The Unwanted Luna

-POV

Ayame-

"Dad!" I shot around the guys faster than I could think and yanked Richard off of my dad. Right...stronger now. It was like my anxiety dissipated almost immediately when that man fell back on the floor behind me. "That's because we are the Luna, Ayame. You protect your pack." My

wolf howled with pride. "No matter what." She added.

I didn't even care what happened to that creep. I squeezed my dad's cheeks and he looked at me worriedly. "Where are you hurt?! Did it hit you?! Please don't die!" I screamed and he winced. In his defense, I was screaming in his ears. "Starlight, I'm fine. It didn't hit me." Dad said through squished cheeks while I continued to look for evidence that he was lying to me.

"Nope, but this one will hit her." Richard said and I froze in place, finally registering what I walked into. The gun cocked directly behind my head and I closed my eyes, ready to face it. If this is how it ends...at least I was able to say I met my family again and it grew exponentially along the way. I've had so much fun over the last six months, even when it was hard.

I stayed there frozen for a while, until I heard a thump. "That was enough of that and Jasper, how many times has Cassie told you not to run into situations with your muscles? You damn near gave Ayame a heart attack." "Oh, shut it you stupid pixie." My dad grumbled and I blinked my eyes.

Rollo scoffed at the insult. "Excuse me, I think a 'your welcome' is in order here." He retorted.

"Piss off."

My entire body was shaking again, and I was picked up off the floor faster than I could think. "Shit! Don't you ever do that again!" Vil shouted. He held onto me tightly and I slowly relaxed while all eyes turned to me.

I looked down and Vil and I were sitting next to an unconscious Richard. I immediately tried to scramble away and Vil's grip got tighter as my confidence died. "It's okay, starlight. Uncle Rollo made Richard's memories disappear."

I froze and turned to my dad. "What?" My voice was cracked, and I didn't recognize it.

"I wiped his memories. He won't remember the day he was born, let alone you." Rollo said, looking down at his hands. "It's the least I can do."

"Drag his ass out of here!" Vil shouted, making my body vibrate, while Vince and Kyle scrambled to literally drag Richard out of the room.

My dad fell back on his butt and looked at all of us. Rollo grinned proudly and shook hands with the other man as their forearms glowed. Vil continued to hold me with no indication of letting go and I was happy for it. "Well, that was one hell of a Luna Ceremony." My dad huffed and I don't know why, but his nonchalant attitude came to the rescue once again. I relaxed into Vil's arms, realizing this was over, and smiled at my crazy family.

I'm free? I'm...I'm finally free.

After Kyle and Vince confirmed that Richard was off the territory and headed for his home in Boston, I calmed down enough to finally enjoy my Luna ceremony.Stop reading the wrong and incomplete storyline, job nib.com has the correct and complete book. Edon, Vil and Conri stuck to me like glue and I did not mind. "Are you sure you don't want us to tell everyone to go home?" Edon asked me for the fortieth time through mind link.

I sighed and waved at another couple that introduced themselves earlier. "No. This is important to the packs as well as to me. I won't just let it end like this. That wouldn't be fair to me either." I recited once again and Conri rubbed my shoulder gently. "Yes, but you are as pale as a ghost, little one. I'm starting to think Edon's paranoia is not unwarranted."

"I agree with you guys, but have you heard what the packs are saying? They have unyielding respect for her. They know what happened earlier today and a couple of hours ago. They can feel their Luna's stress, but she is still here and being a good hostess? They really see her strength now." Vil added with a chuckle. Ha! The irony!

I blushed and turned to him with a big grin on my face. "That...that's good though, right? I mean...that means I'm strong to them...right?" I asked excitedly.

Vil smiled back and it was warmer than before. "Of course it is, but they are still concerned for your health, just like we are. A lot of them are debating on how to cut out early so you can get some rest and not seem disrespectful."

I blinked for a moment then furrowed my brow. "How do you know all of this?"

Edon took a swig of whatever alcohol Vince put in that red cup. "He's opened his link to the whole territory. He's listening to see if there are any other dangers we should be aware of. Vince is doing the same, then giving Conri and I play by plays." "Oh...okay I guess that makes sense babe, but I don't want anyone to stop the festivities on my account. How do I fix this?"

"You don't, little one. They are here to protect you. You are here to care for them. The end."

Conri and his short explanations sometimes. I rolled my eyes and pulled away from him, swiftly meandering through the crowd and bowing back to those who acknowledged me before I came across my saving grace. Emily. "I had a feeling you'd be coming by at some point. They really are stifling." She grunted, nodding back to the guys looking annoyed that I ran off, but still looking in my direction.

"They are, but after dealing with Malerie, Adolpha, and Richard all in the same night. I think they have reached their limit. I know I have." I said, trying to defend their actions but also validate my stress.

Emily chugged what was in her cup and I patted her shoulder. "What's wrong, Emily? Usually you leave the obnoxious drinking to your mate." I giggled, trying to lighten the mood.

"I usually do, but I got a message from my doctor about an hour ago. I thought this dude would have been at the ceremony but he was...on call tonight. I guess that bullet just keeps coming back to bite me in the ass." She downed whatever was left in her cup and spun around to get

more.

"What are you talking about?" Oh no...not more bad news. She...we...I don't think we can take much more tonight.

"The bullet was dipped in wolfsbane. That's why it created so much havoc, but that's not the worst part."

"Then what is it, because that seems pretty bad." I heaved.

"They don't know how it'll affect the...baby."

I let my mouth hang open, not expecting that turn of events. "The what?!" I shouted a little too loud and she glared at me harshly. From the way she responded, I don't think anyone else knows about this. "S-Sorry. I didn't mean to shout, but are you kidding me? You're pregnant?" I lowered my tone and, hopefully, we were the only ones who could hear.

