C20 FIRST DAY AWAY II

Last week, Alpha Kevin requested to search my land. And I had asked Alpha Kevin to bring Luna Jenny, hoping my mate would find comfort with the female. Having another Luna around could help give her an understanding of what is asked of the Luna of a pack. I just needed to find a way to tell her that they were coming and staying with us, without scaring her. "With that being said. I would like to announce that I've found my mate." I said and smiled widely towards my pack, "I know it's uncommon to find a mate after turning eighteen. But the moon goddess has blessed me with a wonderful mate. I hope when you all meet her, you will respect her the way you respect me. If there are any complaints or anyone who doesn't approve, I want you to come directly to me."

"Where is the new Luna?" Jack asked as he smiled towards me, "I think I speak for everyone when I say we want to meet our new Luna." He said, and I could hear others agree. I smiled kindly and clapped my hands together.

"She is a bit overwhelmed at the moment," I said. I could hear some men chuckling, and quickly growled loudly towards them.

"Will she be joining us for the winter run?"

Amanda asked.

"I hope so." I said and smiled towards them all, "Today I will be in my office at the pack house.

If any of you have any questions or concerns, I'll be open to hearing them. Anyone is welcome. That concludes this brief meeting. You are all dismissed." I watched as the wolves bowed towards me. As I turned to go to my office, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Congratulations, man!" Jack said and smiled towards me, "You found your mate, that is awesome!" He said.

"Thanks, Jack," I said, smiling softly.

"How did you meet?" He asked as he followed me towards the office. I opened the door and turned the lights on.

"We met in the woods, almost outside the territory," I said, and opened the blind.

"That's great! Maybe she can help us catch the rogue. She might know her." Jack said and shrugged as he looked back at Amanda, "I'd better go before Amanda kills me." He said. Just last week, he shared that Amanda was expecting, and ever since, she wanted him glued to her side. I nodded slowly and watched as he closed the door.

It didn't take long until someone knocked on the door, and as the door opened, I could see the group that was forming, and silently sighed, it was going to be a long day.

Maliya POV

Once I finished my bath, I got dressed and brushed my hair out. I threw on one of Aeron’s sweatshirts and walked down the stairs, listening to my feet smack against the stairs. As promised, a plate was waiting for me at the small table we usually ate at. The plate was full of bacon and pancakes, sliced strawberries surrounded the food, and a glass of milk was waiting along with the food. I touched the food and smiled as I sat down and took a bite of the bacon, softly moaning from the greasy taste.

Aeron had amazing cooking skills. "Good Morning, Luna." A voice purred, I turned around to see Cameron sitting on the couch, looking at what Raymond had called a cellphone. I smiled towards him as I twisted my body.

"Good morning," I said, and looked at the food,

"Do you want f-f-food?" I asked.

"I'm good." He said and touched his stomach as he walked over and sat in the spot that Aeron usually sat at.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room as I slowly ate the food. After the first pancake, I was done eating and quickly drank the milk as I tried to look anywhere besides at Cameron. But he was new. And slowly my eyes moved over to look at him as my foot softly tapped the floor.

He had warm brown eyes that looked lighter today, and his brown hair was short yet could be considered long as it rested around his eyebrows. He was larger than me, but smaller than Aeron. I focused on his hands. I remembered how he softly brushed my back, careful not to touch the wounds when I was in that small room. I remembered his eyes watching me while the others whipped and assaulted me.

He was there; he had seen every minute of the abuse I had endured. Knowing that I felt my cheeks heat up, I felt so embarrassed. Cameron cleared his throat as he looked at me, "I'm glad that you are doing better." He said in a soft voice, "I'm glad you are alive, and that you are the Alpha's mate." He widened his eyes for a moment.

"Thank you." I said in a soft voice, "You helped me." Cameron shifted in his chair and shook his head.

"No, I didn't." He said and closed his eyes, "I should have let you go. I should have protected you, but I was too scared of what they would have done to me. I should have-" I placed a hand on his wrist and looked at his sad brown eyes.

"I know what it's like to be scared," I said. He only bowed his head.

"I promise you, from today on, I will never be too scared to keep you alive," Cameron said.

A sad smile fell on my lips as I slowly stood up and walked towards the couch. Cameron trailed after me as he handed me the remote. I flipped the channels, looking at the bright colors and happy faces that it showed. I settled on a channel that showed people singing or playing instruments. It taught me the instruments and what sound they made. Cameron watched me and chuckled softly. I ignored him and leaned closer to the TV as a woman in a beautiful black dress walked on the stage. Her hair was gelled back, and she looked a little strange with the hairstyle.

