Flight 118: A Woman’s Future

Two weeks later we had packed the few items we had, which mainly consisted of what Ana had given me. I had tried to give them back to her but she insisted, saying I was starting with nothing and she had enough to hold her over for now.

The way she had worded it had been weird to me, and when I tried to object again she finally told me that she was pregnant. She pointed out it would be a while she would be able to wear normal clothes again, and by then she could have more made. I guess it wasn’t a secret because, apparently, after a point shifters can scent the differences when you are not pregnant versus when you are. I was not sure how I felt about that but I was glad she had at least told me. It at least explained the jovial atmosphere Eric and Ana’s pack had lately. This was the first child they would have in I don’t know how long, and it was their alpha’s child at that.

We had all spent the past weeks continuing to clean, help build, and welcoming new packs. My favorite pack to come since Silver’s was the first European pack that made it. Don’t hold it against me but I am a sucker for accents. Especially European accents.

During these past weeks, I had continued helping Eric with writing about the packs that came, and the only European pack to have arrived so far was fascinating. European packs already had something the packs we had seen so far did not, a European Council. They had been hosting meetings every six months with all of the European pack leaders for, well, centuries.

I had laughed when I heard about that but no one else understood why. I had tried explaining to them it seemed like Europe had not changed because when I came from they had the European Union, but they all just kind of stared at me blankly.

The European Council also had been having pack get-togethers annually for mateless shifters. It rotated locations each year so shifters would also be able to explore different human-populated towns. It was an impressive system, to say the least, and had resulted in a couple of mates being found each year. It did not seem like much considering that only a few mates were found out of every European pack, but it was when I consider how often the American packs have found mates.

After the pack came they told us how long we would have to wait for the rest of the packs to get here.

After hearing that last week, Silver finally decided he needed to leave. He told us he had stayed longer than he should have, especially with the attack and everything. His pack needed him and they were coming up on another move soon. Since everything was getting back to normal around Eric’s pack, and no other pack would be here soon, Silver thought it was the perfect time to leave.

I was upset at the fact I would maybe not see him again but he promised he would keep in touch. He had left the next day after giving me a few of my favorite recipes and telling me how to make the main ingredients. He had even offered a few alternative ingredients that he could think of off the top of his head, seeing how I would not be near Mexico when Jonah and I went back. Which was happening sooner than I had planned.

Jonah and I had our first small argument yesterday after he was contacted by his pack. Our pack. Remember that. As I sat in our room for the last time here, I thought back to yesterday with a cringe.

“Hey, Mine. We need to talk.”

I smiled as I turned to him from the kitchen stool I sat on. Papers were spread all across the kitchen bar as I had been finishing the pack ledger I was working on.

I had been working on putting all of the necessary information for each pack in a book for Eric before I decided to copy it for the other Alphas. I had done one for Eric, Jonah, Silver, and the one European Alpha so far.

When I turned to Jonah my smile had fallen at the serious look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Apparently, we are needed back home. Beta Marcus linked me. He didn’t tell me what it was but...it’s serious. We need to go back tomorrow.”

“What?! Tomorrow? Woah, woah, woah. Wait a second. We can’t leave.”

“I’m sorry, baby but we have to. If Beta Marcus says it’s serious, it’s serious.”

Though I had not been around Marcus long, and for what felt like a very long time, I vividly remembered how laidback he was. Until he needed to be serious, of course. So, I understood what Jonah was saying. If Marcus said it was serious then it was. But that didn’t mean I could just drop everything here and leave.

“I can’t just go! What about all of the people here? My people? They are still here waiting for all of these packs to arrive and I could never see them again! I can’t leave yet.”

“Yes, but our pack is your people now too and they need us now. These humans here will be fine without us. They’re safe and settled. And I’m sorry, Mine. I really am. I don’t like the thought you may not see them again if they happen to be mates. But if they aren’t mates I promise to bring you back to see them again. But we can’t stay here.”

“Well...what if you go and I stay. You can fix what’s wrong and come back. I know they should be safe now and they’re secure. But I’m one of the people they see as a liaison to Eric and the other shifters!”

His growl shocked me a little but I could tell it was him being irritated about the idea of me staying and not really at me.

“You’re not staying here! You’re my mate, my Luna. We aren’t going to be separated. Never!”

He snarled, pacing back and forth in the kitchen. If he had been in his wolf form I was sure his hackles would be raised.

