Heart of the Moon

As soon as I showered I went in search of Kieran… I wanted him to know what the Goddess had told me. He was in the boys’ room again.. reading a book. He smiled “Good morning, Momma.. we didn’t want to wake you. I got them dressed by myself!

Looking at my sons, I simply nodded and let him know I appreciated it! Both boys didn’t match.. Darius had a yellow floral shirt on with plaid shorts. While Derek was wearing a flannel shirt and camouflage pants. I giggled and asked “They picked their outfits?” And all three faces lit up in identical grins… nodding. I laughed.. how adorable are these men of mine!?

After breakfast, I dropped the boys at daycare.. and we all met in the conference room. Mabel was brought in.. looking nervous.. my dad told her to relax.. she wasn’t in trouble. She half smiled and asked why she was summoned.

Kieran smiled at her, he introduced himself. Letting her know he was my mate and he just wanted to ask her a few questions about Dr. Jenkins. She had a look of confusion on her face. She said “I don’t understand. He was a nice man, knowledgeable.. He told me his family was wiped out by rogues and he needed a change.. So he applied to our ad.. we needed a pack doctor and his credentials were all in order.”

Kieran nodded and said “All of that makes sense. My questions lie in why his family history was left blank. Nothing about his previous history from his old pack.. was there a specific reason that information was never pursued?”

She sat thinking..and then she said “I remember now.. in the middle of the interview, he started crying… hysterically.. about his family.. I asked him to take a moment and compose himself… That we would address the rest of the application later in the day. I never had the opportunity.. That was the day we all thought there was an imminent rogue attack. Everyone was sent to the bunkers, only to find out the attack was only twenty people requesting asylum. I was set the task of vetting them.. which took approximately three days. To my shame, I honestly forgot to complete Dr. Jenkins interview”

Daddy looked at Kieran, then said to Mabel “It was an honest mistake, Mabel. Everything is fine. You may go.” Once she was gone, I said “Okay.. we have the tutor, Ian… the Dr.. Isaiah.. is Uncle Seamus suspect? Valerie and her rogue buddy.. Who else? Because the Goddess came to me last night, and she said something about the traitors we are uncovering!”

Everyone in the room said “WHAT??!!” at the same time. I smiled and said “Now that I have your attention! Daddy, I saw Momma. She said to tell you and Alec how much she loves you.. that she is always watching over us and how proud she is of you!”

My dad teared up and said “She’s okay. She’s happy?” I nod at him and tell him “I believe she is. She misses us, but she knew it was her time” Alec smiled and told me he was happy I got to see her.

I told them everything the Goddess told me.. even about my children. Kieran asks “Derek’s blood wasn’t silver.. when he had that bloody nose.” I shrugged and said “All she said about it, was my children would carry it.. so I don’t know if there is simply silver mixed in their blood.. or if it will turn silver at a later date.”

Kieran says “Axel, you and Cole go over any and all transfers we have had over the last several years. Wasn’t Vanessa a transfer with her family, when we were kids?” Axel said “I believe they were.. but her father died about ten years ago in a rogue attack. So, if he was a traitor, why would he fight for our pack?”

I shrugged “I think we need to read the book of Legends in Kieran’s office. It has his detailed history.. so maybe that’s a starting point. Daddy, we need to go over our transfers, as well. The Goddess said this has been in play for a century, at least. I am the third Heart that she has borne.. the other two were assassinated before reaching adulthood.”

Daddy said “I thought we were being cautious.. I honestly believed we had our bases covered.. yet still, information leaked. I believe we have to move forward, with the understanding we have traitors in our midst. We have taken precautions here.. with security cameras all along our borders.. the bunkers are manned 24/7 now.. cameras in all common areas of the pack. Alec, anything else we can do?”

Alec nods “If we are assuming correctly, Kieran, you and Calista will be having a Luna ceremony, soon enough.. so we should concentrate on securing your pack, as well. I know Nick has your bunkers almost completed on the borders.”

Kieran responded “The Luna Ceremony will not take place until Calista can completely forgive me.. then, and only then, will we move forward.” And I said “Yeah.. about that. The Goddess informed me that you and I have to mate and mark before then! She couldn’t expound, just that there is something in the works to prevent that from happening at the ceremony. So she gave us permission to mate and mark before the actual ceremony on the full moon.”

He looks at me, eyes wide, and growls “What? It is tradition! No Luna has been marked before her ceremony!” Shrugging, I said “She said it has to happen before! Whether we have a private ceremony and do it on a full moon.. or not. It has to happen before the official ceremony! I, for one, will not go against the Goddess’s dictates!”

He sighs and speaks lowly “I agree.. I can also accept a private ceremony. But, only when you know you can accept me with a forgiving heart. I know it is a lot to ask.” I smile and say “I have forgiven you, Kieran. I love you. To hold the past against you says more about me, than it does you.”

He mutters “You love me? You really love me? Oh my Goddess! I love you so much.. I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you!” I said “I have always loved you, Kieran.. I was disappointed in you. For not being the mate I was brought up believing you would be.. for acting like an irresponsible douchebag! That made me angry. I understand the concept of sowing wild oats and all that shit.. I just was unprepared for being some of the oats you needed to sow! That was before I fully understood how all-encompassing the mate bond can be. My soul forgave you.. every time. My head wanted to castrate you. I don’t want to do that anymore. My head has accepted your reticence in accepting us, due to what you witnessed of the bond in your formative years. So, forgiveness is the natural follow up to understanding!”

He grabbed me and kissed me.. in front of everyone. And, somehow, it felt as intimate as anything I had ever experienced with him. Pulling back, he whispered “Thank you! For not giving up. For believing in me! For allowing me the privilege of being your mate! I will never let you down, again! I promise you! I will love you forever!”