Leaving the Power Pack was interesting to say the least. A total of 13 SUV's were waiting out front by the time I had hobbled my way out. I had wanted to do it on my own just to prove to myself that I could, I hate being useless. Even as a child, I was never useless. Constantly cooking or cleaning or training. Alpha William was waiting at the foot of the steps with a small, warm smile. "Little Luna." Gripping his hands in mine, I find myself struggling to keep up the barrier to not invade his mind. "It's because you're on pain medication." How did he know I was having issues? "I've had a similar experience, I could tell you were concentrating hard."

"But I touched Josh, skin to skin and didn't seem to have an issue."

"Mate bond. Makes things a lot easier." I don't miss the double meaning that the old man makes, but I do choose to ignore it. "I'm so glad you're feeling better. Your mate had the entire pack in tears."

Glancing at Josh, he's talking to some warriors about safety measures for the trip home. Apparently we're going to switch out from leading the caravan to random positions during the drive home. "He is a strong wolf. I hope to the Goddess I'll never have to hear about his pain that I caused again."

"Little Luna, none of this was your fault. It's because of you that he's smiling right now. Dr. Matthew made it evident to nurses and to myself that you weren't supposed to live. You're a fighter Maya, never forget that."

Words of reassurance that I didn't even realize I needed. The accident itself wasn't my fault, but I shouldn't have opened up my arms to death. I could have fought harder so I wouldn't have flat lined. "Thank you for your hospitality and your gifts." I quip now that I have the gift of sight.

Brown eyes gazing into my icy blue, he's a kind man. His demeanor, and words obviously show that which is shocking. By the time supernatural creatures hit this age, they're bitter from losing loved ones and for an array of different circumstances. "You are welcome anytime Little Luna, if you ever have any questions you may call me. I've given the list to your mate, however as far as anyone on that list knows I still have my gift. It's a blessing and a curse."

"You wouldn't have given it to me if I couldn't handle it."

"Maya." Shifting my focus towards the SUV's, there are 2 warriors lined up at each vehicle. Smackle and Farkle in one, the 4 warriors we originally brought and Allen in one, then I'm assuming the other is for me. "We need to go."

"Bye William."

I can't call him grandpa yet, that would be way too weird for me. And I'm not quite sure he'd like that. It's cool to know my mom had Alpha blood in her as well, which would explain her stubborn nature my father would always rant about. "Bye Little Luna. Safe travels." Praying to the Moon Goddess that this car ride will be the opposite of the previous I limp my way towards Josh.

He's conflicted, he isn't sure whether to help me or respect my wishes. And quite frankly from the amount of pain I'm in, I'm willing to let my pride go. Josh rushes to my side not caring either way, and leans down to pick me up, but stops. "That will hurt your stomach." He whines, a few more scenarios and he's mumbling cuss words under his breath. "I'm going to put your arm around my neck, lean on me okay?"

Nodding in agreement, the only thing I want to do is sleep. And Amber seems to agree as she starts to settle in for a nap. This is what I get for my body being in full repair mode twenty four seven. "Thank you." Seconds later, I'm lying down in the back of the SUV. He laid the seats down and made a little bed for me in the back.

"I know you're sleepy baby girl. But listen just a few moments longer, I got Farkle to rig this up where a strap will go over your chest so it won't hurt your stomach and you can still sleep. There's water in the cup holder and your favorite snacks on the floor board." Nodding in acknowledgement he only chuckles before strapping me in. His scent is all over these blankets so I'm in pure bliss, Amber is already knocked out cold and I'm seconds behind.

The light sprinkling on the windows lulls me to sleep. I have several hours anyways. After making Josh promise to wake me up if he needed company he relented and agreed. I don't want him feeling alone, he felt truly alone for 7 minutes and I refuse for him to feel that way again. "I love you Josh."

"I love you Maya."

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I slept just about the entire ride, besides waking me up every 4 hours for my pain medication. The second time I was surprised because we should have already been there by now but he informed me we were moving slower so he wouldn't jostle me. Pretty sure I fell even more in love with him then. I'm so glad we put our pride aside and worked things out together as mates. Not glad, that's the worst word for it. Ecstatic is more like it.