"Yes, I found out when I woke up from the coma, but they told me they wouldn't know anything about its condition until after they ran some more tests and that's when they realized the wolfsbane was what weakened me and it most likely weakened the child. I guess today's the day they confirmed it." "Do...did you tell Kyle?"

She smiled, but the joy did not reach her eyes at all. "I'm not going to tell him about a baby that will most likely miscarry in a month. That won't be fair to my mate. Only one of us should carry this burden when I'm the one who killed them in the first place." Her voice cracked as she tried to convince herself that this was the right thing to do.

I grit my teeth. "Then stop drinking." I huffed discreetly before pulling the cup away. I looked down at its contents.

"It's cranberry juice?" My wolf chuckled and I gently handed the cup back to a now eye-rolling Emily.

She smiled at me and took another sip. "I found it behind the liquor, but that is beside the point. No matter what I do.......I think I'm going to lose my first pup and it's all my fault."

I gave her a hug and she held onto my dress straps tightly. "You're not going to lose them. I'm sure there is something we can do."

"Like what?" She whimpered.

"Pray for a miracle." -POV Zyair-

Those pups have been surrounding her since we got out of the office. I know they were stressed but I would like to meet her at least. I looked up from my plate of cheese and grapes when I saw her petite figure slip through the crowd and stand by her Beta Female, Emily. I took the chance and brushed my hands on my pants before walking up to them.

"No matter what I do......I think I'm going to lose my first pup and it's all my fault." I heard from Emily and I stopped in my tracks while the two hugged each other.

"I'm sure there is something we can do." I heard the tail end of Luna Ayame's response and grinned softly. She always has such a big heart.

"Like what?" Emily sniffled through her tears. Since this seemed to be a private conversation, I made sure to cut glances at anyone who decided it would be the best idea to stare for too long when I heard the optimistic words of their Luna. "Pray for a miracle."

I walked up and tapped her shoulder once they pulled away from each other. "A miracle you say? I'm sure I can oblige." I bowed to the confused women and then stood back to my full height. "Apologies I couldn't introduce myself earlier, but my name is Zyair and I believe I can be of service." She's already stressed enough, I don't need her to know my title for now.

"So, that's your name?" Ayame asked, sighing in relief. "It's nice to meet you and um...thank you for earlier." She still seemed to be shaken up by this whole thing and now I know why all the packs still seem so antsy. Even those from the other territories. They may not be attached to her packs directly, but Lunas are put on quite a podium for shifters. It's the question of how they use it that always interests me.

"You are more than welcome, and this must be the Beta Female, Emily, am I right?"

The woman's breath hitched and she bowed to me before quickly rubbing the tears off her face. "Yes, King Zyair." Damn. Ayame flinched. "King Zyair?"

I nodded with a chuckle and raised my hands to hopefully defuse the tension Emily unintentionally added. "Yes, I'm good friends with the Oden lineage and they have become quite the entertainment for me over the centuries. Connery and his sons are turning out to be the most interesting of them all if I am honest with you."

Ayame looked me over for a second and I could see the gears turning before an imaginary lightbulb sprouted from her mind. "Oh, right! The Fae King is immortal." She has done her research. Interesting. Maybe that's why it was so easy for her to shift. Even though she only just got her memories back, it seems like she took the shift into this life in stride even without her memories. Now I know why she is so precious to the three of them.

"Right you are Little Luna." I added and she smiled and bowed to me as well. I reluctantly returned the gesture.

"I also remember that you know my Uncle Rollo?" The beam in her eyes really made my heart swell. Such a good kid. Even through her hardship, it seems like she was raised right. Rollo had nothing to worry about.

"Right again. You have quite the depth of knowledge."

She shrugged. "I like to be inquisitive. I'm even hoping to go back to school now that everything is over and done with when it comes to...um...Richard."

I nodded and she turned back to her friend, reminding me of why I had started the conversation. "Oh yes, being able to help Emily. Sorry, at times I tend to forget myself." They both giggled and I nodded like a proud grampa. Ha! Or great great grandpa. Or even...no...no.... I will not add any more than two greats. Ever. "We will have to see the extent of the damage, but I'm sure we can think of something. I have the best healers in the world on my side. Trust me, they should be able to help."

Ayame jumped up and hugged me and even Emily was shocked, but I wasn't. I missed this little cub. Well, I guess she's a pup now. "Thank you!" She laughed excitedly and I think this was the first time all night she had genuinely smiled, but I could feel the rage of her triplets along with the relief of her pack members because of it. I hugged her back gently before setting her back down and pulling away. "Whatever you can do, we will be thankful for it." She said, turning to her friend with such love and care. "See, the Moon Goddess listened." She added softly. I snickered when she pulled away from me and squeezed Emily's hand, but it was only for a second before Edon scooped her up and she started laughing again. "I don't know what you did to get her to smile again, but we are grateful Zyair." Conri said before patting my shoulder and walking off to his brother now running around with their mate like a child. Kyle went up to Emily and, by the look she was giving him, I think she's ready to tell the Beta what her news was.

I walked off to Ayame's father, grinning at the people coming up to congratulate or profess their loyalty to him as the Luna's father or the rightful heir to the werebear kingdom? Meh...too soon. I'll talk to him about that at a later date. Either way...I looked up at the stars and sighed in relief. Not only for the job of hopefully helping her Beta, but also seeing all the planning finally coming into fluition. Bumpy? Most definitely, but I know this.... Cassandra, she is safe here with us. She finally found her nirvana.