xlviii

Carolina's POV:

I am laying down?

I don't remember much before I fell asleep, I just remember banging.

It's really bright in here. Did Jaxson come for me? Am I saved from Noah or did he just move me somewhere else again?

"She's awake." I here a female voice say before moving out of the room only to return with a cup of water in her hands. "Hello, Luna Queen. Is anything in extreme pain?" She asks me as my eyes finally adjust to the bright lights in this room.

It's Dr. Tina. I sigh out in relief now knowing I am back with my pack. "No, No. Just a really bad headache at the moment." I told her slowly sitting up and taking the water thankfully.

"It seems you have a concussion, broken rib, and a lot of deep cuts. Some we have had to put stitch." She informed me.

"Is Jaxson here?" I asked. "Yes, he is just outside in the hall waiting very impatiently for me to give the ok for him to come in." She told me.

"Can I see him now please?" I asked her. She nodded her head and stood to leave the room with another bow.

The door didn't even get closed before Jaxson made his way into the room. He closed it and moved next to my bed. "Carolina." Was all that he could manage to say but I knew what he meant but the tone of his voice.

He was scared. Scared of what could have happened to me.

"I know Jaxson. But I'm safe now and I would never leave you like that. There was just no other way and I knew you would find me." I told him holding on to him. He placed his forehead to mine relaxing for the first time in awhile.

"I'm sorry for how I was acting. I want you to work beside me and because I wasn't sure if what I was doing was right or not I got distracted and let this happen to you." He said closing his eyes, his face showing emotions of frustration.

"It could never be your fault. You aren't the one who took me away and there was no way you could have known what Noah was thinking." I tell him. But of course he will always carry some blame, no matter what I say.

"I'm just happy you are back. And now we need to find Noah." He told me.

"How did you find me?" I asked curious.

"Um, I well, I went to talk to your old Luna and her daughter. They seemed to be separate from Noah so I asked if they had any knowledge of where he was. In return I let them join this pack with normal ranking." He told me.

He seemed nervous at my reaction and I honestly didn't know how to react. They caused so much pain but also have now saved me.

"Are they both ok? Why did they split from Noah?" I asked. Wondering if this was just a set up.

"Noah had apparently became very violent to Katherine after the left their pack." He told me surprising me. I mean, if anyone knows what Noah is capable of its me, but I never thought he would hurt Katherine. His only daughter.

"It seemed to have been really bad, Katherine barely speaks now. I was wondering if you wanted to greet them or not. As the leaders normally we greet them in a ceremony to join the pack, but if you don't want to we don't have to." He told me.

"No, I don't want to cause them to feel outcast here. And I need to be the Luna Queen over anything else." I told him.

He sighed and said "You are one of the strongest people I have ever met." And lightly kiss my cheek.

We sat and talked for awhile. I even convinced him to lay down next to me and rest for a moment. I knew that neither of us would sleep well being separated.

Later that day Tyler and Zack came to visit me as well. They also gave the report on how the interrogations of the Rouges working for Noah are going.

Not surprisingly we aren't getting much information, and some of it we are getting is different then what the other's are saying.

"What are you planning on doing to the Rouges after this?" I asked Jaxson. "Its really depending on the reasons they were removed from their pack. If one has previous violent charges I will likely order them to death. But if they have other reasons I will either send them to their old pack for them to decide or keep them here in imprisonment." He told me.

I shifted uncomfortable about the idea of putting someone to death. But what else can you do if you have already tried everything else.

"You can just leave this decisions up to me if you like." He said looking at me and noticing my discomfort. For right now I think that is the best idea, so I nod my head lightly and relax back into Jaxson.

"Can I plan the ceremony for Katherine and Reece." I asked him. He seemed surprised by my request. "Of course." He said.

Jaxson's POV:

I was nervous about how things were going to work out after Carolina woke up. Would she been in pain, would she even want to see me after what happened before she left.

But of course not. This is Carolina after all. Once she woke up she asked for me and wanted me to stay with her. I wanted to stay with her.

