Chapter 17: Protecting the Secret

Doc stepped forward, trying to control his laughter. “What are you talking about? Katia is a real ghost; there is nothing out there.”

Alpha turned to look back across the field and at the cabin, which was dark. “She was there. She chased me. She was trying to grab me. She wouldn’t let me leave. Kept trying to tell me something.”

“I think you need some rest, Alpha Thomas. These rogue issues must be stressing you, and now you are seeing ghosts.” Beta said while hiding his face. The smile he wore could not be seen.

“I’m telling you she was there. I think she is mad and maybe even has my first Luna with her to help kill me.” He kept looking over his shoulder like she would pop up behind him.

“Thomas, you are being ridiculous. Katia and the first Luna are dead. You saw their bodies. Rogues killed your fated, remember? You killed Katia in a fit of drunken rage. Dead people, or wolves, do not come back as ghosts.” Doc said, stepping toward him.

“I am telling you, Steven, it was our little ghost. She was trying to tell me something, but I could not understand what she was saying. She was pale as the moon and covered in blood.” His eyes were huge in his head, and I would think he was shaking if I didn’t know better.

“Alpha, why are you out here by yourself? What if it was rogues? They could have killed you or taken you hostage.” One of the warriors asked.

“I am Alpha. I am strong enough to survive a few rogues. Besides, it wasn’t rogues,” Thomas whispered as he started tip-toeing toward the garden and cabin.

“What are you doing now?” Doc was exasperated.

“I am going to see if that ghost is still there.” Doc rolled his eyes, “Yeah, you can survive a few rogues but are terrified of a little woman's ghost.”

“You did see her. She was chasing me, and I don’t know what she would have done if she had caught me. She finally let me go when I could cross the tree line. Maybe she heard you all laughing.” Thomas was trying to peek in one of the windows.

I could see a little hand just at the edge of the curtain. She was holding it back slightly, staring right at us. She has such a sparkle in her eyes. She was enjoying this, and I knew she was planning something else before she was done with the Alpha.

I could tell Mark was worried, though. We didn’t need the Alpha to realize our little Luna was still alive. She needed to be careful. “Mark, this is good for her. She is not scared right now. She is angry and enjoying the fact that the Alpha is terrified.”

“Yeah, but we can’t let him know anything else or let him get suspicious. Kelp, I can’t watch him torture her again. I just can’t. I will kill him myself if it happens again.”

Everyone halted their progression up the stairs to the porch as the Alpha put his hand on the doorknob. Just as he started to turn the knob, it turned on its own, and the door flew open. Little ghost threw herself, screaming and flailing her arms right in front of Thomas. He spun, screamed louder, and took off running. Zor must have felt sorry for him because Alpha finally shifted and was gone. I shoved our little Luna into the cabin and slammed the door.

Mark and Eric ran around the cabin, checking the other windows and the back door. The rest of us collapsed on the furniture and floor, laughing hysterically.

As we started to quiet down, Doc snorted, “I do believe our big bad Alpha pissed himself.” And the laughter started again.

Just then, Coral came in, “I just saw the Alpha running from this direction like a ghost was chasing him.” We lost it again.

Of course, while we had dinner together, we told Coral the story. She ran to the bathroom because she was laughing so much.

“I will never forget the look on his face when the door flew open, and Katia’s ghost went flying at him,” remarked one of the warriors.

“No, it was seeing him running from this little, tiny thing in the field and screaming, don’t kill me, that did it for me.” Said another.

“He still didn’t learn anything, though. He even said he was sorry he didn’t keep her alive longer so he could have his way with her.” Eric replied.

“Yeah, but Katia gave him a good scare. Maybe he will stay away from here now,” Mark remarked.

Doc, ever the voice of reason, said, “Nah, knowing that stupid man, he would want to ensure that what he saw was real. So, he will come back with some of the warriors.”

“Alright, so we ensure it is mostly us that accompanies him. We handle it in whatever way you think is best. A repeat performance by our Alpha Luna, or we act like he is crazy. We didn’t see anything.” They all nodded in agreement. Katia's protectors loved her and would do anything for her.

We just had to keep her safe and help her regain her strength. A few more months and her moon-touched mark would appear. The goddess would visit shortly after, telling her about her relationship with the goddess and her powers. Her wolf is stronger but still maturing. Aza believes wholeheartedly that their fated mate is coming and he will be the answer to everything. I hope she is correct. However, we all witnessed how that worked out for Alpha’s fated mate. He thinks we don’t know that he killed her. We all know what happened, and that is only a matter of time before her family shows up wanting revenge.

Just as that thought runs through my mind, a link comes from one of the warriors on the northern border. “Beta, we are under attack. It is not rogues. It is the Starlight pack wolves attacking. Orders Sirs? The Alpha, his father, and his beta lead the attack."