“Not yet,” Dad objected. “Transiting to his pack won’t be easy, likewise cutting ties with our pack once we tell Colin. We’re already just trying to settle into life, here again, so we’ll leave in a month, okay?”
I wasn’t mad about that, and no doubt Colin would raise hell once we told him we were leaving. He hated us, but at the same time, he needed us. I was a young wolf of age, and I dreaded the day he felt it was up to him to decide who I mated.
He had the audacity to pull something like that, and I wanted to be out of here before then. This, Dad, was right. It was better if the unease in the town at our arrival calmed down.
“Deal,” I said and opened the bathroom door.
However, as promised, we drank and ate together with the radio turned down. I tried to keep my excitement in check because although Dad agreed, I could see his grief that there was no point in being loyal to the Bluemoon Pack.
It was hard loving something and letting go, and Dad was now letting go of his dream to return the pack to what it was with his father. There had been peace with Silverdawn Pack back then, and life had been good.
Colin’s greed and hatred dug up a decades-old feud, and here we were.
Until Dad and I left, I’d have to be wary of Colin and of him learning of our plans. He was like the unwanted rain during a beach day, but I wouldn’t let him ruin this. It was a terrifying thought to join Silverdawn when many of them hated Bluemoon members, and rightfully so.
Like Kaleem said, I could join the pack without conditions, and while I wanted a future with him, we could take our time to get there. I wasn’t in a position to become the Luna of his pack.
While he was welcoming, I had no delusions that not all members would be as understanding.
“Hey,” I said when I caught Dad staring out the window. “We’re okay.”
He nodded while holding his glass out to me. “We are,” he agreed. “We finally are.”
***
Three Weeks Later
I stared at myself in the mirror because, for a second, I didn’t recognize the person staring back. My cheeks were full, my collar bones had filled out as well and weren’t as pronounced as before, and overall, I’d put on 20 pounds. I checked this morning.
I’d cut my hair to my shoulders a few days ago, and the new look was definitely working for me. Straightened or curly my hair framed my face, and with a few highlights, I looked like a new woman.
Smiling, I continued to wash my hands before heading back to my office. Since it was a Wednesday evening, it was semi-busy, and I decided to help out on the floor where needed before leaving.
The previous manager had left all the files and documents in disarray, but I’d spent the necessary time to correct that. Now, my workdays were smooth sailing.
Back in my office, I sent an email I was working on, and while doing that, I stared at my desk. When a blush crept up my neck to my cheek, I shook my head and held my head back, my eyes closed.
Kaleem and I were right back where we left things off over a decade ago.
Whenever we saw each other in public, there were sneaky glances, and whenever we had the chance, there were stolen kisses too. We decided to keep public contact with each other at a minimum leading up to our announcement that Dad and I were leaving the pack.
Colin also hadn’t shown up at the house since his last visit, and except for pack meetings, he was as scarce as he always was.
Colin ended the curfews, so Kaleem and I escaped to our spot in the forest whenever we wanted.
We even camped there last week.
Since then, I hadn’t seen him, but we messaged each other every day. If I was to meet myself a year ago, the Diana who was convinced she’d punch Kaleem if she saw him would hit me instead.
As hoped, the Bluemoon Pack wasn’t the talk of the town anymore because a new hybrid baby was born a week ago to a Gorgon and Fae. I hadn’t seen the child myself, but Marian was friends with the parents, so I saw pictures.
The little girl had the signature pale blue eyes for faes and snakes for hair like a Gorgon, and they were all white. She was absolutely stunning.
While Kaleem and I were wolves, I wondered what our kids would look like. Having pups was in our very distant future, but now that we were together and I’d be joining his pack and eventually become his Luna, I had to think ofeverythingthe future held.
Would our son have Kaleem’s eyes or mine? Would our daughter be quiet or outspoken?
While adults were pests to me, I loved children. They were perfect beings, innocent of the world’s ways and its corruption.