The Jade Moon Pack

Five years later. 

Coming to Jade Moon Pack was the best decision I ever made, even though it was hard initially. My parents and Tate disapproved, but my grandmother convinced them to let me stay, and I talked to them every day. My grandmother, at 5'1'', was a sweet but mean woman. She had a thing that made people do as she wanted while my grandfather, a southern gentleman and almost two feet taller than her was soft and gentle. 

I wore my gym bra and short, and put my hair into a messy topknot and made my way to the kitchen. 

Grandma was making my favorite honey lemon cupcakes. My grandpa was reading the paper while watching and chatting with her. 

" Hi, Pop," I kissed the back of his head and walked over to the island to pick an apple from the table. 

" Good morning, sweetheart," he smiled at me.

My grandma turned from the cooker, " Breakfast is almost ready. Don't leave without eating again," she gave me a stern look. 

" I'll eat later. I'm late for training, Granny. Bye," I ran out before she could protest. I dashed out of the house and jogged to the training ground. Kyle and Henry, my closest friends, waited for me. As I walked towards them, I noticed the warrior in the training field stopping to look at me or suddenly being disorganized. I had changed a lot. 

My grandfather, in his prime, was quite a famous beautician. I asked him to give me a makeover, and he did. He removed my braces and grew out my hair—now I have black, long, and luscious wavy hair. He also made natural medicine to cure my acne. After shifting into my wolf, my vision cleared and I no longer needed to wear glasses. I was hot. It's such a shame I was 5'4ft. I could have been a supermodel. I was confident.

No one will ever take my confidence, and I will not shrink or allow others to hurt and bully me. I will remain strong and push forward. 

I think of my mates sometimes, and I hate it. They didn't want me, nor did they break the bond, so we were still linked. In the first year I came here, I heard Zylon talking through the bond, but it wasn't clear and sounded so far away. Ria sobbed, and I did too. It was the last time I cried over them.

" R3, why are you walking in slow motion? You're not in a movie, get your ass over here!" Kyle shouted. I rolled my eyes and jogged to them. 

" Hi, guys, ready to get your asses kicked?" I teased. Even though I could beat Kyle in a fight, Henry was a different case since he was an alpha. 

Kyle and I squared up and started throwing punches at each other. " Wait, a moment," I told Kyle, turning to Henry to ask about today's routine, but Kyle lunged at me and pinned me to the ground before starting to tickle me relentlessly.

" Hey, stop! It's not funny!" I laughed to tears. " Henry, help me, please," 

" A warrior wolf asking little old alpha me for help, no way," he said with a chuckle. Yes, I was a warrior wolf, like my father. We discovered this when I shifted in front of my family and friends during the full moon. Ria was stunning, with fiery red-gold fur and a silver crescent on her forehead. 

" Say please, and I'll ask him to stop," 

" Please!" 

Instead of helping me, Henry crouched and joined Kyle in tickling me.

" You asshole," I chuckled, squirming. 

After five more minutes of tickling, thank the gods, we got back to training. 

" Henry, one more round with me. Loser buys lunch," I said. He nodded. Henry was strong and packed with all the muscles, and he had trained since childhood. He threw a punch at me, but I dodged and landed my own. I had speed and agility, it always worked out in my favour. I continued to avoid his attacks. I could feel his frustration as I continued to do that. He reached to grab my arm, but I flipped him over and straddled him. He was about to push me when I kissed his cheek, his other cheek, and his forehead. That completely disarmed him, and I could hear his heart pounding. His cheeks darkened a little in a blush. So cute. 

" 1,2,3,4,5. She wins!" Kyle exclaimed. 

" Played you," I winked and got off him, standing and bowing dramatically. " Lunch on me, I guess," the alpha murmured, standing up and dusting himself. Henry excused himself to talk to some warriors. 

" You know that's unfair what you did," Kyle said, his mouth curling up in a smirk and running a hand through his short hair. 

