Previously, on Love bite. 

"I'll watch after them till you get back Cody. you go out and enjoy a run with your brother and your pack. "Cody thanks her and gives his mate a nose to the cheek before taking off, quickly catching up with the rest of the group.

My stomach becomes hallow as we dash into the treeline, the realization finally hits me right in the gut. The replay of Shelby taking of flashes through my aunt's mind and my heart goes out to her.

She is not looking forward to when we get back home. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Now Sophie's P.O.V

Instantly after we returned home from our little run, both packs started helping Shelby pack her bags for her move to Ruby Stone tonight. Now that Ace is well enough to travel, he wants to get back home with his pack, and his mate as soon as possible. Besides, I think some of the Ruby Stone wolves are starting to get a bit homesick.

As of right now, Shelby's bags are all on the couch, her stuff being packed gently by her friends and family while she watches, making sure everything goes where it's meant to. She wanted to help pack, really she did but Ace thought it would be better if she supervised instead to make sure nothing gets lefts left behind.  Not wanting to push it, she reluctantly agreed.

While helping Shelby pack her Pj's, I see her face change. Her eyebrows draw together, she opens her mouth but doesn't say anything. She starts thumbing through the folded pairs of sleeper pants and counting them to herself like she's taking inventory, I take notice.

"What's the problem, Shelby?" She smiles it me but blushes guiltily at me.

"Oh, nothing Sophie., I just forgot to grab my favorite pajama bottoms..." I almost lose it right there.

"Wait, you have a favorite pair of pajama bottoms?"

"Yes, it's because they're red, fuzzy, and have little raccoons on them. Anyways, they got left back upstairs and now  someone has to go back up there to get them." At Shelby's worlds, all the ruby Stone wolves around us, perk up, ready to take her request. Having recovered from my near laughing fit. I get up from my one seat on the sofa.  

 "Not to worry Shelby, I'll go back up there and get it for you." Shelby immediately shakes her head.

"Oh no Sophie, you don't have t..."

"Nonsense, I will be happy to do this for you,"  I look towards the wolves who are still at the ready. "You guys stay here and help her finish up her packing," I look back at Shelby.  "Same drawer as these?" I ask, pointing to the bottoms already folded in the suitcase to be sure. Shelby nods.

"Yes, same one." 

"Aright"

I turn and start to make my way upstairs, making a note to stop by our room on the way back in order to wake Luka so that he can say goodbye to Shelby. While the of us went straight to packing when we got back from our little run, Luka went up to our room and literally crashed, not that I'd blame him.

Getting to the top of the stairs, I make my way to Shelby's room. I walk through the open door and make a beeline for her dresser, opening the drawer back up. 

I reach in and pull out the remaining pair of pajama bottoms. I smile at the image of a cute raccoon biting into an apple.

You didn't think she'd leave you behind, did you? 

I gather it in one arm, using my hand to push the drawer back closed and leaving one arm free. I start to walk out, almost through the doorway, however, I hear the slight echo of someone crying in Shelby's bathroom. I stop. It ticked my ear so I couldn't have just heard it. I backtrack and slowly head towards the attached bathroom.

The doors closed so someone's inside there. As I get closer to the door, the weeping becomes even louder. From this distance, I can hear from the sound, it's coming from a woman. The realization hits me like a cold waterfall. Wait a second, I know the woman's voice and tones. I calmly knock on the door. 

She clears her throat. "Come in, she says, sniffling slightly.

I knew it was her, but why?

"It's me, I'm coming in." I twist the doorknob slowly.

Once walking in, I see my aunt seat on the toilet with the seat down looking into her hand and her body shaking somewhat. Hearing me walk in, her posture straitens and she faces me. Her eyes have gotten even redder still, so much so they appear raw. Her cheeks are now splashy and now have a fresh trail of tears rolling down them. I look down for a moment and see her legs to are shaking slightly.  

Why's she crying in here? When we started packing up Shelby's stuff, aunt Sherry let us know she needed to use the restroom. Strangely after she blocked off her pack connection, even my uncle's connection. Now, I understand why. If she's been crying up here, she's been at it for over an hour.  

"Oh, hey Little Sophie. What are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be downstairs helping Shelby pack for Ruby Stone?" 

"Yeah well, look who's talking. You're supposed to be using the bathroom?"

