Memories

Memories

Luna Kayla POV

Alpha Maximus is silent as we make our way home. Home seems like an odd thing to think about right now. I mean, where is my home? It is with Alpha Maximus, of course, but will Marcus try to destroy us? I think Marcus will do everything he can to hide his secret. I know a secret or two about Alpha Marcus. I have a secret about him, and I believe Alpha Maximus does too.

The SUV finally stops. I didn't think this trip would ever end. Alpha Maximus gets out of the SUV and is at my door quickly, and helps me out of the truck. He smiles at me and makes me feel like a princess. He is my knight in shining armor, after all. He saved me, not just from Alpha Ranon but from feeling broken.

"My lady," Alpha Maximus says. He reaches for my hand.

"Thank you, Alpha," I say. I take his hand.

The pack house is huge. I had heard that Alpha Maximus's north pack was huge, but judging by the size of this house, it is bigger than I imagined. "This is not our home," Alpha Maximus says.

He must have sensed my overwhelming feelings looking at the house. My mind is racing, thinking about how on earth I will be a Luna to such a huge pack. I hope they are all as kind as him.

"I bet your house is bigger," I tease him.

We step up onto a large porch. Alpha Maximus opens the door for me. "Actually, our house is smaller. So as you know, most of the wolves in this pack are kind and selfless. None of them are arrogant. We work together, and we play together. Well, except me. I stay to myself, but now that you are here, I guess I will need to be sociable," he says.

I don't get a chance to ask him about our home. She wolves surround us. "Oh my goodness, look at you. You are beautiful," one of them says. They are giggling and jumping over one another to get to me.

"I am Amy, this is JayJay, Georgia, and PJ," Amy says. They are all so excited to meet me, and it is a bit overwhelming.

One of the Beta wolves calls Alpha Maximus, and he leaves me for a moment. "I will be right back," Alpha Maximus says, kissing me on the cheek and going into an office with two beta wolves. Something is up. I can feel it.

The She wolves are all over me. "We are so happy you are here with us. Alpha Maximus needs someone, and you are so perfect," Jay Jay says.

"Thank you. He is very kind," I say. I am not sure what to say or how much they know about what happened to me. Honestly, I do not want to ever talk about the past again. I know I will have to talk about it eventually to Alpha Maximus but not today and not with the she wolves.

Amy pulls me toward the kitchen. "Come with us. I know you are hungry," she says. The she wolves take me into the kitchen to feed me and talk. I sit down at a large table.

"This is where we eat after we cook. Jay Jay and I cook for the pack every night. Well, not all of the pack, just Alpha Maximus, the betas, and a few single wolves. Most of the men are married, but there are a few that come here to eat," Amy says.

Georgia hands me a cup of hot tea. I hear a loud growl from the front office. "OH SHIT!" Amy says. She looks over at me. "Alpha Maximus is pissed off," she says.

"We saw Marcus on the way here," I say. Maybe I should not have said anything, but I did.

Amy sits down beside me. "Do you know Marcus?" she asks me.

I nod. "I do," I answer.

Amy shakes her head. "Alpha Marcus is a bad man, and so is the other one, Alpha..." Amy stops. Jay Jay punches her lightly.

"Sorry I was out of line," Amy says.

"It is fine. I prefer people to speak their minds — no need to sugarcoat anything around me. I have heard it, seen and been through it," I say with a smile. I sip my tea.

"We are sorry," Georgia says. I can see the pain in her eyes. She is sorry for me, but there is no need to be. I am fine.

The she wolves sit down with me quietly. We all sip our tea. PJ sets some cookies on the table for us and joins us. The quiet becomes too much for me. "Tell me, Georgia, are you married?" I ask her because she is the closest one to me at the moment.

"No, I was. My husband passed away, and Alpha Maximus gave me a place to stay. My pack was slaughtered. I was one of the few survivors," Georgia says. I am sorry I asked, but I know how she feels. I reach for her hand and hold it in mine.

"I am sorry," I say.

Amy leans over the table to get a little closer to me. "This pack is built on misfits. We all either did not fit in with our pack, or our packs were murdered. Alpha Maximus gives us hope. That is why we are all so excited he found his mate. No one is more deserving than Alpha," Amy says.

His pack loves him. They trust him. I watch wolves coming in and out of the pack house; each of them is so kind to me. They speak to me, welcome me to the pack, and talk kindly of Alpha Maximus. Alpha Ranon was wrong about no one ever wanting me. I am accepted here. This is my home.

"You are smiling," Alpha Maximus says. I look up to see him standing beside me. I was so deep in thought that I had not noticed him walking into the dining room.

I quickly stand up and kiss him. "I was thinking about how I belong here. Your pack is wonderful. Thank you for bringing me here," I say excitedly.

There is something wrong I can tell he is trying to hide it. "We need to talk," Alpha Maximus says. His arm is firmly on my waist. I begin to shake.

"What is wrong?" I ask him.

"Marcus attacked the pack lands and killed Alpha Al. The few wolves that were there are all dead," Alpha Maximus tells me.

He was planning to kill me, but I already knew that. I knew he wanted me to die at the hands of Alpha Ranon. It was Alpha Marcus that helped Alpha Ranon.

"I can hear your thoughts, Kayla. How did you know Alpha Marcus was helping Alpha Ranon?" he asks me.

Alpha Maximus is still holding me tightly. His betas are coming in closer to hear what I have to say. "Because I saw him the night of my wedding and again at the pack house when I was in the dog cage," I say. I begin to tremble.

Alpha Maximus pulls me close to him. My thoughts are racing with the pack house of painful memories. "Stop," he says. He sees my memories, and then I focus on Marcus standing there, watching them hit me and beat me. "Stop," Alpha Maximus says again. I try to stop the thoughts, but they are coming so fast.

"That is how he got here so quickly and why he did not need me to pick him up at the airport. I will kill him for all of this," Alpha Maximus growls.