Chapter 60 A Quiet Reunion
Alyssa's POV
“Elara’s here, have you seen her?" Jace's voice asked as I turned to leave.
My head snapped to look at him. “What do you mean Elara is here?" I shot back, asking a question of mine while trying to remember why I hadn't smelt her when I went down there the previous day and how on earth they were even together in the first place.
“It means I brought her along.”
"Smartass,” I muttered, "you know what I mean.”
Maybe because of his near death experience, he wasn't anything like I imagined. Not that I know what he was supposed to be like in the first place, considering how the day he helped me was the first time we actually had a normal conversation that didn't include glares and occasional insults.
“I brought her along…I guess you could say that I couldn't leave her in the dungeon, knowing I could've done something to help.” He said, wincing a bit as he tried sitting upright.
"Is that why you were punished and sent out of the Pack?”
His brows furrowed, and his gaze not leaving mine. "Punished, what are you talking about?”
Now, it was my turn to be confused. "You left the Pack, you're a Beta who is supposed to be following his Alpha's orders…” I paused, waiting for him to figure out what I was saying but he just kept looking at me.
"You've helped two people escape the dungeon…did you get caught and then banished?” I finished.
And instead of responding, he laughed, like actually laughed…it was the first time he was wearing an expression that wasn't a scowl and it made him look even more handsome.
“You have a mate,” Nira reminded me.
“And he's my stepbrother, what's your point?” I asked, and she just shrugged.
"Ryder thinks you attacked me and escaped…and for Elara,” he looked away. "I told him I needed an Omega to keep before I found my mate.”
I nodded, the image of how they dragged her out of the cell just so they could use her to satisfy some Alpha's needs flashed through my mind.
“That was the only thing I could think of…and I'm here because I wanted to be sure you didn't die.”
For some reason, I cracked a smile at that, "my survival skill is not that bad.” I told him, the last conversation we had about how I wouldn't survive with how bad my skills were, came rushing back.
“I mean…they caught me, but I found a way to survive.”
"You mean you found your mate?" Nira teased, and I shrugged, “same thing."
We spoke for a few more minutes before I decided to actually go look for Elara. I still had questions for Jace, but that could wait until he was feeling much better. I really wanted to know why he hated me when the only thing I wanted was to have a brother who cared.
"I'll see you later, try to rest well.”
"Have you ever tried sleeping with two people watching you?”
"You'll be fine.” I said before leaving.
I didn't have to wonder where Elara was for a long time because the moment I stepped outside the room, Tristan chose that exact moment to pass, looking all distracted but that would be sorted out later.
"Which room did you put the girl that was together with Jace…my brother?” I asked him.
"Uhm…there." He pointed to the room opposite Jace's own, and was gone. Making a mental note to check on him later, I pushed the door open and just like in Jace's room, two warriors stood at a corner, their eyes focused on the sleeping girl.
“Luna,” the warriors chorused on seeing me and I nodded softly before going to Elara's side.
Compared to Jace, she looked okay…maybe tired but nothing a good rest wouldn't fix and it did make me feel better that despite the situation, Zayne didn't take it on her.
I sat down beside her on the bed, and her eyes immediately opened. She looked at me and once recognition kicked in, her eyes widened. “L-Luna Alyssa," she called, her voice barely above a whisper, like she couldn't believe it was me.
I wanted to correct her that I wasn't Luna…well I am, but she didn't know that. I was no longer Ryder's Luna.
“Elara!" I called, helping her sit upright. “How are you?"
She shrugged, “Alive." She replied, looking away. “It's better than being in the dungeon…I think they're going to kill us. They don't believe we're not rogues…I-I m-mean we are b—”
"You're safe, no one's going to harm you." I assured her.
“B-but the Alpha–"
“Won't do anything to you, I promise."
His gaze remained on mine, as if searching for proof that I wasn't lying. While she was still trying to figure that out, I threw my arms around her, hugging her like my life depended on it. A part of me felt guilty for leaving her behind but at the time, there was nothing I could've done…I didn't even know Jace was helping me escape until we were leaving the Pack.
“I'm sorry." I told her. “I should've come back for you."
She shook her head, “I'm okay, and I know you didn't have a choice either.”
I didn't respond to that…that may have been true a few months ago but with Zayne, it was a different story. “I'm glad you're okay."
“Are you staying here now, Luna?" She asked.
I nodded, “I found my mate not long after I got here."
“That must've been nice…but Alpha Ryder–”
I explained how Zayne was my second chance mate, and I wasn't sure how that happened seeing how second chances were almost unheard of. I didn't mention how I think the moon goddess was compensating me for my shitty family and first mate.
“Are you hungry?" I asked after a while and she nodded shyly.
Turning to the warriors, who were trying to pretend to be invisible. "Ask one of the Omegas to bring something for her to eat.” I told him, "and also for the other…" I trailed off, not sure what to call him. “The other person."
“Yes, Luna." One of the warriors said before leaving.
Elara frowned, she opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind.
“Why can't I smell you?" I asked, realising that I still couldn't smell her. I first thought it was because I wasn't paying attention but that wasn't the case anymore.
“Uhmm…Beta Jace had a witch hide my…s-scent—” She replied, explaining how after they left the Pack, he took her to a woman, who did something so that while they were traveling no one was going to notice them. Jace was strong, but there was a limit to the amount of rogues he would be able to fight off alone.
"That makes sense…" I thought. It explains why whenever they passed by the Pack, there was no trace of them.
“We went to other packs, Beta Jace didn't think you'd be in any of them…I'm glad we found you.”
"I'm glad you did as well."
The food came, and Elara ate it within minutes, no doubt she was starving. I spoke to her for a few minutes before telling her to rest up with a promise to see her when she woke up.
I debated between going to the childcare and in search of Tristan so he could tell me what was going on with him. But in the end, going to see Zayne won…I did promise to tell him about her.
He was deep in thought when I entered and he smiled softly when he saw me.
“What's going on?" I asked, going over to where he sat and sitting on his lap.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, “nothing you have to worry about." He replied. “Did you talk to your brother?"
I nodded, “I still have some questions for him, but for now, he's okay."
“And thank you for listening to me."
He cupped my face softly, “there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Red." His voice was low, his eyes didn't leave mine. I felt warmth spread through me.
“I love you." I told him, and his grip on my waist tightened.
“I love you." He replied, as he kissed my lips lightly, and a moan escaped my lips.
When he pulled away, I told him everything about Elara. “She was in the dungeon with me, she took care of me when I was in pain after rejecting Ryder." I didn't miss the way his eyes darkened at the mention of Ryder but didn't say anything, so I continued.
I told him about how the Omegas were used to satisfy the needs of other Alphas’ whenever they came visiting and she was one of the Omegas that were taken.
“Jace was helping her escape…just like he helped me.” I finished.
"That's…I'll still need to talk to him, you know that right."
I nodded, “you should."
We sat in a comfortable silence, both of his lost in our thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder what my life would be like if I was still in the Pack.
“Good thing I'd never find out." I thought, pulling him even closer.
Thank you for still following, things are about to get even more heated, so grab your popcorn because you'll definitely be needing it. Before we dive into it, let me know what you all think, I'd love to hear your thoughts.