Episode 7

Leona

I rushed upstairs, grabbed my daughter, and ran back down, eager to hear more of the story, but when I reached the living room, more people had arrived, and one woman was clutching Calil in a tight embrace.

"Who are all of you?" Leona asked, still descending the stairs.

Everyone froze, staring at her, until the same woman who had hugged Calil stepped forward with a smile and exclaimed:

"You've returned to your people! Welcome back, Luna."

I glanced around at the group inside my home – there were about six people, not counting the couple who had arrived.

"Hello, thank you, but please introduce yourselves. I'm sorry, I need to breastfeed my daughter."

I settled into the rocking chair in a corner of the room, positioned my arm to support my little one on a cushion, and draped a small cloth over her face before revealing my breast to her eager suckling, which seemed desperate. I smiled at the sight of her feeding, oblivious to the onlookers.

"Now you can talk, please." I noticed the others left, leaving just the two couples.

"My name is Drucila and this is my partner, Thimoti. We are parents to Calil. We are remnants of your parents' ancient Pack."

"I'm glad you've come. I was just getting settled and was about to call all members, even the strays that might be in this region."

"That's wonderful, Luna. Does that mean you'll stay?"

"Yes, but you should know I've been claimed by my mate, Alpha Condor. We've only been together twice: once when he marked me and again when our daughter was born. I had only been in his Pack for a brief time before I fled to retrieve my daughter, who had been kidnapped by the claws of death."

I liked these people, but with many issues to address, I needed to make quick decisions and determine whom I could count on.

"May I speak, Luna?" I nodded – "We noticed someone had arrived at the cabin and caught the familiar scent of our Alphas, so we brought provisions for you and offered our allegiance." Thimoti spoke for the first time.

"I'm sincerely thankful. How many are you?"

"We're a group of 24 wolves, including nine children, seven couples, and eight young ones who haven't found their mates yet," Drucila answered.

"Who has been leading until now?"

"We have, Luna," Thimoti replied.

"Then you will be my betas. Right now, I urgently need to address some practical matters. Do you happen to have a vehicle?"

"Yes, we have a truck that we use for deliveries and a car for common transport," Thimoti said.

"I need to go to the city. I was married to a malevolent human who experimented on our kind; I believe he's involved with the sorcerer terrorizing the Claw of Death Pack. Our home was attacked, he was killed, and I fled. As his wife, I have rights to his estate, and I'm going to claim it. I'd like some of you to accompany me for a thorough search of the house. Can you organize that, Thimoti?"

"Yes, Luna, right away."

"Plan for us to leave tomorrow morning," I directed.

"And us, Luna?" Jade, the witch, asked.

"You're coming with me. There's a library in the house, and I'm certain I saw some witchcraft books there. I want you to search, Jade, and Calil, you should look for any documents referencing the Pack or the sorcerer there," I instructed.

"Will you take the little one?" Drucila asked.

"No, Drucila. To humans, I was only five months pregnant, and I'll claim I lost the baby when the house was attacked."

"What about her milk? She'll want to feed and we don't have another female nursing," Drucila inquired.

"I'll express the excess and store it in bottles in the refrigerator; please find some more bottles, as I only have two here."

"Yes, I'll see to that. We also have a storehouse with necessary provisions."

"That's excellent, Drucila. Thank you. By tomorrow, we can fill some bottles. I don't plan to stay away longer than a day. My husband was meticulous with documentation and I believe settling his estate and funeral arrangements won't take long."

"Who knew our Luna would go through so much," Thimoti mused, returning to the conversation.

"Yes, but it will help us rebuild the Pack. I just don't know how Alpha Condor will react."

I paused to burp my little girl and adjust my clothes. Drucila hurried out and quickly returned with the two bottles I had sterilized.

"That's the spirit, Drucila, let's get started. I'm going upstairs, and you both, Jade and Calil, are welcome to use the guest room there."

"There is no need, Luna. We have a room for them at our place," Thimoti offered.

"That's wonderful, then please arrange everything they need. They can shop at the storehouse; just say it's for me and I'll settle up after our trip," I said.

"That isn't necessary, Luna. We own the storehouse," Drucila said with a smile.

"You're incredibly efficient."

"We loved your parents dearly, and your mother protected us by going with the Alpha, earning our eternal gratitude, Luna."

"Thank you. You are now my family, and I'll do everything to thrive and free those trapped in Claw of Death."

"We are the ones who are thankful, Luna. You could have joined your mate's Pack, but you chose to come here, and we really need you."

"It was my wolf's choice; I didn't understand why she came straight here instead of to our mate."

"You could try asking me," my wolf spoke in my mind.

"Wow! So you can talk? Why didn't you communicate before? What's your name?"

"Easy! So many questions. My name is Lena, similar to yours."

"Good to know, Lena. Why did you bring us here?"

"For our protection, I knew we'd find shelter here."

"But there was Alpha Condor's Pack, didn't you like him?"