^ Picture of Lia Grey

"Here's to the ones that we got. Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not. Cause the drinks bring back all the memories of everything we've been through."
~Maroon 5, 'Memories'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

How did I get here?

How did I let myself get here?

It's not too late. I can always leave. No one has seen me yet, besides the guards at the gate. Imagine my surprise to find out this isn't one big prank, and the guards actually had my name listed as an allowed guest. I haven't stepped foot on pack grounds in five years, and now here I am, staring at the doors to the pack house.

House is a stupid description. Mansion, more like. White pillars stand out front, tall and proud, guarding the white mansion with accents of gold. At six stories tall, the building towers over the other homes in the pack. It's gaudy and intimidating, but only from the outside.

On the inside, everything is different.

The first floor is practically a lobby. The room you first walk into has marble floorings, a few couches, a low table, and a desk where a member of the pack greets visitors. The second floor and third floors are mostly offices for the higher ranking wolves.

The fourth floor, where the coronation is to be held, is an open ballroom. This floor is used for various events; parties, coronations.... memorial services. Kinda bleak to crown the next Alpha in the same room they bid the previous one goodbye, right? On this floor is also the Hall of Alphas. It's where all the formal portraits of the pack Alphas, dead and alive, are displayed. They put them on the same floor so the guests can marvel at the portraits when they come for events.

The top two floors are where the head family lives. The fifth floor has the large living room and kitchen, while the sixth floor is comprised of the many bedrooms. About half of them are guest rooms, seeing as the head family isn't big enough to fill all the rooms.

But it's nice. The home is giant, yes, but inviting. Cozy. The sound of laughter bouncing off the walls; the smell of home cooked meals wafting through the air.

I would know. I lived here for two years.

My heart clenches at the thought that this house is no longer like that. The possibility that Silas doesn't laugh with Leon about stupid yet endearing jokes, or that Celeste can't stand the thought of cooking without Easton by her side. The two always shared a love for culinary art.

I'm not even inside the house yet, and already I feel myself falling apart.

So the question still stands:
How the hell did I get here?

| TWO WEEKS AGO |

"No," I answered firmly. "No fucking way."

"Language!" Mom scolded me from across the table. Her green eyes were wide with shock, as if she hasn't heard me curse a million times before. I wanted to remind her that I'm a 25-year-old grown-ass man; therefore, too old to be scolded by my mother for cursing. But instead, I settled for a simple eye roll.

"I think that pretty much sums it up," Lia agreed with me. "Why the hell would he want to go back to the pack? I thought it was stupid to even tell you about it in the first place," she tacked on, leaning over the table towards me.

"We told him because it's his choice to make," mom defended. "Not telling him about the invitation would be dishonest."

"Do you honestly think returning is a good idea for him? Last time he was there, they stripped him of his title as Luna and kicked him out on his ass. Now, you want him to sit there while they announce the new Luna; the one that's taking his rightful place. That's bullshit!"

"Adults have to face tough things sometimes. It's all a part of growing up."

"I don't think Landon needs to grow up. I think he needs to stay the hell away from the pack."

"I'm sorry, but I have to disagree."

"Can you stop talking about me like I'm not sitting right next to you?" I interjected through clenched teeth, tightly clutching my silverware in my grasp. They both gave me apologetic looks. "I'm not going. There's no way I'm going. And that's final. If you'll excuse me, I've lost my appetite."

The chair scraped loudly on the floor when I abruptly stood up. I left some money on the table for my food and storm away, ignoring the pleas for me to stay from my mother and siblings. I barely made it to my car before a heavy hand grabs my arm.

"Landon," my dad said gently. I ground my teeth together and stopped moving, but I didn't turn around. "I'm not going to tell you whether or not you should go. But I do think you should think more on it. This pack was your home for your entire life. You grew up there. And yes, your banishment was a horrendous mistake made by Silas. But it seems like the next Luna wants to correct that mistake. She wouldn't have personally invited you if she didn't truly want you there. This could be a good time to make a fresh start with the pack. Promise me you'll think about it."

I curtly nodded, my breathing feeling heavy and painful. My dad accepted that and released my arm. I didn't look back at him before getting in my car and driving away.

A fresh start? Why would I want a fresh start with them?

Well....

Like my dad said, the pack was my home for my entire life. My whole family lives there. Being on the outside means I don't get to see my family as much, and I don't often hear about what's going on inside the pack. Maybe it could be a good idea to go, to start over again...

| PRESENT DAY |

Oh right.
That's how.
I let my dad get into my head with his stupid logic.

