The Luna Behind The Chains

Chapter 4 - Arriving

Isabelle POV

I felt much better after getting a quick wash in the bathroom and putting some clean clothes on. The only thing that would make this better is a brush and a hair tie. Like he could read my mind Preston passed me a bag. After looking inside I found a hair brush and some ties as well as some other toiletries like deodorant and a tooth brush and some other things. I became overwhelmed with emotions at this small act of kindness. I gave him a small thanks and took the hair brush and started to brush my hair as we set off again to the Crimson Falls pack. I hope this pack is a kind one. I thought to myself. I quickly tied my hair up as my arms were starting to get tired and my hair was so greasy and disgusting that I couldn't do much for it anyway. After placing the brush and ties back into the bag, I settled it at my feet and opened up the cooler to the side of me.

“Would anyone like anything out of the cooler?” I asked them both.

“I am good thank you.” Preston responded.

“I wouldn’t mind a sandwich and a bottle of water please” Alesha requested.

I passed her a sandwich and a bottle of water. Then settled back to nibble on my own. I couldn't eat much due to the years of lack of food. But I did as best as I could and then sipped on some water. Even after the little bit of food I felt slightly better and could think a little straighter. I just wished Amber would come back to me soon.

After a while of looking out of the window at the passing scenery it started to actually settle in that soon I will be fully free, I will be able to live, actually live and not just survive! The moon goddess has answered my prayers, now if only my wolfie would just return to me. I know she is not fully gone and just resting because if I reach into the depths of my mind she is there. I know she will come back when we have recovered somewhat but I just really miss her. She has suffered just as much as I had over the years, maybe even more. Her introduction to the world was not a pretty one and I try not to think about it as much as I can but sometimes the memories come back without any prompt. I try to focus on what was in front of me and not what my mind was trying to show me but flashes still appear, fathers face and the smell of wolvesbane and the darkness of that cold damp cell. I come back when Preston says my name.

“Isabelle, breath honey breath, you’re safe remember. We only have about an hour's journey left until we’re at Crimsons Falls, okay. Then we can make a plan, soon it will truly be over.” he says.

I do as he instructed and take deep slow breaths and try to relax. That's when I feel the slight sting in my palms. I had been digging my nails in enough to break a little of my skin. I keep breathing though and look back up at Preston.

“How long do you think until my wolfie will come back to me? I’m worried about her Presty, I need her to wake up.” I nearly sob out to him.

“I don’t know honey, but I will say I have asked one of the Alpha’s, Alpha Harry, to bring a Delta to meet us when we arrive. They will look over you and give us some guidance on how to treat you and hopefully give you some insight into your wolf's condition okay?” Preston says in a soft tone.

“Okay.” I say and sniff. I try to go back to watching the scenery and wonder what the Delta will say, maybe he will give me something that will help Amber. I really wish they would, I would like her to get better and be a happy wolf again.

I must’ve nodded off again because the next minute I know Preston is lightly tapping on my shoulder, I startle and for a moment forget where I am. I almost scream but when my eyes focus I realise it is just Preston.

“Hey munchkin, we have arrived. Time to get up and meet the Crimson Falls Alpha’s.” he told me softly.

I nod my head and jump out of the car but stay hidden behind him unsure of how these alpha’s will be like. We walk up the pack house steps. I didn’t get the whole view of the building but from my initial glance it seemed to be very grand and light, a grand contrast to the Red Moon's current pack house. In the entrance stood two tall men. They were built very stockily and had dirty blond hair, they looked identical. If it weren't for the fact that one of them had long hair tied back and the other had short hair I would not have been able to tell them apart.

“Alpha’s, thank you for seeing us on such short notice. This is the omega I told you about, Alesha Beltram” he gestured towards Alesha and she bowed and bared her neck. “This is my sister Isabelle Starshine.” I bared my neck but kept my eyes down. “Izzy, Alesha, these are Alpha’s Harry and Grant. They have agreed to give you both sanctuary until we either deal with father or you find your mates.” He introduced us all.

“Would you like to step into our office?” The alpha with the long hair gestured to the door on the left and we all walked into the office.

The office had a long wooden desk along the middle of the room with enough space to sit two and host two monitors on the top. In front of the desk were 4 chairs, I presumed these are for when they have their meetings. There were two sofas around a coffee table in the corner of the room with a couple more chairs. They guided us to the sofas and we all sat down, the two alpha’s took the chairs. I sat on the sofa next to Preston and Alesha took a seat on the other sofa.

“So, you wish to report your father, Caleb Starshine?” she short haired alpha asks.

