Moon Bound

Marisol

Since stepping on the South Pack’s territory, my nerves have been everywhere. The symptoms that I have been feeling because of my nervousness were embarrassing to say the least.

My breathing has been so quick even the breathing exercises that Izumi was doing with me weren’t helping. I fidgeted with my hair, wrapping a finger around my strands before tugging slightly on them. The most embarrassing one of all, every few minutes I will having to wipe the sweat that is accumulating on my forehead off.

Ever since we stepped into South Pack’s territory I’ve been nervous. Nervous that Benjamin might have told my parents who my mate is. Nervous that the Alpha of this pack knows that I’m the mate of the King and tells him where I am. Nervous that the King is on his way to where I am right now.

“Marisol, there’s no need to be frightened.” Izumi grabbed my hands and I didn’t even notice they were shaking until she squeezed them. “I convinced Ben to keep who your mate is a secret when he decided to tell your parents, and he said he was just going to visit the Alpha to be respectful.”

I nodded my head. Usually my parents were eager to greet me at the border, but since this is a last minute trip I’m sure they didn’t have time to prepare.

It still does not make it any less disappointing though.

Izumi sighs before pulling me into her embrace. “When we get to your parents it will be your decision to tell them. If you decide not to I will support you okay? This is about you.” She assures me as she runs her fingers through my hair. "If they badger you too much I will step in, and if it you want to go back home we can."

I wrap my arms around her and hug her as tightly as I can. Even though I have only known her a little longer than a year she always knows exactly what to say to help me when I’m spiraling.

“Thank you Izumi. I’m just a little nervous.”

“Don’t be, plus maybe you’ll get another vision of one of your siblings and their future mate like last time. That would take the spotlight off of you avoiding yours.” She laughed.

“I’m not avoiding him, I’m just giving myself a little more time.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically because letting out a sarcastic, “Right.”

“Izumi, now is not the time to judge me please.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Let’s just make it to your parents house get settled, and in a few days you’ll meet your mate and you’ll live happily ever after.”

I laugh at her statement and nod. “Alright their house is near the edge of the forest so we’ll get there really quick.”

Izumi nodded and we began walking through the forest.

I convinced Izumi to leave our bags just incase I get a vision and need to leave the pack early. The real reason that I wanted to leave the bags incase I needed a quick escape. I am sure she knows that but decide to indulge me anyways.

As Izumi and I stepped out of the woods I see my parents and two of my siblings waiting outside for me.

The second they see me my parents they come running towards me. I barely have time to prepare myself for their embrace. They both make it to me at the same time, their arms circling around me as the three of us laughed.

Izumi helped me keep my balance by placing her arm around my waist as I lost my footing. Without her the three us probably would have crashed onto the ground.

“We have missed you so much! It’s been so long Marisol!” I could feel my moms tears touch my shoulder as she pulled me out of my dads arms to give me a proper hug.

I hugged her back. “I’ve missed you all too! I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately.”

My dad pulled me away from her and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Have you grown taller?” He asked sarcastically, the smile on his face growing even bigger.

We all laughed. It was pretty obvious that I haven’t grown any taller since the last time I saw him. The average fifteen year old she-wolf is taller than I am.

My two siblings, Maya and Lukas both wrap an arm around me. This is progress usually they just stand aside and wave and stare at me like I’m distant relative. Usually mom has to be the one to push them to hug me.

I try my best to contain my shock as I pull them in for a hug anyway. This probably the first time that they have actually shown me genuine affection since our tenth birthday.

“Where’s James?” I ask.

James is my other sibling, the one who doesn’t just tolerates me. The only sibling that I’m sure actually loves me. Last year I received a vision about Jame’s mate Kaylee. A beautiful she-wolf who's father is one of the Gamma's for the North-West pack. She is truly Jame's soulmate, they love doing anything that involves helping others in need. I was more than pleased that I was able to help pair them.

My mom grabbed Izumi and I’s hand and started to lead us inside. “He and Kaylee will be here soon, they volunteered to help the South-East pack after the attack.”

Izumi nodded her head. “Marisol was just there, I’m surprised they didn’t run into one another.”