"Well not really, I just... came up here to get away from everything that's happening for a bit," she replies with a sniffle. Her reply surprises me a bit.

"Get away from what? Look, if you're worried about the hospital. Don't worry, you'll have  Maloney working with you, she'll do fine believe me."  Aunt Sherry looks away from me and down at her knees.

"It's not the hospital I'm worried about Sophie," she pauses, letting out a deep sigh. "It's Shelby."

"Shelby will be fine,  she's got Ace to look after her now. In fact, I'm convinced that Ace should be the one we should worry about. Trust me, Aunt Sherry, you've got nothing to worry about." My aunt now looks serous.

"Yes, but even so Sophie, it's our obligation to worry about her, your uncle and I both." My eyebrows raise, pulse increasing slightly. I wonder.

"Why so?' My aunt's body goes tense and she flenches.

"it's nothing," she lets out  a half sigh half sniffle, "something I've been dealing with for a while, something that was hard for me deal with and admit." I move in front of her, sitting down on the edge of the bathtub, placing the bottoms beside me.

"Then admit it to me," I clasp my hands together, maybe it'll be easier if you talk about what's on your mind." Aunt Sherry's eyes narrow.

"Oh Sophie, I don't know, I...this is not something very personal to your uncle and me and it could take a while to explain."   

 "I've got time," I then disconnect from the rest of the pack, I also block Luka's connection as well. "we're in a private place, no one can hear us, I know you're aching to get this off your chest and tell someone. " She looks down, her hands fidgeting slightly. Realizing I'm getting close, I smile. "Besides, I'm now the Luna, it's my job to know what's bothering the pack members especially my aunt."  She looks back up, wiping her nose with her hand.

"Did you have to play that card?" I partly grin at her.

"Yes, it was my wildcard." My aunt lets out another sigh. She then leans forward and reaches out for one of my hands. I unclasp one hand, placing it gently in her own.  

"This is something after I found out, I almost never told anyone., not even your grandparents. The only people I ever told were your Uncle, your mother, and eventually Shelby when she was  old enough." I nod in understanding, waiting for her to continue. "As you know, I met your Uncle after I had ran away from the pack for a few days.  The reason I ran away was I had just found out I couldn't have children." 

This news sends ripples through me. How could I not have known this? All this time, I just assumed it was their decision not to have kids.

"Sophie, before I met your Uncle, I didn't fit in with the pack. I was a human girl part of a pack of huge wolves, the outcast. Learning this news sent me over the edge." She coughs slightly, clearing her throat. "Anyway, after your Uncle and I met and got married, despite what I had been told, we decided to try, and at one point against all odds we were successful, but then lost it a few days after finding out." My stomach drops.

"I've heard that's the worst thing imaginable." She grips my hand slightly.

"Trust me, Little Sophie, it is, You're lucky you haven't experienced pain like that," she squeezes tighter, "and I hope you never have to." I averted her gaze for a moment before speaking again.

"How does Shelby fit into this?" I'm about to continue but my aunt puts her free hand up, silencing me from speaking another word.

"Subsequently, after we lost our fetus, I had no desire to try again. I couldn't bear the thought of miscarrying a second time and going through that pain all over again. Your Uncle understood and agreed. As the years went y, We continued to hope that somehow, someway, fate would give us a chance to be parents, even though it seemed impossible." Her eyes light up, her downward expression turning into a slight smile. "And then..." It clicks.

All throughout my aunt's story, I've been trying to connect the dots and figure out how Shelby fits into all of this. At my aunt's pause, the dots all click together, like finding the last piece to a long lost puzzle. The night of Shelby's second shift. I think my aunt knows when I figure it out, her face brightens a bit. I let her continue without a single word.

"And then, I was woken up one the early morning by my husband who had gone out for a morning run and found a pup tired and in distress. When I walked into the room and saw Shelby for the first time, I felt an unseen connection with her. Even though she wasn't ours biologically, I couldn't help but think she was meant to be with us. I mean, I'm not proud of the fact she got shot and lost her wolf, but I just couldn't help but feel that fate brought her here for a reason. And, well, you already know what happened after. Anyways, after Shelby was well enough to be released, your  Uncle and I took her home and made the decision to raise her as our own, and the rest they say is. history."            

