Luna Abigail
Chapter 48

Abby’s P.O.V.

It took us almost an entire week to clean up after the battle. Every able pack member, guest and coven member helped to gather the fallen defenders together, and throw the enemy into different piles.

Ornata and Greyson were laid in the family crypt until the time for their bodies last journey. We knew, from Willow, they were already with the goddess, but we needed to send them off as we have always done with pack members.

After Jasper arrived with backup and the last waves of the battle died down, a party went out for Sami. Ellie, Morgan, Benjamin, and a handful of guards went to the cave and retrieved the children. Brandon wanted to go, but he and Jonathan were the only ranking members back, besides me and the girls, and I needed them to help coordinate the cleanup, capture of prisoners who were going to be executed and help for the wounded.

As Willow did her work on Matt and Jason, I silently scolded Selene. She needed to let Willow get more than one day with us. We were dead scared Narine would kill her. And after many hours of search, we couldn’t find Narine anywhere. Even though both Willow and Jax swore she had been deadly injured in her encounter with Jax’s panther.

We assume she crawled somewhere to die, but you never know.

Selene answered my silent monologue with a sigh, and told me she would grant Willow free ranging from where she was, as long as it was between our pack lands and the underworld. Which meant she could be here helping, sending the dead on their last journey and have some family time.

Matt and Jason came to in the infirmary three days after the battle was over. We shared the duties of keeping watch over them, but their numbers kept being stable. The doctor said something about their wolf’s spirit needing time to settle in and healing them properly. They were angry and confused about what had happened, but Willow filled them in, seeing as she was there when the explosion took off.

She explained how she had yelled at the moon goddess, which made all of chuckle. How Selene told her off, which made me internally chuckle because of my encounter with the goddess less than 10 minutes after Willow yelling at her. She told Matt, with tears streaming down her cheeks, that his parents weren’t meant to be saved. They were happy where they were, and she kept apologising until Matt grabbed her arm and yanked her into a big hug. It caused him pain, and a scolding from me and the doctor, but Willow stopped crying.

In the hospital, Jax took me aside. He told me that Willow knew he was his mate, and he was afraid she was going to reject him because of him keeping it a secret. I told him to relax, but if he really feared her rejection, he needed to speak to her. Explain the rules regarding mates. You cannot tell a mate who is underage, you are theirs. It’s against the law, because the younger shifter might feel obligated to accept the matebond, even though they don’t want to. But Willow wasn’t told by Jax, she was told by Narine the deranged.

‘Little sister, we need to talk.’ I mind-link her, followed by asking her to come to my office. Most of the new packhouse stood intact, but the explosives caused by the enemy lay a lot of our land in ruins. Many houses were destroyed, the old packhouse gone, the dungeon and east side of the new packhouse, schools and much more needed either to be built up from scratch or for serious repairs.

“Hi Abby. What’s up?” Willow asks when she enters through the door with Ellie by her side. I guess Jason pushed Ellie to come as well. She has been clinging to her mate since he woke up.

“Hi, guys. Please sit.” I say as I fold my hands on the table.

“Willow, I will not sugarcoat this. Did or didn’t Narine tell you that Jax is your mate?” I ask with a stern look at my little sister. She blush and nod.

“She did.” She answers simply.

“And how do you feel about that information?” Ellie asks. She is in shock but tries to stay strong and clam for Willow. We both do.

“Hm. First I was mad at him. He didn’t tell me. You know how long Jax has been by my side, Ellie? But now. He couldn’t, could he? Be he did his best with what he had. He knew when I was a baby, and seeing one’s mate as a baby. Knowing you’ll have to wait eighteen years for them to recognize you. I don’t know. I kind of admire that. He has done nothing inappropriate towards me and always been my friend, my protector, my familiar. But after SHE told me, something snapped inside of me. Like I have always known in some place, and now. I. I. I feel the tingles when he touches me.” The last part comes out as a small whisper.

Ellie and I look at each other. We know Jax loves her; we know he will never let harm come to her and we know he is already possessive of her. But will that be enough?

“Darling. You are young. Too young to know who your mate is, but it is what it is. You now have the choice; will you accept him? Or do you want to reject him? You need to decide cus the matebond is only going to get stronger and rejection will be that much more painful.” I tell her gently. I know it’s going to be hard on her, but the fact is that the matebond is there for both of them now.

“I will have to think about it for a couple of days, at least. Jax is giving me some space, which means either Jasmin or Jasper are by my side all the time.” She rolls her eyes in irritation and we laugh. Yeah, she’ll be alright. They will both be, though I am not sure what will happen to Jax if she ends up rejecting him.

A couple of days after Matt and Jason woke up, we burned the enemy’s bodies. We held the trial for those who were captured. Some made a b***d oath to me, joining our side and getting a second chance. Some swore they would take revenge, and some didn’t say a word. Execution was swift, and they too were burned in a pile.

Jeremy, Kaiden, Adriana and Laurel had healed completely. Laurel, who had been with the women and children, had defended them when they were ambushed on their way to the safe room. Without another thought, she launched herself into battle, to save the pack members and keep the attackers at bay until Kaiden and his men arrived. She was injured by a severe blow to the head, but both she and her precious cargo survived. She could pop any day, but hopefully we would be over these events before their little bundle made their arrival.

