Chapter 97
RILEY.
The day of our travel to the Black Shadow Pack has finally arrived. This was Nadia’s first trip to another pack, as my Luna, and she couldn’t help but be excited. And I was hoping she would still feel happy after this visit.
I knew I should have been more open and told her everything I’d discovered, but I didn’t because I wasn’t certain either way. I was just relying on my hunches. So I would just let nature take its course.
We arrived at the airport an hour ago and were picked up by Beta Gavin and some of his men.
He was Caspian’s brother-in-law. And we didn’t exactly have a good relationship the first time we met.
Alia, his mate, Caspian’s sister, had a childhood crush on me.
I had no idea what I actually did wrong there, but he somehow hated me for it.
But if I based it on the warm welcome we received from him today and the way he was relaxed around me, it seemed like it was all behind him, which I was thankful for.
I was hoping for the same thing with Alia. I hope Alia wasn’t holding any grudges against me for what I did to Andrea. She and Andrea were close friends, and the last thing I wanted was for her to ignore Nadia because of me.
Jenny and Sebastian were in the other car, while Nadia and I shared the car with Beta Gavin. I didn’t take any warriors with me. Sebastian and I were enough to protect our own mates. And my Beta needed more help back in the territory than us at this point, and besides, Jacob had offered security.
“We’re here,” The Beta glanced back for a second, a smile on his face as the Black Shadow Pack packhouse came into view. Out in front of the steps were Alpha Jacob and his Gamma, Aaron.
“Ready?” I squeezed Nadia’s hand, and she nodded her head as she smiled at me. I let go of her hand and slipped out before assisting her out of the car.
We made our way to the packhouse with Beta Gavin, Gamma Sebastian, and Jenny behind us. We walked hand in hand, making me proud of how she carried herself, with her chin held high. She was indeed taking her Luna lessons seriously. I could see the improvement in the aura she was presenting today.
Jacob and his Gamma went down the steps as we stopped in front of each other.
“Welcome to the Black Shadow Pack territory.” Alpha Jacob took Nadia’s hand and kissed the back of her palm before tapping it with his and letting it go. “I’m glad to see you again, Nadia. You have no idea how happy I am that it worked out between you and this…”
“... fucker?” Nadia finished his sentence, and peals of laughter erupted in the air.
“I’m glad it worked between us, too.” Nadia inched closer to me, and I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to my side as her hand flew to my chest. “And I’m glad to see you again, Alpha Jacob. I can’t wait to meet your luna and your young Alpha.”
“She’ll be down in a few minutes. She and her females were still fixing themselves. I’m not sure why they keep doing it when they still look beautiful even without trying.”
“You should know by now that sometimes, we fix ourselves not for the men, but for the females around us. Sisterhood is a great thing. And I’m glad my pack was able to snatch a great female from your pack.”
“Jenny. A big loss, but I couldn’t complain. She adores her Luna.”
“And so do I with her.” Nadia smiled warmly before she glanced at her Gamma female, who was on my side. “And I met Beta Gavin, so I would like to assume this handsome man is your Gamma?” Nadia’s head turned to Gamma Aaron’s side, and it didn’t slip my eyes the way she smiled widely at him.
Instead of shaking her hand, Gamma Aaron stepped forward and hugged Nadia. I smelled tension in the air with his actions, but I didn’t mind. Nadia was taken aback before she chuckled and hugged him back, but her eyes darted to me. I just smiled at her.
“If I’m unaware of how obsessed you are with my sister, I would be hauling you out of the Luna’s arms. But I can’t say for Alpha Riley.” Jacob’s words were serious, but he was suppressing a smile from coming to his face.
He knew my secret. I told him because I needed his help.
Gamma Aaron let go of my mate and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Alpha, Luna.” He looked at me, and when I nodded my head at him, his gaze drifted back to Nadia. “Have we met before? If you don’t mind me asking, Luna.”
“I don’t think so. Or I would have remembered you.”
“Yes, I was thinking that too.”
He was about to add more when small, rushing footsteps were heard and three females, who were almost the same height, ranging between 5’2 and 5’4, appeared at the front door and made their way down the steps.
“I’m sorry, we are late.” Luna Clair stood beside her Alpha. Her eyes were fixated on Nadia. She extended her hand as she smiled at my mate. “Clair, Clair Galhart.”
