The Luna's Heart

Hope

Alpha Adrian

Training in the courtyard this afternoon with my Gamma, Josh. We have been friends since we were kids. I was only a few months older than him. At was only fitting that he would become my gamma when I took over the pack. He has out worked, out fought, and outshined anyone that has ever challenged his right for this position.

Like most days, I am in a foul mood. And like most days, I take my frustrations out on my friend in the fighting circle in the center of our little village. Part of my animal instincts were sensitive to the presence of an outsider in our territory. I sent my Beta with a couple of our best men to investigate and follow the intruder.

Distracted, Josh lands a blow to the side of my head before side sweeping my feet. Ultimately putting me on my ass for the second time.

I refuse the hand he offered and jump to my feet. I charge him. Josh blocks a series of punches to his head. Leaving his torso exposed. I land several blows to his stomach. Taking an arm, I twist it behind his back until he drops to his knees, tapping out.

We continue to spar for a while. Trying to distract myself. My wolf, Jax, has been on edge since he sensed that trespasser.

Alpha, she stopped at the diner in Bryson. Should we move in?

She? I laugh internally. 'You're worked up over a she-wolf?'

That comment received a growl from Jax.

Sure guys, go scare her a little. But first, find out why she's here.

Another growl.

Pushing Jax into the back of his mind,

I head back towards the pack house.

Twenty minutes later, I get to my private room ,strip down, and head towards the bathroom. Before I step under the spray, I'm interrupted by my sister.

Angel: I don't know about this girl, Adrian. She's ... different.

I ignore her long enough to get myself clean. As I'm rinsing the soap residue from my hair, another voice is in my head. Great! A warrior I sent with my beta.

Alpha, I was told to inform you. We turned off towards Blue Ridge. Beta James found something that belongs to you.

My wolf is frantically trying to come forward. Clawing at the back of my mind.

That means I have less than five minutes . I head to my closet and grab a pair of cargo shorts. Not bothering with underwear. No time. I hear the SUV speeding down the road. Followed closely by another vehicle I don't recognize. I pull on my shoes as I hear a car door slam. And a woman's scream.

My wolf simultaneously howling in pain.

What the hell is going on?

I move quickly down two flights of stairs to the ground floor. I am assaulted by the sweet smell of roses mixed with something else. Something very familiar. My gums itch and my bones ache. Fighting for self control. My wolf was trying to surface. And now I know why.

I have to stop at the door and get a reign on my emotions.

The sound of a woman screaming again spurs my body into action. I throw the door opened to find a tiny scrap of a girl, fighting like a wildcat as two of my warriors drag her down the driveway.

She pulls back against their restraining hands and cries out in pain. Anger is boiling my insides.

"Release her!"

At the Alpha command booming through the yard. Both men let go at the same time. Causing her to fall. Her bare knees hitting the gravel. I am there in an instant. Picking her up in my arms. My face buried in her neck. Taking in her sweet scent. I instantly calm down. She doesn't make a sound.

"Where's James?"

Both warriors point back at the man stepping out of the Oldsmobile now parked behind the SUV.

"Do you know who she is?"

James comes around the car. Head bowed to the side in submission. " I had my suspicions, Alpha."

"And yet you still allowed these men to manhandle my mate? Your Luna!"

All three are on their knees. "We beg your forgiveness. We were not fully aware of our offenses, Alpha."

"Enough!" I shout at them all. Then to James. "I'll deal with you later."

I turned away from them and headed straight back to my bedroom. With my mate in my arms.

I move swiftly through the house. Taking the stairs two at a time. She still hasn't spoken a word as enter the room and kick the door closed. I've waited the better part of a decade for this moment. To hold Riley in my arms and finally tell the world she was mine. And I haven't even looked at her.

I sit in a recliner near the big screen television, still holding her. I reach for the pendant around her neck. Turning it around in my hand. I left it for her at the hospital. I knew she'd go back looking for answers. Not because I know her. Not yet anyways. But, I knew Lily. I knew she'd fight with everything she had to come back.

" I see you got my message. Welcome home, Riley Grace."

Full of emotion and raspy, I didn't recognize my own voice. This felt like an out of body experience. Almost too crazy to be real.

She finally looked at me. She was breathtaking. Those beautiful sea blue eyes I remember that day she woke up at the hospital were glowing. For a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of her wolf that is very much alive and very much a part of her being. Hope swells inside of me. But quickly fades as she snapped out of her daze.

" Who the hell do you think you are? And how do you know my name? She pushes away from my chest. "And don't tell me That t**t waffle and his minions told you. I didn't give my last name!"

I laugh. "t**t waffle?"

Those assholes kidnapped me and drug me out to the middle of nowhere.Are you going to kill me? Because I promise you buddy, I won't go down without a fight! Where the hell am I?"

She's ranting now. It's kinda cute.

" I am Adrian Donovan. You are in my house. On my land. In my town. Welcome to the Blue Ridge Pack."