With her story done, I'm finally able to confirm with aunt Sherry what my brain put together. "So Shelby's not just your colleague, she also your daughter."

"Yes," she confirms, "Shelby was always at the hospital so I could keep an eye on her. When she started taking an interest in caring for people, I began teaching her everything I knew. Before long, she became my right hand."

"Okay, so if Shelby's your daughter, why are you crying up here, shouldn't you be the one downstairs helping her pack?" Another stray tear falls from my aunt's eye.

"It's because, for the last seven years,  we've raised Shelby as our own. We've experienced the ups and downs of parenthood, after years and years of hoping we finally got it. With Luka back home, we figured that Shelby would move back in with us. With had planned to ask her once the battle with Ruby Stone was over and done with. Once it was discovered that Shelby was Ace's mate, we knew she would be leaving us to be with him and his pack..."

"But..."

"But even though she'll be right across the river from us, it still feels like she's leaving us forever. Your Uncle has been preparing me for the day ever since Shelby met Ace, but the time flew by so fast, the day for her to leave is here and it's all happening too fast." I feel her body start to tremble in my hand. "Sophie, what am I going to do? This feels like it's killing me inside." At my aunt's plea begin to think.

Come on mom, give me something to work with, give me something to work with, I request. Abruptly an almost forgotten memory from my mind floods its way in. I was unusually grouchy and fussy this one day. I smile at her.

"Mom used to say parenthood is like raising a bird in a cage. You feed them when they're hungry. Cry with them through the hard times. Fight with them through the hard times. Care for them when they get sick. Then when you finally get used to having them around and everything is normal and fine, they're ready for you to open up the cage and fly on their own," I give her a serious look, "but you have to be the one to open their cage in order for them a future'." Tears begin to prickle over my aunt's eyes again.

"I'm still scared for her Sophie." I  let go of her hand and slowly stand up, leaving the clothes on the side of the tub, I take the necessary few steps to cross the room. Sensing what I'm about to do, aunt Sharry makes as much room for me as she can. I sit and wrap my arms around her,  

"Good, that's normal, because there is something more scary to a parent than watching their kids grow up and spread their wings. Nevertheless, it's a necessary part of life, that much I do know. All kids at some point or another have to step out of their parents Shadow to live their own lives," I rest my head on her shoulder as best I can, "It's okay Aunt Sherry, I know Ace will look after Shelby.he'll be fine, you have nothing to be scared of, she 's going to be a Luna after all." I feel her body stop shaking,

"That's true." Something comes into my head to lighten up the mood and I snicker.

"Besides, if you're suffering from empty nest syndrome because of Shelby's departure, you know you still have me, Luka, and Elliot to look after." My comment makes her chuckle somewhat. She shakes her head. 

"No, I don't think so. Luka's now eighteen. You're seventeen going on eighteen, and Elliot is..." she pauses to think of her next word, "well, Elliot is Elliot, no matter how old he gets. Anyways, thank you for helping me, Sophie, you were there when I needed you." I eye the folded pants still on the bath.

"Alright, well I must be going," I get back up, walk over the tub, and pick up the fabric, "I told Shelby I would be right back, she's probably worried about me." I turn on my heel, facing back to look at her. "I'll leave you in here to grieve in here or a bit, but promise me you'll at least you'll come to See Shelby off." My aunt lets out one more deep sigh and nods.

"Wouldn't miss it," she retorts, "I owe it to her as a mother.'

I turn towards the bathroom door and walk out closing the door softly behind me. Once out, I turn to see Elliot silently standing up against the wall adjacent to the bathroom with his ear towards the door. I bink

How did he? He didn't make a sound, I for sure didn't hear him come in. I come toward him and stop.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," I start walking slowly again, he fallows. "Aunt Sharry's taking Shelby's move harder than all of us."           

"Well, that's to be expected given the circumstances. I assume you heard everything." He lowers his head, avoiding my gaze. I feel the guilt bubble up from within him. I don't even need the pack connection, I just need to see his face. 

"I'm sorry Sophie, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I should have known better. I just..." I know what he's about to say before he even says it.

"How did you know she was even in there?" I ask interjecting even though I already know what his reply will be. He points referring to his ear.

