I take a deep breath collecting my thoughts and I look down at the box again. “What the hell?” I say more to myself. I only saw and smelled the Luna’s hands at first and I was so angry I missed the rest of the package contents and I want to throw up.
“That’s how we knew it was for you.” Jena whispers.
“What is she talking about, Tiny. What makes this yours?” Cam grips my waist drawing my attention.
“The rest is mine.” I whisper, just staring at it trying to remain in control. This will not make me spiral, I will not let him have control anymore, but that small part of my brain that holds onto my scared little girl self wants to fall into the abyss of pain and cry.
“What do you mean ‘yours?”” Dakota asks.
“That is a piece of my shirt that was ripped in a struggle and those are my shackles.” I signal with a head tilt. My things are nestled underneath the dismembered hands of the two unknown Lunas. If someone hadn’t taken a closer look I probably wouldn’t have noticed them either, even with my sense of smell. My scent is all over the packhouse, so it wouldn’t have registered right away that my scent is also in the box. I take another breath and look at Jena. I haven’t touched the box and I won’t, I will not spiral again because of Mike, he can’t have my thoughts anymore. My wolf and I just keep repeating the mantra. “Are you okay?” I ask her like we are the only people in the room. She shrugs.
“Are you?”
“No, but when have I ever been?” She smiles at my question, it’s small but genuine. “What’s the plan? We need to get ahead of this now.” I look at everyone in the room.
“She’s right. It would make the most sense to attack when the twins come of age. They have been forced into the Alpha position early so they will have a weak point at the time of their actual birth when the full transition takes effect. You’re going to have your hands full Mateo.” My dad looks at my brother and I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing. Did he just say I was right? Where the hell has this guy been my whole life? Oh, yeah, that’s right. I didn’t matter until everyone was told I’m supposed to be the next Luna. Now I matter. And one of my mentors is his second chance mate. Dick. But I will also take all the help I can get.
I take another deep breath in and try to stay calm. Apparently I can’t hide when I’m angry anymore. I burst into literal flames. The thought of shooting a fireball at my dad, like in a video game, crosses my mind and it makes me smile.
“What has that look on your face, Smalls? Cause it’s cute and scary all at the same time.” Dakota whispers in my ear.
“I was wondering if I could shoot fireballs now.”
“Of course you were.”
It doesn’t escape me that several people in this room have called me ‘the next Luna.’ I wonder if Ava said something or if they know something I don’t. Even the twins are acting like we’re mated. I didn’t miss Dakota’s ‘baby’ comment before. I shake my head. It doesn’t matter, there is a whole year before any of that has any reason to matter anyway, we have a pack to save.
“What can we do about the last three points? They need to go. I want to go attack the Belladonna now and remove any other love spells that might be lingering.” I try not to look at the guys at all. My focus is on Gentry and Elena.
Yes, the thought of Kaley still having some kind of hold on them makes my blood boil and I know it’s jealousy, but I will never admit that out loud. But she is no leader, she’s no Luna, no matter where she goes. She isn’t designed to take care of a pack, let alone mine. She needs to be stopped. Her dad, wherever the hell he is, needs to be stopped.
We have a hierarchy for a reason and not everyone can handle being at the top. “Is there any more grounding or focus work I can do while you are casting now that I kind of understand what the magic will do to fight back? I mean there’s four of us standing at the head of the protection circle.
What else can we do?” I don’t hesitate to volunteer Cam, Oliver and Dakota for the job, they are leaders now too, they can take some of this burden.