Seeing how upset he was, I slid off the stool and walked over to him. As soon as my arms had wrapped around him he immediately stopped, burying his nose in my neck. I stood there, not feeling ticklish for once because I knew him inhaling my scent was helping calm him down.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just...torn. Leaving here feels so...permanent. Like I’m losing the last bit of the life I knew. It’s not that I don’t want to go with you.”

After a few moments, Jonah pulled back to rest his forehead on mine. “I’m sorry too, Mine. I realize what you meant. The idea of being separated from you again is just...terrifying. But I know why you said it. But I promise you unless they’re mates and leave before we get back...I’ll bring you back to see them one day. They’ll be fine here. They’ve been around Eric’s pack...what...four months now? And since the attack, the doctor has really stepped up with being in communication with Eric. I know you may not want to hear it...but these people don’t really need you anymore. You’ve helped them all you can now. But our pack needs us.”

After we talked for a few more minutes, I asked when he thought we could maybe come back. His wince should have been my first clue. He told me about how long it would take us to travel to our pack and back, not including how long it would take to handle whatever issue that was happening.

I winced again, thinking back on that. We would not be coming back anytime soon. So, when we had talked to everyone about it last night, it became clear we were saying goodbye. Even if I was hoping to see them again.

Jonah was right and my place was no longer here. It took me a while to come to terms with that. But, after experiencing being away from him before I knew I didn’t want to do that again. I mean, we were not even mated before and it was something I never wanted to go through again. I could not imagine being away from him for months. Besides, he was right. When we had mated we started a new chapter of our lives. This was part of that.

Considering the fact we were leaving, and with our fight yesterday that still weighed on me even though it was minor, I had also decided to mention I thought the female shifter was in fact shifter.

I guess part of me hoped I would not have the secret on my conscience any longer. Especially seeing how I would not be at Eric’s pack territory much longer. I figured she must have gotten far enough away they could not track her by now, and the packs would also be able to know there was an unknown female shifter out there.

Of course, the shocking turn of events did not stop with just us announcing we needed to leave.

After we told everyone we had to leave and would be leaving immediately, it was not such a big deal as I thought it would be. Then the two kids from the plane crash came out of the main house and shocked everyone. The teenage girl finally talked.

We still did not know her name and she did not say much, but what she did say then had caused an uproar. The protests continued when Liam, the boy ever-present by her side, agreed with her. What had been us saying goodbye to everyone had turned into debates and arguments.

Now it’s way too early to be awake and my ‘bags’ are packed. I laugh to myself lightly at the generous idea of having bags packed.

I walk downstairs to see a couple of other bags on the floor by the door and I hear the many voices coming from the kitchen. When I walk in, I see everyone eating and talking. I smile and walk over to Jonah, to be pulled onto his lap and fed.

After another hour we headed out to leave the packhouse and all of the survivors from the plane crash were waiting. Though they were saying goodbye to us, everyone’s attention was on the two people standing next to me.

I looked over at Liam and the girl and asked softly, “Are you two sure you want to come with us?”

The girl only nodded while Liam grinned up at me, jumping from side to side in excitement.

I sighed but smiled softly. I did not know why the kids wanted to come with us. We had to make it clear to them this was not a quick vacation. If they wanted to come back it would not be anytime soon. But they were adamant. So much so that all protests yesterday had fallen on non-listening ears.

Jonah wrapped his arm around my waist and bent to kiss me. After a few moments, he pulled away. “Emilia Grey…my mate.”

I was startled a little at his last name after my name but then smiled as happiness trickled through me.

“Are you ready to go home, Mine?”

The six shifters from our pack who had stayed with us were getting the carriage ready. The same buggy that had brought me here. It had been so long since I was last in it and I was not the same person that had first arrived here. I had grown from a girl who preferred to hide in the corner of the room to someone who, well, still preferred to hide in my room. But, I had stood up for myself and I had become a leading figure. I had grown from scared, worried, and uncertain to someone who would try and stand up for what I believed in or wanted. I had made friends and lost friends. I had accepted my new life, building it into something I could be happy with. I had learned more about this new world I live in now than most people who grew up here knew. I had found love.

Smiling up at Jonah happily, I nodded. Just yesterday I had wanted to stay here. But I realized that was fear and uncertainty speaking; that was the past me speaking. But I was finally ready to say hello to my future with this man by my side. I knew I could do anything with him helping me, supporting me, encouraging me, and loving me.

“Yes, Jonah Grey…my mate. Take me home.”