by Nana Adu
My fingertips brush my lips as I turn up to our hallway.
He kissed me.
I know he's busy and even more now that there's a threat in our mist, but I want him to myself sometimes.
I reach my room, coming in and shutting the door behind me. Throwing off my clothes as I come further into the space, I slip into my bathroom.
Sweating as it turns out, isn't something cute. It feels sticky and gross. My old pack worked me dry but they never let me really get the exercise I needed. As gross as it feels, its nice to do something like that. Next, I want to go into the human world. That seems like fun.
I shower quickly, relaxing under the warm water at it flows through my curls and shrinks it closer to my scalp, as it coats the rest of my body with a blanket of liquid comfort.
I don't even want to think, it might ruin this.
I breathe in the steamy air, turning off the water and squeezing the excess out of my hair. I hop out, get dressed, and lay flat on my bed. A knock sounds at the door. I sit up and stretch my arms.
"Come in." I say, and the door creaks open to Noah walking in. My eyes widen and my arms quickly retract into my side.
He was just in that office. Didn't they have a meeting going on or something?
His gaze wanders everywhere but on me as he leans against the door shut.
"I wanted to check up on you." He says, glancing at me. My face heats.
Why is this so ...embarrassing?
"I'm doing good. How about you? They've had you in that office since forever." I ask, crossing my legs. He exhales and his clenched fists release.
"I wanted to check up on you." He repeats, looking at me. My breathing grows shallow.
"I said I'm good. What's wrong?" I ask, straightening my legs and getting ready to get off the bed.
He begins to take small steps towards me, halting my movement as I sit on the edge of the bed.
"I wanted to see you so badly." He stops next to me, kneeling down leg by leg, wrapping his arms around my waist. His body drapes across my lap and I hold my breath.
He's way too cute.
"Did you eat?" I ask, exhaling and allowing myself to gently, run my fingers through his curly brown hair. He sighs on my thighs, nodding.
"I heard you walk by the office and followed you. I waited outside until you were done with your shower." His grip tightens.
Why's he acting like a lost puppy today?
"I wanted you to see me too." I whisper. He clocks his head up at me and chuckles.
"You what?" He laughs loud, getting up from the ground as his arms leave my waist.
Aw. The corners of my lips turn up hearing the sound of his laughter.
"Don't laugh at me." I push his shoulder as he sits down beside me.
"Don't make it so easy." His leg brushes by the side of mine.
"I don't." I state, facing him.
"You're cute." His smirk fades from his face and his mood falls as he looks at me.
What's wrong with him?
"Did something happen?" I ask, tilting my head at him. He stares at me hard.
"You know, it's so easy to lose the people you love. They can be with you all day but then be gone the next." He scoffs.
"I don't want to let you down, Eliana. I'm trying to keep you safe and I promise your old pack won't take you from me. They won't." Noah grabs my hand, placing it in both of his.
My heart pounds in my ears.
"I know I can't save you or teach you anything about the blessing thing but I'll make sure that you don't have to worry about it." He squeezes my hand, nodding as he speaks.
That's too much.
"Noah, we can take care of that together." He tenses.
"You're putting so much on your plate so you can help everybody else, you're not looking at how much you can take. I want to be your aid, as a Luna I don't want you to think you have to do everything by yourself. I'm strong enough now to give you that support. I want you to rely on me." He stares at me wide-eyed, and heat rushes to my face.
"You a-also have your beta and the warriors, so they'll help to-" He pulls me in, wrapping his arms around me and crushing me to his chest.
"Yeah, yeah you're right." He breathes out against me ear.
Can he feel the beating of my heart on his chest?
Tingles shot all up and down my body and I relax into his hold.
I'm home.
Noah POV
Everyone tells me I need to slow down, ask for help, or take a break. When I was younger and even now, I hated those words.
They don't get it. It's all on me. Their safety, their home, everything is for me to manage.
They can't share that burden.
I thought a Luna would distract me from all my goals and she has, but she's willing to help me reach those goals. She's willing to take on some of the weight, and as a Luna, she's supposed to.
So why does it feel like she's lifted half of the obstacles with a few words?
Her hair presses to my cheek as I pull her closer.
"I'll start asking my men for help and talking to you more." I push away enough to look at her face. She nods, smiling.
"I'm used to doing things on my own most of the time. It's hard to ask for help." My eyes stroll down, looking towards the bed.
"Why?" Eliana puts her hand on top of mine, resting on her shoulder.
My breath catches in my throat.
She should know. She'll hear it around but I want to be the one to tell her. I have to be the one to tell her. What I did. What my crime is.
"I killed my sister."
CHAPTER 26
Eliana POV
"I killed my sister." Noah says. I stare at him, not saying a thing. His eyes blink as he looks to me and the floor.
"When I was younger, we were attacked by rogues and I had taken my little sister to hide." His hands retract back into his lap. I grab one, holding it tight. He glances at me and nods.
"A rogue cornered us on the way and I jumped in front of my little sister to protect her. He threw me to the side and my head hit a tree. I left her there at the mercy of him." Noah pauses. I shake my head, stroking his hand with my thumb.