The rain seemed to follow our route home, lightly sprinkling the entire drive. I only hope it can hold out till we get inside the pack house. "Alright baby girl, we're here. I'm going to unbuckle you and help you out of there."

"Alrighty then." I grimace as I tried to move a little too much.

Josh growls, he's upset that I'm in this position. According to Amber, he and Jax wanted to sit back here with us but didn't trust anyone else driving the vehicle. A male is so protective of his female, and I'm not an idiot I know he blames himself for what happened but that's the furthest thing from the truth. I wish he'd just freaking listen.

Grimacing, and biting my lip to keep from screaming out in pain, I'm carefully being pulled out. Toes touching the grass beside the tires. I can feel the light drops of water that Mother Nature shed on the soles of my feet. Inhaling deeply, smells like my home. "MAYA!" Josh tosses my arm over his shoulder and helps me limp away from the car. Riley's long tresses flowing behind her, unshed tears glistening in her orbs. "Oh my Goddess!" Taking me in from head to toe, those unshed tears are quickly released. Gently she hugs me, barely touching any part of my body and for that I'm thankful.

If the sparks didn't make me feel better, Josh certainly wouldn't have been touching me! "Alpha." Lucas bows his head and I can see the pity in his eyes. I have no doubt the entire pack felt some of his pain through the bond they all share. When an Alpha or Luna has intense emotions, they flood through the pack link, similar to a mate bond and losing one's mate is definitely an intense emotion. "Luna. How are you feeling?"

"Peachy." I yawn and lift my head, letting the droplets from the clouds fall onto my face.

"So you'd be up for calming the pack?" Lucas offers with a hopeful tone. There isn't a doubt in my mind that he's had his hands full since the death and rise of their Luna.

Josh growls and pulls me closer to him, as if that were possible… but he always finds a way. "No. My mate can hardly walk by herself."

"I'll do it. Just a few minutes and nothing more." I am blocking Josh out at all costs as he tries to change my mind.

Riley sighs and wipes her face off, "If you're sure." Nodding in affirmation I start to limp forward, "Good because they're all inside." My mate huffs but stifles his unhappiness about this. I'm still Luna, this is still my duty to this pack and he'll have to understand it or get over it. Preferably the former. It takes me 10 minutes to get inside.

Josh's unhappy demeanor turns stoic as it normally does when we have to address the pack. Eyes all around gaze upon me with what I feared to be pity. But taking it all in, I decipher worry more than anything. A few females whimper, males hug their mates tighter. It's a sweet moment, they're appreciating what they've been blessed with. As they should. This time is different from the other times we've called meetings upon the pack, we aren't on a raised platform or a different level. We're in the center of a circle that our pack has made.

Curious eyes, all trying to get a glimpse at the Alpha and Luna. The pain one endured from the death of the other is starting to come back and haunt them as they gaze at my knee. They know there's something more than just my knee from my scent but they do not ask. "Good evening Twilight Pack. First, let me thank you all for the worry of your Luna. Secondly, I'd like to personally thank the warriors who volunteered even if you weren't chosen for the trip it means a great deal you care about her safety." Wow, he's just flying through this. "Third, I'd like to explain what happened to us so we're all on the same page." Josh has obviously never been one to keep things from his pack and that's something I admire. I was just going to wave and blow a kiss before heading to my room. "Alpha Kermit from the Crescent Moon pack had 4 wolves knock our SUV over. Our car flipped a total of 4 maybe 5 times. Your Luna took the brunt of the damage and ruptured her aorta. What you all felt, was your Luna's death." He stops and gulps, hopefully taking his emotions down with him. I think I was the only one who caught the break in his voice at the end. "The rest of the pain you felt was from me. She came back to us though, she's a strong she-wolf who is very tired right now so we are to take our leave. But, war has been officially declared on the Crescent Moon Pack."

Growls of approval and a few howls, they would expect nothing less. "Lastly, everyone hold your mates a little closer tonight. I know what it feels like to lose one and I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. Good night."

'Luna Amy, Alpha Allen and my parents are waiting on you in your room Maya.'

'Cool. Don't inform Josh.'