But I ignored her face and closed my eyes so I could hear her voice. If Liya were in control, she would wag her tail back and forth. With my eyes, I could imagine being in her body, feeling the joy and comfort the song brought. The woman had an extraordinarily beautiful voice that was singing a sad song. Halfway through the song, Cameron started to speak, "So why are your eyes blue?" He asked. Slowly, I looked back and then blinked, tilting my head, "All the wolves I know have brown eyes, green eyes, or hazel. But you, you have bright blue eyes." At that moment, I remembered my Mother's face; she also had brown eyes. I then remembered that dream in the hospital. I placed a hand on my head and scrunched my face up as I remembered the man's face. His blue eyes. My Father.

Closing my eyes, I shook my head quickly and turned back to the TV. Amanda had that reaction when she first saw me. But Beta Jack didn't seem to mind my eyes. Once the woman was done singing, I sat back on the sofa and turned towards Cameron. He raised an eyebrow and offered an innocent smile, "Eyes are brown?" I asked and pointed at my eyes. The question didn't sound right, and I knew I had messed up, but Cameron overlooked it as he started to speak.

"All wolves are born with blue eyes, and then they change when they gain their wolf. I've never heard of a wolf whose eyes are blue. Well, except for one legend." He said, I looked at him with eager eyes, and he softly smiled.

But that smile didn't reach his eyes. "The Grand Alpha, his eyes were as blue as the sky, and his wolf was as dark as a shadow. They say he was the grandest of fighters. Never losing a battle, his strength was unbeatable. He was so strong that wolves believed he turned to the witches and sold his soul for that power. He was kicked out of his pack and was forced to be a rogue. But that didn't stop him from finding his mate. He had five sons, all of them had black wolves and eyes as blue as his. Having a dark wolf or a pure white wolf is a clarification of power. But, a pure black wolf. It's extremely rare."

"What happened to the Grand Alpha?" I asked eagerly. Cameron only shrugged his shoulders.

"Truthfully, I don't know for sure. When news of his having five sons spread throughout the packs, it angered the wolves. Five men who could be a possible threat. If they all possessed the power that their Father had, the five of them could easily take down a pack. Two of them might be enough. The Black Moon pack was the first to attack the Alpha. The Alpha and Luna were killed during the attack, leaving their son and daughter to look after the pack. Their daughter Morana led the next assault. By herself, if she killed the Grand Alpha's mate and his sons.

Somehow, the old man escaped." Cameron said and leaned against the couch, and relaxed.

"The Grand Alpha was planning on attacking the Blood Moon pack. He wanted revenge; he craved it. But he never received it. Before the Grand Alpha got her, Morana was killed. Her daughter helped to kill her. That is who Aeron is trying to find." Cameron said.

"Whoa," I said as I looked at him with wide eyes. I was fascinated with the story as I leaned towards him.

"Oh yes. Morana was a wonderful fighter. She was loved by everyone, and when she took down all of his sons." Cameron softly whistled as he smiled, "Her spirit lives in all of us. I think we will all sleep better when her daughter is dead." He said. Slowly, I sat back and nodded as I tried to smile.

"That is all Aeron has been talking about, getting her before she escapes for good.”

If Serena's daughter somehow finds a mate, she will be killing another wolf. He will kill anyone who tries to harm her. Her only luck is if it's an Alpha." Ironic, I thought, and closed my eyes as I touched the hem of the sweatshirt.

"How long?" I asked.

"I don't know." Cameron said, knowing the question I was asking, "This might drive Aeron crazy if we don't find her soon. The council has been down his throat about children. And now this. Aeron was extremely close to Morana. He looked up to her, and when she died, it killed a part of him." Cameron sighed at the thought,

"But, why don't we do something besides talking about depressing topics? Do you want to walk around the house? We could enjoy the snow, or maybe find a movie?" He asked.

Leaning over, I handed him the remote and curled against the couch. Pushing my knees in the sweatshirt as I watched him move through TV shows. I rested my chin in my hand as I wondered if I was safe here. What would Aeron do if he found out I'm the one he has been after? I pushed back my hair and looked out to the window as snow fell on the land beyond the house. I knew I had to tell him; I needed to come clean. But I loved the time we were spending together. And even though I knew it was wrong, I greedily needed more of it. So I stayed silent as I watched the movie Cameron put on.