" Hey, I don't have cash for lunch. A girl's gotta do what she's got to do to eat," I shrug. 

" Sneaky girl. You knew those little kisses would disarm him," he laughs.

" I didn't. I was just trying my luck," I refuted, not meeting his stare.

" You did. You know Henry likes you," Kyle said, observing me. I feel like a bucket of water has been poured on me. I knew he did, and Kyle teased him about it, but Henry never confirmed it or asked me out. We had sex on my 21st birthday, but we were both wasted. We have not talked about it, and it's been three months!

" Let's go, guys!" Henry called. Thank the gods. I rushed towards him to avoid Kyle's scrutinizing gaze. I jumped on his back, wrapped my arms around his neck, and legs around his waist. I hit his thigh with my ankle. " Hiya! To the restaurant!" 

He laughed but sprinted.

We were waiting for our dessert to arrive after our meal. " I'm so stuffed," Kyle said, rubbing his stomach. 

" I'll have your dessert!" Henry and I said in unison. We glanced at each other and laughed. Werewolves had enormous appetites because of their high metabolism, so we could eat all we wanted without getting fat. 

" I still have room in there for some ice cream," Kyle snarled, glaring at us. 

" And you dare call me and Henry pigs," I sneered, shaking my head. 

" By the way, we are having another dance competition in six months with the Red and Blue Devils. Rue, we gotta take the trophy this time, and not come in third like last time," Kyle emphasized. He and I loved to dance. We participated in pack break dance battles. We had moves, however, we have never come first, but this year was our year. I could feel it.

" We get the crew together, and practise harder. It is our time, Kyle," I smiled, break dancing in my seat. He nodded firmly. 

" Yes!" he stood up, " I need to use the loo, excuse me,"

Henry glanced at me when it was only the two of us and looked away quickly, but he glanced again... into my eyes. 

" What?" I murmured, feeling a little shy. It didn't help that he was so freaking hot. Why are my cheeks burning? It was odd. 

" Can we go out for dinner tomorrow?" he asked, almost unsure. 

" Sure, free meal," I tried to play it cool even though I knew what he meant. I took a long drink from my Long Island iced tea.

" Yeah, but like on a date," he clarified, his breathing a little uneven. I swallowed and opened my mouth to speak but didn't know what to say, so I only nodded. 

He smiled at me with that breathtaking smile of his. " Stop that," I muttered, tucking my hair behind my ear. I couldn't look him in the eye. 

" What?" I turned my body towards him to answer when my blackberry rang. 

"I’ll get this. It's granny," I said

" Hello," 

" Hi, honey. You need to come home now," Her voice sounded eerie. I worried and stood up. Henry did, too, and together, we ran home. We were there in five minutes. 

We found my grandparents in the great room, " Granny, Pop, is everything alright?"

" Oh, my child," Grandma hugged me before sitting me down. I don't clearly remember what happened next. I could see her lips moving, but my mind went blank as soon as she told me my father had died in a battle to protect the alphas. Unending tears streamed down my face, yet everything paused, and darkness finally overcame me. 

When I opened my eyes, I was in bed. Henry was lying beside me, hugging me from behind, and Kyle held my hand, sitting on the edge of my bed. My grandparents were not in the room. I felt numb, and I couldn't move for some minutes, 

" I'm sorry, Rue," Kyle said, squeezing my hand. Henry just held me tighter, kissing the back of my head. He was lost for words, but being with him like this was enough. 

" My mom and brother... are they..." I couldn't find the words.

" They are safe. Your brother was injured, but he's healing," Henry explained. 

" Your father was a hero. He saved so many lives in the pack," Kyle added.

My grandparents entered the room, and I felt myself break down again. I sobbed in their arms.  

" Sweetheart, we should prepare to travel to the Onyx Moon Pack. You need to say your goodbyes," Grandpa said. I'm returning to the pack I ran away from to say goodbye to my father.