we need to go soon though. It's about an hour’s drive from here. Not to mention I kinda left my room a disaster before I left.” That got a giggle from Samantha. “So, let me get this straight, you left your room a mess, and planned to bring your mate there to see it?” She smirked. “Do I need to wait in the car while you hide your dirty underwear?” She teased. I knew she didn’t mean anything by that comment, but it hurt. I sighed subconsciously and looked away. Going back to what I knew I slapped that same smile on my face before turning back to her. She was looking at me now from the bathroom with an unreadable expression. “What’s wrong?” She asked. “What did I say?” She asked again as she walked up to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t....” She hugged me tightly and rubbed her cheek into my neck. “Nothing’s wrong.” I lied with my same smile on my face. She pulled away and looked at me until she met my eyes. Smiling slightly she grabbed my hand and brought it to the center of her chest. I was in shock as she pressed it until I could feel her sternum and rib cage. “So tell me why my heart hurts right now.” My mask vanished instantly; I should have known I couldn’t hide my deepest feelings for long. “Well, honestly.” I sighed. “I never thought I would ever find my mate. I had given up. The only reason I came here was to support Lily, and I just figured I would return to my sucky life when this was over.” I breathed in deep, “But I’m so glad I came! I’m finally me again. My life was so.... dark and empty and some days I.....” I shook my head, she doesn’t need to hear this from me. “Some days?” She looked so anxious and sad. Looking at her I knew I couldn’t lie to her. The mate bond wouldn’t allow it. Not to mention those little ‘tells’ she mentioned the night we met. I took a deep breath and steadied myself as best as I could. “Some days I would think about how much easier it would be to just...not be here anymore.” There. I said it. I couldn’t look at her, I felt so ashamed right now. I felt like a failure. “I’m glad you are here.” She whispered as she wrapped me in her arms again as tears started from my eyes. “And, if I known you were....” She sighed. “I would have searched for you. All this time I had figured my mate wasn’t of age yet, and every time a wolf in my pack came of age I held my breath. But it never happened. I never thought.... that you weren’t born into my pack. I’m so sorry.” She held me again. “The Moon Goddess sure knows how to throw curveballs doesn’t she?” This time my smirk was genuine. “Yes, that she does. Who knew this pathetic soul was destined to be mated to the strongest Alpha in the region.” Samantha pouted. “You sir, are not pathetic.” She put her hand on the back of my neck and lowered my head so our foreheads touched. “You are perfect.” I felt a strong wave of love from our bond and it warmed my very soul. “Now.” She started again and looked at me quizzically. “I thought you were mine, so who is this ‘strongest alpha’? I need to go and kick his ass.” I chuckled. “If I have to repeat it a hundred times I will. I’m yours, and you better never forget it.” I bopped her nose and she scrunched it in response. “But we had better be going soon, if you plan on getting back by 9 o'clock.” She nodded and tied her hair back with her green ribbon. “Okay, I just need to finish a couple of documents, shouldn’t take me but a few minutes. Why don’t you go and see if you can find some boxes and meet me in front in 15 minutes? I nodded and grabbed my shoes and walked her to her office. She gave me a small squeeze and watched me walk away. I can’t believe I said what I said. Not even my family knew what I was holding back for months now. When I was forced to come out of my room my mask was secured on my face, my true feelings and thoughts hidden from everyone. Who knew the one person I have been searching for would be the one to take my mask away from me? I got her answer. My heart is beating fast again, I wish I could see her reaction right now! I stopped on the stairs, I wasn’t expecting her to agree so easily. I felt a sense of relief and smiled slightly. I get to the front of the packhouse, and Daren is helping my dad pack his car. There is an older model pickup truck with a trailer attached to it parked close by. Dad looks over to me as I walk up to help. “Son, I should have said this sooner, but I’m sorry I didn’t prepare you more for a leadership role.” He sighed. “If you ever need any advice, please call me.” I open my mouth to speak but he starts again. “And anytime you or your mate want to come and visit you are more than welcome. Dinner every so often would mean a lot.” Mom nodded. “How about the four of you stay for dinner tonight?" “Well, she has to be home by 9 tonight, so as long as we leave by 8, we should be good.” I sense my mate close by and turn to see her with some envelopes under her arm and she is texting someone on her phone. “So, we’ll just follow you in the truck.” Daren said as Samantha joined us. “Alpha, you and Ben