Luna Aleksa's Escape
Luna Aleksa’s Escape Chapter 48

*Aleksa POV*

We left Finn and Ezra to get settled at the cottage. Hopefully, they will stay put for a while. Kingston had mind-linked me that he would organize someone to run interference with them for now.

We started making our way towards the packhouse. Kingston wanted me to go and stay with Caleb and Kali while he assessed the situation at the pack house to see who had arrived, and how many of them, and gauge how much of a problem we were gonna have.

A small part of me was happy with that idea. But the rest of me knew it was time to face my fears. So I declined Kingston’s request. I knew that Kingston wanted to protect me, but there are some things we have to do for ourselves and I felt this was one of them.

I heard a branch snap in the bushes we were approaching. I wasn’t worried when I saw the wolf moving quickly through the bush, as I could sense that it was Caleb. I looked at Kingston and shook my head. “Really?” I said to him, rolling my eyes.

“I need to know you are safe while we sort this out, and I know that Caleb would want to be here with you right now. So I may have mind-linked Kai to ask Caleb to join us, this involves him too,” Kingston tells me.

“But, Kali, he needs to protect her!” I told Kingston, feeling worried about my pregnant friend. She too would be on Lachlan’s hit list.

“Kali is fine, there will be two of our elite warriors with her at all times,” Kingston tells me.

“Luna,” Caleb said, walking out from the tree he had shifted behind. He had a pair of shorts on, but no top.

“Apologies, this is all I could grab at such short notice,” Caleb says to us both.

“Caleb, it’s Aleksa, for the millionth time,” I told him with an unimpressed look on my face. He knows I hate being called by my title.

“Guys, we don’t have time for pleasantries. We need to keep going.” Kingston pulls us back on task.

“I will shift and go on ahead. You two pick up your pace and meet us there, approach slowly. I will mind-link you once I’ve assessed the situation.” Kingston says, looking gravely at Caleb.

“I will guard her with my life, Kingston, you have my word,” Caleb said solemnly.

“I know, thank you, Caleb,” Kingston nodded to Caleb and then he shifted and ripped towards the treeline.

“Ahem.” I loudly cleared my throat.

“I’m not the same girl that couldn’t defend herself, a lot has changed since Evergreen. I can do this! I won’t let him intimidate me. I feel stronger!” I told my ex-gamma, with absolute certainty in my voice.

Caleb looked into my eyes, “I understand all that, Aleksa, but we don’t know what he is capable of, and I’m not taking any chances. I took an oath to protect you,” he reminds me.

We don’t have time for this right now, so I let it go. For now. And with that, we continued on our way to the packhouse.

Amber stirred. “It’s OK. I can’t sense Cyrus. I don’t think he is here, Aleksa. But someone is.” She tells me.

I mind-link Kingston and Caleb with what Amber tells me about not sensing Lachlan’s wolf Cryus. But they both still seem to be on edge.

***

As we approached the packhouse, I could see two SUVs upfront. Amber confirms that she cannot sense Lachlan’s presence.

I see the car door open and out steps Sam. He looked worn out, pale, almost like life had been sucked out of him. My heart felt like it was breaking at the sight of him. I was hit with a wave of guilt. Although I was also excited about seeing my friend.

He turned around, as everyone was watching us approach the front entrance. He looked at me with a shocked expression on his face. “Aleksa?” he called out.

“Sam!” I called back excitedly, pushing past Kingston and Caleb.

He walked toward me with a confused look on his face.

I pulled him towards me and wrapped my arms around him in a warm embrace. I could hear Sabre growl, so I mind-linked him.

“Settle Sabre, Sam’s my friend!”

I pulled back and looked at Sam with a big smile on my face, trying to hide my shock at his appearance.

“Are you OK, what’s going on? How are you here?” He says, looking around at everyone quizzically.

“Caleb?” He asks, furrowing his brow towards Caleb.

“You’ve been marked? Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Sam asked, looking at the large purple mark on my neck, looking back and forth from Kingston to Caleb.

Kingston walks up behind me and pulls me into him. I smile and we interlock hands, to show Sam that we are together.

“Sam, it’s OK, I’m safe here. This is Kingston, he’s my second chance mate!” I told him reassuringly.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Sam,” Kingston said, extending his hand out to shake his hand.

Sam just stares at Kingston in disbelief. He reluctantly shakes his hand. He still appears as if he is very confused and unsure of exactly what is unfolding here.

Caleb also walks toward his old friend.

“You are a traitor! I trusted you! You helped the Rogues! You kidnapped our Luna,” Sam yelled, pointing his finger towards Caleb in a fury.

Caleb looked at Sam, a little hurt.

“Sam, my friend, all is not as you think. Lachlan is not who you think he is. We are all friends, Aleksa is safe, there is nothing sinister happening here, we are all friends,” He tries to reassure Sam.

“It’s true Sam, Caleb and Kali protected me, as did Mason and Kaia, they protected me from Lachlan!” I told him, with a sad yet adamant look on my face.

