Wild at Heart

By the looks of shock across the faces of the elders, Nick didn’t put them in the loop before he declared his decision. There were whispers among the pack and Nick had to quiet them down. He turned to the elders.

“Do you accept my decision?” He asked. They whispered between the five of them and Josephine nodded in approval. Nick turned back to Natalie and went to her side. He leaned into her ear and whispered, but I couldn’t hear what was being said. He turned to Alex and muttered something else to him I couldn’t catch. Alex nodded and lead Natalie away, taking Daniel on his way out. Nick came over to me and I instantly took his hand.

“Thank you, Nick.” I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t want to make a scene in front of the elders.

“Don’t thank me yet, little wolf.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t kill her, but that doesn’t mean she’s safe.” Nick didn’t sentence her to death but banishing her from the pack made her a rogue. Reginald would never accept her into his pack with the thought that it would threaten our alliance. No one was ever safe in the South, but Stefan would owe her for her favor of keeping him safe during his time in our pack. She could try to make it to the West, but Natalie wasn’t a warrior, and she didn’t fit their criteria. It would be a cold day in Hell before they let her into their pack. Natalie would never make it on her own as a rogue.

“What did you tell her?” I asked. Nick looked over at the elders before turning back to me.

“I’ll tell you at home.” He whispered. “Right now, Daniel, Alex and I have to take her to the borders and banish her.”

“Right now?” I was shocked it was so soon. “No one can say goodbye first? Her mother?”

“Her mother is the only one, no friends. Alex took her to the car to meet her mom there so they can say their goodbyes. I’m sorry, Emma. I wish I could do more for you or Chloe.”

“It’s okay, Nick. You did more than I thought you could already.” He smiled at me and brushed his fingers across my cheek.

“I want you to take Chloe and Kyle to the packhouse and stay there with Alan until I get back.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I know Stefan is going to make good on his threats, I just don’t know when.” He sighed in frustration. “Chloe is going to need you and her mate right now and I’ll just feel better knowing you’re with our Omegas.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll stay there until you come back.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“I have to go.” I squeezed him tightly before he disappeared out the side door with Daniel. I scanned the crowd for my friends and found them still in the back of the firehall. Kyle was holding Chloe to his chest. I squeezed my way through the wolves and grabbed Chloe’s hand.

“Come with me.” I said. She looked at me then Kyle with confusion, but they pair still followed me out the front doors. “Nick wants us to go to the packhouse and stay there until he gets back. I’ll explain everything I know when we get there.”

“Okay.” Chloe agreed. Alan pulled a car up to the side of the building and Chloe and Kyle got in the backseat while I took the passenger seat.

“Thanks, Alan.” I said with a smile.

“No need to thank me, Emma, I’ll do anything for you.” He responded. I caught a look between Chloe and Kyle and realized they had no idea who Alan was. “Oh, Alan this is Chloe and Kyle, they’re my friends. Chloe and Kyle, this is Alan. He’s the Omega who saved my life when I drowned.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Alan. Thank you for saving my best friend.” Chloe’s words were laced with as much sweetness that was in a cupcake.

“Nice to meet you, Alan.” Kyle wasn’t as sweet, but he was genuine.

“It’s my pleasure.” Alan responded. “Keeping our Luna safe is one of my jobs.”

“That’s a big job to have.” Kyle muttered. Chloe’s elbow connected with Kyle’s arm. “Ow!” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“He’s not wrong.” I admitted. “I have a special skill for getting myself into trouble.”

“You’ve nearly died twice, Emma, and I’ve been there for both of them.” Alan pointed out. “The Moon Goddess has put me in those situations for a reason and I’ll gladly take on the task.” I smiled at him. Alan wasn’t the same wolf he was that day I was shot in the mountains. He could barely take on one rogue and now he was one of our best warriors. I have a love for him much like I would love a little brother. Our connection was undeniable, and I would do anything to keep him safe.

Alan took us to his room for privacy and he left the three of us alone while he went to the kitchen to get us all some food. I sat on the bed with Chloe while Kyle leaned against it on the floor.

“Did you know?” Chloe asked me. “Did Nick tell you he was going to banish her?”

“No.” I said as I shook my head. “I don’t think he knew until he was standing in front of her.”

“I’m just happy the elders went for it.” Kyle added.

“What’s going to happen to her?” Chloe asked.

“She got to say goodbye to her mother before Nick and Daniel took her to the borders.”

“She’s gone already?” She asked. I nodded.

“So, she’s a rogue now?” Kyle questioned.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I agreed. “I don’t know if any of the surrounding territories will take her in, or if she’ll try to make it on her own.”

“We don’t know anything about the other territories like you do, Emma, do you think they would take her in?” Chloe asked me.

“The East won’t.” I said. “I can’t tell you specifics, but they just won’t. In my opinion, neither will the West.” I bit my lip and thought about Natalie’s situation. “I don’t know that the South would or wouldn’t. But I also don’t know if she would be in a better position to stay a rogue than become a member of the South pack.”

“We know Natalie, she’ll never make it on her own.” I didn’t have to say anything for them to know I was agreeing with them. Nick didn’t kill her, but he may have still sentenced her to death.

Alan brought us food and we all stayed in the room together and talked about anything we could that didn’t have to do with Natalie. There were a lot of questions about what Alan did as an Omega and surrounding his lifestyle in the packhouse. It was nice to see my old friends and my new friend getting along so well. It passed the time quickly too and Nick was back before I knew it. He dropped off Chloe and Kyle back at their house before taking me back home. I instantly wanted to know everything that happened, but Nick forced me to wait until we got inside. We both sat on the couch and he leaned back and closed his eyes. He looked exhausted. Before I became Luna, I had no idea what it was like to run a pack. What it was like to make the hard decisions and keep everyone safe.

“Nick?”

“Hmm?” He kept his eyes closed like he was on the verge of falling asleep.

“Is she going to be okay?”

“No.” He opened his eyes and turned his body so he could face me. “She’s a wolf with no pack.” He said. “She’s lived her whole life being safe within a pack and now she has no home.” I bit my lip and tried to control my emotions. I had to remind myself that this was the best thing we could do for her. “But I think I gave her hope.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I told her to find Elijah.”

“Who the Hell is Elijah?”