As we walk away from the stairs and down a dimly lit hallway, my brows begin to furrow. "I don't know why you're confused if you think we're walking upstairs you're insane. There's an elevator right, here." Pushing a button, I vaguely see a light before sleep starts to overcome me.

'Almost there Maya.' Amber tries to encourage but in all honesty, I'm fighting the inevitable.

The rest of the way to our room was silent which I was secretly thankful for. We stop outside the door, inhaling deeply he growls again. He must smell everyone, stepping inside I can't even force a smile. My body is exhausted. Cory immediately looks me over, the habits of a doctor and his experienced hands wanting to ensure I'm alright. "I know you are all wanting to see her, but please take leave for the night. She's barely awake."

They all bow respectfully, Josh thanks his father one last time and kisses his mom's cheek. Topanga and Amy both rub their cheek against mine, lightly nipping at my skin. "Alpha, may I do a check-up on her in the morning? To appease my wolf and I?" Cory questions with nothing but hope.

"You may as long as I am around."

At that point, I fall asleep. My arm still draped around Josh's neck.

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The next few days go by in a blur, Cory picked up my treatment after checking my wounds the next day. Well trained hands and the familiarity of it all has me walking around the pack house with ease besides the limp because of my knee.

Josh hasn't let me be alone at all. Even during showers, which I didn't mind too much. He even had a bed brought into his office so he could catch up while I was in his line of sight. I can't blame him though, I literally died so that in and of itself is enough to make any wolf paranoid, even worse an Alpha. I'm taking it with stride though and Amber's loving the attention. Lying down in the bed in Josh's office, playing with my fingernails is where you'll find me. Inhaling the delectable scent of my mate has my body in complete bliss even though he isn't touching me. "Josh."

"Yes my love?" His pen still moving across the paper effortlessly.

"Are we going to make the first move?" I don't have to elaborate he knows to what and to whom I'm referring.

His eyes move towards me for a brief moment before finishing whatever it is he was writing on the paper. "Come here to me." He says gently and I'm instantly out of bed, my legs draping over the side of his and cuddled into his chest. "I know that you don't want anyone in that pack who is innocent to be injured. Not everyone knows the kind of man your father is." He always was a great actor. "I'm having spies gather Intel as well as hackers to get into their computers unnoticed and untraced to see when he'll be leaving the pack so we won't attack them directly."

"At least, not yet." I whisper, "Training here?"

Pecking my forehead, his feet sway us from left to right in the spinning chair. I feel like he's trying to put me to sleep. "I'm extending training hours. Males over the age of 16."

"16!" I shout and stare him directly into the eyes, "ARE YOU CRAZY!? They're still babies!"

Shaking his head from left to right, he applies a little pressure to lie me back down on his shoulder. "No baby girl. Males ages 16 to 17 will be the warriors here to defend the females and pups whenever we decide to attack. I am not going to leave them defenseless but I won't go into a fight with less wolves."

Nodding in understanding, I begin to play with his hands. "What about allies?" The more wolves the better, the sheer number of wolves on one side can sway the other for a surrender or some sort of truce. "Alpha Thomas and Kermit together when I was 11 had about 500 wolves in total."

"You're mighty perceptive." He quipped, "That's an old number, it's around 600 now." Wow, that's supposed to make me feel better? "But you're also not including the fact that slightly over half are pups and females. Don't worry, should we need it my brother has offered aid."

"You say don't worry but that's all I'm seeming to do."

There was a light knock on the door tugging us out of the tense conversation. I hate speaking of war, when I was younger I always thought that war was pointless. You lose wolves for what? Land? Money? Power? We aren't extinct, but it just seems so pointless to put lives at risk for personal gain. However now that I'm 18 and have a better grasp of the world itself, I know that it's common but it doesn't mean it's right. So the fact that we're going to war because of me… it makes my stomach churn.

Josh tells them to enter and Topanga saunters inside, her mate and daughter trailing behind her. It's a respect thing to have the females walk in front of the males. That way his mate is guarded at every angle. He can see attacks coming from the sides and front and can prevent them from the back. It's a noble idea, however I stand beside my mate.

We protect one another.