There are no words to heal him from that.
He exhales.
"Everything was getting darker but I could see her, standing up to the rogue, trying to keep it away from me. Another rogue showed up and they- they killed her, the rest is black." His hand trembles in mine.
"That's horrible. You can't blame yourself, Noah. It'll eat you up inside." I utter, as tears fill my eyes. He scoffs.
"It already does. I've learned to live with my sin and I know it's the reason why I put so much work into my pack, because I let one of us die. It's my job to protect the Fang pack and I couldn't do that then." He nods to himself, glancing up to meet my eyes. His orbs widen as a warm tear trails down my cheek. His other hand quickly comes up to wipe it away as more fall out.
"Don't cry." He whispers, holding my jaw, staring into my soul.
The sadness of a mate becomes the sadness of his partner.
He wants to cry himself but he's holding back. He had to grow up so fast he couldn't grieve long enough as a child. He's still grieving.
I let go of his hand, instead throwing my arms around him and hugging him to my chest.
"It's ok to cry. Your pack needs an Alpha, but I need you. It's ok to let down that front with me. I told you I'd help you out, just consider this a little bit of that." I tighten my hold.
His breathing grows heavy against my chest as he slowly crawls his arms around me. Tears wet my face.
"I just wanted them to know, I'm sorry. I needed my parents and the pack to know how sorry I was. I loved her too. I was her big brother. I was supposed to protect her and yet they stole her from us." His voice cracks and my shoulder dampens.
I rub his back as sobs hit him. My tears dry as I listen to him. That's all I can do, be by his side and listen.
"I don't want to lose you Eliana. I'
m going to protect you." He calms, nodding to himself.
"We'll get through this." I pull away but Noah tugs me back, falling on to the bed with me on top of him. His arms wrap around me and stuffs his face into the side of my neck.
"Noah," I yelp, bracing myself against his shoulders and keeping us inches away from each other's lips, as he looks back at me.
"Let's stay here. I'm tired of the pack today." He shuffles us under the covers, using his foot to kick the blankets over our bodies. I lay on his warm chest, my heart beating through my clothes.
That foot thing has to be a skill.
"Ok." I whisper as he turns me to his side, putting me in front of him.
I liked it on top of him better.
"I didn't want a Luna." He says, sneaking his hands around my waist. I smile.
Wait, huh?
"You don't want a Luna? What does that mean?" I stare at him, as my body tenses. He bursts out in laughter.
"I said 'didn't', don't worry." He brings a hand up behind my head and pushes me closer somehow.
Oh ok, then.
"What do you mean though?" I ask, again.
He didn't want a mate? Everybody wants a mate.
"I used to think that mating was a primal thing that the Moon Goddess put into play to see wolves reproduce. I thought it meant lust and gave a superficial type of care. You can say I don't believe in love at first sight. Only attraction." He sighs, as he abs push on to me. I snuggle closer.
He feels way too good like this. Maybe it's because I'm not sleepy like every other time we're this close.
"Do you believe that with me?" I ask, whisper.
I fell for Noah at first sight. He was the only light that had offered me a way to freedom and he let me embrace all of that and more.
"I was actually planning to avoid you when I had smelt you nearby. I thought for my pack I could give up everything, even you." He breathes out his last words. They hit like a punch to the gut.
Its true, if his pack pushes for something then he will make it happen. That's completely fair.
I nod.
"But I couldn't. Not after everything and seeing how they treated you. I wanted to come to you, but you beat me to it." He chuckles. I shiver thinking back. My thigh itches.
"Yeah, I did."
It was too dangerous to stay there any longer.
"I know Liam drove you out of your old pack, but I won't push you to tell me what he did. It's enough that your here and he won't be getting you back." Noah smiles, assuring me.
I don't know how to tell him I came here because Liam was about to cross a very disgusting line with me. For now, I won't.
"I'm glad I made it."
That was the scariest night of my life, from the howls in the night to the damning fall. I felt on the edge of death.
The door pounds, causing the both of us to flinch. Noah looks at me, sighs, and jumps out of the bed as I sit up. The door rumbles again.
He really never gets any breaks, does he?
"Can this wait?" Noah says, opening the door. The small breaded man, Robert, from before stands behind it.
"I think I found something."
CHAPTER 27
Noah POV
We sit in Robert's cramped ass hut as he pulls out book after to book, to lay out in front of us.
"So you found more information in these books?" I ask, leaning in closer to Eliana, holding her hand in mine.
If he can help even a little, it'll put a peace in my heart.
"I've gone through the books from my youth and the books from the beginning of our time. Small things have come up about the Royals, as their history and knowledge died with them. They would pass down their secrets with only spoken word," He says, staring at Eliana in awe. I take a deep breath.
He's helping her. If she isn't mad, I'm not either.
"We don't care about that. What did you find that could help her control this?" I say, narrowing my eyes at the old man.
"Or get rid of it." Eliana adds. I glance over at her. She stares down at the sprawled out books before us, as if demanding them to give us an answer.
She's mad about this. She's angry she has this power.
I squeeze her hand in mine. She looks to me and I give her a nod. She takes a deep breath as the furrow between her eyebrows decreases.