"Bast hearing of the pack Sophie. I just heard someone crying and I just wanted to help. That's my life's mission, I see someone who needs help and I try to help them, in any way I can. It's who I am." My heart breaks. Elliot was just being Elliot, and that's why we love him. When he realizes he's not in trouble Elliot faces me again. "Do you want me to comfort her Sophie?"

"No Elliot, just stay up here and keep an ear out for her," I stop before reaching the doorway, "however if her breakdown becomes worse, tell my Uncle what's wrong." 

"'Can do Sophie."

"Oh and one more thing before I go, Elliot,"  I give him a look, "What you've just heard in there stays between us and Luka."

"Yes, Sophie."

 Once out of Shelby's old room I remember my mental note to wake Luka from his slumber. I make a detour to our room. The door is open, I step lightly through the doorway, knocking on the frame. He wakes groggily but raises his head to look at me,

"Come on Luka, you've got to come and see Shelby off."

In one swift motion, Luka tosses the cover off and process to follow me.

 ***

When I come down the staircase, I'm surprised to find Ace hiding out in the little cubby hole behind the stairway. I let Luka pass me, looking over the rail down towards Ace. He appears to be on the phone talking to someone, balancing one arm on his cane while using his other hand to hold the device. He speaks to the person on the other end, even though I myself can't hear who it is.

"Alright man, let me know your E.T.A, or we'll all hear you when you get close," I can bearly catch a muffled male voice on the end of the line, but not much more than that. Ace seems to be satisfied with the answer.   He purses his lips and gives a nod. "Okay Dude, see you when you arrive, and thank you." There are a few more muffled words spoken before Ace ends the call. Knowing I won't be interrupting anything, I finish going down and walk over towards him. I tilt my head

"Who were you just talking to?" 

"Nobody you have to worry about Sophie," he replies, as he very slowly slips his phone back into his pocket and then using the same hand to steady himself with help from the wall. He smiles at me, grabbing his cane. "Besides, you'll know in a while." He eyes the folded bundle I'm holding in my hand, he raises an eyebrow at me. I open my mouth to speak.    

"She forgot this one, so I when and got these for her as a favor." He nods in approval, "speaking of which, I'd best be getting this back to her now," I start to walk away as I hear steps come down the stars. "See you in a moment Ace." As the steps get louder, I turn to find Shelby coming down. I reach out, handing the pair of pants to her.

"Cody and Heather won't be seeing me off, they have to get the babies to be, so I was saying goodbye to them before I did my final check. Man, I'm going no miss Loka and McKinley for the cuteness factor, but I'm going to love sleeping in late and not being woken up at all hours of the night and morning." I chuckle at this a bit.

"I wouldn't blame you for that," something suddenly pops into my and I have to excuse myself for a second, "Oh, I forgot to give you and Ace a parting gift, I'll be right back and meet you back at the couch." I turn and go into the kitchen.   

Walking up to the fridge. I open it and pull out the bottle with a long neck and a fancy red bow around it.  I close the door to the fridge, trying to not drop this bottle of bubbly while doing so. Walking back in I walk towards Shelby. She looks at me, eyes landing on the bottle of champagne inside the bottle. I roll my eyes in mock annoyance.  

"Okay, I know you're eighteen, but can you at least wait till you and Ace get home before you two pop a cork?" Shelby chuckles at my comment, reaching out for the bottle and taking it gently from me.

"Sophie, when did you get this?" 

"I got it a few nights ago after you and Ace. I slipped out of the house and went to the store." she nods in thanks.           

"Well, you really didn't have to do this but it will be used graciously and wisely. Thank you and Luka so much." Shelby softly places the drink on the cushions. She goes through the motions pg putting the pajamas in her suitcase, feeling the fabric as she does. Suddenly, Shelby's hand fumbles over one spot of the fabric repeatedly. "Okay, why are these pants damp?" She wonders to herself       

'Oh, after I was done getting those, I had a little business to take care of in the bathroom, so I set them on the side of the tub." Shelby gives me her own look of annoyance, this time a legit one. "c'mon Sophie, you know you can't lie to me that easily anymore. What's going on up there/" I let out a deep sigh and put my mouth up to her ear.   

"Alright, I didn't want to tell you the whole truth because I didn't want you to feel bad," I whisper, "but my aunt is upstairs grieving for you, she's been in your bathroom crying for over an hour, She's sad that you're leaving the nest." Shelby looks town at my shoulder for a moment and whispers.

