The Unwanted Luna

-POV Zelena-

After going back and forth on when we were actually leaving, we finally set a date and the three of us - Charlie, Raven, and I - followed the alphas and their Luna back to the pack house. It was a rather quick turnaround once they came to assist, but I was happy for it. Once we got the last box settled in Raven's room, the little munchkin ran down the stairs and disappeared about halfway through the second story.

I ran around looking for her and finally saw her inside the main office for the ranked members. She was animatedly telling Kyle something about our drive up here...I think. "Kitten, remember what I said, you are free to go where I go." Charlie hummed softly from behind me. I jumped and turned to face him while he held my waist so I didn't fall. "Careful there."

"You surprised me is all. I need to get Raven, but it seems like she is having a great time with Kyle at the moment." I giggled softly and he looked over my head, furrowing his brow.

We walked in together and he easily pulled her off of Kyle's lap. "Nope." He huffed and sat on the couch, patting the seat next to him. Raven started to bounce happily. "I don't want her tainted by that Lycan." He huffed.

"Tainted? I'm hurt. I'll just teach her a little bit of mischief. Nothing more." Kyle said.

Charlie rolled his eyes as I quickly took the seat next to him. "That's what I'm worried about."

I looked at their banter and a smile fell from my lips. Kyle doesn't know what he's in for. She's a terror sometimes all on her own. The guys looked over at me and I noticed I was staring. I cleared my throat and tried my best not to shy away. I know shifters don't like weakness. "Yes?" I asked curiously.

"Yep...you and Ayame will get along just fine." Vince said with a chuckle before turning to a map of some kind. I think that was a compliment?

"Speaking of." Kyle leaned back and Emily and Ayame walked through the door as if they were called.

"Can I still finish my story daddy?" Raven asked and started poking Charlie's cheek. "I was on the part where we saw a giant moose!" She shouted. "Awwwhh! Is this little Raven?" Emily bounced over happily.

"I'm still trying to figure out when you became a father, but yeah, what about the moose?" Kyle said, even more interested in my daughter's babbling.

"A moose?" Ayame chimed in, taking one of the armchairs.

Raven giggled lightly at the attention and wiggled out of Charlie's lap and started pacing the floor with the best theatrics a three-year-old can do. "Well! Mr.Charlie became my daddy because I'm his pup! He promised to be my daddy forever!" She flung her little arms and they smacked a glass on the table that Charlie grabbed with ease and moved to the nightstand next to the couch before it shattered on the floor. True to character, Raven didn't even notice.

Oh goddess, it is nice to have a second set of hands. "Oh cool!" Kyle added with just as much animation while Emily beamed at the sight.

"Yeah! Then, the moose! The moose was big but daddy said he could beat up the moose if it tried to hurt me and momma, so I wasn't scared anymore." She rubbed her hand on her nose and continued. "Daddy's wolf is huge!" She squealed while I remembered when he finally showed us his other form. Surprisingly enough, the two of us weren't terrified of the massive beast.

Vil rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I can take him down, easy." He mocked playfully. Yeah, the big bad alpha actually has a soft spot every once in a while.

Charlie growled lowly. "I have no issue taking this to the training grounds, Vil."

Vil's eyes shifted to his Head Warrior as he leaned back in the seat. "I'm so ready for this. Training always beats paperwork." He added.

"Wait, but I'm not done with my story." Raven huffed.

"As much as we would love to hear the ending, how about we save it for dinner? Your momma and aunties need to go brush up on some reading for now. Fair?" Edon asked, folding his arms across his chest as if my daughter actually had a say.

Wow, they were really feeding into her. She nodded quickly and ran back towards Charlie before teleporting into his lap. "Well, then I guess we will leave you with her then." I said, standing to my feet, not really wanting to answer the stunned faces. She really likes to use her magic a little too much.

Emily groaned and trudged towards the door. "I don't want to do this but if I must."

Ayame kissed each alpha before we headed out and waved to Vince, Kyle and Charlie. "Come on, Em. It won't be that bad. I'm sure of it." Ayame assured her and Emily continued to groan around the corner towards the library.

The clock slowly ticked by while the three of us sat in the library. The guys called it studying, but from the look on Emily and Ayame's faces, I don't think they really are doing anything of the sort. I cleared my throat and they looked up at me. "What's up, Zel?" Emily asked with a big grin on her face.