Rising out of Josh's lap, giving them a smile and touching cheeks, I lock arms with Riley. I wonder where Lucas is at. "To what do I owe the visit?" My mate questions with a smile. He's so handsome, but me being 'injured' or whatever has prohibited us from doing what I truly desire and it's eating me alive. To sum up, sex is addicting.

"Alpha Josh, my mate and I have a few ideas."

Riley's grip on my hand tightens, what is going on? And why won't she let me in her mind? "If this has something to do with you two spying on Alpha Kermit you understand that I won't allow it." Riley and I release a breath at the same time. "I won't risk your lives knowing my mate cares for you so much even if it does us some good."

Dropping their heads as if they were disappointed? And then something inside of me snapped. I don't know why, how or what was going to happen but I opened my mouth knowing it wasn't going to close anytime soon. "What were you two thinking?" Funny how a change of tone can take simple words and make them vicious, "Cory you of all people should know what that man is capable of! I wasn't even spying! I was his damn daughter and you know everything he did to me!" Opening their mouths to interrupt me but I cut them off, "You four are the only family I have left." Sans Alpha William, but I don't know him. "If something were to happen to you, to any of you because of my bastard father I would lose my shit! BECAUSE I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU!" Tears fill my eyes in an attempt to break free, "if you so much as make a noise you're beat. If you fight back you're whipped. If you're lying down you get punished, if you're standing you get punished. Speak without permission, no food for a week. Don't drink the water, specks of silver could be in there." My spiteful smile coming to fruition. "Oh and my personal favorite the knife game." Laughing humorlessly, I note everyone but Josh looking at me with pity. I despise that, "Silver knives, dipped in wolfsbane."

Closing my eyes I remember the exact tune he used to sing to me.

"Time to slice. Let's roll the dice."

"Two, four, six just a little prick."

"One, three, five let's hope you'll survive."

"Time to slice. Let's roll the dice."

Opening my eyes, Josh is standing up fists clenched as he shakes. I'm sure he's about to shift. Topanga buried into Cory's chest and at some point in time Lucas came in to hold Riley. "You will not go back if that's your plan. I will chain you in your rooms, find a witch to put an enchantment on you so you'll get sick should you try to leave. I will fight you both and win and you know it, but you will not go back to the Crescent Moon pack."

"I don't know if that's-"

My glare towards Cory cuts him off entirely, showing his neck as a sign of submission. "The minute you two step into that pack mine along with Riley's scent will be all my father will smell. No telling what shit he'll do to you."

"Baby girl come here." Eyes shifting to my mate, he's watching me carefully. "Come to me mate. You're shaking as if you're about to shift and you can't you'll damage your knee." He doesn't dare approach a she-wolf who's angry but can't do anything about it. He wants me to make the first move which is smart of him.

Taking one step forward, limping with the other this process continues till I'm in his arms. Hands rubbing my back comfortingly. Small kisses against my neck, my eyes flutter closed as a purr emits through the room. Fingers carefully running through my hair, "Take your time to think this over but take my mate's thoughts into consideration. She makes valid points, I need an answer by tomorrow at high noon." Everyone but Lucas left the room, as soon as the door shut I realized Josh asked him to stay behind. "You convince them to stay beta. For their safety, I'm not sure why we didn't think of that sooner. They'll smell my pack on Cory and Topanga. I want this to be their choice but they aren't leaving this pack."

Nodding in understanding I turn to face Lucas in full. "Yes Alpha. I understand, and agree wholeheartedly. Also, we found some information on Alpha Kermit's next excursion."

"Continue." I urge.

"Kermit leaves not this Thursday but the next. He's arranged for 10 warriors to join him."

"Where?" 10? Surely that's not enough for an attack, of course he did attack us with 4 wolves already. He probably laughed his ass off about that.

Lucas pulls out his phone, scanning through the messages. He writes everything down which is dangerous but he does a factory reset on his phone quite often to prevent the information from being leaked. "La Casa Beach."

With those two words, I'm falling and being caught by Josh. Eyes fluttering closed.

I'm thrown into a different timeline.

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Well… that was interesting lol. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Thank you all for the Happy Birthday wishes. And I'm so sorry I failed you on a double update. It won't happen again! If I can type up another chapter today I'll post again, I just realized I'm out of backstock lol.