riding with us, right?” “Nope.” She replied. “I’m not getting in that rust-bucket.” “Hey, it’s a classic!” He responded. “Yeah, a classic with rust on it! You make enough here to get it restored why don’t you!” She retorted. “The rust gives it character!” “It doesn’t need character, it needs a coat of paint!” “All right then, how are you going to get home?” Daren smirked. “If you ride with Alpha Shields who is going to bring you home?” “I’m driving.” Daren’s eyes widened. “You’re driving? But I thought the ‘stang was in the shop.” “Got it back yesterday.” She smiled as a blue Mustang convertible rounds the packhouse. “Okay! Well, give me a minute to get the trailer hooked up and we’ll go!” Daren looks excited. “You ain’t hooking that up to my baby! You’ve lost your mind!” She turned to me smiling, “Almost ready? I have to stop by the main gate on the way out. Shouldn’t take long. Lily is welcome to ride along.” Samantha added as she got in the driver’s seat and got some sunglasses out of the console. I hurry and get in. “No thanks, Alpha. Maybe another time?” Lily said as she stepped closer to Daren. “But I really don’t like a rusty truck.” She gives a sideways glance to Daren who sighs. I have a feeling the rusty truck will get fixed soon. Samantha gets her phone hooked into the Sync system while my parents and Daren leave. We sit there a few minutes longer, Samantha has her eyes unfocused, and it dawns on me that she is mind linking someone. “Alright, finally every other alpha is gone.” She sighed. “Now I can relax again.” She smiled at me and slowly I could feel her aura spreading out around us, comforting me just like it had the first night when we were at the border. “Holding in your aura can be tiring.” “I wouldn’t know, I’ve never had to.” I admit. She nods and grabs my hand. “You will. Then you will know what I mean.” She hands me some brown envelopes to hold, and she started the car. “Question. Up or down?” “Down please.” I grin, something tells me she was talking about the roof. She nods as she pulls into the driveway. “Good answer.” We pause for a few minutes at the pack gate and Sam goes inside with an envelope while I wait in the car. She left me in charge of the music and directions while she drives. I’m looking through some of her playlists and grin when I find one that I also like. Hope we don’t blow out a speaker. While heading down the highway we are jamming to Static X and Rob Zombie. The music is so loud we can’t hear each other speak but mind links are still useful. I admitted. I tell her. Samantha sounded shocked. Samantha muted the radio at this point. “I just hope that when you see that side of me you don’t start to hate me. I don’t think I could take that.” “There is nothing you could ever do to make me think less of you.” “Even if I told you, I once skinned a rapist rogue alive and kept him in a silver cell for days on end until his healing powers stopped working?” My eyes widened. “What if I told you about the murderous rogue who I hung upside down by his dick and beat him with a bat like he was a piñata?” She glanced over at me worried now. “Not even then.” I wasn’t lying but I was a little curious. “I mean, they had it coming right?” “And I know your dad told you about that bastard from Blood Moon.” “Wait, no he didn’t! The official word was that he was struck down with a medical ailment and had to forfeit his post! Another pack took over and some of the pack left because of the change in leadership.” “That was the official word? Oh, that’s good then.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s not what happened?” I leaned back into the headrest. “What did you do?” I was genuinely curious. “Wait, let me take that back. What did he do?” “He pissed me off, kept calling me everything but my name. And I hate it when people call me ‘Luna.’” She glared at me, “And you better never call me that.” She turned onto the side road that leads to my parent’s pack. “Well, I kinda called him an idiot and the little piss ant threw a tantrum and challenged me.” She shrugged as she smiled a full toothy smile. “Then he said if I lost, I would be his Luna. Well, I said when I kicked his ass he would step down as Alpha and I would get his pack. Well, after I thoroughly kicked his ass, and the fight was over he tried to stab me in the back. Literally. So.....I castrated him.” “You....what?” I was a little shocked with that one and my legs crossed on their own. “I castrated him. You know what that means right? It means I removed his di-” “I know what it means!” I said a little harsher than normal. “You don’t do that.... often, do you?” “Um....I would like to say that was the only time but.... I’m not going to lie to you.” She bit her lip. “What's the easiest way to stop a rapist short of killing them?” I didn’t answer as we approached the entrance to my old pack. The guards there were already expecting us. All of them looked absolutely terrified. “Oh, crap Love, your aura!” “Oh, shit!” She quickly pulled it in to almost nothing again. “Sorry! My bad!”

Chapter 25