"Oh, she told you that huh?" I nod.

"Yes. I heard her crying in your bathroom, I went in there to comfort her and I set your pants on the side of the tub, and that's how your pants got wet." She smiles at me. 

"No worries, I'm sure these will be dry by the time we get home," she then sets her pants inside her suitcase on top of her others. She turns back towards me, her face serious. "So you thank your Aunt will come to see me off?" I nod and smile.      

"I'm sure she will, In fact, I wouldn't doubt it." Shelby turns her attention back to her bag doing one final count and check, A small crowd of wolves gathering te back of the couch, Luka among them, She closes her suitcase and turns towards me.

"That was it, I'm ready to go," Ace walks over into the living room and puts his free arm around her shoulder. Shelby turns away from me and looks into her mate's eyes. "I'm done packing, Ace lets finally get us and the rest of the pack home." My uncle who's standing at the far back of the couch lowers his head and lets a stray tear fall. Ace turns to look over him.

 "Mister Liam Sir, you know what to do." Wiping the tear away quickly, my uncle looks back up and nods  

"I'll go flip the switch to the backyard fence,' he starts walking over to it. My chest tightens and my temperature rises, I turn and look over the back of the couch.

"The backyard fence? Wait for a second Ace,  I thought you and your pack were going out the front door." Ace shakes his head.

"No Sophie, we're going out the back door for a bit." 

By now, the word has traveled throughout the house that Shelby and Ace are ready to go. Wolves who were on the upper levels have come downstairs and are now gathering near the back door. Even Elliot has made it down. Shelby grabs her last bag from the couch and Ace srs to walk around the couch. Luka and I follow behind. A few Ruby stone wolves bring up the rear, carrying the rest of Shelby's luggage, Elliot sees this and decides to help them out.

I walk beside Luka with a knot in my chest, I look over towards Ace. He has a mischievous look about him all a sudden like he's about to pull a practical joke on someone. The back of my neck begins to tingle, making the hair there stand up.

"Ace, what are you up to?" I break down and ask. Ace looks back at me and just smirks.

"Sophie I've already told, nothing you or Luka have to worry about," his smirk grows wider, "but odds are you'll be finding out in a few minutes anyway." Well, that could mean absolutely anything.  I can feel even Luka's just as confused as I am, and for just him a bit on edge. 

My uncle suddenly starts to chuckle slightly. I look over and watch as he catches up with the rest of us. He has the same smirk and the same look in his eye. Now Luka grow more curious and confused.

"Uncle, do you know anything about what's going on?" His own smirk grows bigger.

"Maybe I do Sophie, maybe I don't." Well, most likely that's a yes.

We make it to the back door. Ace is about to reach out for the handle but stops when we hear a voice ring out. We all turn to sool, causing a domino effect within the group. Elliot is the last one to turn, he looks towards the staircase and slightly grins.

"Wait up."

'Took you long enough to get yourself calm and cleaned up," he calls sweetly out to the figure movie quickly down each step. My aunt reaches the bottom and slows to a walk as she reaches us.

"Well, I didn't want to come out of the bathroom looking like I was melting and falling apart" Shelby asps and covers her mouth with her free hand, eyes shinning and locked on. Once my aunt catches up with us, she looks at Ace. "Okay, you can open it now." He nods.  

***

When we walk o the patio and into the, we stop and I look around. Nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. I look around to find nothing has been changed or moved. The bunker doors are still where they were the last time I came out here obviously, same for the poles that keep the fence in while active, even every blade of grass and leaf is in its place.

Note yourself, after this is all over spruce up the backyard.

Once we're a little ways away from the patio, we stop. As the rest of us look around, I look back towards Ace, the tightness in my chest becomes hollow. Luka becoming even more on edge

"Okay Ace, why did you want to drag us out here?" Ace's smirk grows even bigger into a smile

"Don't worry Sophie, you should be able to hear it any second."          

The whole group goes silent, till all you can hear is the nightly wind as it blows by. I turn back to see the Ruby Stone wolves apart from Shelby are completely calm. I listen hard, first, it's the same as before, only now, I can actually hear the blades of grass rubbing against others.