"The Royals had a very special healing ability. Their cuts and wounds would evaporate in hours, if not minutes. From what I've read, it seems you have not really awaken your complete gift. I don't know if you can." He grabs a book and begins looking for some page.
She was healing at an alarming rate considering she had fell off a high cliff when my men found her in the forest. She should've taken a week to get better, not a day, even with our wolves aiding us in recovery.
"I don't want it to awaken. It's already done enough damage." She says.
She blames herself. Her powers didn't hurt me. When I came to, it was like she had went from the floor to in my arms. It was like a quick sleep I had no idea I had gone through. It wasn't scary, just instant.
"It says, here that, 'the raging emotions of a demigod can only be tamed by the extent of control they have within their peace'." He reads as we blink at him.
"So there's a way for me to control it?" She asks, hope brightening her eyes. A warm current passes through me. Cute.
"Yes, you have to be able to control your emotions. So far every time your blessing has been used, you were experiencing some type of extreme fear or anger, right?" He asks. She swallows and looks to the floor.
"Yes."
"That's what is disturbing the peace within you. You have to be able to calm down and feel your power coming to your aid. Don't fight it, just channel it." He closes his eyes and and opens them exhaling.
"And how do I do that?" She asks.
"That's where I come in."
"What are you going to do?" I ask, as my fist tighten, nails biting into my palm. He sits straighter and nods.
"I will guide her through what she's feeling and how to channel that instead having random outbursts and not knowing how to control that. It'll be like yoga." He says, looking between Eliana and I.
That sounds possible.
Relief spreads through me like a cool glass of water on a hot summer day. For the first time in a while, I breathe.
I look to Eliana, she nods to herself, meeting Robert's eyes.
"When can I start?" She asks.
The day I met her she couldn't hold eye contact, and even when she came here, it was hard for her to open up. Now she's talking crazy to Beth and looking right back into every gaze.
A warmth spreads through me.
She's getting so strong, so quickly. She can handle this.
She'll fight for what she wants, and this is no different.
I'll let her take this on, I believe in her.
She's amazing.
Eliana POV
"Have you been avoiding me?" Alyssa starts, as her and Beth sit on either side of me in Beth's bedroom.
Noah and I were heading back to the pack house and then the entrance bursts open, revealing Hunter, Kai, Alyssa, and Beth. They marched up to us and the boys took Noah, claiming he had some meeting and The girls stole me and now here we are.
Of course we're here. It's not like I wanted to go back to bed with Noah, no that wasn't even on my mind.
I pout.
"No, I haven't. I've just had people dragging me places." I shoot a glare at Beth and she rolls her eyes.
"I'm only trying to help her out. She's a baby." Beth insults. I roll my eyes as well.
"Don't start, Beth. Cause you-"
"You're right. Let's not start." Alyssa puts her hand up and I stick my tongue out at Beth as she sends me a thumbs down.
I can't wait to beat her ass tomorrow.
"Stop acting like kids. That's not what we dragged you away for." She lowers her tone and Beth schooes in closer to the triangle we sit in on her bed.
"How's it going with Noa
h?" Sneaky little smiles make their way onto both their faces as they near me. I lean back, feeling a blush come to my cheeks. I look away.
"Well it's going." I respond. Beth sighs loudly.
"Stop acting like you don't know we want details. C'mon, haven't you ever gossiped with someone at your old pack?" She asks. My mood sours.
"I guess not." I say and they both frown, Beth looking to her side. They wait for me to elaborate.
I don't want to think about this or let it ruin my day.
"But, I really like Noah." I add, as they send each other a glance and their smiles reappearing.
I'm glad that cleared the air so fast.
"Duh, you like Noah. You guys are mates, we're asking if you guys have, you know..." Alyssa rubs her shoulder on mine, as I blink at her.
"C'mon, like you know, done a little something more." Beth finishes.
Even more heat rushes to my face as their eyes widen. They scream in unison as I grab pillows and throw them in their faces.
"Shut up!" I say, trying to calm the thought of my lips against his in my chest. It affects me way too much.
"I knew it, give me the 5." Alyssa says, turning to Beth as she sighs and reaches between her mattress and it's box to pull out some money. My mouth hangs open as I look between them.
"You guys made a bet about me?" I ask as Beth sucks her teeth.
"She thought you both would keep dancing around your feelings and never hook up. I knew Noah wouldn't let that happen." Alyssa says, snatching the money out of Beth's hands.
"So where's my cut?" I ask. They stare at me.
"I was the topic of the bet. Where's my cut?" I ask again.
I've never really had money of my own before so this could be cool.
"That's not how bets work." Beth avoids my gaze as Alyssa tries not to laugh.
"I love you, Eliana!" Alyssa says, wrapping her arms around me, bursting into laughter. Beth joins in, lunging her body on top of ours.
What did I do?
"You're so innocent. I'll give you some of my winnings, when Beth's fatass gets off of us." Alyssa wheezes out. I chuckle.
I never thought I would have friends like this. Years and years of being told I'm not worth a thing and then I come here and I have friendships and love and people who care about me.