Page 104 of My Only Luna

“Then you better behave,” I order with a mock glare.

“I’ll try,” his cocky reply comes as the first of the pack members begin to enter the training grounds. I can smell the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty radiating from them. I feel my gut twist with guilt at the way they are watching us – watching me with fear in their eyes.

These people needed help long ago. I only wish I was able to do something sooner. They will live with the trauma as I do. Goddess knows how many people they lost, and how many loved ones suffered at the hands of Zidane.

I smile at a few children who are keeping their heads lowered. The only ones who dare to look up at me are the omega children I ran into on my last visit. Their eyes are wide as they look at me curiously, despite their mothers holding onto them tightly.

I wave at them and motion them over. I don’t miss the fear in their mothers’ eyes, although they instantly let the kids go, as if stopping them would anger me.

The boy and girl come over, and the boy looks up at Elijah.

“Hi, mister!” he greets.

“Hey, kid.”

“You are awesome! What’s your name again?” the boy asks Elijah thoughtfully.

“Thanks, I’m Elijah, Alpha Elijah. And yours? I didn’t getyour name last time,” Elijah asks.

“Jayce,” he answers. “And this is Phoebe.”

“Nice name, I like it,” Elijah says, as Phoebe looks at me.

“Are you our new Alpha?” she asks curiously.

“Yes, I am. And I will make sure no one can hurt you anymore, okay?” I say, bending down so I’m level with them. The two children exchange looks.

“I told Mom she’s cool,” Jayce whispers to the girl. He doesn’t seem to know those around him can hear him.

“And she’s a girl alpha,” Phoebe nods with excitement. “Thank you, Alpha Scarlett.”

I smirk. “No need to thank me. That’s what a real alpha does. Protects their people. Well, I’ll let you two go back to your mothers and I’ll get this meeting started,” I say, standing up straight.

I see a few members of the Blood Moon Pack standing around the side. Staying back to give the members of the Desert Storm Pack space.

Taking a deep breath, I look across the malnourished, bruised, injured, scared people of this pack and begin.

“Thank you for showing up. I know things haven’t been the best around here, far from it. This place has been hell under his reign, but not anymore. It will not continue like that! This pack has lost nearly a third of its number over the last few days. Yes, we fought some of this pack’s members, but it was to protect ourselves and this pack. I know some of you lost mates, brothers, fathers – but it was unavoidable. And I am sorry for that.” I slip my hands into the back pockets of my pants.

I glance at Elijah, whose eyes are fixed on me before Icontinue.

“This place has nothing but dark memories for me. I cannot take care of my pack when simply being here makes me sick to my stomach. So I have a proposition for you all.”

A murmur rushes through the crowd.

“Is she abandoning us?”

“Will she not be our Alpha?”

“What does she mean?”

I turn to Elijah before looking at the crowd. “You may know that my mate is an alpha who has a pack not far from Birmingham. So I have decided, with his complete approval, to combine our packs. And that would mean everyone would need to move down south.”

Another ripple of unease rushes through the grounds as the wind blows.

I hear it through the pack-link, which is open, so those who have not made it can hear me through my open mind-link that reaches out to all of them, aside from those below eighteen and the injured. They are the only ones who don’t know what is happening, and I hope someone around them is filling them in.

“I won’t force anyone to join if they don’t wish to, instead you can move to a neighbouring pack as long as they are one of our allied packs. That is the only way I can be sure that you are safe. We will help get you all settled wherever you want to go. But if you’re interested in joining our pack, the Blood Moon Pack, then let me know. I can tell you exactly what we plan to do, how to settle you all in, as well as how the pack is run. You won’t be just going there with nothing; you will get a home, a way to rebuild and start fresh. The Blood Moon Pack is incredible and we would be lucky to have you.”

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