Then I am able to single sound far away but getting closer with each passing second, It's a hollow sound, rhythmic humming, almost like spinning blades...or maybe a... Just as my mind lands on the right word a bright spotlight comes through the trees, the sound of the propeller now roaring.       

Upon seeing the aircraft quickly approaching, a few from our pack take a few steps. Watching it come even closer, my eyes bulge slightly, my mouth unable to form words for a second. The flying object starts to descend, the gusts from the propeller swaying the tops of the trees from behind it My shock quickly turns to amazement as the chopper deploys its landing gear. My hand comes up to cover my mouth, listing to my heart pound inside my chest. I turn to look at Ace.

 "Where did you get t the helicopter?" I take my hand from my mouth.

"What, did you think you were the only werewolf family with money lying around?" He responds. I take offense to this

"Careful Ace, don't talk me like that," I warn,  "after all, I have a strong brave new Alpha to protect me." Realizing I wasn't kidding, Ace raises his free hand

  "Sorry Sophie, I give. Anyways, this is my primary mode of transportation when going on long trips. I'm normally the one in the pilot's seat but seeing I'm not able to fly yet, I had to rely on my back up." Shelby looks at her mate and means.

"Ace baby, I didn't know you could fly." Ace looks towards her and nods.  

"Yes, I can. My father taught me when I was young. his father taught him, and so on and so forth," Ace gets a twinkle in his eye, "and we don't just fly helicopters, we put them together as well," Ace gestures to the aircraft in front of us. "My dad and I built this beauty when I was ten, once  I turned fifteen, he gave it to me before he died."

The small helicopter touches down with a slightly loud thud, the motors, and propellers all coming to a halt. Through the slightly tented windows, I can see movement Luka, Shelby, Ace, and I approach the aircraft. I turn towards Luka, feeling his unease subsiding replaced with as much shock and amazement as I have. As we come closer, Ace opens the door. The man in the pilot's seat gives him a smile.    

"Hey Alpha, good to see you again in person," he reaches out his hand. Ace shakes it

"Good to see you as well Patrick," he turns towards me, "Sophie this is Patrick, he's my backup pilot, This is Sophie Peterson, the new Luna of the new Luna Emerald Stone Pack," Ace moves slightly to the side, allowing me to get closer. Patrick releases Ace's hand and holds it out to me.

Oh, this must be who Ace was talking to on the phone.     

"Sophie, a pleasure. I'm sorry I'm bad at names and I don't get out of the house often." I smile and take his hand to shake.    

"That's alright, I'm glad to meet you anyway." After a moment of shaking the hands of each other, Luka lets out a growl in warning. I jerk my head away quickly, Ace and I looking back at my mate.   

"And that's Luka, my mate, and new Alpha as of tonight," Patrick looks towards Luka and bows his head slightly.

"Very nice, congratulations." Patrick's complement seems to settle Luka, he gives him a thankful nod.  I move out of the way and go to stand by Luka. getting to him, I place a kiss on his lips and all is forgiven. 

After Ace introduces Shelby to Patrick, we slowly start to load Shelby's bags on board    Once that's done, Ace turns and addresses his pack. "Would it be okay with everyone if Shelby and I fly back?" Raising his voice to be heard over the blades.

The members of Ruby Stone look at each other. "Of course it is Alpha," one of the members speaks up. "Don't worry about us sir, we'll simply run back. It isn't that far, and you can use the quiet time to get Luna Shelby home and settled in."

 Ace gives his pack a nod in thanks and turns to face Luka and I.

"Well, I guess this is it then." I walk over and wrap my arms around Ace's neck, I expect Luka to growl but surprisingly he doesn't. "Take good care Sophie," he says, his voice muffled.

"And the same to you and your pack," I reply as I pull apart from him. "Take care of them." "I will," he says, "and you have one special Alpha there, so I know Emerald Stone will be in good hands with you and Luka at the head."  

Hearing this causes my hands to tingle slightly. Even though it's been a few months, hearing Ace praise Luka still feels me with gratitude. I smile a little.

"I know we will be."

Ace smiles a bit himself and turns his attention towards Luka while I turn mine towards Shelby.

"Luka," Ace says, holding his hand out for Luka to shake.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luka hesitate as he looks down at Ace's hand, still unsure. I then feel Luka get an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach on the other end of our connection before I can say goodbye to Shelby.

"Just breathe," I say through the link.

