I don’t mean to pry.” He said, gently. “ I need to know, just to be safe.”

“No, alright? I’m a damn virgin. Are we happy?” Maria half yelled, completely embarrassed.

Dr Jenkins held his hands up in surrender.

“My apologies, Miss Maria.”

I squeezed Maria tightly in my arms, and she buried her face into my chest, breathing deeply. I was sure that she was 5 seconds away from crying, and I needed to get her out of there.

“Doc, I’m going to take Maria for a walk. We will come back soon. Luna, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like you to be gone by the time we return.” I said, respectfully.

Her eyes snapped up at me in surprise. I hated to say it, as I had grown fond of Luna Kate, but I knew at this time that her mere presence was irritating Bella, and so Maria was acting completely out of character.

“Very well.” She swallowed, and stood to her feet. “I will let Benjamin know you will be late to the meeting.” She said, and left the room.

The second she was gone, Maria’s breathing returned to normal and she was much calmer within herself. I let her out of my arms, and she wiped her face. I hadn’t even realised that she had been crying, but it made my chest hurt. I wiped a tear away and turned to Dr Jenkins.

“ We won’t be long,” I promised him. “ I think Luna Maria just needs some space to breathe.”

“ Take all the time you need.” He answered, kindly. “Return to this room when you get back, and let Janet in reception know. I’ll come straight by.” He finished.

“Thank you, Doctor. And I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Maria said quietly.

“It’s alright, Luna Maria.” He said kindly. “I can imagine it’s been a funny kind of morning for you.”

He packed up his notes,and left the room quietly. I turned to Maria, who was staring at her feet. I lifted her chin with my finger, then leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

“I love you, no matter what.” I told her.

“ I love you too.” She answered. “But my dad will be super mad that you upset my mom.”

“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” I told her. “Besides, once he knows that she is keeping secrets from you both, I am sure he will understand.”

I felt a mindlink from Noah coming through.

“What the f**k did you say to Luna Kate, man?? She’s super emotional. Alpha Ben is PISSED.”

“It’s a long story.”I answered. “But the short of it is,I am protecting my mate, so I had to ask Luna Kate to leave. I will apologise once Maria is ok.”

“Our new Luna is a complete badass.” Noah laughed. “Squeak won’t stay down for long!”

Not if I can help it,she won’t.