Chapter 114
The next morning, Kane was gone before she could open her eyes, although she had heard his footsteps as he got dressed, and she opened her eyes in the dark, watching his movement.
And when he left, Ariel closed her eyes again, trying to sleep, and this time when she woke up, she was greeted by bright sunlight streaming from the window. Ariel sat up, moving towards the window as if enchanted, and she just stared outside, marveling at the beautiful sight in front of her.
She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and inhaled in the clean air, a sharp contrast to when she was in Blue Ridge. Then she slowly exhaled, all of her troubles floating away like the air.
It was almost breakfast, and she knew the pack would be gathering downstairs to eat, and Ariel knew she could no longer avoid them.
She hurried to the bathroom, splashing water on her face, and she quickly brushed her teeth. When she was through, Ariel got dressed in a light blue dress that stopped above her knees, and she ran a brush through her hair, taming the wolf mane.
Satisfied with her look, Ariel nodded to herself and made for the door. Each step she took downstairs only made her heart pound the more as she wondered what their reaction would be.
Especially Liza’s.
They had been very close friends before she went, and she knew she was going to be the most affected. But she couldn’t postpone it any longer because she was already downstairs, and she headed for the dining table.
But the growls stopped her before she could take any other step. Apparently, the pack would sense the foreign wolf in their territory, and their response was only natural as they wondered who the intruder could be.
Most of them were already standing up to survey the new threat, their canines jutting out as they got ready to pounce, but Kane remained on his seat, unbothered by the intruder; instead, he watched his pack’s reaction.
A shock wave went through the crowd as they saw her, and it was almost comical to see the way their eyes were bulging out and their mouths were hanging open as they realized that she was the person behind the new scent.
“Hey everyone,” Ariel began, raising her hands up in an awkward wave. “How is everyone doing? It had been a while.”
But no one could respond; they were all watching her like you would a lab experiment, wondering when the change had happened.
Ariel walked to the dining table, her eyes scanning for empty seats as she didn’t want to be next to Kane, but pretty much all the seats had been occupied, and she had no choice but to sit beside him.
And it was only when she had settled in her seat that Maddie broke the silence. “Welcome back, Ariel.”
“Thank you.” Ariel replied in a soft smile, giving her a small nod in acknowledgement, and as if it were a chain reaction, the others began to welcome her. “Thank you.” Ariel's cheeks were hurting from smiling, but she soaked in her happiness until they finally quieted down.
Breakfast was a quiet affair as everyone was too busy with their thoughts to talk, and Ariel could tell it was all about her.
Kane had finished eating, and he gave her a look as if to say, ‘Will she be alright with them?’, and Ariel gave him a little nod, letting him know she could handle it.
Kane looked at his mate, as if he were trying to read her mind, and he nodded his head before heading to his office together with Toby.
And as if they had been waiting for this, the pack swamped around her, like bees to honey. “Luna, I had no idea you were one of us.” One of them said, the shock evident in her voice.
“What happened to you?” Another concerned person voiced out.
“Where have you been?” Yet another asked
“We’ve missed you.” And Ariel could only smile as she heard all of them.
“You have no idea how much I have missed everyone of you.” Ariel laughed, happy to be surrounded by her pack.
“Then why did you leave?” The new voice asked from the back, and as if they could sense the seriousness of it, the people parted, exposing the culprit.
Ariel stared at one of the first friends she had made in the pack, her eyes red with unshed tears, and suddenly her tongue became tied.
“Why did you suddenly leave the pack when you had a responsibility towards us? Is that how a Luna should behave?” Ariel could hear the pain in her voice, and she whined as it lashed on her open wounds.
“I really can’t justify why I left, but I had to find myself. I had no idea that I was one of you all, and when I found out, I knew I had to search for that person. I know an apology can’t undo what I have done, but I hope you all will be kind enough to forgive me.”
“Of course we forgive you.” She heard a female voice say, and Ariel could recognize her as one of the female warriors she used to train with, and she gave her a small smile.
“It is good to have you back, Luna.” And a chain reaction started again; this time they were all eager to hug her, making sure to press their noses into her shoulders, and Ariel learned that they were scenting her.
It was to identify her as part of the pack and also to determine her hierarchy, but they were quick to learn that she was not on their level.
Everyone finished scenting her until it got to Liza’s turn, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so; instead, she ran out of the dining hall with tears streaming down her eyes.
Ariel had to clear her throat, trying to disperse the tense air. “Sorry about that.”
“It is alright. We understand.”
“Please excuse me.” Ariel took permission, and she was racing towards Liza, but she was too late; Liza had shut the door in her face as she saw her.
“Liza, please open the door.” Ariel fist pounded on the door, but Liza wouldn’t bulge. "Please, we have to talk.”
“Just go away,” Liza cried out. “You have done it before; surely it is not going to be hard this time.”
“I had to leave Liza; it was almost suffocating staying here and being around him, and I couldn’t do it.”
“You should have said something to me.” Liza croaked, her voice hoarse from crying. “I thought we were friends; I mean, you were one of the females I was very close to, and you didn’t care about your position, and when I thought I had you for life, you just left me.”
“I am sorry, Liza. I know no apology can remedy what I did, but I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“Please go away.”
“Liza, I am very sorry.” Ariel continued repeating the words, but Liza couldn’t be consoled.
“Please, just leave!”
Ariel wiped her eyes with the back of her palm, and she could only drag herself back to her room. She slumped on her bed and then the floodgates opened.