Chapter 10: Chapter Ten

The days went by faster than I'd ever experienced, there seemed to be something about the environment. I preferred it to the dragging days I spent in the forest and the dreadful caves but with each day that passed, Leo wasn't withdrawing from me, instead, he seemed to be getting more attached.

He crept from his room each night to my room. We are together, and we found books to read together, too. I had also grown fond of the boy and attached to him, despite telling myself I was only here for a short while.

Gabriel always came around to ensure that we were okay and he always apologized about the library incident even though I constantly told him it was fine. Alpha Xander on the other hand has steered clear of my path. Leo said he came around to see me but I never knew when he was around, he came in silently and left in the same fashion. Another win for me because I'd rather not run into him anymore and argue or worse deal with the sparks that erupted from being close to him.

Today, Leo had brought out an album of his childhood portraits and as we skimmed through them, I was surprised by the loving warmth in Alpha Xander's eyes. The devotion in his eyes as he gazes upon his mate and the more I look at the portrait of Leo, I'm taken back to the one I'd seen in the hallway. I had questions but I couldn't ask and I've been thinking deeply, trying to figure it all out.

"You're lost," Leo said, still looking at his book. I tried to deny it but he stopped me.

"You've been sighing for a long time now"

"You are very observant"

"Father says it's a good trait for an alpha"

He is already training him to take over.

"It's a good trait for anyone, it keeps you one step ahead"

"Will you tell me what you are thinking?"

"You won't understand Leo"

"I'm very smart for my age. I understand a lot" I laughed and turned to him.

"Tell me why you didn't talk to anybody" He shrugged but I noticed the sad look on his face.

"Leo?"

"I don't think you'll believe me" I sat up and held his hands.

"Why not? I'll listen to anything you say"

"She said nobody will believe me"

"Who?"

"Aunt Marilyn"

"Who is that?" He said nothing for a while and I figured that he wouldn't say more.

"What did she do?"

"She says my birth killed my mother" I gasped at the harsh words.

"She asked me to keep my head down and feel sorry for what I had done to my mother, she said it was my fault father was sad and the pack had no Luna"

"Fucking hell" I swore under my breath.

My body is shaking with barely restrained rage. How could an adult say that to a little child?

What was she thinking and just how evil was her heart to utter such words?

"I hope you know it isn't your fault that happened"

"But if she didn't give birth to me..."

"She wanted you and it's not your fault. The goddess decides everything"

"But"

"Listen Leo whoever that sick woman was, she lied to you just to make her miserable self feel better. You don't need to keep your head down or stay mute because of something out of your control. Your mother wouldn't want you to be unhappy"

"You think so" He gazed at me with blurry eyes.

"I know so. She would want you to be happy" He threw his hands around me, crying into my chest and I comforted him, my heart squeezing from the pain.

How could this little boy carry all this weight?

I pulled away when his cries died down.

"We need to tell your father about that evil woman" he shook his head

"He won't believe me"

"Of course he would, you never said anything to him that's why he didn't do anything" He shook his head again.

"We will both get into trouble if you speak ill of her, please" It was hard to let this go. To know that this sweet child had been verbally abused under his father's roof for years and they were oblivious to it. Just what kind of father was Alpha Xander?

I shook my head in disgust. If Leo was too scared to speak up about this woman then I need to do something to punish her or finally make Alpha Xander see she was nothing but a vile abuser.

A knock came on the door and I called for the visitor to come in.

"Good day. I see you both are having a wonderful time" Gabriel said, gesturing to Leo who was leaning into my side.

"You didn't drop by earlier"

"I had to leave the pack for a while. There's something important I need to speak to you about"

"Privately?" He shook his head.

"Tonight is the full moon" I paused as the news took a while to sink in.

The full moon.

I've never been around a pack during the full moon, so I didn't know what to expect. In fact, the only thing I know is that they come out in mass numbers. I always avoided any pack's perimeter during this period.

"There's going to be a run... as a pack"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"You'll join us," He said

"I am not a member of this pack" he nodded

"Not participating sends a wrong message... Like a stand against the pack's traditions and progress. It is an offense" He explained.

"But how can I run with a pack when I am a rogue"

"You are a visitor. The pack will treat you as one, besides once the moon is high in the sky. You'll be unable to resist the pull" I had successfully resisted it in the past but I didn't need to explain any of that to him.

"The alpha?"

"Expects you to join the run" I shifted uneasily.

Running with a pack?

"I don't know"

"It will be fun" Leo offered and I smiled

It wasn't just about fun. The level of commitment amongst other things.

"You need it, Anna," Gabriel said.

I looked between two of them, heavily debating on the right decision to make.

"You can think about it. We still have a couple of hours until the moon is high in the sky" I groaned.

"Fine. I'll come" Leo squealed in excitement and even Gabriel laughed.

"All you have to do is show up. I promise you it'll be fun and I can run with you if...."

"That won't be necessary but I appreciate the offer"

"If you say so. I'll see you later" I nodded and then he left the room.

"You can run beside me" I laughed at Leo.

"Only mates run beside each other," I said to him

"And children. You are my mama" I stared at him. In the beginning, I believe he had mistaken me for his mother, learning he hadn't met her convinced me that he turned to the first female figure he felt very safe with.

"Will you run beside me?"

"If that's what you want," I said softly and then I drew him into my arms, holding him tightly like he was my world.