Chapter 79 – Back Home

They arrived in Madrid last night, only landing to treat Axel’s wound and buy Anna milk. They changed from the chopper to the private jet, and they were back in the air in no time. For the entire ride, Leal was just looking out the window and lulling Anna to sleep. She was quiet the entire time, not crying even once, nor complaining of flight sickness. Anna’s first plane ride isn’t that bad.

After approximately 8 hours, Leal was woken up by the pilot’s announcement. They’re landing in five minutes.

She fluttered her eyes open, squinting at the morning rays peeking from their window. She slept on her seat, and she doesn’t know how, but now she’s on one of the beds in the sleeping quarters. Half-asleep, she unconsciously turned to the right of the bed and bit back a yelp when she was greeted by a big body cuddling a drastically smaller body beside her.

Axel and Anna were peacefully sleeping beside her, cuddling each other.

Her heart melted at the sight and even blinked back tears upon witnessing a scene she only dreamt of seeing before. Seeing Axel and Anna together, in each other’s arms, sleeping peacefully together felt like such a surreal sight. She never thought it’d be this good of a feeling, and it’s such an irresistible yearning feeling to want more.

When the jet landed, they headed straight to his pack subdivision, a place she never thought she’d be entering ever again. Everyone was with them, the Upsilons are way too many to count, most of which are keeping their eyes on Anna, the innocent pup holding a…Barbie with a pistol? Where did she get that?

Shaking her head, she quietly followed the father and daughter holding hands as they neared the packhouse. They looked like they were having the simplest yet best time of their lives, and Leal was not a midge jealous. She’s ecstatic to see her family like that. It was like a rare phenomenon to ever behold behind her eyes.

Leal was biting her lip during the whole walk, controlling the teasing ear-to-ear smile. She just couldn’t help it. She’s happy right now, but she knows she can’t loosen up and lightheartedly giggle with them, there are still people who want them dead. And until then, she’ll remain vigilant and alert at all times.

The pack welcomed her warmly. They sent her sincere smiles and giddily conversed with her, most of which are very distracted because of Anna on her lap. She had them all in for a shock when she turned on the lights of the grand foyer with Anna on her hips, and the pack ready to greet her a warm ‘welcome back’.

Days passed and they were all spent wisely, with Leal juggling being a mother to Anna, a Luna to the pack, and an angry lycan to the Ministry. She would comfort a few Psi or Omegas, put Anna to sleep,and then listen in on the conferences about the nearing doomsday. On the first solar eclipse of the decade, where the moon’s shadow covers the sun, they’re set to infiltrate the Ministry’s main headquarters. It was also a good time and place because the shadow that would cast over Earth would directly hit them for 7 minutes and 31 seconds, which is longer than the time they needed to execute the plan.

Everything was going on smoothly and Leal was almost ready to join the team until a sudden bile rose up to her throat and threatened to spill all over the glossy white marbled floor. Rushing to the nearest bathroom, she puked her guts out, her taste buds tasting the metallic liquid that made her stomach churn.

She’s still puking blood even when she’s very near to him. Why?

She shook her head and grabbed the tissue, wiping her bloody mouth after flushing the toilet. She turned around and her heart dropped as she made eye contact with a familiar pair of jet-black orbs. He was leaning on the doorway, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Did she leave the door open?

“Are you sick?”

“I-It’s just…my time of the month,” she lied through gritted teeth.

His left brow completely rose. “Female wolves do not menstruate. They just undergo heat in January and February, and it’s November.”

“W-Well, I—“ Her eyes darted all over the place, thinking of a better alibi. She internally cursed when her mind remained blank. Gosh! Now’s not the time to be dumb, Leal! Giving up, she sighed, “It’s nothing important. This is the women’s bathroom, Axel, please respect it.”

She thought it wouldn’t work on him, but she forgot how respectful he was despite the situation. He took a step back and held the doorknob, looking solemnly at her. He looked so sad that she was hiding severe things from him that it made her feel so bad, nearly spilling it.

“Just…Just tell me when you’re ready. We can do something, schatzi, together.”