“That is correct, so not only had he kept my sister in a dungeon for 13 years, I believe he is involved in nefarious acts with other Alphas. I have been noticing that a couple of pack members have been going missing and whenever I ask my father about them he gets really short and tells me to mind my business. I find this very odd as I am supposed to step up as Alpha very soon and the pack is my business. I started taking notes of all the missing members and keeping a close eye on all his meetings and with whom. My father has not been the same since my mothers passing and I believe either his wolf is feral or has passed to the goddess. Either way he doesn’t act like an Alpha should.” During this Preston had been getting agitated and I could feel his wolf getting close to the surface.

“I am glad you have brought this to our attention. In fact the king is arriving here in the morning and as such I am sure he will be very interested to hear what your father has been up to. Now Izzy we will have to ask you a few questions about your ordeal, but would you like something to eat or drink first?” the short haired Alpha asked me.

I shook my head and looked to Preston. “It’s fine munchkin, I am sure they won't mind if you only say what you’re comfortable with.” he comforts me.

I look to the Alphas and quietly say “go ahead.”

“Why did he put you in the cell and at what age did he place you in there?” they both asked me.

“I was five years old, he said I was responsible for mum's death. There was a rogue attack and we were out by the back woods behind the packhouse. I wanted to show her my little fairy garden I made. I was very proud of it. Anyway we were out in the garden when the alarms went off, but the alarms were too late. We heard growling all around us. Mum shifted into Alexus and she told me to get under her. I don't know how many she defeated but one managed to get her and she succumbed to the injuries. Father blamed me because I wanted to show her the garden. That's why he put me in the cell. I didn’t know he faked my death. For years I thought everyone blamed me for the Luna’s death. He punished me over and over and he even punished my wolf. I didn’t even have Amber when mum died, she has been suffering for my sins and I wouldn’t blame her if she faded back to the goddess and left me.” I was shaking and tears were falling down my cheeks. Preston was rubbing circles on my back, it was actually helping to ground me so I wouldn’t fall back into the memories.

“How did he punish you Izzy, was it just doing chores, or was it something worse?” the long haired Alpha asks me in a very light and soft tone.

“He wouldn’t allow me to leave the cell to do any chores in the fear that someone would see me and recognise me. He would hold me up with shackles and whip me. I was only allowed food once a week and he would give me a bottle of water every two days, not full bottles though sometimes there would be half but most of the times there would be a quarter or less. As I got older though the punishments would get worse. He would use silver knives instead of the whip or worse. When I got my wolf, that was one of the worst punishments he ever gave me. It took my wolf a full week or maybe longer to heal me enough to stand. She had to sleep for a month after that. A year later on my thirteenth birthday he came in with a syringe, it smelt funny. Just before he injected me he said I didn’t deserve my wolf but he wouldn’t allow her to fully leave because he needed me to be able to heal as I hadn’t had my full punishment yet. Once he injected me my wolfy fell asleep. Every time she woke up she would be very groggy and I told her to hang on. We will be able to get out some day and if not we will figure something out.” I said to them, whilst staring at a spot on the carpet.

“We thank you for being open about your experience. Our delta is just outside and would like to do an examination on you if you don't mind Izzy, our Beta said we could use his office. You can take your brother with you if that would make you more comfortable. We would like to ask Alesha here some questions about her own experience if that's okay?” the short haired Alpha asked me.

“Yes, sure. Preston, please will you come.” I responded.

“Of course munchkin.” he said.

We got up and headed towards the door. Outside we there was a man, he was just a bit shorter than the Alpha’s around Preston's height. He had a head of jet black hair and had warm brown eyes. I am sure he was the delta smiled warmly at me.

“Hi I am Delta Justin. Shall we head into the Beta’s office and get started. I am sure you both have had a long day and would like to get a good night's rest.” he said kindly.

We headed into the betas office. In the examination he asked to see my back, arms and legs. He took note of all my scars and said my wolf did a good job at healing a lot of them but there were some that left some keloids. He explained that keloids were thick layers of skin that didn’t heal fully. I had one that bothered me on my left shoulder and one really bad one on the left of my waist. He said that they weren’t threatening but he might be able to talk my wolf through making them a little more tolerable. That's when we got onto the subject of my wolf. He said that there is a herb that can help with the recovery of wolvesbane and he will bring it over tomorrow for me in the hopes that it will make my wolf's recovery a little faster.

Once we were done we met Alesha in the corridor and the Alpha’s led us to our guest rooms. I really didn’t want to sleep alone but I didn’t want to be a bother to either Preston or Alesha. So, I headed into my room and noted it was lush. There was olive green wallpaper and the most comfortable looking big bed I had ever seen. I got into bed and fell asleep feeling the safest I had been in forever.