'Crescent Moon.'

My heart begins to race, my breathing rapid as I try to regain my composure. But it doesn't work, I can feel all eyes on me as I process the new information. Kris' mother is being held by my father… by the Crescent Moon Pack. In their cells, gripping my head I begin to fall to the ground as memories flood into my mind. Days and nights of torture in that terrible place.

No matter the situation, my father doesn't hold wolves and not harm them. Possibilities of the health of his mother coming to mind. Tears falling to the floor in small puddles, "Alpha." I barely make out Lucas' voice as he tries to convince my mate to step in and help me. Instead of warm sparks and the feeling of euphoria, a pair of cold hands lift me from the ground. Water in my eyes making it difficult to make out anything. His hands lifting under my arms, our foreheads touch for the briefest of moments and he screams out, only to have me falling on the ground again. I didn't have my wall up, he saw some of my past. Part of my new gift.

"Riley!" I heave out and seconds later, I see a head of dark hair in front of me. Her soft lavender scent invading my nostrils, "W-we have t-to get her out." She only nods and embraces me.

"I know." She whispers. "But please Maya do not shift. Amber, you'll injure her more if you shift." I didn't even realize my entire body was shaking. Riley pleading with my wolf to stay inside, Amber complies but she's wondering where Josh is at.

Turning to my right, I see Lucas with teary eyes as he glares to the male on my left. Kris in front of me, staring wide eyed and gaping at the same male. My mate standing there, I can feel Jax calling out to me wanting to comfort me and tell me he loves me, but Josh stands firm. My heart instantly hurts, my throat constricting.

'But mate loves us.' Amber tries to reassure me, like I had done just last night when I chastised her for being hateful to our mate. Except her words came out as more of a question than I think she wanted. Why is he so mad right now? Kris wasn't the reason we were attacked.

Riley steps back while I continue to glance at my male. "I'm now seeing the male I was mated to." Glancing at the shocked eyes around the office, airing out our dirty laundry in front of leadership. This could heavily impact the pack whenever Alpha and Luna don't see eye to eye. "Kris, you're moving into the pack house. Gather your stuff, if Katie asks tell her I invited you. She'll think of it as a way for me to keep tabs on you since she sold you out. Play it off that way." Nodding and bowing his head in respect he leaves the room, trying to hide his worry. My reaction to the pack that was holding his mother did little to comfort him. Feigning interest in the floor I hold back my tears. "Excuse me."

Limping out of the office and heading towards our room, I held in my tears for years. I can do it again, I can do this. I can be strong, I don't need a male who treats me that way whenever he doesn't get his way. Grabbing a bag from the closet, loading it with clothes and a few things from my bathroom. Staring at our closet, my mind conflicted on if I should take something that holds Josh's scent to prevent nightmares.

Immediately dismissing that thought, I went years without a mate's scent and I handled the nightmares. Taking the lone key from my vanity, the silver glistening from the light in the room. I know where I'm going. I want to run, I want to go on a run so badly. Reigning Amber back in, I step outside of our bedroom and towards the elevator. Minutes later, I'm grabbing a pair of keys off the peg board and stalking towards the car that flashes when I click the unlock button.

I feel voices prying at my block but I don't let my wall down. Peeling out of the garage in the Audi R8, I speed off of pack lands, thanking the Moon Goddess my lease on my apartment isn't up for another month but cursing the fact that Josh had finished my payments for me so I wouldn't have to work anymore. The ride is silent as I mull over my thoughts.

Twice.

Twice, I needed Josh to console me to calm me down but he didn't come to me. Not Jax, it was Josh. The same male I was defending to my wolf last night. I'm aware that this car has a tracker in it so stopping at the diner I used to work at, minutes away from my old apartment I walk from there as raindrops start to fall. It's good in a way, it covers my scent. I don't try to block the droplets as they fall onto my skin. I'm in rogue territory now, Amber coming to the forefront of my mind, all of my senses heightened and listening for a threat.