She held no blame towards me for my stupidity. If I, is a big statement going on in my head and she dismissed them all. She asked about the pack and about me. She asked about how I found her and even when I told her it involved Katherine she didn't get mad or upset.

And after telling her about what Noah had done to her she just felt sad for her. For having to go through something so similar to what she had to go through.

I think this will be good for her, Katherine, and the pack, if they are able to get through their pasts and grow together.

Katherine hasn't left the house I had put her and her mother in sense they got here. No one has met her yet besides me and Carolina.

I hope the ceremony won't be to much for her. But I also hope it will lead to her being excepted here.

And with Carolina's help i'm sure she will.

I could feel his warm arms change their grip on my, holding me closer to him as he lightly nudges my head. A smile found its way onto my face. And I knew Jaxson could see my smile as he lightly laughs and pecks my cheek lightly.

"Good morning." He whispers to me. "Morning." I said, my voice sounding horrible, I wish I didn't speak. He probably noticed my voice, as he sat up and reach over to a glass of water on the bed side table.

I gulped down the water quickly. I handed his back the now empty glass.

"The doctor is going to come to see how you are doing and if you will be able to come home today." He told me. "Home." I repeated to myself.

He smiled down to me grabbing my hand and holding it to his mouth as he kissed it. "Home." He repeated back to me.

We sat there silent for a another moment when Dr. Tina walked in seeing the scene before her. "I apologize Alpha King, Luna Queen. Would you wish for me to come back later." She asked bowing her head, already moving out of the doorway back into the hallway.

"No, no, It's ok Dr. Tina. We were actually waiting for you." Jaxson told her standing up from the small bed and moving to the side so Dr. Tina could do what she needs to do.

"Well. Ok then." She nods and moves to close the door behind her. "How are you feeling this morning Luna Queen?"

"Better." I told her. She smiled, "That's good. May I see your arm." She asked. That was the start of her quick check up on me.

"She looks like she is healing just fine. Your healing has become a lot faster now that you are healthier." She informed me.

"Thank you doctor." I said sighing. "Am I ok to go back home now?" I asked, noticing the smile Jaxson had on his face. "I would say it is safe. Knowing Jaxson will do everything to make sure you aren't over excreting yourself." She said nodding at him.

"Definitely." He agreed without a second thought.

She nodded before telling us what we needed to do and how to best to keep up my better health. Jaxson had got Tyler to bring me some clothes which I quickly change into and out of this horrible gown.

Once I was changed I was ready to go back home. Jaxson seems relieved as well to have me back. As he opens the front door I notice the different furniture, probably from Jaxson's rage.

"I like it." I told him looking over seemingly nervous about my reaction.

"Really?" He asked unsure. "Yeah, it's a nice change." I smiled.

He seemed to let out a breath of relief. "Well, that's good. Would you like to come with me to the office. We have some stuff we have to do." He told me. I nodded excited we were back to the way it was, with me helping him.

There were papers scattered everywhere, so the first thing I did was start organizing them all. Putting the different file type where they belonged. The was till on with Kathrine's name on it caught my eye.

"What is this for?" I asked.

"Oh that's their admission form. From becoming pack members from rouges." He told me. "I just need you to sign it and then start the planning for the ceremony.

"Is that the address they are living at?" I point out on the paper. "Yeah. Would you like to go pay a visit tomorrow?" He asked me.

"Yes, but I would like to do it on my own if you don't mind. I have a few thinks I want to ask them." I told him, but he seemed to have already guessed I would request that.

"That's perfectly ok, butterfly." He said making me smile.

We continued our day working through different pack work. And as it was getting late we ate our dinner and called it a night. It was the first night in awhile I sleep this good. I am back on a bed next to my mate, safe and home.

I didn't dream of anything just slept, regaining all my energy. Only to be woken up the next morning by Jaxson moving around. I couldn't slip out of his grip so I just decided to relax in his hold till he awoke himself.

He pulled me closer to him as he finally stirred awake and whispered next to my ear in his gruff voice "Good morning."