"Zel?" I countered, holding back a laugh.

She rubbed her chin and nodded. "Yeah. Zel. I think it's a cool nickname?" She turned to Ayame, who was also holding in her snickering. "Right?!"

At that, Ayame couldn't help it and the laugh came flooding out. "You know...keep trying." She said through her laughing fits.

Emily flew her head back and groaned. "Finnnneeee."

I shook my head and walked over to sit on the couch next to her while Ayame continued to snuggle into herself on the armchair. She really was quite the tiny Luna. "Do you mind me asking how you two came to find your mates? How did you end up here? I mean...you two know that Charlie found me while he was watching out for Malerie." I asked softly. I mean, it wasn't like we were actually studying anyway. Might as well chat instead.

The laughter died in Ayame's throat and Emily's eyes darkened. "Um..." She started but the room felt colder.

I waved my hands out between us and the Luna frantically. "S-Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

Ayame shook her head. "No, it's okay. You and I are friends now, right? So, it...it's okay if I tell you." She shifted her weight and there was that...aura again. "It all started when I had this brilliant idea to live with the spawn of the underworld himself." She began and it didn't get any better from there. I could feel my face pale as she told me about the scars she obtained and the pain she felt before she thought she really was going to die alone. "They found you in the middle of March in an abandoned town?!"

She smiled softly. "Yeah...I guess they did. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have made it through another night. I was just so focused on running away." She was about to continue but her mouth opened and words didn't come out. We waited patiently until she finally finished her thought. "Just like I did when he confronted me two weeks ago."

Emily ran up and sat next to Ayame. "That's not what happened, Ayame. You were beyond stressed with way too much coming at you all at once. You didn't just run away." I winced as her aura became more strained.

Ayame smirked, but it was dry and emotionless. "Yes, I did. Remember what the Elder said about the second half of my Luna trial? I have to confront my past to live in the present, but I can't even be in the same room as that man without crumbling. I'm still trying to figure out how I stood up to Malerie, and don't even get me started on her mother, the queen bee. Richard was the man that killed my reason for life. He made me honestly think it was better to freeze to death than live another day. Especially with him. I...I was....." I got to my feet and sat on the other side of Ayame. She furrowed her brow before her smile came back. "What are you two doing?"

"You just seemed like you needed some comfort." I patted her leg and leaned back on the armchair.

"Ha! Momma Warrior to the rescue!" Emily added comically.

"Emily!" Ayame said, finally pulling herself out of that dark place that was beginning to suffocate me as much as her. I should've never asked her to tell me about her past.

"What?! She's the only one here with a baby and the cutest one to boot!" Emily added with a glint in her eye. Was that...tears?

"Yeah...I mean I am, but I'm sure you two will be close behind me and I'm sure Raven will have siblings and cousins soon." I added, trying to lighten the mood.

Wrong. Wrong! I did not lighten the mood. Now Emily looked like she was about to break. I'm not really good with this whole friend thing. Oh Goddess. "I wish." She whispered.

"Yeah, but you said that Zyair and his healers are almost ready to help you." Ayame whimpered. "They...they will fix this."

"I don't know if I want them to fix this." Emily admitted.

"Why would you say that?!" We both shouted.

She sighed angrily. "I mean...have you tasted that potion they make me drink every day." She shivered and a subtle grin fell on her face.

"Not funny!!" Ayame shouted and I sighed in relief. Was she messing with us?!

"Either way... can we please get back to the baby part!" I squealed happily. I really won't be the only momma out of the three of us for long. It's not like there weren't other parents in the coven, I just never really got attached to any of them.

Emily shrugged and her face darkened again. "Not for long. Kyle is being a real trooper about all of this, but um...the longer the King's doctors take to figure this out, the more I feel my child's spirit disappearing. It breaks my heart every day, and I just want to make it stop." She added in barely a whisper. That was not a joke.

"I...is there something wrong?" I asked.

Emily nodded. "I guess it's my turn to tell my story." Hers was the normal pack life story. Living with her parents. She is a werewolf, and she enjoys protecting her loved ones. The greatest attributes of a beta female. However, shortly after she and Ayame became close, she...she was shot with a bullet dipped in wolfsbane.