5 minutes later, I'm unlocking the door to my apartment and closing it again. Flipping the light on, I'm thankful that my rent includes utilities. My old beat up furniture remains in its original place, apparently it wasn't good enough to take when they were packing my belongings, for which I'm grateful for now. Stripping my clothes, I'm aware I forgot my pain medication but I've tolerated worse, I just fall onto my bed.

'Why did mate not help? He felt your pain, Jax felt it.'

'Humans are stupid.' I fill in for her because that's going to be the only answer she can comprehend. And quite honestly, I don't know why he didn't help me.

I don't know why.

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I didn't sleep.

I got a max of two hours that was disturbed and stalked by my nightmares. I had gotten so used to my mate being there, I should have brought one of his shirts. It's now midnight and I'm not remotely tired anymore, I don't want to go back to sleep. Deciding to skip school today and train, I saunter towards the bathroom. My heart pining for my mate, Amber pining for him. I finally let my wall down.

'MAYA!'

'Hi Riley.'

'WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!'

Shaking my head from left to right as if she can see, 'I need to clear my head. I won't tell you where I'm at.'

'Maya, you can't just disappear like that! We were all so worried!' I don't miss the sadness and breaks in her mental voice. 'Josh is going insane. He won't calm down.'

'Like he cares.'

I hear her sigh, and she's choosing her next words carefully I can tell from the timidness. 'Maya you can't just leave the pack. You're Luna now, you have a responsibility no matter how much of a jerk your mate was being! Crescent Moon is looking for you and damn it Maya, just come back.'

'No. I have a responsibility and I intend to take care of it.' My old pack, it's time to get it back. I need to focus more on that, I need to do that and save Kris' mom.

'Maya please, Josh is going insane.'

'I'll talk to you later Riley.'

Glancing in the mirror, the mate bond has already done its job. Dark bags under my eyes, the brightness in my eyes has dulled and my cheeks are slightly sunken in. Seriously, it has been hours, and I look like hell. Washing my face and putting my hair up, I stare at my mark before averting my gaze as quickly as I found it. It's been a week since I injured my knee, but I need this to heal a bit quicker. Sliding on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, I decide to visit an old friend.

'Maya?' The silky smooth voice of my mate enters my mind, I'm instantly clutching the edge of the counter to steady myself. My knuckles turning white from the grip, 'Baby girl p-please talk to me. Tell me you're okay at least?'

Amber urging me to at least answer that question to put Jax out of his misery. 'I'm fine, and if it weren't for Jax I wouldn't even be answering you.'

Shutting him out completely, blinking away the tears and inhaling deeply, I'm beginning to recover. That is until I feel his overwhelming devastation through our bond. Not even blocking him out prevented me from feeling this. Stumbling towards my door as I fight off this pain in my chest, I know I have to go far to get to my friend which will inevitably lessen the bond. The further away we are from one another, we won't be able to link and the only thing he will feel is my physical pain should I have any.

Moon Goddess' way of protecting mates no matter the distance. Knowing when the other is in trouble or needs help. My mood matching the weather. Low, grey clouds cover the grey filling the black blanketed sky as I begin to walk. It will take me several hours of walking to get to where I need to go. An old cottage about 40 miles out, she'll be able to give me a ride back – I'm just hoping she's still safe.

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Josh's Point of View.

"What car is missing?!" Urging words as I pull up the tracking system on my computer, I already know which is missing before I get an answer from anyone. The Audi, she loves that car. Remembering the address and directions, and not waiting on anyone I sprint outside. One of the warrior's just came and informed us he saw a car leaving our territory on his shift that just ended. He said it left about 3 hours ago, which correlates to a time of when Maya could have left. He didn't think anything of it or he would have linked us, he wasn't aware it was his Luna in the car.

I was searching for her sent for too long, but she took a car! Why didn't I think of that sooner? I'm such a fucking idiot!

'Yes you are! Why didn't you go to mate, mate was hurting and you stood there. She almost shifted and hurt herself! Worthless male!'

I don't acknowledge him, but I don't block him out either. I deserve his words, I deserved the slap Riley gave me and the glares from leadership. I wasn't acting like an Alpha, I was acting like a pup who didn't get his way. Obviously this wasn't Kris' fault, yet I was furious with Maya for standing up for him.

