Chapter 98 - Rejecting My Contracted Luna

　　Emma's POV

　　I lay my head on the cool glass of the window and let the tears stream down my face while I think about how Anna, Christina and I held one another in each other's arms and sobbed. Christina and Daniel had decided to come along with us back to Crescent Pack. I was elated that they were coming home with me but I also felt so sorry for Anna. Her two best friends were leaving her behind. She tried to tell us over and over again that it was all part of the Moon Goddess's plan and that we would be reunited one day.

　　I knew that she was right, she was married to my cousin after all. He is the only family that I have left. So I know that I will be seeing him again sooner or later but it still didn't make the goodbye any easier.

　　Peeking behind me I look at Ezra. He is strapped in his car seat fast asleep with his little head bobbing up and down with the bumps that we hit along the way. I smile as I look at his beautiful dark eyelashes that are fanned across his rosy cheeks. He was so excited for what he has been calling his big adventure.

　　Ethan spent the first part of our trip telling him all about his new bedroom and all of the toys that he is going to fill it with. Ezra was so excited that he squealed himself to sleep.

　　"Is he still sleeping?" Ethan asks as he looks in the rearview mirror.

　　"Yep," I say as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "Do you think that the pack hates me?"

　　"Of course not," Ethan says as he places his hand on my leg. "All packs know that usually the female leaves her pack to be with the male."

　　"Not the Paxton Pack," I sigh. "Crescent Pack. I disappeared with your child and pretended to be dead."

　　"Oh," Ethan drags out the sound. "I think everyone will be okay."

　　"What makes you think that?" I ask him.

　　"Well, first off," Ethan says angrily. "You aren't Emily. She was horrible to the pack members. Especially the lower ranking members. Secondly, you are the official Luna. If they disrespect you in any way it is punishable by death."

　　"We aren't killing anyone," I tell him.

　　Ethan laughs at me as we get closer and closer to Crescent Pack.

　　"How many people know that I am coming back with you?" I ask one of the many questions that is flying through my head.

　　"Well," Ethan pauses. "How good is Duncan at keeping secrets?"

　　"Fuck," I groan. "Everyone will know by the time we get there."

　　"New does travel fast within the pack," Ethan chuckles.

　　"You mean gossip," I remind him. "Gossip travels fast in the pack."

　　Ethan squeezes my leg as we continue on our way down the road. I know that he is trying to give me some confidence but I can't help but to wonder what the rest of the pack is thinking right now. Hell, I can't help but wonder what Ethan is thinking right now. I faked my death and took his child. I hid for three years. Why isn't he angrier at me?

　　"Penny for your thoughts?" Ethan interrupts my thoughts.

　　I know that Ethan can feel my emotions through the bond. "Honestly?" I ask him.

　　"If we are going to spend the rest of our lives together there shouldn't be any secrets," Ethan tells me with a serious look on his face.

　　Deep down I know that he is right and I know that if I don't ask him it will eat me up for the rest of my life. "Why aren't you angrier with me?"

　　"I don't know," Ethan says and I can tell that his emotions are conflicted through the bond. "I know that I should probably be angrier but when I look at you and Ezra all of that anger kind of fades away."

　　"But I stole three years of his life from you," I start to cry again.

　　"See, when you cry," Ethan pulls my hand up to his lips and gives me a little kiss. "I want nothing more than to make you feel better. I know that I didn't treat you the best the first time around and maybe that's why I am not angrier. If I would have listened less to Emily and more to my heart then maybe you wouldn't have run."

　　"For what it is worth," I say as I look at his beautiful profile as he drives down the road. "I am sorry that I stole that time from you."

　　"As long as we are saying apologies," Ethan says as he glances over at me. "I am sorry too."

　　"You have nothing to be sorry for," I sob.

　　"I have plenty to be sorry for," Ethan says with a solemn look on his face. "I listened to that bitch Emily for far too long. I accused you of being in love with Daniel on more than one occasion."

　　"Yeah," I sniff. "You are right. You have plenty to be sorry for."

　　Ethan scoffs and pretends to be offended as he pushes my leg gently. I gently push him back and he smiles at me. "Here is to the future. We are here."

　　I take in a sharp breath as we pull through the gates around the border of Crescent Pack. Much to my surprise there are members of the pack lining the streets to welcome Ethan home. Some of them are even waving signs. "Welcome back, Alpha." "We missed you, Alpha." And that is when I see it. Like an omen to let me know that everything is going to be okay. "Welcome Home, Luna."

　　"Mommy," Ezra's tiny voice comes from the back seat of the car. "Are we here?"

　　"We are," I say as I turn around in my seat and look at my son. "We are finally home."

　　Ethan squeezes my leg again and he has a smile on his face that is beaming from ear to ear. "Welcome home, Luna."