Then, Kyle and Emily conceived but the poison was still lodged with the remaining bullet fragments that never left her body. Therefore, the doctor told her she was pregnant and in the same breath the baby didn't look like it would survive. Since then, they have seen the royal doctors and she is trying...to stay positive.

I felt my heart breaking for her. However, I felt like, for the first time, I wasn't alone. I felt like I could be there for someone. Form a bond with others. "I'm so sorry Emily. I'm so glad you both feel like it's safe to tell me all of this, but I'm sorry you had to go through it in the first place." "Of course. You told us about you and Charlie. I'm so happy for the two of you and your ability to have a second chance. Don't worry for us. As long as we have each other we can get through this." Ayame confessed.

"So... is that why you two have been so distracted since Ayame and I came back?" I asked. They both nodded and I got up, grabbing all the books, and throwing them in a pile.

Emily smirked and looked over at me while she subconsciously rested her hand on her tummy. "Zelena, what are you doing? We aren't done reading yet."

I rested my hands on my hips and grinned, determined to change the mood. "Alright then, no more books! How about we ask the one thing I've been dying to know." I smiled and they both looked at me curiously. "How are the triplets three different shifters?! I mean I met their father. He's definitely a Lycan...I'm not sure what their mother is. I think she's a wolf from what I've deduced with my, thankfully, short time with her. That explains Conri and Vil, but it doesn't explain Edon." I rubbed my chin and tried to make light of the situation I had caused. "That might be a fun mystery to solve."

Ayame gulped and shook her head. "No...Edon is a werebear because his mother is a werebear." She confessed softly.

Emily furrowed her brow. "She doesn't shift much, so she could be a wolf or a bear. No one really knows."

Ayame stood to her feet and shook her head as if she was trying to suppress a memory. Emily followed suit but she seemed more curious than fearful...like the Luna. "Ha! Either way, Edon and Vil are the mystery children. We must find out the truth!!" Ayame said, forcing a giggle. "Someone would have to have the same spirit animal as them and be pretty closely related for either of them to come out as a different species than their parents."

Emily plopped her hands on her hips. "Bloodline book anyone?" Bloodline book?! I thought those were all destroyed.

Ayame snorted as she slowly brought herself back to normal. "There is no way doc would let me borrow that book again and even if we could find it, there is no way those three wouldn't notice us trying to smear their blood on a book, Em." I sighed in relief and retained my shock. I shouldn't be surprised by anything anymore. I mean...Bodhi Cora exists, so why shouldn't a Bloodline book? I'm just happy my diversion seems to be working.

She groaned. "Okay, new plan. What if we -"

"You know you three are supposed to be studying, right?" I turned around to see Charlie in the doorway with a snoring Raven on his back. I walked up to him and pulled her off, letting her snuggle into my chest instead. I'm sure he needs a break. We have been in here for a few hours at this point.

"Nope! We have a mystery to solve!" Emily called, pulling Ayame out the door.

"Hey! I'm not going to get punished because you two played hooky again!" Charile hollered after them. I'm just glad they are smiling again. I'll take the heat this time.

I shifted Raven's weight and tapped his shoulder. "I may have asked them some things that made the mood turn sour so...I think they are taking my distraction a bit too literally." Charlie furrowed his brow. "Distraction?"

I nodded. "Yes, I wanted to get them smiling again and I may have told them to see why Edon is a werebear or why Vil is a wolf?"

Charlie froze for a second then started laughing. "Oh, kitten. They are going to be so disappointed when they find out." He continued to chuckle while he reached out for Raven again. "I'll go put her down for a nap. You can go along with them."

My eyes grew. "Wait, you already know?!"

He pulled Raven out of my arms and kissed my cheek softly. "Of course, I do. I was there when they came home from the hospital. I am the oldest, remember?"

"Well then why don't you just tell us?"

He walked out of the library and headed up the stairs. "Oh, I can't do that. That would kill the fun." He called back and I rolled my eyes, confirming it wasn't worth the bother.

I spun on my heels and ran after those two. I could hear shouting and giggles from the kitchen, so I'm sure that's where they are. Smiling and laughing...far away from their demons.