Chapter Twenty Two - Uninvited Guests

The loud noise in Liana’s head eased a bit and she found herself being hurried along the hallway and crowded into the large kitchen. The smell of chili simmering in the slow cookers was very strong. Those who were in wolf form began drooling despite the nervous tension in the air.

“Okay pups, listen up” Called Mother Luna from the far end of the kitchen. Everyone was silent at once, all eyes on her. “Les werewolves de Lune Rose de l’Acadie, votre chafeur vous attend a l’atrue cote de cette port ci.” The small group of children shuffled from the crowd and then hurried out the door that Mother Luna had indicated. “Now, Lone Wolves, you can leave through the same door and go to the white van. I realize some of you came in your own vehicles, but for safety reasons, we are taking you all home as a single unit. We will see your cars returned to you as soon as possible. Please co-operate with this.” Ellie and Elsie looped arms with Lia and began to move with the crowd of lone wolves towards the back door. “Not you, Liana,” mother wolf said, her voice edged with exasperation, “you will be staying here with Selene.” A few of the wolves moved toward her to be sure she complied with Mother Luna’s order. Lia’s eyes widened with fear. Jake had said the wolves wouldn’t hurt her, but what if Mother Luna told them to? She felt a furry nudge against her hand and looked down into the soft amber eyes of a pup. The scent of zinnias floated up her as the little one leaned into her leg and Lia realized that it was the young omega Zinnia trying to comfort her. She curled her fingers into the pup's soft furry head and smiled thinly down at her. They were all in this together, whatever it was. “It’s fine,” she heard herself telling the Rogues triplets. “I'll see you soon.”

“All right now Cloud moon pups, I want each of you to look to those around you and be sure there are only Cloud Lake wolves here, plus your future Luna and her mother. Any others?” There was a soft chattering of “no mother Luna”. “Perfect,” she continued. Two large Omega men began to slide a section of industrial-style ovens away from the wall revealing a small, unlit passageway. Liana felt her heart rate increase realizing they were all being led into a secret passage or hiding place.

“Don’t worry Miss Liana,” said a small boy as he took her hand. “My school class was here for a drill just last week. It’s not so scary once we get to the other side.” His green eyes were so sincere that Lia had to smile.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine if you hold my hand,” she said kindly. He smiled, a dimple deepening in his freckled cheek.

“I can do that for a little bit, but my momma is waiting there with her new pups and she wants me to go help her. Would that be okay? It isn’t dark down there will be lots of everybody.”

“Your mom has new babies?” Lia asked, hoping the conversation would distract her as they descended the long, dark stairway.

“Four of em,” The little guy said with a sigh. “They are crawling now too so it’s hard to keep them together. Freddie and I help, but we still sometimes lose one for a little while.”

At the bottom of the stairs, they all turned right and stepped through another doorway. The space opened quickly into what looked like a basement playroom or day care. The space was lit with those long oval lights covered in wire cages that you always see in movies with underground bunkers, but the walls were covered in childlike doodles and drawings, the floor with hop scotch games. Families with babies seemed to be congregating on one end of the room, older children were playing in most of the main floor space and the older teens were clustered in groups by the door.

“Hi miss Liana.” Lia turned to see Zinnia smiling up at her. Her long hair hung loosely around her face and was definitely in need of a brush. She was wearing a loose shift dress that looked a few sizes too big in width, but nearly too short to keep her decently covered. Her eyes were large and bright without the thick glasses.

“No glasses?”

“Oh, I wear contacts when I want to run as a wolf. I hate putting them in, but I’ve decided that it’s worth it to be able to see clearly. At least mostly. Some days I still can’t make myself put them in.”

“What’s going on?”

“Nobody really knows yet,” the girl said in a whisper. “Dylan told me there are a whole bunch of warriors from the Ocean Moon pack coming in unannounced. It might be nothing, ‘cause there are some of their pack here for the fun day anyhow, but our pack policy is to be proactive. Safety first. Always.” Her face suddenly got very pale. Lia grasped her shoulders in concern.

“What’s the matter Zinnia?”

“Dylan says they want me. My father is with them.” Just then, mother Luna arrived beside them.

“We’ll need to get you back to the kitchens,” she said briskly. “Come little wolf.” Zinnia grabbed Lia’s hand, fingers like trembling icicles and her eyes wide. Mother wolf turned back when she realized Zinnia hadn’t followed her. “Little wolf?” Zinnia shook her head no. “Nothing is going to happen to you. Alpha Jake and Dylan will see that you’re protected. She still didn’t move.

“Zinnia,” Lia asked quietly, “do you trust Dylan?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered right away. “But not my father. I’m scared.”

“Would you like me to come with you?” Lia asked. Mother Luna growled, but Lia just raised an eyebrow and stared the woman down. “You know I’m right,” she said calmly, “The place of the Luna is with the mothers, as last defense for the pups. At the moment that is your place, not mine. The next Luna will be whoever Jake mates with, whether it’s me or someone else. You know how to keep them safe here, I don’t even know how to get myself out.” Mother Luna pursed her lips and nodded reluctantly.

“Alpha Jake is not going to be happy,” Zinnia mumbled.

“Well, he’d better get used to me not being able to do as I’m told. If my Gran were awake she’d be happy to tell you that I really suck at that.”

Zinnia grinned, “me too.”

“Well that’s settled then. Lets go see what your father wants.”