Back home

Nora didn't believe she would be back here so soon.

After she'd refused to return home with Beta Maverick a few weeks ago, these damn werewolves had made sure to frustrate her life to get her back.

They showed up at every one of her events and meetings, and her mother even went as far as threatening to take her own life.

Can you imagine that?

Nora had to quickly organize her things, especially assigning her men to oversee her business until she returned or contacted them.

It wasn't easy leaving her men either, especially the clingy Steven.

These are men Nora trusts with her life. How could they betray her when she has them under her control?

‘Bite me once and I become wise’, Nora chuckled as she put on her sunglasses before getting down from the car.

Maverick and his entourage had come to pick her up from the airport, and it took them almost a day and night to get here.

She was so tired at this point, and equally not ready to dabble in politics. She would just take her time and observe things before taking action.

It had been five years, but it still felt like yesterday.

“This place,” she thought, her eyes scanning the greenery, the mansions scattered across the vast space, and then her eyes settled on the castle-like mansion far beyond the people standing and apparently waiting for her... “Holds a lot of memories that bring me pain.”

This place was the only place that reminded her of her need to search for peace alone. But she was done running.

This was her kingdom, and her father had died protecting it. She would do the same if necessary. And now that she was back, a lot of things would be set right.

Honestly, Nora hadn't expected the treatment she was getting.

Quite a number of pack members had been mobilized to stand in front of the palace and welcome her.

Why mobilize them? Who is he trying to please, Nora huffed in her head as she looked at their smiling faces.

What shocked her most was how Hunter was able to gather the exact faces that had been present the day she organized their bond-breaking ceremony.

It felt like history was repeating itself, but in a different way. Because from the look in their eyes and how excited they were, Nora had no choice but to believe in their symbol of welcome.

Although their excitement felt more like they were welcoming their Messiah, it still helped ease the tension in her heart.

After all, her late father wouldn't be happy to hear that she watched the kingdom burn to ashes.

“Welcome, Luna,”

“Our Luna,”

“Luna is back,”

“Thanks for coming back, Luna,”

Their chants and whispers were loud, like a fan meeting.

Nora had no choice but to change her expression from stoic to that of a happy Luna back to save her people. She reciprocated their gesture with a bright and genuinely happy smile as she walked through the path they'd created for her. She was dressed in black jeans, a black singlet, and a black leather jacket paired with black boots. And as she walked through them like it was one of her red-carpet moments, with her sunglasses on and her rich hair flying everywhere, a boy suddenly escaped his mother's protection and ran into her arms.

It was as if the young pup had calculated his moves, timed her perfectly before taking a step.

At first Nora was puzzled. The whole place went quiet as they watched her reaction. Nora simply squatted to the level of the child, and although she was gritting her teeth in her mind, she picked the boy up into her arms.

By then, the faces of everyone lit up again.

No doubt, the pup was cute, his round blue eyes glittering under the evening light. She asked for the pup's name before returning him to the mother, who also looked beautiful in her long floral orange dress.

The mother had the same expression as the others, with a mix of gratitude in her eyes.

“I will see you next time,” Nora smiled at the pup and handed him over to his mother. The pup waved at her while the mother bowed, and Nora nodded at her.

She reached the end of the pathway and saw the elders waiting for her.

Nora's attention went only to the elder with the widest and most genuine smile on his face. She smiled back.

“Elder Richmond,” she greeted, genuinely happy to see him again. He was older than the last time she'd seen him, and his beard was more silver now.

“Welcome home, my daughter,” Elder Richmond replied, his excitement visible.

Nora turned to the rest of the elders and greeted them all together.

“Good to see you all again.”

They purred at her words like fanboys, and all she could see in their eyes was…‘The Messiah is finally here.’

She just rolled her eyes behind her shades and turned to Maverick. “Where's—?”

“The Alpha is in a meeting with the Alphas of the other packs,” Maverick quickly said.

“I don't care. Where's my mother?” Nora blurted out, muttering under her breath. “Who cares about that jerk?”