The day of infiltration came. The whole mansion is busy and awake even before dawn, getting the wolves’ stomachs full for peak performance later. They were all ready for later, while Leal, was just quietly sitting at the bed next to Anna’s. Everyone is getting geared up while there she is, still gazing over her sleeping daughter.

Is she ready for this?

Is she ready to put her life on the line and make her daughter worry if she’ll still see her mother return? A few days ago, she and Lilith agreed to commit mass genocide, but now, she suddenly wants a peace treaty.

If her ancestors were alive, what could’ve they said to her? Would they encourage her to kill them all or stay safe for Anna?

“Schatzi?”

Her head whipped to the owner of the voice and met Axel, who was peeking from the door.

“Why aren’t you geared up yet? Aren’t you coming?”

Leal bit her lower lip in indecisiveness and looked back up at him.

“What if I don’t go? I’m worried Anna won’t have a mother to wake up to.”

Axel’s confused frown smoothed up. He closed the door entirely and went to sit next to her.

“I mean—This is the fight I’ve been waiting for for years. I also don’t want to miss it. And what if we fail? The Upsilons are almost half of the pack. If we… If we lose, it’ll be the end of us,” she said, worrying visible in her tone.

“I understand your worry. How about you stay here and watch the pack for me? I’ll do the dirty work for you,” he softly replied, tucking a few stray strands behind her ear. “We can do this. Just watch the pack for me while I’m gone. I promise I’ll return.”

Leal looked down at her hands on her lap and fiddled with them. Is she sure about this?

“Just don’t…” She trailed off. “Just don’t come back bloody. I don’t want Anna to see you like that again.”

“I promise. Wait for me?”

She shyly nodded, her head still hung low.

“When I come back, we’ll fix us,” he said, making her look up at him and frown.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t stand another night not sleeping next to my family, schatzi.” All she heard in his voice was the seriousness and nothing else. “The bed feels so cold, it has always been for the past two years, but knowing the two of you are just a few rooms away is torture. I can’t go through another night without hugging my wife and daughter.”

Leal stood in silence and watched the convoy storm out of the subdivision. Almost all of the male wolves came with Axel and left the females and pups in the safety of the subdivision.

His words lingered in her head even after hours, as it couldn’t register to her how much he was suffering, as a dominant Alpha wolf, it must’ve been hard leading a pack knowing your Luna was out there, and to know she had a pup is even more torturous.

She climbed down the stairs and greeted a few female wolves that paid a visit to the packhouse, saying it was a female wolves’ day. She chatted with them for a while, clinking teacups and exchanging chuckles. Lucky for her, most of them are also mothers of pups and they get to exchange experiences and advice. Most of them were praising and applauding her for raising Anna for two years without a mate.

“But, Luna, how about the bond? It must’ve impacted you in some way,” one opened up. Her smile faltered slightly.

“It did impact me,” she let out a bitter chuckle. “Still does.”

“What do you mean?”

Leal looked around and locked eye contact with every other female in the lounge, all interested to know the effects of the bond on her. It was something she couldn’t tell the ladies and even Axel, but here she was sharing it anyway with them.

“I…I think my insides are bleeding,” she confessed, which earned a series of gasps. “I puke and cough them out and it’s painful every time. Unfortunately, that’s all I know about it.”

She received countless remarks of worry from the females which she appreciated very much, and from that on, the topic drifted from one to another, slowly moving away from her state. She’s thankful for that since she’s still uncomfortable talking about it.

Hours passed and they were still going with different topics, sipping tea and some lulling their pups back to sleep. It was a fun scene to watch. It’s like she’s in another cabin, but a larger one, and her roommates are now mothers.

Leal let out a chuckle at a fellow’s funny remark, which was cut short when they heard a faint explosion. It was as if the whole mansion froze because the chatter stopped and the clinking of ceramics quieted. Everyone and she meant everyone, was suddenly focused on that single faint explosion.

Could that be the guys wreaking havoc on the Ministry? That can’t be. The compound is too far for them to hear from here.

What was that?