Probably because I was too busy trying to get in and out of that pack as fast as possible.

We quickly made it inside before anyone responded to Izumi. I already am aware that they are probably going to bombard me with questions about my mate.

“Let’s all go sit in the living room, we can discuss everything there!” My mom exclaimed as she opened the front door of the house.

As we walked through the house I couldn’t help but look at all the photos in the house. Family vacations that I wasn’t able to go to, and some were just regular photos that they decided to take in the moment.

Jealousy creeps up on me every time I look at these photos. To know that I will never truly be apart of the family. That I didn’t grow up here and that two of my three siblings just tolerated me. They never really got the chance to know or love me.

“Hey c’mon Marisol, I need you to sit next to me and your father.”

I jump, startled at my mom's voice. I didn’t notice that I had stopped walking until my mom started to pull on my arm.

I nodded and let her lead me to the living room. I sat in between her and my dad and they immediately scooted closer to me sandwiching me between them.

Maya cleared her throat. “So Marisol, I’ve heard that you’ve found your mate, why isn’t he here? Are you too embarrassed of us to let him met us?”

Lukas scoffed. “Embarrassed by us? Why would she be embarrassed by us?”

“Um why wouldn’t she? You literally smell awful right now.”

“I just came back from training! Excuse me if I would rather see Marisol than shower.”

“Every single day you show me that there are a lot of things that you would rather do other than shower.”

I couldn’t help but smile as they continued to tease one another, again something that I will never have with them.

Even though I spend more time with them now then when I was younger, I know that they’ll always be closer to one another than they are to me, I’ll never be anyones favorite sibling.

I had zoned out and the only reason my mind went back into focus is because of the loud groan that my mom let out. “That’s enough you two always behave like you’re seven.”

We all laughed.

She turned to me. “Now the question Maya asked is correct, where is your mate? I would love to meet him! I was so excited when Benjamin sent us the letter saying he got a vision of the two of you.”

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. “Um I technically haven’t met him, just saw him for a little less than a second when he was in wolf form. The vision that I had just showed hands so I wasn’t really sure who he was at first.”

I may be technically lying, but at the same time you can’t just confirm something like that with just hands.

Maya leaned forward putting her elbows on her thighs and her head in her hands. “Well I’m willing to take crumbs of information rather than no information at all! Ben told us that he shared his vision with you so tell us what you think of him from that.”

Her interest in me causes the blood to rush to my cheeks. I thought the only sibling that would be interested in hearing about my mate would have been James, but I’ll take it.

“I know who he is from the vision, and I am a little intimidated by him. He’s just up there when it comes to wolves, he might reject me because I’m a runt.” I shrug my shoulders.

The whole room got quiet, not that I was expecting my family to disagree it but it still hurts to not have any of them do it.

“Well I told her that her mate would be ecstatic to be her mate, because she’s so wonderful she can heal people, show them their mates, speak three languages and the best thing of all she’s a kind and genuine person.” Izumi exclaimed. "She is the most amazing person that I know so any male that would rejected her would be insane."

My dad put my hand on my shoulder. “That all is true, but I doubt that she would be able to survive giving birth to pups, let alone a high ranking wolf’s pups.”

“At the end of the day as amazing as she is she is still a runt.” My sister agreed with my dad.

I don’t know why their words were upsetting me when I agreed with them one-hundred percent, but I still had to fight the tears that want to fall from my eyes.

“I’m aware of that, which is why I am already prepared for him to reject me. Then I’ll be able to go about my business and do what I’m good at, helping others find their mates.” I choke out.

“Marisol! How many times do Benjamin and I have to tell you? He’s not going to reject you! I promise!” Izumi snapped at me, and I can tell that she is starting to get annoyed with my insecurities.

We all got quiet, they were probably nervous that Izumi was going to snap on them next. She was terrifying when she is angry.

After about two minutes of silence I couldn’t take it anymore. “I think I need a break from this conversation. I’m going to go for a walk.”

Everyone but Izumi started to volunteer to go with me but I quickly shut it down as I walked out of the house. I just need a little time apart after hearing what my family really thinks of me.