Shifting mid-air and landing firmly on the earth, my claws kicking up dirt behind me. I'm aware I'll be shifting naked when I find her because I will find her.

'Mate left us, because of you! What if mate had vision while driving?!'

My heart slams into my chest, his words hitting me full force as I think of the possibilities. I would have felt it, I would have felt if she were hurt. Picking up the speed, I'm aware of the wolves that have taken my flank. Zay and Lucas, Farkle remaining behind to smooth out any ruffled fur should anyone question why I woke up everyone in the house with my ferocious growl.

After Maya left, I stayed in my office for another two hours. Recovering from her words that were nothing but truth, I was a worthless male like Jax said. I was recovering from the judgements of my beta and gamma's, and the slap Riley gave me. I growled at her but didn't react. So when I entered our bedroom to apologize, literally beg for forgiveness, and her scent was stale, I panicked… almost instantly. Jax already telling me that she took off, that he could hardly feel Amber that she wasn't in the pack house – I refused to believe it. Searching all over, trying to follow her scent that was stale… everywhere.

That's when I woke everyone up. Warriors standing outside of their bedrooms ready to fight at my growl, Lucas calmed everyone down as I tried to think of where she would go. We enter the edge of the forest, the edge of my territory. Right across the street is the 24 hour diner Maya used to work at, the address to the diner matching up to the one from the tracker. And there it is, the Audi. Trotting around and trying to find a marked tree that would have stashed clothes, it takes a few minutes but I'm back to skin and running across the street barefoot in basketball shorts and a tee shirt. Zay and Lucas hanging back and will only come if I call.

Ringing bell, grease and a lot of fried food hits my nostrils but not her scent. "Um, excuse me." A girl, around my age flips around with a smile. "A woman used to work here, Maya." She nods with an even bigger grin, "Has she been in here? Have you seen her tonight?"

"No, but if you do hear from her tell her I'm worried. She still has a job here if she wants it but we all miss her." Disappointment seeping into me, I only nod and sprint back outside. The ground wet from the rain, Mother Nature obviously siding with Maya in this argument… can't say I blame her.

Deciding to test my luck, I mind link her. 'Maya?' It isn't blocked, sighing in relief I know she's alive at least. Not that I was worried about that, I couldn't miss that pain. 'Baby girl, p-please talk to me. Tell me you're okay at least?'

Again it isn't blocked and sent back to me. Jax stirring in his cage, anxious to hear from our mate. While waiting on her reply, he keeps yelling at me for hurting her. He's afraid I'm going to lose her, and that thought terrifies me. I've been screwing shit up so much. 'I'm fine, and if it weren't for Jax I wouldn't even be answering you.'

Jax howls in happiness, while my heart hurts. I deserve the pain. She knows Jax tried to reach out for her, tried to take over my skin side but I steeled myself to the floor and locked his cage tighter. She just wanted to put Jax out of his misery, my Maya always thinking of others. Inhaling deeply I slowly follow what little scent there is left, I'm thanking Goddess it was just a drizzle. Stripping and putting the clothes in my mouth after shifting I follow her sweet scent.

'Baby girl. Please where are you?'

This time it is sent back to me, at least I'm the best tracker in the pack. Nose to the ground, I'm aware I'm not in my territory anymore which only puts the males accompanying me on edge. At least it isn't super windy tonight, helps hide our scent. My eyes following the footprints on the ground that were left in the mud. One foot clearly dragging, because of her knee. My wolfs hair stands up from the excitement of finding her. Glancing around, I know where she went.

Taking off in a full out sprint, I can't believe I was so stupid as to not think of this sooner. Lucas and Zay behind me, neither asking questions… following blindly and loyally. I also think they don't want to speak to me at the moment, wolves in general hold a closer relationship to their Luna and those two wolves, because of their mates hold a closer bond to my mate. Shifting behind a tree again, putting my clothes back on – Lucas and Zay following my movements and getting dressed while I'm banging on Maya's door that's locked. "Maya baby, please. Open the door." Jiggling the handle a little more, I try to keep it quiet as to not make our presence known in this territory.

