Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Amelie

I stand frozen in front of my childhood home. Behind me is a caravan of SUVs and a moving truck. In front of me are the people who have raised me and stood by me, waiting to say goodbye. I have been through this before, but it feels more definite this time. Like I know, I will never call this my home again. It makes me a little sad. I’m happy I found Gideon. I am beyond excited to be pregnant but leaving the place that has Mom given me so much safety and security for so long after everything I went through is harder than I ever imagined.

Gideon walks up and puts his arm around me. “We need to get going. It’s not a goodbye. It’s your family; you will see them soon.” He can feel emotions swirling and twisting. Just his touch and his understanding put me at ease.

“It just feels so final.” I sigh and lean into him.

He rubs my shoulder, “Well, I guess it is. You are not only my mate but also a Luna and a mother. Your responsibilities are taking you to a new place. To a new home.”

“I know it’s just such a strange feeling. I’ve never felt like this would not be my home even when I was part of the Timer Wolf Pack.” I knew Gideon was trying to understand, but it was honestly something only other Lunas would understand. They would appreciate but also encourage me as well. I take a deep breath and step toward my waiting family. It was time to go and officially start my next journey.

“You are going to be fine, kiddo.” Dad pats my head and pulls me into a hug.

I hug him back, “I know it just all moved so fast I’m not sure if it’s real.”

Celeste pulls me away from dad to hug me, “It’s real, and you are in your rightful place. You are an Ashwood. You were always a Luna.”

I hug her back, “Thank you for always believing in me.”

Mom pulls me away next, “You will always be my baby no matter how old you get. You will be an excellent Luna and an amazing mother.”

I take in mom’s scent, Jasmine and pink peppercorn. “Thanks, Mom. I had the perfect teachers all my life.”

Alpha Logan joins in on the hug with Mom and me, “My girl, you are going to be better than anyone could ever dream. You always exceed expectations.”

“Well, you taught me never to give up.” He laughs and lifts us both up. We giggle, and he puts us down.

James is at the end. He’s taller and bigger than me now, but he reminds me of the little soft-hearted kid that would follow me around. I pull him in for a hug, and I can feel James holding back tears. He buries his face in my shoulder. I hear him softly say, “you left then came back, almost died, now you are leaving again. I wish you could stay forever. I am going to miss you so much. Sometimes it feels like you are the only one who gets me.”

I pull him in closer, “It’s not like before. You can call me any time also you will have to do more training with Gideon so I will see you often. Also, you are going to be an uncle now. I am going to need you to look after my little ones now. This is just a see you later not a goodbye. I love you, little brother.” I kiss him on the cheek and step back so Gideon can say his farewells.

I see James lean in and whisper in Gideon’s ear. I can’t hear it, but I see Gideon smile, and James has a stern look on his face. I can only imagine what nonsense my brother is saying. Gideon turns and helps me into the waiting SUV. I roll down the window and wave as we start heading down the long driveway and to the highway.

That’s it, and we are on our way to our new home, a whole new life. We are heading west to the state line and deeper into the hills and mountains. Gideon is driving as he insisted that he is the only one allowed to drive me long distances. Of course, no one was going to challenge him. As we drove along, I couldn’t help rubbing my belly and humming softly. I didn’t even realize I was doing it at first, but I just kept doing it when I did. I kept thinking about Rose and Daisy. I have talked to them on facetime, but this was the first time I was seeing them in person. Would they like me?

“The girls are going to love you. I’m more nervous, I will lose you to them as soon as we get there.” Gideon smiles. He’s trying to calm my anxiousness.

“I am just scared I’m not going to be a good mother. Now we have a third on the way. I just don’t want to make any mistakes.” This was all new, and I didn’t have my safety net.

“I see how you are with your siblings. I know you will be a great mom. They are so much younger than you that you are more like a second mother than a sibling. I think you are not giving yourself enough credit.” He wasn’t entirely wrong, but I didn’t have to balance being a big sister and a Luna.

“What about my Luna duties. I’ve never been in charge of people before. What if someone gets hurt because of me.” I was starting to feel sick.

Gideon takes a deep breath and releases it, “What are you talking about! I have seen you lead teams of people—the cooks and gardeners at the Ashwood pack. I don’t think you realize it, but all 4 of your parents have been grooming you to be a Luna since you were little. Think about it. What haven’t you helped your stepmother and mother with?”

I stare at Gideon with my mouth partly open, “OH WOW. You are right! How did I not see that! Now that I think about it, I have been my whole life! Actually, I used to help my grandmother too. I am just blind?”

Gideon laughs, “No. Sometimes when you are too close, you can’t see the whole picture. The person standing farther away can see the full view. It was all just a normal thing for you. Only when you were confronted with the title did you start to panic.”

“I don’t know if I like this whole. I’m a super observant thing you have going on.” I look at him, squinting my eyes. We both laugh and spend the rest of our trip talking and listening to music.

Before we know it, we are pulling up to the Druit Guard Packhouse. It’s very different from other Packhouses. Most Packhouses look like lodges or even a small grouping of houses. This was huge. It looked and felt like a military base. It was an icy feeling. I knew this would have to be my first task. It needs to feel warm and inviting. No matter how big it was, it needed to feel like home. Gideon and his men had spoken of the Packhouse wings, but honestly, it looked more like barracks. The training area was huge, and it had a complete obstacle course. As we drive past, all the pack members stop what they are doing and bow their heads as we pass. We drove up to the largest house on the compound. I could see that Gideon had a small greenhouse and a workshop constructed for me off to the left of the house. The house was more the oversized lodge look you would traditionally see of a packhouse. This one had a unique U shape to it. As we pull up, I see two couples stand and four kids standing at the peak of the driveway. I can tell right away that the two little girls are Rose and Daisy. They are so cute; they have Gideon’s hair and just the lightest kiss of freckles.

The SUV stops. Gideon gets out and comes around to help me down. As soon as I step down, the twins come running over, yelling, “Daddy, Daddy!” They are jumping up and down with their little arms reaching up. Gideon scoops them up, and they wrap their arms around his neck. They look even smaller in his arms than they are.

Gideon turns to me, “Girls, this is Amelie. She’s going to be living us from now on.”

They both start squirming, and Gideon puts them down. They rush to me and immediately latching onto my legs.

“Amawee, are you going to be the wuna? Daisy asks.

“Yes, I am.”

They look at each other and nod. Rose says in a soft voice, “Are you going to be our mommy.”

“Do you want me to be?” They look at each other, and then they look at Gideon.

“Yes!” they say in unison. I giggle, and I bend down to hug them. I didn’t understand how this was so easy. I was so scared, but it was like they already knew and were waiting for me.

They wrap their little arms around my neck as I bend down to hug them. Rose whispers in my ear, “we are going to be a happy famawee now.” It was so cute, and I knew they needed me, and maybe a part of me needed them too. I go to pick them up, but Gideon stops me.

“One at a time. It’s not safe in your condition. Better yet, I’ll carry both of them.” He reaches down and picks up the girls.

They both protest, “No, daddy, we want Amawee to carry us.”

“Girls do as daddy says. You are too heavy for Amelie to carry.” He kisses their cheeks.

Daisy is not having it. She pushes Gideon’s face away, “No, daddy! I want Amawee.”