Luka lets out a sigh and then reaching out and giving Ace's hand a firm handshake, giving him strong eye contact as he does so. With that taken care of, I turn my attention back towards Shelby and wrap my arms around her neck.

"Are you listening to me?" I whisper, putting my mouth close to her ear. She nods. "Good, I want this to be just between us," I pause in order to get my thoughts together. "Okay Shelby, from one Luna to another, I want you to be the Luna, we always knew you could be." I hug her a bit tighter, and she reciprocates. "You've been a best friend to Luka, me, and the rest of the pack, now be a better Luna for Ruby Stone and be an even better mate to Ace. Be the Alpha female they deserve."

"Don't worry Sophie, I will," she assures me before breaking away. She turns towards Luka, a smile spreading from ear to ear and an upturned face.

"Congratulations on becoming Alpha Luka, " she says before enveloping my mate in a hug before finishing. "Gosh you've really come into your own haven't you. You're no longer that scared little fur ball I met almost two years ago."

Luka's eyes are filled with a slight inner glow. "I couldn't have made it without you Shelby," he says, his heart full as he wraps his own arms around her neck. "Sometimes I think I might've died along the way without your help. " Shelby pulls away from him but doesn't pull apart. Luka looks her in the eye. "Thank you for looking after Sophie while I was away. Now it's time to look after your pack, and him," says Luka, cutting his eye over to look at Ace.

She smiles at him a bit. "Like I told Sophie a moment ago, I will," Luka releases Shelby, me and him step back, allowing my uncle to step forward.

Again Shelby gets wrapped up in another hug. "Goodbye father, thanks for finding me and saving my life all those years ago," she says, sounding like she's trying hard not to cry.

I feel a wave of shock coming over Luka's connection. I look over to see his jaw hanging open at what he's just heard.

"Aunt Sherry and I will tell you the circumstances later."     

"It was no problem at all Little Shelby," my uncle says, pulling away from her slightly and putting his hands on her shoulders. "If I had to, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You were one of the gifts that made mine and your mother's worlds complete."

"Minus the part about me almost dying and losing my wolf right?" Shelby asks, tears breaming in her eyes.

"Exactly sweetheart, I wouldn't want to go through that again," my uncle replies, chuckling slightly as he reaches up and wipes the tears from her eyes before they start to fall. He then gives her a gentle peck in between the eyes.

Shelby starts to cry a bit. She looks at my uncle, giving him strong eye contact. "I love you Daddy," she tells him before wrapping her arms around him again.

"I love you too," says my uncle, leaning into the hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"Same here," Shelby says before pulling away from him for the final time.

My uncle comes over to Ace, who's face changes in an instant. Ace tries to stay composed, but I can tell he's nervous about what's about to happen.

"Sir," Ace says, holding out his hand for my uncle to shake just like he did with Luka, but this time Ace's hand is trembling slightly.

Uncle takes Ace's hand in his own but doesn't shake it. Instead, he squeezes down on Ace's fingers, so hard they turn white for a moment. Ace grimaces, and my uncle lets go. He then gives Ace strong eye contact.

"Hurt her or mistreat her in any way, and what I'll do to you will be a million times worse," he threatens. "You understand me son?"

"Yes Sir, I understand," Ace replies rubbing his fingers. He then turns towards Shelby. "You ready to go dear?"

Shelby's eyes quickly scan the faces of the crowd, the fluttering in her belly quickly dissipating into something hollow. She lowers her head.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Not without saying goodbye to me you don't," a voice chimes out.

We all turn back towards the back door to see Aunt Sherry coming out with Elliot right behind her. Everyone steps aside, clearing a path for the both of them. Shelby's face lights up when her eyes land on her. I feel a ping in my stomach.

Elliot stops by me, allowing Aunt Sherry to embrace Shelby in an emotional hug.

"When we had to say goodbye to Luka at the start of summer last year, I never thought I would have to say goodbye to you so soon as well," says Aunt Sherry breaking down so hard, I can hear it muffled through Shelby's shoulder.

"Me neither," Shelby replies, "I never believed my life would turn out so differently then what I thought it was going to be."

"None of us can Shelby," my Aunt informs wrapping her arms tighter around her. "I don't want you to leave."      