"Baby girl, p-please I'm such an idiot please. Hit me, yell at me, but please let me see you." Glancing at Zay, I don't even know how he got the door opened. I was too busy looking through the windows. But as soon as the door opens, her scent hitting me hard takes me to a bended knee. Jax threatening to come out on his own. He wants to find his mate.

Both males search the apartment, only taking seconds before shaking their heads and sitting on the couch ruffling their hair. "STOP!" Shouting to Jax as my claws scratched against the hardwood. My jaw dislocated, threatening to form into a snout. "She's not here." Immediately everything retracts and the snap of my jaw back in place has me back to my skin side fully.

"Her scent is fresh." Lucas adds, "Maybe 30 minutes ago."

"I need to hunt her up." I muster out and stand to walk out the door.

Until Zay's voice stops me. "Why?" Both males standing, chests puffed out. "You let another male help her up. Why?"

"It wasn't just a random male, it was Lucas—

"That's not the point man." Lucas fills in, "Yes I'm Beta. Yes I'm her personal guard, yes I'm your best friend but that doesn't make a difference because she's your mate! She needed your comfort, your scent but you refused!"

Flashing him a smile, my canines descending showing him what I feel about his words. "You may be my beta and best friend but remember who you're speaking to."

"Yes, you're my Alpha. Someone we all look up to, but if you had seen what was running through her mind." Eyes shifting to Zay he realized what he just indirectly said, "I don't know how I saw the images maybe through the pack link or maybe because I'm her personal guard." Nice save wolf, "But I saw what she was thinking, I saw and you – you told me that she had been through a lot. I had an idea from her words and you told me you'd never let her be alone because she's been alone all of her life!" Voice raising, I really fucked up if my best friend the man who hardly calls me by my first name because he respects me so much is yelling at me.

Flashing me his fangs, he's showing me what he'd do for his Luna. "Now she's gone! Who knows if she is to come back here?" His wolf's side coming out, "We are in rouge territory. She reeks of you, she carries your mark and we know full well Kermit is recruiting rogues to help in his effort to take her back or kill her! OR TAKE HER BACK TO KILL HER!"

I take one menacing step forward, power radiating off of me in waves. I'm making a show of my dominance towards this male. "I am aware of the situation." My voice deeper as Jax joins in, both of our voices combined together. Another threatening step but Lucas doesn't back down, "Put them away."

"YOU'RE THE REASON SHE'S GONE!"

Internally flinching from his words, I tackle him to the ground. "I KNOW!" My voice breaking towards the end. "I KNOW!" I yell again and Lucas takes advantage, rolling on top his fists connect with my face.

Once.

Twice.

Then it comes to a halt.

He knows I'm not fighting back. I deserve this.

Standing up, Zay's leaning against the wall just watching this come to an end. He knew it wouldn't last long. "Sorry Alpha." Lucas murmurs, neck angling out seemingly awaiting punishment.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I tell him to look up. Meeting my stare, blood trickling out of my nose. "Don't be. You stood up to me for your Luna, that is in your nature and I greatly appreciate that. I'm in the wrong, I know that. I was furious she was standing up for another male, a male I thought had cost her, her life. I wanted to tear him in half, but she wouldn't let me. I was acting like a pup, I'm aware. I have no excuse, I deserved the slap and the glares and the assault." Gesturing towards my face, "I deserve more than that, and my mate deserves more than me. Trust me, I know she deserves more but even though I've done her so much wrong and I know she deserves more, I'm a selfish bastard and I won't let her go.

I refuse." His green eyes softening with every word escaping my parted lips. "I know what it's like to lose her and I can't go through that again. It wasn't just because of the bond, I love that wolf. If there was no bond, I'd love her with all my heart. So I'm asking you, Lucas to help me hunt up my female."

Nodding his head, he pulls me into a hug. "This won't be easy." Zay informs us, "Miles of rogue territory for a she-wolf who doesn't want to be found."

"She's worth it."

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Let me know what you think lovelies!

Double Update coming.