Chapter 23 Warren IwatchasYarawalksoutofthehospital.Itakeanothersteptofollowherbutawallofwarriorsstepsinmyway. Isnarl,readytofightmywaytoher. Alpha,givehersomespace.Ifyoupushhernow,youcouldloseherforever,Savannahsays.Thewarriorswillwatchoverher.WeveallobviouslylearnedtoloveourLunainaveryshortamountoftime. Thatstheunderstatementofthefuckingmillennium.Icantbelievemypackjustbasicallyturnedonmeto protectYara.Shit,ifshewassoinclined,theydprobablytakeherastheirfuckingAlpha.Although,itdidntescapemethatshetoldthemthatshedbedisappointedinthemiftheytriedtofightmeinmycurrentstate.Disappointed,notangry.AtrueLuna. Comeon,Alpha.Letsgetyoustitchedup.ItlookslikeourLunagot yourbonesallreset,butIlltakealook. Whenwegetbacktotheroom,Ilookather.Savannah,Ineedaphone. IllfindoneafterIfinishthis. No,Ineeditnow.IfImgoingtofixthingswithmymate,Ineedtodoitbeforeitcantbeundone. Yes,Alpha,shesays,goingtogetmeaphone, Yaraswordsringinmyears.Hesaterriblemate.FUCK!Shesright.WhilemyintentionshadbeenpurelytoprotectYara,erasingherfromtheschoolwouldcausealotofproblemsthatImnotsureevenIcouldfix. Assoonasshesback,IcallthewarriorthatCharliesenttotheuniversity. Alpha,iseverythingalright?Iheardwewereattackedagainlastnight.Doyouneedmetocomeback? Archie,whereareyouatwitherasingYaraspresencefromtheschool? Ivecleanedoutherdormroom,Alpha.Imjustabouttowipeherrecordsfromtheeducationalsystem. Dont.Leavethem. Areyousure,Alpha? Yes,butmakeacopy.Shemayneedtotransfertoawerewolfuniversity,Isay. Yes,Alpha,hesaysandwehangup. Hesaterriblemate.Herwordskeepplayinginmymind.Ivewantednothingmorethanhermyentireadultlifeandnow,IfindoutImterribleatbeingamate.Iprobablyam.Idontknowthefirstthingaboutbeingcompassionateorloving.Iknowaboutfightingandwar.ButImwillingtolearn,forher.Icanbecomewhateversheneedsmeto be,shejustneedstogivemeachance. HowisBetaCharlie? I askSavannahasshefinishesclosingupmyleg. Hesstable,Alpha,Savannahsays.Ifthatchanges,IllletLunaknow. Thankyouforthis,Itellher,pullingmylegoffthebed. Alpha,youshouldstaythenight,letAlphaArrichealyourbones. Savannah,Ineedtogo makeamendstomymate.Ineedtoapologize,andIneedhertounderstandthatIwasnttryingto 1/3 Chapter23 takeherlifeorhertitleawayfromher. I standandshehandsmethecrutch.Annahasfoodforbothofyou.OurLunaneveratetoday. Thankyou,Savannah. 40% Shereallyis special,Alpha.ItsaysalotthattheMoonGoddessgaveyousuchamate.Dontblowit,shesays,butitsnotunkind. Imgoingtodomyverybestnotto,Itellher. IwalkoutoftheroomandseeHaynesstillsittingoutsideCharliesroom.Switchoutwithsomeone,Haynes.Yourestillrecovering.YouwouldntwanttodisappointyourLuna. No,Alpha,Iwouldnt. WhenIwalktothewaitingroom,Iseemostofmywarriorsarestillthere. Whatareyougoingtodo,Alpha?theyask. ImgoingtogomakethingsrightwithYara.Charlieisdown,doIneedtomakeapatrolschedule?Iask. Wellrotateout,Alpha.Getsomesleep.Wedontknowwhenwellbeattackedagain,butmostofusarealreadyhealingandgettingstronger.Wecanmanagethepatrolsuntilyouwakeup.Just…justmakethingsrightwithourLuna,oneofmywarriorssays. Yeah,shesthebestthingthatshappenedtothispackinourmostofourlifetimes,anotherwarriorsays. Wedontwanttoloseher,sofigureitout,Alpha.Werealreadystrongerbecauseofherandshehasntevenbeenheretwodaysyet.Imaginewhatshelldotostrengthenthispackovertime. IintendtodowhateverittakestokeepYarahere,withus,Itellhim. Thatseemstocalmthemforthemoment.Now,Ijustneedtomakeithappen. AsIwalkbacktothepackhouse,IthinkaboutwhatIcandotomakeYarahappy.Therespectandhonestythatshewantsareeasy,thoseIvealreadygivenher.Thelovepartiseasyinconcept.IalreadyloveYara,buthowdoIshowherthat?Myparentsmadeitlookeasy,butImsuretherewasmoretoitthatIneversaw,justliketherewillbethingsbetweenusthatthepackandourfuturechildrenwillneversee. Thekindnessandcompassionthatshewantswillbethehardest.Kindnessandcompassionintimesofwardontcomeeasy.AndIvelivedwithwarmyentirelife. AsImwalkingbacktothepackhouse,Iseesomewildflowersgrowingbesidethecobblestonedrive.Istop,pickingseveralofthem,wonderingwhatherfavoritecolormightbe.RatherthandwellonthefactthatIhavenocluewhatherfavoritecoloris,IdecidetopickasmanycolorsasIcan,makingthebouquetbrightandcheerfullooking.AtleastIhopeshellthinkitis. WhenIwalkintothepackhouse,everyonegoesquiet.Imnotsureifthats