Return to Moon Stone

*Early August*

Sterling and Jordan stood in the center of the woods, surrounded by members of Dark Moon and Moon Stone. Clearing his throat, Jordan took the floor. “Thank you everyone for coming to this gathering. I know with everything that has happened, it is tough to be around one another, but I want to assure you that everyone who is here today deserves to be here. There is not one person who is more important than the other. With all of that said, Sterling and I are here to make an announcement.”

Perhaps the most serious anyone had ever seen Sterling, he moved forward, knowing his next words would change everything. “As you know, our father gave the role of Alpha to our cousin Adrian, who was a slithering piece of dog—” Jordan nudged him. “Sorry, I just really hate that guy. So yeah, we killed him, along with most of his rogues and Neptune. Actually, we didn’t kill Neptune. She got ripped to shreds, though! You all should have seen it. Whew! Her actual ass was hanging in a tree!”

“Sterling,” Morgan said, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

“My bad, Little Red,” he muttered bashfully before continuing. “I’m sure you all know by now that originally Jordan and I were both the Alphas of Dark Moon. However, with the death of our Luna Rhea, I renounced my role and selfishly went on a quest for revenge.” He inhaled deeply and looked at Jordan. “I joke a lot, but this man right here is really the best person I know and sometimes I forget to tell him that. He takes care of anyone who comes his way, even when we don’t always deserve it.”

Jordan smiled softly and linked, *“I’ll always have your back. No matter what.”*

*“Back at cha.”*

“The reason you’ve all been asked here is because our father has asked for one of us to step in as Alpha for Moon Stone. That will be me unless someone is interested in challenging me for the role?”

Murmurs rose around the crowd, and every Moon Stone member took a step back. “Honestly, a lunatic for an Alpha is a way better deal than a lunatic for an enemy. We accept. We know you’ll protect and lead us,” someone said.

“Thank you, though somehow that was offensive and flattering,” he grumbled. “I’ll let it go because it’s my first day on the job, but I want you to know that you hurt my feelings.”

“I-I didn’t mean anything by it, Alpha.”

“Nope. It’s already out there in the wind. The feelings are hurt, and you embarrassed me in front of my ol’ lady.” He shifted his eyes to Morgan. “Did I use that right? Terrence calls Annie it sometimes, and I wanted to try it out.”

“Yes, you used it right, but stick to Little Red,” she replied, holding in her laugh.

Face red, Sterling pursed his lips. “Not a fan. Got it.”

Jordan stepped forward. “On that note, there is one more thing we need to announce. Morgan, can you come here for a moment?” Morgan, head high, stepped forward and joined them. “I would like to introduce Morgan Pierce to the members of Moon Stone. She is the Luna of Dark Moon. As Sterling and I shared mate, she will also be the Luna of Moon Stone, thus uniting our packs.” Loud gasps tore through the crowd, and Jordan silenced everyone. “I know this is a tremendous change and goes against everything we’ve ever known.

“We do not know what the future holds, but we want Dark Moon and Moon Stone to face it together. We’ve built our home directly in between the two packs. With a little change from both sides, we hope we can develop in such a way that we can keep Moon Stone and Dark Moon separate enough to maintain their history, but close enough to unify us.” Jordan and Sterling peered down at Morgan as she pushed her way in front of them.

“Listen, I know what it feels like to fear change,” she said. “I know what it means to ask for you to accept me. It’s been a long road and I haven’t always treated Dark Moon like I should have.” She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. “But I know with every fiber in my being I can do this. I might not get it right all the time, but I will never give up on trying to be the Luna that you deserve. That starts here today with not demanding change and acceptance but asking for it. I’m asking for your trust in us.”

The three waited and the silence of the crowd slowly shifted. One by one, wolves from Dark Moon and Moon Stone bowed, each chanting the same thing over and over.

“Luna…Luna…Luna…”

Jordan linked Sterling, *“That’s our girl.”*

*“I know. I’m so happy she made honest wolves out of us.”*

As the two watched the crowd cheer for their mate, they thought about the way she’d come in like a tornado and changed everything they’d ever known. Two Alphas who had given up on each other were reunited, and it was all because of her. Their thoughts were interrupted by a man approaching Morgan.

“Luna, over here!”

Seeing him reach behind his back, the brothers shifted and pounced on him. Chewing on him, they saw Morgan cut her eyes.

“Spit him out! He’s the photographer for Moon Stone,” she said. They looked down and saw his smashed camera and quickly spit him out.

They shifted back, and embarrassed that he’d attacked one of his pack members, Sterling attempted to fix the man’s disheveled clothes. “We’re, um… sorry about that. Whew! You almost fucking died. That was crazy!” He folded his arms and stood in front of the frazzled man. “We have just been under a lot of stress, you know? We just got her back. She puts us a little on edge. I mean, you see her, can you blame us? You know, it’s really Jordan’s fault. He brings out the worst in me.” Placing his arm on the man’s shoulder, Sterling pretended to whisper, “He tried to rip a man’s pinky off all because it touched her. He’s insane.”

“That was you!” Jordan roared.

“See the temper on him? See what I have to deal with?”

“You little—”

Morgan exhaled sharply. “Stop you two. Can y’all please apologize for chewing on the damn photographer?”

They both rubbed the backs of their necks. “Sorry,” they said in unison.

“Anybody that can get these two to apologize is alright with me,” a pack member said, laughing.

Morgan shook her head, chuckling that this was going to be her life. She motioned for Elijah to join them. “Since there are two packs, I believe we need two Betas, and it is my request that Alpha Sterling consider my sister Rachel for his.”

Elijah’s eyes widened. “I don’t know, Morg. Yes, I think Rach would make a badass Beta, but even you have to admit, when she’s pissed she turns into a complete psyc—motherfucker!” he screamed, seeing Rachel glaring at him from under his arm. He grabbed his chest. “I wasn’t about to call you a psycho!”

Jordan shook his head. “And again, remind me to never commit a crime with you or Sterling.”

Rachel seethed at Elijah before turning to Sterling. “I appreciate my sister’s request, but if you don’t think I would make a good Beta, I understand. Don’t feel like you have to do it because of Morgan.”

He smiled. “Rachel, I think you would make an amazing Beta. You and Elijah already have our backs, anyway.”

“Then I won’t let you down,” she said as she hugged him.

“With that right hook? I believe you.”

“Guess I’m repping team Moon Stone now, huh?” She patted Jordan’s arm. “Don’t take it personally. You know we family.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m with Sterling. You’re going to do great.”