Everyone went quiet, silently gasping at her words.

“She's in her chambers, slightly down with health issues,” Maverick said, biting his lip.

“You think I don't know she's pretending to be sick,” Nora muttered again.

And this time, everyone was sure she'd forgotten they could hear her.

_‘Werewolves and their damn heightened ears,’_ Nora thought as she turned and walked away. Having lived among humans for a long time, she'd forgotten to hide her thoughts.

“Has she forgotten she's also a werewolf?” one of the men with Maverick whispered.

“Don't forget she can hear you too,” Maverick replied as he followed behind Nora.

“Do you want to see the Alpha King?” Maverick asked as he walked silently behind her.

“My mother comes first,” Nora replied, turning toward the old Luna's quarters. “And please stop following me. I know my way around.”

“Yes, Luna,” Maverick replied, a relieved smile on his face.

Nora just huffed but didn't say anything as she continued on her way. As she walked, her eyes took in every slight difference in the environment. She couldn't believe she was back here after all that had happened. Her return was all thanks to that mother of hers, and she couldn't wait to see her face. The whole place made her feel nostalgic. Even though five long years had passed, coming back here made everything feel like it was yesterday.

“Nora?” She was taken aback as her mother rushed into her arms.

“Mom?”

“Oh, my daughter. I have missed you so much. How could you just abandon me?”

“I didn't abandon you, Mom.”

“You could've come to visit me all this while. What did I do to you?”

“You did nothing to me, Mom, but still, don't act like nothing happened. I needed that time to recover, you know it?”

“How much time, Nora? It's been five years already.”

“Is that why you chose to work with them to bring me here?” Nora fumed.

Marilyn sighed, looking into her daughter's eyes. “Tell me you didn't miss your mother.”

“Mom,” Nora instantly reverted to a baby, pouting with a smile.

“Welcome home, dear. I missed you too,” Marilyn laughed.

“Where are you heading, dressing up so adorably? I thought you were sick,” Nora couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful her mother looked.

Marilyn might be in her fifties, but she was still the woman who made heads turn. Her silver-streaked hair had been freshly braided, with her white robe hugging her curves. Nora knew she got her beauty from her mother.

Her father had just been a blonde man with curly hair and green eyes that spoke of his golden heart.

People thought Alpha Thomas had died saving his wife because he was unfaithful, but Nora knew him best.

“I miss your father,” Marilyn suddenly said, bringing her hand to wipe her eyes.

“Still crazy about Dad after five years?” Nora asked, smiling to make the situation more relaxed. She didn't want her mother slipping down that painful lane right now.

Because it was already evening, the breeze from the nearby trees and gardens eased their heavy hearts as it grew chilly and calming.

“Take a deep breath and think about the beautiful moments with him, Mom,” she advised, pausing to wipe her mom's tears with her hand. “You know your smile is one thing Dad admired a lot. He would often say, ‘Your smile is like the morning sun I never miss.’ So smile, Marilyn.”

Marilyn burst into a laugh, hugging her daughter tight, and Nora reciprocated. “I'm just glad you're back to me, Nora.”

Once again, Nora felt reassured as she saw her mother looking into her eyes with the proudest and happiest expression she could muster.

“Should I just take you along with me, Mom? We could fly anywhere, travel around the world together, huh?” Nora tried to persuade her.

For a moment, Nora thought if she could get her mother out of here, these people wouldn't have a way of finding her anymore. But the answer came just as she'd expected.

“Save the kingdom first, Nora, and we can talk about it later,” Marilyn said before walking off, leaving her there.

Nora rolled her eyes before chasing after her.

“Is that the reason why you worked with them to frustrate my life?” Nora felt slightly pissed. “After all your devotion, what has this kingdom done for you? Branded your husband a cheater after he was killed?”

“Bring your voice down,” Marilyn cautioned.

“So you still believe your father was murdered by a member of the council?”

Another voice suddenly echoed.

Nora looked up and saw Hunter Murray, the man with the most brutal heart she'd ever known, watching her with disdain and something she couldn't decipher.

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