Nadia smiled and took her hand. “Nadia. Nadia Morrison.” They were just smiling at each other before they suddenly pulled each other for a hug and I could hear the loud beating of the two Lunas’ hearts. I was well aware that everyone around us could hear it, too.
“Have we met?” Luna Clair asked her. “It feels like I know you.”
“I feel the same way,” Nadia responded, her eyes closed as she hugged Clair tightly.
“Fuck!” It was Gamma Aaron. “I knew it. They feel it too.” His face was serious as he looked at his sister, Luna Clair, and my mate, hugging each other.
“Alpha Riley, if you don’t mind. How old is Luna Nadia?” Gamma Aaron asked me.
“She just turned 22.”
“I’m 22 too. It doesn’t make sense. I know she didn’t meet her parents, but whatever I’m thinking…”
Luna Clair turned to her brother. “We can discuss that later, Aaron. For now, I want Nadia to meet my females.”
Nadia turned her back and motioned for Jenny to come forward. The females formed a circle, and we men were cast out as they familiarized themselves with one another. And I couldn’t be happier. They welcomed Nadia warmly, even Alia. And I was hoping Nadia would find good friends here.
“Alpha Riley,” Aaron called for my attention again. “Have you found any leads about Luna Nadia’s parents?”
I turned to face him, slipping my hands into my pockets. “The only lead I have is that her mother used to be a part of the Dark Forest Pack.” I held my breath as I watched him close his eyes and place his fingers on his temples.
“That’s Dad’s old pack before they were taken over.” His voice almost broke.
“I invited David for dinner, Aaron.” It was Jacob who spoke. He was standing beside me. David was Gamma Aaron and Luna Clair’s father and was the son of Alpha Carlos Montrell of the Dark Forest Pack before it was attacked and taken over by another Alpha.
He nodded his head. “But it’s impossible. We are almost the same age. Dad would never cheat on Mom.”
“Relax.” Jacob tapped his shoulder. “That’s why we need to see if David will recognize her. Riley told me. Her aunt said Nadia looked exactly like her mother. But it still doesn’t mean that he is. But maybe he knew who it was.”
“You’re not going to hold this against Nadia, if…” I asked, and I didn’t dare to continue my words because I had no fucking idea how he would take it.
“No. No, of course not. It’s not her fault. I just couldn’t believe it was possible. Dad adored Mom too much. It’s the thought that he… I couldn’t take it.”
Jacob was about to open his mouth to say something when Luna Clair called out for attention. “Jake, maybe we should all settle at the dining table so we can eat dinner. I’m sure Nadia and Alpha Riley are starving.”
Jacob nodded at her before she turned around and walked inside the packhouse with the rest of the females.
“Your father is already on his way. Let’s go inside now and wait.” Jake put his arm around Aaron and mumbled something to him, which I heard through my werewolf hearing. “Whatever happened, don’t judge before you hear him out.”
“I just wish you had told me, man. I’ll be fine, but how about Clair?”
I closed my eyes, my hands inside my pockets, coiling into fists as I stared at Nadia and Clair, who were talking and walking side by side as we followed them. I should have prepared them, too. I was so fucking focused on Nadia that I forgot about the other side.
As soon as we entered the dining hall, Nadia moved beside me and flashed me a warm smile before wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my chest for a few seconds before pulling away. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked her, my brows furrowing.
“For taking me here. The Luna and her females are lovely. And Alia told me snippets of your childhood.” She winked at me before I placed a hand on her back, guiding her to the seat that was assigned to us.
Jacob and his Luna were sitting at the head of the table, while we sat on their left side. On the other side of the table in front of us was his Beta Couple, and beside them was the Gamma Couple. Sebastian and Jenny were beside Nadia and me.
The omegas entered and assisted with the meal, and it didn’t slip my eyes the way some of the younger omegas threw glances at Sebastian and me.
‘I’m surprised that even if this packhouse is overflowing with handsome ranked wolves, the omegas are still taken by you and Sebastian.’ Nadia’s words dug into my head as she thanked the omega female assisting her with food.
‘Should I be concerned that you find them attractive?’
‘No. All I’m saying...’ Nadia’s words were cut short when a voice erupted in the air.
“Veronica?”