agoodthingornot,butat themoment,Idontcare.ImexhaustedandImsickattheideathatYaramaytry to leavemebecauseshedoesntfindmeworthyofbeingher mate. Igotothekitchenandfindaglass,fillingitwithwater.Imprettyconfidentthatwedonthaveanyvases inthepackhouse,butIcangetsomeifYaralikestheflowers. ThenIcarefullymakemywayupthestairs,followingherscent.Imhappythatsheatleastwentbacktoourroom,butthathappinesswaneswhenIgettothetopofthestairsandseethat shesnotinourbedroom. Alpha,theotherssaidyoureheretomakeamendswithourLuna ,oneofmywarriorssays . +5 2/3 < 20:02Sat,Nov30 Chapter23 Thatscorrect. 2440%2 Seethat youdo.IdontlikehearingmyLunacryherselftosleep,hesaysandtheystepawayfromthedoortoallowmeentry.Idontlikeknowingthatshedideither. WhenIstepinsidetheroom,Iseethatshesontopofthebed,clutchingapillowtoherbody.Isettheflowersdownonthenightstandandquietlymovearoundthebedbeforeslidingontothebedbesideherandwrappingmyselfaroundher. IfeelhershiftandIknowthemomentthatsherealizesthatImbehindherbecauseherbodygoesrigidinmy arms . Pleasedontleave,Isay,pressingmylipstohershoulder.Imsorry.Youwereright.Ididntthinkthroughthedecisionandtheimpactitwouldhaveonyou.Ididntdoittohurtyou.Ididittokeepyousafe.ButIunderstandthatitwasthewrongmovetomakeandIvefixedit,Itellher. Shescoffs.Howdidyoufixit? Mywarriorhadntwipedyoufromtheeducationsystemyet,soItoldhimtoleaveyourinformation.However,hescleanedoutyourdormroomandisbringingyourthingshere.Itsnotsafeforyoutobethere,you mustknowthat.Butyoureright.Sevenyearsofhardworkshouldntbeerased.Youretoogoodofadoctortohavetostartallover.Pleaseforgivemeformyoversight.Iknowitwasabigone,butItrulyamsorry,andIvefixeditsoyoucanmaintainyourtitleandcontinueyourstudies,Isayquietly,hopingmywordsareenough. Shesquietfora longtimeandIfeelcoldfear,unlikeanythingIveeverfeltslidingthroughveins,asIwait forherverdict. Whatarethose?sheasks,pointingtotheflowers. Ipickedthoseonthewayoverhere.IdidntknowifyoulikedflowersandwedonthaveanyvasesforthemsinceIcantremembereverhavingflowersaroundthepackhouse,andImnotreallygoodatknowinghowtoshowyouthatIloveyou,but…Iwantedtotry.Iknowyousaidyouwantedrespectandhonesty,andthosethingsareeasyformetogive you.Iloveyou,already.Iloveyouwitheverythinginme,butIdontknowhowtoshowyouloveinawaythatletsyouknowthat Imeanit.Idontknowhowtoshowthekindnessandcompassionlikeyouwant.Ithink…IthinkthatswhytheMoonGoddess mylife.Iampaired youwithme,Yara.Youaretheotherhalfofmysoul.YouarethesoftnessandgentlenessthatIneewillingtogiveyouanythingandeverythingthatyoudesireinthisworld,butIneedyourhelp.Idontknowhowtobeallofthethingsthatyouwant,notyetanyway.ButIwill.Ifyoucanbepatientandhelpteachme,Iwill. Ikisshershoulderagain,waitingareallylongtimeagainwhileshethinks. Youmakeitreallyhardtodenyyou,shefinallymurmurs. Ihavenoideaifshemeantformetohearitornot,andIdontcare.SomethinginsidemerelaxesandIwrapmyarmmoretightlyaroundher. Howsyourleg?sheasks. Betterthankstomyamazingdoctor,Luna,andmate. IclosemyeyesandImnearlyasleepwhenIhearheragain. Ilikeflowers. Ismile,knowingmymatewillbegetting flowersfrommeeverydayfortherestofherlife. After her grandfather's death, she unexpectedly discovers that both her sister and boyfriend betrayed her, taking away the family fortune left by her grandfather. Determined to seek revenge, she decid...