Chapter 52

Luka’s POV

I was faced with my own choices: Should I stay here with my pack and a family I have longed for since I was a child tucked away in a closet? Caleb was not the only one who had responsibilities to their pack.

He was quick to trust others, never me. I was tired of trying to prove my worth to him and the council. He was my mate in the outer world as Draven called the land I grew up in. But here, that bond didn’t matter. There was no pull. No connection.

My mother brushed my hair back once more, tears glimmering in the firelight of the hearth. “I can’t believe it. I am afraid to let you go. I don’t want to lose you.” My mother’s touch was caring and gentle, a spark of disbelief in them. I kissed her cheek like I had dreamed about as a girl when I was alone in the dark, praying that someone would come and take me away from Long Lake Pack.

“I’m here. I’m real.” It felt odd to look around the room at the people in it and see pieces of myself. My straight nose with a button end was from my father. My arched brows and full lips came from my mother and the same brown eyes.

My father gently drew my mother back. “Let’s not overwhelm her, my dear. She will be here in the morning. You can have breakfast together. Let’s let her get some sleep.”

Draven strode to the door.” Good night. I will show Luka to her old room.” I met him at the door. My mother rushed over once more and hugged me so tight.

Her light brown hair draped around her. “I will see you in the morning.”

“Good night.”

With his hands in his pockets, Draven casually strode down the hall. I picked at my hands, not sure what to say to him. He was just as relaxed as Noah. It made sense that Noah and him were best friends. I didn’t know how he felt about me being here.

“Draven, I have to go back. I have to see Caleb.”

He threw a glance my way. “I understand.” He stopped in front of a large wooden door, opening it wide to usher me in. “You know that there are omegas in the Red Moon Pack that are not happy. We must see if they want to come with us.”

I tucked my hair behind my ear, looking at the floor. “I will talk to Caleb.” To my utter surprise, Draven pulled me into a hug. “I’m so happy you are here.”

I hugged him back. “Me too.”

I wandered around the room, which was lovely with light purples and golds. I sat on the bed, my mind turning too quickly to understand anything. I was a queen. I had a family. I had a pack I had to care for. An Alpha had stolen me away.

I wonder if that Alpha had been Declan’s father. He had always watched me oddly before he died, as if he was waiting for something to happen. Did he think since I came from a different land, I would be different, perhaps more powerful?

Had Caleb gone to the dungeon to see if I was there? Would he believe what was said about me not protecting the Alphas? It would be hard to face them all again, regardless of what was said about me. Two Alphas did get hurt under my watch.

It didn’t matter why the rogue wolf showed up. I clenched my fists and pounded them into the mattress. I was so tired of fighting for scraps in the outer world. I needed a new beginning.

Falling back onto the bed, I quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, I rose, showered, dressed, and tried to find my way back to the main sitting area.

My parents weren’t there, but Draven was. I tiptoed toward him, whispering, “Draven.”

He was reading a paper and folded it down. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”

“Great, I wanted to go before our parents came looking for me.”

“Too late, they are on the patio waiting for you.” He stood. “Come on.”

The sun was warm, and the food was amazing. We all told stories and asked each other questions. However, there were several times when my father turned red and fisted his hands at knowing the poor treatment I had received.

I told them I was going back today, and I knew they were not pleased.

“Draven will go with you,” my father said.

“I cannot. Remember, we are meeting with the mill workers today. But Noah can go and keep an eye out for her.

My cheeks heated, and as if on cue, in walked Noah. “Did I hear my name?”

“Yes, you will go with Luka to the outer world and keep an eye on her,” said my father.

“Love to.” Noah flopped down, a stack of pancakes on the plate he was holding.

“It is settled then. You go, gather your things, and be back before nightfall,” commanded my father. I shot him a look. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. The idea of you staying there makes me uncomfortable. I apologize. Do what you must and come back as soon as you can.”

“Thank you, Father.”

I stood at Caleb’s bedroom door. Noah waited for me in the courtyard.

I knocked on the door, not really expecting him to be there. When the door opened and his blue eyes locked onto my brown ones, I froze.

He pulled me into his embrace, his cheek on the top of my head. “The bond, I couldn’t feel it. I thought something terrible had happened. I tried to find you.”

The pain in his tone cut me deeply. I shook off the emotions working their way up inside me. I had to be strong to face him.

“You tried to find me. When? Was that before or after the elders put me in the dungeon?” I pushed him away.

“I thought you cared about me, maybe even loved me.”

“I do care about you.” Caleb reached for me, confusion on his face. “I marked you.” I turned my back to him.

“You made me compete to become Luna against Emma.”

“I never wanted Emma as a Luna.” He walked around in front of me, and I turned my back to him again. I hugged myself, suddenly feeling shaky.

“Then you should have told the Elders no.”

There was no response, and my heart broke. I kept going, wanting this to be over with. “I know about the letters. I know about your White Moonlight. I know you care about Emma, and that is why you didn’t go against the Elders.”

“I’m sorry about the letters. I should have told you about Emma. But there was no reason to until she showed up.” He placed a hand on my shoulder carefully. “Please look at me, Luka.”

I did then, I looked at him with the same mask of indifference he had shown me countless times. “I cannot stay here. I am leaving.”

“You don’t have to leave. What happened at the conference wasn’t your fault.”

“I know it wasn’t. Did you think it was?” My gaze cut into him. Daring him to speak.

He clenched his jaw, and my heart broke completely. He had thought it was my fault for the rogue wolf attack. I stepped away from him and pulled my shoulder back.

“The Alphas know it was Emma who paid for the rogue wolf to attack the conference.”

I wasn’t surprised by this information. Emma had been too calm and collected when the wolf attacked.

“She has been punished, and her true colors have been exposed. Emma’s father was implicated and has resigned.”

“Do you think that changes anything?”

“Well―”

“It shows me you have never trusted or believed in me.” I walked out of his room. “Goodbye, Caleb.”