At the burial of the pack members, coven members, allies, and family, Matt and Jason were allowed to attend. They sat in a chair, with me and Ellie by their side. All who defended us were burried with honours. We mourned the dead together, cried and sang the song of our people together. None would ever be forgotten, and their sacrifice always remembered.

Mates, brothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, mothers. They were all a hero. All fought to their best to allow for a brighter future for their family.

Those who died from other packs, where taken home and burried in the same manner. I made sure we covered all expenses. Cards, gifts and words were sent to the families of a lost one. I assured all we stood with them in this difficult time.

When the burials were done, pack members shuffled by to condole the loss of the former alpha and Luna. Matt, Jason, Ellie and I only said the same in return. We knew who had fallen by heart, their void present in our hearts. We hugged, cried, prayed and talked with all who needed it, making sure to take care of our pack. Later, we would take care of each other.

****

It has been six months since the battle. We have mourned the dead, and now we are looking forward. The new plans for the pack lands were all in motion, and the monument for all who were lost on that day was taking form. We worked with the pack to help where we could. In the fields, at the plantations, the mills etc. Nothing was beneath any of us, and we stood together, which made me incredibly proud.

The children were a handful. Being around 9 months, walking and baby talking. We hired new nannies who were trained in combat. We needed them to defend themselves. Also, we made sure at least one of them had magical abilities.

More than one coven came to us after the battle and asked for permission to live on the pack lands, or the surrounding area. We talked this over with our neighbours, who had no protest. We missed Ornata and Greyson every day, and Matt became more quiet after their burial. He’s better and opens up more for every day.

“Momma! Look.” Maze says while pointing at the skies. We are currently sitting outside enjoying the last heat of autumn. As I look up, I see three big silhouettes floating on the upwinds, circling the place where we are sitting.

‘My Queen, we are being watched.’ A guard named Marcus mind-links me. He is my personal guard, if I am not with Matt or any of the other.

‘I see that, Marcus. Just stay calm. We will know in a minute if they are friend or foe.’ I link back, as I reach for my powers within.

Amber crawls over the blanket and into my lap. She has her eyes on the figures, still circling.

“Mamma. Who is them?” She asks in a small voice.

“I’m not sure baby, but we will know soon. I think they are landing now.” Marcus’s eyes glaze over and I know he is calling for backup. Matt is trying to reach me, but I only send a mental image back and he leaves me alone. He is on his way as well. We are not taking any chances knowing our enemy is still out there lurking.

The figures land just outside of our lands. Shifting back from their beast form. I can’t believe my eyes. They are.. Dragons. What the actual f**k!

‘Queen Abigail, we would like permission to enter your lands. We need to talk.’ A deep male voice sounds in my head. Hm. That curious, he can mind-link me.

‘Permission granted, but be warned; we don’t take sneak attacks lightly.’ I link back, knowing we have witches on alert in the forest. I can feel their tense aura from where I am sitting. My powers have grown since the battle.

Three tall figures emerge through the treeline, and I link the guards to let them through. They walk briskly to me, and I see one of them is carrying a younger one on his back. The child seems to be asleep, but when they cross the borders, he wakes up. Eyes roaming around before settling on me. He jumps down and run before the adult, who are shouting for him to come back.

“Hello pwetty lady.” He says before bowing down.

“And hello little mate.” He then greets my daughter. I raise an eyebrow at him, as the others catches up with him.

“Mate?” I ask him, but the one who spoke in my mind answers in an annoyed tone.

“She is his mate. He has felt their bond since the day she was born. Which is not acceptable at all! She is not a dragon, and merely a drooling little baby.” I stand up, as I feel Matt nearing. He walks to me without greeting our guests. I hand Amber to him and stand in front of them. Maze is in the arms of Marcus.

“If you have only come here to offend my child, I will suggest you leave. If she is his mate, he would be lucky to have her accept him when they are at age. But seeing as they are both little children, why don’t you let time do its work?” The one of the other men stares down at me, a sneer on his face.

“Do you know who he is, little girl?” He asks with venom dripping from his voice.

“Do you know who I am?” I ask him back, crossing my arms in front of me. He shakes his head.

“A mere servant. We came to talk to the Queen, Callus, not a servant.” I laugh at his stupidity.

“I am the Queen, moron.” I answer with an eye roll.

“And if the little guy really claims our daughter as his mate, then he can come back when they are both of age.” I state.

“I am the King of the Western Dragon Kingdom, Callus. This is my son, Chase. We will come back when they are of age, so he can reject that little piece of..” I growl so fiercely they take a step back, backed up by the growls from all around us. My family does not like his tone.

Galaxy makes herself present.

“Leave!” Galaxy and I order with all our authority and magic behind it.

“Bye mate.” The boy says, sadness all over his little face.

“Bye-bye.” My sweet Ambers replies, before she jumps from her father, runs to him and hug him tight.

All the dragons gasp in surprise, even the boy. Amber smiles radiantly before going back into her father’s arms. Her eyes swirling with yellow and orange, until it settles as a ring around her pupils again.

“We will be back.” King Callus says, a thoughtful look in his eyes.