I turned around to look at him and respond "Good morning sleepy head." back to him. "What time is it?" He asked.

I looked at the clock and was actually surprised by the time "It's 9:25" I thought it was much later. "Not so much of a sleepy head then." He groaned out as he released me and stretched out his limbs.

I didn't move away from him, instead I just laid my head on top of his chest. He relaxed back down and looked at me with a smile. "You are in a cuddly mood." He pointed out wrapping his arms around me again.

"Well after being pushed away by my mate and the taken away, I think I have a right to be cuddly." I said in a light tone but it seemed to hit him hard. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. I missed you is what I was trying to say." I said regretting my wording.

"It's ok, and I missed you too. A whole lot." He said tightening his grip. I lifted myself up his body a bit so now my face met his and took a brave breath before connecting our lips together. He moved his hand to my face holding me there for an extra second before letting my pull away.

A smile now back on both are faces, forgetting about what I said and relaxed back to cuddle.

Nerves were building up inside of me as I stood in front of the brown door of this brick house. I take what feels like my first breath since I got here and knocked on the door.

It opened slowly and a face peaked around and looked at me. "Carol- I mean Luna Queen, it's such a honor for us that you are here." Reece said opening the door all the way and bowing.

"Um. Thank you, I wanted to talk with you and Kathrine about the planning for the ceremony." I said wanting her to stand back up. "Of course Luna Queen." She said doing the motions of a bow again before finally standing straight and moving to let me in.

I walked into the small house and as I looked around I saw Kathrine sitting on the couch in the living room. She didn't have the same air around her as she used to. Even though she was cruel to me there was always a confident air around herself.

She was a mean but not because she had insecurities in herself, she loved herself.

But know as I look at her, the bags under her eyes, the pale color of her skin, she is nothing like how she used to be. And their only one person to blame.

But I also know that their is ways to make things better for her. First making this ceremony perfect for her and her mother.

"Hello Kathrine." I smiled and sat on the other edge of the couch, giving her the space she needed.

"Hello, Luna Queen." She said bowing her head a little. Even her voice was ruff and I could still see some bruising around her neck still healing. "How are you both liking it here?" I ask them both as Reece moved to stand behind the couch where Kathrine was sitting.

"I believe it is the perfect thing for us. I have traveled in to town only a few time while we have been here but everyone has been very kind. Even though we haven't been introduced to the pack yet." She told me making me happy I have such a kind pack.

"That's amazing to hear. I just wanted to ask for a few of your opinions. on the ceremony and maybe even clear up some uncertainty." I said trying to move past this anxiety in me.

"My only uncertainty is why you are letting us anywhere near your pack. It's because of us, because of me you had such bad treatment back in our old pack. How could you even be in the same room as me?" Kathrine spoke for the first time.

"Kathrine-" Her mom started to scold her, but I held my hand up to stop her.

Its obvious to me that Kathrine is dealing with a lot and it seems she is trying to bottle it all up and just be silently screaming for help in the background.

It reminds me a lot of me, and how I was. I never complained, never disobeyed, and never tried to talk about my pain to anyone. That was till Jaxson. And even though she is partially the cause of my pain it was not all just her, not just Noah, or a single person in the pack.

I could never blame just one person for what happened, nor would I want any of them to go through it.

"Kathrine." I called her lightly to make her look at me. "I don't hate you, and I don't believe it was your fault. And I know that now you understand what you did was wrong and have grown and I see that. As long as you continue to grow to become a better person, and grow from what Noah is then I really believe we can be friends." I told her with a smile.

She and Reece stared at me shocked. "Both of you deserve a second chance, one that I plan to give you. As long as you accept it." I told them.

"Thank you Luna Queen." Kathrine finally said bowing her head. I could hear her start sniffling as tears trailed down her face. "Thank you." She stuttered out again starting to cry even harder.

I slowly moved her into a hug and held her till she calmed. I see in the corner of my eyes even Reece is tearing up as she watches her daughter unfold. She mouths a thank you to me as she notices my gaze. I nod my head back and continue to comfort Kathrine.