"I know." Shelby replies, pulling away slightly, "but this is my destiny. If I don't help Ace protect Ruby Stone, then who will?" Shelby then gives Aunt Sherry a small grin. "Besides, this isn't goodbye, I'll be right across the river if you need me." My aunt fixes her with a stern look.

"You better mind link me every day."

"I was going to mind link you twice a day," Shelby assures her.

Aunt Sherry pulls Shelby in again, bringing her mouth to her ear. "Keep on being a survivor Shelby Green..." she pauses to swallow a lump in her throat, "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Shelby replies, her eyes breaming with tears. Shelby pulls away, wiping them away with her hand. As she does Elliot comes to say his final goodbye.

When Shelby's not looking, my aunt shoots Ace a death glare. I flinch, and Ace's stomach drops just from seeing it.

"You listen to me Ace Summers," she says, giving him stronger eye contact then my uncle did. "You take good care of our daughter. Otherwise, I don't care who you are, Alpha or not. I will kill you and berry your body somewhere where they'll never find it again."

"And I'll help," my uncle chimes in.

By now, Ace's face has paled and his chin is trembling, I can feel his heart racing in his chest, which is bad because my aunt and uncle can also feel it, so they know they have him scared. Ace's eyes shift over to Shelby, giving her a pleading look. Just as I'm about to step in, Shelby beats me to it.

"Alright you two, that's enough, you're going to make him leave without me," she says, coming to the rescue of her mate. She's standing with her posture tall and her shoulders back, looking more and more like a Luna.  

"Sorry Shelby, I guess we over did it a bit," my uncle says. The color returns to Ace's face and he let's out a quiet sigh. After a moment, Shelby turns to face him.

"I think I'm ready to start my new life," she says, her voice sounding both somber and happy.

Ace nods. "Very well then," he replies.

The door to the aircraft and the blades start st spin again opens. Ace steps up first, I go up and grab his cane to keep it steady while he pulls himself inside.

"Thanks Sophie," Ace says buckling himself in and taking his cane from me.

"No problem at all," I reply before my eyes go wide as I remember something. "Ace wait. Just to let you know, Duke and Asher won't be coming back right away," I inform. "Asher still has to heal and Duke still has to wait for his new leg to come in. Can they stay in my care in the meantime?"

"Of course," Ace replies back with a nod and a smile. "Tell those two they can come home whenever they like."  

Shelby then climes on board beside him, getting the window seat. All of Emerald Stone erupts in a chorus of goodbyes, thankyous, and well wishes. Shelby's face flushes, but I can also feel a surge of pride coming over her connection as she scans the crowd. As her eyes land on Luka, her eyes widen slightly.

"Oh Luka, I almost forgot!" She yells now over the roar of the propellers, "happy birthday!"

"Thank you, Shelby," Luka replies turning towards her, "hope you have a safe trip."

Shelby's eyes then shift my way, she smiles/

"Thanks for being my friend Sophie," I she says,"

Lastly her eyes find my aunt and uncle, holding each other's hands.

"Goodbye my parents," she says softly, her eyes tearing up again but my uncle unable to stop them this time. "Thanks for everything."

Shelby buckles herself up just as the doors to the helicopter close. A few moments later, the aircraft starts to take off again, sending my hair flying all around. It goes higher and higher as it banks towards the boarder of Ruby Stone.

I feel both sadness and pride slip over my aunt and uncle's connections as they continue to hold each other close.

"Goodbye our daughter," says my aunt, single tear rolling down my uncle's face, but he wipes it away before anyone else can see it.

A few minutes later, we feel Shelby's connection fade as she crosses the main boarder line.

The destined Luna of Ruby Stone is finally home.  

***

A/N Hello everyone. Wow that was a long road. Even though you might not know it or picked up on it, it's been almost been a year and half since I've completed a chapter. Long story short. I got major burn out, my dad's health took nosedive for a bit, and everything else that happened, but he's okay now. I'm okay now for the most part. Anyway, I lost the spark for this book, and to tell you the truth, I wasn't sure I was even going to finish the rest of the series. Then, something happened that relit the spark... His Alpha Her Omega now has an audiobook on YouTube, thanks to the talented Louise Dodd. Hearing my book spoken out loud has respared the fire, and now I'm more determined then ever to finish this book. I have nothing more to say except, thank you for being patient.

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