Diesel swooped me into his arms and spun me around. A cheerful laugh vibrating throughout his chest. He pulled back just enough to kiss me. People giggled and applauded around us which made my cheeks burn. Six months down the road, things were starting to get better. It's still hard when I think about her, and I wish she were here to see me become Luna, but I'm okay. I'm Luna now. Irma is so very proud of me. Diesel couldn't be happier. The pack's thoughts bouncing around my head couldn't be happier. I now got to lead beside him. His eyes sparkled when he looked down at me. He was the rest of my life. Everyone shifted - I climbed onto Alastor's back- and we took a few celebratory laps around the pack.
This was it.
"I love you too mom." I kiss her forehead for the sixth time. She sobbed and tried to clutch to my baggy sweater with our state team on it. Tears ruined her face and smeared her makeup. Her brown eyes were blurry with water. "Please don't leave me." She whispered. I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her again. "Don't be so dramatic, I'll be back." I soothingly pet her blonde hair. "Stay safe kid," Dad patted my back. I looked up and smiled at him. He had a receding brown hairline and vibrant goldish eyes. He stood a head taller than me and my mother. "No promises," I wink and beam at him. With a couple of more hugs, my father helped me haul my suitcases into the back of my silver Suv. I kissed his cheek before climbing into the
I was out of the room as soon as my eyes were open. The vibes I was getting were setting me on edge. After running to the car, I locked myself in and tried to calm my breathing. I turned the car on and before I went to pull out, a familiar face caught my eye. I locked eyes with crystal blue ones. She was leaning on the door, her arms crossed over her chest and a cigarette in between her lips. She took a drag off the cancer stick and waved me off. I nervously waved back before reversing and swerving out of the parking lot. Utah here I come. The drive went by quickly from the time I left the hotel and then soon I saw the Utah sign. I smiled when I realized I was only one state closer. Utah was very pretty, the dusty orange earth made sculptures. The road was straight for hours, the pavement cracked. My car was the only one I saw for miles. I pulled into the first gas station I had seen ye
Ah, Nebraska. Large open fields and small festering towns. Driving through another city, I stopped at a red light. A father and his son walked hand and hand crossed the crosswalk. My lips upturned in a smile when Wolly popped into my mind. Nebraska was very bright, but it seemed to go by way too quickly. Suddenly I was in Iowa! This state had me flabbergasted. One momentI was driving throughvintage-looking towns and nextI was passing skyscrapers.My phone rang and it didn't surprise me when Eliza's name was on the dash. "Eliza! I'm in Iowa!" I yelled before she got the chance to say anything. Honestly, I was bouncing in excitement. It was eight at night but I didn't want to stop driving. "You're about five to six hours away!" She squealed and I joined in with
"Wakie Wakie California!" A groan rippled off my lips as my eyes open. Her face lit up at me and her giggle filled the room. "What time is it?" My voice was deep due to the lack of use. "Four." She replies, my eyes shoot open. "Four?!" I jump up, hitting my head on the bunk bed. I grab my skull in pain while muttering curse words under my breath. "Yea, we've got work to do silly!" I glare up at her and stand, stretching and cracking my body. I run a hand through my tangled hair and then dragged it down my face. "Can I take a shower first?" I mumble, her bottom lip jutted out and she contained a laugh. "If you wanna take two in
The next morning passed quickly. We did the morning routine and had a hell of a breakfast. After a shower, Eliza finally convinced me to get on Badger. I'm not gonna lie when I said I was afraid. He was huge and unpredictable. But she assured that he had never bucked her off or been nasty like that. But she did comment on his nipping. I was not prepared to be bitten by the monster of a horse. She geared him up and he followed her out into the pasture. I was pretty sure I was supposed to follow too, but I found myself slinking away from the barn."Dan? Oh come on, don't tell me you're chickening out." She came out of the barn and grabbed hold of my arm."Maybe it's not a good idea," I whispered. My throat had dried up. But she disregarded my fear and scoffed before pulling me out into the pasture. She shoved me toward his side and direct
7 o'clock seemed to be teasing me. It came very slowly. Waking up at four and doing all the chores, it felt too slow. Taunting almost. But after breakfast, it was time for me to hit the road if I wanted to make it on time. I jumped into my uniform and threw my hair into a ponytail. Just like the time this morning, the drive was dreadfully slow. But I wouldn't let the time kill my mood. I was excited. More than I had been in a while. I was working at a zoo! How cool is that? Finally, I pulled into the parking lot and walked into the office. I clocked in and found Kari."All right new girl, we're just starting breakfast," She handed me two buckets. "This one is Teddy's and that one that one is for Cuddles." What odd names. They must be red pandas or otters or something. But when she pushed me toward the tigers, I looked at her in confusion.
I soon fell into the routine. Feeding in the mornings, cleaning up pens that needed an extra hand, and tour duty. I put my ten cents in anywhere they needed me. Each day was a bit different, I would feed different animals or clean different pens, or get different questions during tours. But the one thing that never changed, was Alastor. According to the manager, I was on Alpha duty. I was the one to feed him every meal. It was kinda an inside joke around here. I was the Alpha's little pet."Hey Dan," Kari came around the corner while I was fixing up Alastor's lunch. "Good to see he hasn't ripped you apart yet." She patted my back. Some other staff members that were working on the females' lunches decided to eavesdrop."More like got her pregnant. You see the way he looks at her? Plus, he won't even consider touching any of our females a
"You're what?!" I hid under my blanket, attempting to hide from the wrath of the curly-headed demon yelling at me. Good thing I waited tillafterbreakfast to tell her I was going on a date with Lucas, or she'd wake up the whole house."I can't let you go alone with that guy!" She screeched and I suddenly had a light bulb moment. I threw the blanket off me and tackled her to the floor. First, she yelped in surprise but then started hitting me."Eliza! I have a brilliant idea!" She scoffed in disbelief."You? Brilliant idea? You're going on a date with a complete stranger." I pouted and she raised her brow."He's not a complete stranger," I mumbled. "Anyway, why don't we go on a double date?!" Her eyes went wide for