Chapter Twenty-Three

Una moves her way through the crowd to talk with Gabi and Steven.

“Looks like you got them to listen. Well done,” Una tells her.

“I don’t think I could’ve done it without you, Una.”

Una raises her hands in surrender before saying, “It’s nothing I did. I just stopped the boys from getting into a fight.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Steven asks her.

Gabi thinks for a moment. She knows that Carl needs to be released but is afraid he will go back and warn the clan about us.

“Steven, I was going to ask if you and Eve would join us on the journey back to our clan but stay back once we get close to the territory. But now adding Carl to the equation, I’m thinking we may need a few more. I’m just worried it may cause a battle to rise if the wolves sense any of the Luminars.”

Mark walks over and offers, “We’ll walk with Carl and make sure that he doesn’t get away. And we’ll make sure to keep our distance respectfully, but if we see any of the wolves bearing the mark, all bets are off.” He points to the three men in front that had helped capture Carl.

“What about the man in the back?” Gabi asks.

“Oh, that’s Ben. He likes to work alone most of the time, and by the looks of it, he’s already gone,” Mark answers.

Gabi looks back in the direction where the man is standing, and Mark is right—he’s gone.

“Thank you for offering to help and giving me a chance to talk and explain things,” Gabi says to him.

“I come from generations of being a Luminar; it’s in my blood. But if Una showed you our scrolls, and it does say that,” he shrugs, “Then who am I to stand in the way.”

“Come, we should head back inside to my cottage and get you ready for the journey,” Una says as she pushes Gabi away from the men.

“I’m sure your friend is worried about you,” Una whispers.

Gabi’s eyes go wide as she realizes that she has been gone for a while. She starts to walk quicker, leaving Una to walk at her own pace and gets back to the cottage first.

Once she opens the door, Renn is quick to pull her into his arms and hug her. She wraps her arms around him too and they both sit there for a moment. There is a sense of calm that is released in both of them, knowing that the other is alright. Once the moment passes, he takes a step back to take a look at her and make sure that she’s unharmed.

“Are you okay? You were gone for a long time. Are you sure you weren’t hurt?” Renn asks.

Gabi laughs at him for being so protective of her.

“Yes, I’m fine. I was able to talk with the people here, and they listened to my story and about the ancient scrolls.”

“Did they believe you?” Lucy asks as she walks over to stand with them.

Gabi nodded.

“The men that caught Carl are going to walk with us back to the clan and keep Carl contained until we reach the territory.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bad idea?” Renn asks with confusion and concern.

Gabi shakes her head. “No, this was my idea. Three of us are not strong enough to contain Carl, and I can’t risk him getting free from us and warning Dyrk about our return.”

“Do you really think we can trust them all?” Renn tries to whisper.

She pulls him away for a moment but keeps her voice low. “I know this is a lot to ask for, especially with our upbringing. But we have learned so much about these people, and none of it has been right. I’m not asking you to trust them. I’m asking you to trust me. Can you do that?”

Renn takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. When he opens them again, he slowly nods. Of course he trusts her or else he would have never left the territory. Gabi gives him a big smile, which fills his heart with joy to see a genuine smile on her face.

It is almost becoming the norm for Gabi, being able to smile and feel good about herself. No one telling her she was pathetic or no good. Her father looking down at her as a disappointment. Being here around these people actually makes her feel comfortable. She doesn’t have to push herself and pretend to be something she isn’t. They seem to accept her just the way she is, and it makes Gabi feel good.

Una walks in with Steven following right behind her.

“The men are getting ready to move Carl. They’re just waiting for us to be ready.”

Gabi nods.

“Eve, help me get some food and drinks ready for the journey,” Una asks her.

Eve agrees and follows Una into the kitchen area of the cottage.

“Dad, are we going to tell them about me?” Lucy asks.

Steven looks at her for a moment, not knowing how to answer. A large part of him doesn’t want to say anything to the men that will be following them. He doesn’t want them to look at Lucy differently. She is still his daughter. But he knew if he doesn’t, then he will look like he is keeping something and lying to the people he’s called family his whole life.

Renn cuts in, “Maybe it should just be on a need to know. We’ll tell them about me, and maybe that will keep them from suspecting anything from Lucy.”

Gabi’s heart warms when hearing Renn put himself out there to protect her sister.

“Thanks, Renn,” Lucy says to him.

He smiles and nods to her. “If you’re Dyrk’s kid, then that makes you my niece. I protect my family.”

It almost felt like a stab to Gabi’s heart when she heard him say that. She knows she shouldn’t be jealous of her sister getting the same kind of attention from Renn that he gives her. But it’s just that it’s always been just him and her against the world. It’s going to take some getting used to him being just as protective of Lucy as he is of her.

Renn looks over at Gabi and sees her lost in thought with a sad look on her face. Why is she sad? He assumed that she would be happy that he was protecting her. He hates to think that he is the reason to make her sad.

“Gabi, are you okay?” he asks.

Gabi shakes her cloudy thoughts from her head and gives him a small smile.

“I’m fine,” she tells him.

“Alright, we have plenty of food and water for you to take on your way” Una says as she hands over the bags of food and drinks that they had prepared.

Gabi walks over and gives Una a hug. “It was nice to meet you, Una. I hope to see you again someday.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ll see me again,” Una says with a wink.

Lucy walks up after Gabi and hugs Una too.

“I’m going to miss you, Una,” Lucy says with a sigh.

“Cheer up, child. Sounds like you might be in some good hands with this Oka woman.”

Lucy nods and quickly wipes her eyes of the tears that are threatening to fall.

“Oh, my sweet girl. We will see each other again,” Una promises her.

Lucy nods and follows her parents outside. Gabi and Renn follow.

Once outside, Gabi takes a deep breath.

“Let’s go home.”