“There’s so much you don’t know, so much I have wanted to tell you, we were planning to…” I began, as we were brought to the attention of the SUV door slam.

“Well, isn’t this interesting?” Eva says with an amused look on her face, strutting towards us, wearing the skimpiest and shortest red dress I have ever seen, leaving nothing to the imagination.

“Don’t believe anything they say, they are traitors. Why are you even here, Aleksa?” She asks, looking me up and down and rolling her eyes, until she locks her eyes with Kingston and changes her demeanor, batting her eyelids and pouting.

“How dare you speak to my Luna like that, apologize now, or leave my packlands,” Kingston declared to Eva.

Eva seemed shocked with her mouth wide open and her jaw almost dropping to the ground. I wonder if she has ever been spoken to like this before.

So priceless, I thought to myself.

“Luna? Aleksa, how is this true? You are our Luna?” Sam asked me.

“Pfft. Is this some sick joke? Luna again?” Eva questioned us, screwing her face up.

“Don’t make me tell you again, “ Kingston said in a deadly serious tone to Eva.

Realizing that she couldn’t flirt her way out of this, Eva reluctantly apologizes.

“Sorry Aleksa,” She says begrudgingly to me. Completely lacking in sincerity.

“Wait, where is Lachlan?” I asked Sam, my curiosity and dread getting the better of me.

“He’s in Iowa, he got a lead, so he stayed back, he’s looking for you. He should be here tonight though,” he tells me.

“I think we need to talk – all of us,” Kingston interjects.

“I think that’s a good idea, I would love to know what on earth is going on here,” Sam says, watching Kingston and I lean into each other lovingly.

“Sam, there are some things I really need to talk to you about,” I said to him, furrowing my brow, then looking towards Eva with contempt. Just looking at her makes me mad. The nerve she had just stood there as if nothing had happened. She is about to come undone and although it will break my heart to tell Sam this, I also have a feeling this could be incredibly healing for him.

“Aleksa, I really think you and I should have a chat first, don’t you think? I think there was a misunderstanding back at Evergreen, and I’d like to clear it up,” Eva says, not looking so confident and sure of herself right now.

I looked at her and bluntly said, “No, I don’t think there were any misunderstandings at all. I got the message loud and clear, but come along Eva, I’m sure Sam will have some questions for you,” I said, with an amused look on my face. There was no way she was getting out of this. It was time for her to confess, and hopefully, now Sam could find some peace. It was very clear the toll of her infidelity had taken on his physical and mental health, I would assume.

“We can continue this conversation in my office. Caleb, perhaps you could bring Kali along if she feels up to it?”

“Kai, I will need you to stay here and greet any incoming packs,” Kingston says to his Gamma.

“Yes, of course, Alpha, I’ve got it under control,” Kai replies to Kingston.

“Sam, will your men be OK out here for now?” Kingston asked.

“Yes, I’ll link them to stay here until we return,” Sam replied to Kingston.

“Please follow me, right this way,” Kingston says, leading the way to his office. I looked back at Eva, who shot me an evil glare. I just looked away. She doesn’t intimidate me. I can’t believe I thought she was once my friend. She will never be anyone’s friend, she’s too much of a narcissist.

Kingston walks towards his chair and looks at me, then pulls a chair aside for me. Directly opposite us sits Eva and Sam on one side and then two empty seats for Caleb and Kali, if she decides to come along.

The tension is thick, you could cut it with a knife. Sam looked utterly confused and had his guard up a little, but I caught him looking from Kingston to myself from time to time, so hopefully, he can see we are happy and in love, and that Kingston is no threat.

Eva appeared agitated, I could feel her contempt towards me, I could feel that she was holding herself back right now. Part of me hopes she does lose control. I wouldn’t mind putting her in her place. Amber is begging for a moment or two alone with her.

Kingston looked relaxed, he wasn’t threatened in the least, but I could feel his empathy for Sam.

There was a knock at the door, and I could sense Caleb and Kali’s presence. “Come in,” I called out to them warmly.

“Sam!” Kali calls out, making a beeline for him.

Sam looked happy to see his friend. He gets up out of his seat and she walks up to him and gives him a hug, as any old friend would do.

Eva growled at Kali. Which I find interesting. She has a problem with Sam hugging a friend, but she can do goddess knows what with Lachlan and that’s acceptable. Unbelieveable!

Caleb lets out a growl too. And stood close to both Kali and Sam. Although they were all close friends, Kali is pregnant now, and it has been some time since we last saw Sam, we don’t know what lies Lachlan has fed him. It is only natural for Caleb to be in protective mode.

“It’s so good to see you, Sam!” Kali announces, her smile dropping and turning to one of disgust when she sees her former friend Eva.

Sam doesn’t miss this interaction, and questions us all, ‘What is going on, why is there so much contempt for my mate?” Sam says in an agitated, almost defensive tone.

“That is why we are all here, Sam. It’s time you knew the truth. The real reason we had to leave Evergreen,” I told Sam with a serious and determined look on my face.