Regretted Rejection : Wrath of the Moon

"The pack members that have disappeared are not kidnapped. They left the pack of their own violation.” Maya explained.

"What are you saying? Why will they?" Ken asked confused

Maya sighs and starts explaining her point, "Let's tackle one problem at a time. The reason I asked for the age of pack members is because the female wolves that have disappeared are between the age group of 16 to 25. It is the ideal age for finding a mate. Something or someone is guiding them to their mates that are outside the pack.”

"How can you be so sure of this?" Ken asked.

"Because we took the time to ask other pack surrounding you about any recent joining in their packs. Just this morning we have found all your disappeared pack mates"

"Why didn't they inform us before leaving?" Ken interjects

Jeff interrupts with a huff, "When a were finds their mate, propriety is the last thing on their mind. The mate takes precedence above all. You of all people should know this, Alpha.”

Ken glowered at Jeff. "And the kids? Why have they left?" Justin questions perplexed.

Maya delivers her final explanation, "All the kids that left are orphans of the pack or they are from abusive households.”

Ken is not convinced and asks Maya, "But they are kids. How can they leave without an elder detecting their presence? There are constantly pack warriors surrounding the territory, to avoid them is impossible for kids."

Dylan says, interrupting them before Maya has a chance to speak, "Kids are smarter than you think. Also Maya was just talking about something or someone helping them, remember?”

"We will help you." Maya says, "However we will help you only with the rogues’ situation. The other problem needs to be solved by yourself. It doesn't seem to be a malicious person or entity who is doing all this."

"Any kind of help is appreciated.” Ken said sighing softly, "When will you arrive home?"

"I will enter the Forrester pack territory with my team in a couple of days. I need to do some research and prepare a few things before we come over." Maya said standing up and picking up the file. "However, I will remind you to treat us as people from Council and not as rogues. I will leave with my team if we are subjected to any insult. Our accommodations can be arranged inside the common pack house. We will take care of our food ourselves.”

"Okay." Justin said shifting on his seat a little at the thought of his daughter staying at the common pack house and not in his home.

Maya nodded and left with Jeff following on her heels.

"Maya changed her name?" Justin asked Dylan.

"Yes. She took on my family name. My wife helped her a lot when she arrived here first. Infact, all the members of her team have taken it up as their own name. They took it up as a sign of respect to my beloved.” Dylan replied.

Justin nodded and left the room with Ken. Anyone watching him leave could feel the dejection in his posture as he left. Dylan looks on confused by his behaviour.

The Forrester Pack's Conference Room;

"Alpha, you mean to say that Rogue Maya is now Team Leader Maya Wright? How is this possible? Isn't she really weak?" Beta Mark asked incredulous.

"She must have slept her way to the top.” an Omega interjects with disgust in his tone. A sharp growl sounds in the room. Everyone turns to look at Xander. His eyes are filled with anger.

"Watch what you are saying. We cannot disrespect anyone like this. Certainly not anyone from the Council.” Claire scolds the Omega.

"Sorry, Luna Claire." he responds. Claire just nods.

All the pack members in the conference room share the same thought of how their Luna Claire was loving and caring towards everyone. The thought that any pseudo Luna might arrive to snatch her place in the pack came to their minds and their fur bristled.

Even though Maya had grown up in the pack, she didn't have as much interaction with other pack members outside of meeting. And as a result, Claire who began her journey in the pack from common wolves had earned a fond place in the hearts of pack members.

"Alright Luna. We won't disrespect the Wrath of the Moon team. However if the team insults our Luna or Alpha then we will boycott them and ask them to leave.” Beta Mark declared passionately. Everyone around the table nodded except Xander who kept looking at his hands.

"Claire, you will not be alone in the same room with her. There must at least be two people by your side. Beta Mark, arrange two of our best pack warriors to stay next to Claire the entire time Wrath of the Moon team is here.” Ken commanded.

"I have a better idea.” Xander spoke up. Everyone was surprised to hear him speak as he had been keeping silent since the meeting started. "Instead of engaging two warriors for Claire's safety, let me handle it. I will stay besides Claire until they are here.”

Ken nodded and dismissed the meeting after going over the finer points again. As Xander prepared to leave the room, Ken stopped him. Only Ken, Claire and Xander were in the room.

"Xander will you be able to handle this? She might lose her temper and try to attack Claire. Will you be able to defend Claire? Will you be able to hurt Maya to protect Claire?” Ken asked concerned "Do you think Maya will be able to hurt me if I stand between her and Claire? According to you, she knows that I haven't harmed her. So we can determine that she will not try to harm me either." Xander countered.

Both Ken and Claire accepted the fact that Xander made sense. Maya was least likely to hurt Xander. He is her true mate as well as he never hurt her.

"But... Xander will you stand by me? If she wants you to tell the pack or worse the Council of how I wronged her, will you support her?" Claire asked her eyes tearing up a little.

"I have always protected you, haven't I? Since our childhood I have always stood by your side. I will never reveal anything to anyone.” Xander consoled her by patting her back and said, "Also what you did was unknowingly. If it was possible to rescue her earlier then we would have rescued her. You always kept on top of the search reports for Maya to atone for what you did.”

Xander then left the conference room after a few moments and went to his sleeping quarters. He closed the door and walked to a closet. He opened the closet door and took out a broken chair seat from inside the closet. He carefully stroked the chair seat and hugged it close. He sat on his bed and let out a small smile filled with pain. His eyes held hope for the first time in many years. He fell asleep holding the broken seat and dreaming of Maya's smiling face.

Forrester Pack Elder Justin and Judy's room;

"You saw her? How is she? How is my daughter? Does she still looks the same? Did she talk with you? How did she became Team Leader of Wrath of the Moon? Did she face a lot of hardships? Tell me... Why are you silent? Tell me quick.” Judy questioned Justin tirelessly.

"She... she seems fine, healthy. She changed her name, Judy. She changed her name." Justin could barely reply Judy before dissolving in tears.

"What are you talking about?" Judy asked a bit apprehensive.

"She changed her name from Maya Forrester to Maya Wright. She rejected me as her father. She. she hates me Judy." Justin replied with tears streaming down his face. He looked like he aged a lot in a matter of hours.

"Oh Justin." Judy sighed her own eyes bright with unshed tears. Both Elder Forresters held each other and cried for their loss. The environment seemed to become as gloomy as their mood.