I need to leave. I have to. I cannot stay here. It would be crazy to stay, right? In the place that I used to call home, and is now just the home of the ones who scorned me and threw me out. No longer are the members of this family ones that I hold dear. The love I held from them is gone, and in its place is a fiery resentment. They lost their son, and that was extremely painful for them. You wanna know how I know that? Because I fucking lost him too! He was my mate, for goddess' sake! So I should turn around and leave, right? That would be the sane thing to do. Leave, and forget this night ever happened.

....Except I can't bring myself to do it.
There's an invisible force pulling on me, like a rope tied to my chest, leading me inside. Something in that house isn't letting me leave, but I have no idea what.

Taking a deep breath, I straighten my dark grey tie against my light button up shirt before pushing the front doors open. The pack member sitting at reception looks up and does a double-take when she sees me. She blinks in shock, her mouth gaping open like a trout out of water.

"Landon," she looks at me with wide brown eyes, nervously tucking a strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. "I heard you were invited but I... I didn't know if you were actually coming."

"Nice to see you too, Cami," I fib dryly. "If you're done stating the painfully obvious, I'm gonna head upstairs."

Cami's face flushes and she nods her head while mumbling something under her breath. I could've used my enhanced sense of hearing to hear what she said, but honestly I didn't care enough to. I stride past her towards the elevator and hit the button.

Okay. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it with my head held high. I can't let them see how much they destroyed me. I need them to think that I'm fine on my own; fine without them. I can do this. I got this.

My repeated mantra to pump me up comes to an abrupt stop the moment elevator doors open. They open directly into the open ballroom, and dozens of eyes instantly fall on me. Not even two steps out of the elevator, and I can hear handfuls of whispers with my name mingled in.

Well, shit.

I force myself to keep walking, pretending that my heart isn't pounding a mile a minute. There are round tables covered in satin linens around the room, with various wines being served to the guests. Curious. At Easton's coronation, the chairs were set into rows facing the stage. This seems a lot more.... laid-back. At least, it would be for anyone that isn't returning to the pack they were banished from for the first time in years. A pack that is currently eyeing me both warily and curiously, making my palms grow clammy.

I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can—

Nope.

I duck past a corner, hiding from the prying eyes, despite that strange pull that's wanting to lead me back to the main room. Letting my back rest against the wall, I release a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. After taking a few minutes to calm my breathing, I take a look at my surroundings.

The Hall of Alphas. Despite everything within me screaming that this is a bad idea, I stumble down the hallway. Heading towards the end of the hall, I slow when I see the picture of Silas. His stance is tall and proud. His expression can be interpreted as rigid and stoic, but I knew him well enough to recognize the twinkle he held in his eyes. Below him is a plaque with his title.

Alpha Silas Butler
Served: 1988-2010
Luna: Celeste Butler

My heart clenches at the sight of him looking so gorgeous in his pressed dark blue suit, his red hair swept gracefully away from his hair. Easton's smile is bright like it always was, reminding me how much warmth he brought with one simple smile. My fingertips trace the photo, moving along the curves of Easton's face. Looking downwards, I read the plaque displayed below his photo.

Alpha Easton Butler
Served: 2010-2014
Luna: —

My stomach drops.
They removed my name.
No... that's putting it lightly. Someone scratched out my name. It looks like someone look a knife to the laminate plaque and violently carved over my name until it was impossible to decipher it. I shouldn't still be surprised by stuff like this. I shouldn't still be hurt. But fuck, I really am.

Easton, I really wish you were here. You wouldn't have put up with this shit.

"Oh! Hello," a delicate voice makes me jump. I turn to see a stunningly beautiful woman standing several feet away. She has dark brown eyes framed with long eyelashes and a bit of makeup. Her wavy caramel hair falls to the middle of her back, brushing against her delicate tanned skin. She's wearing a light pink dress that cascades elegantly to the floor. She's smiling as she takes a step towards me. "You're Landon, right?"

I slowly nod my head. "I am. And... you are?"

The woman giggles lightheartedly. "Sorry, how rude of me. I'm Roselyn. I've been really looking forward to meeting you."

My eyes widen. Roselyn.... the next Luna. Wait, she's been wanting to meet me?

"Why?" I ask bluntly, making her blink at me. "Why would you want to meet me? Why would you even invite me here? In case you haven't received the memo, I'm not very well liked around this pack. If you're going to be an effective Luna, you really need to learn more about your pack."

I expect her to get angry with me, or maybe flush with embarrassment from me calling her out. Throw me out, shout at me in front of everyone. Order the warriors to beat me up.

But she doesn't. Instead, she actually laughs in response. And not a condescending or fake laugh. A real laugh, one that makes her eyes twinkle. Surprised, I watch her take a breath to calm her laughter.

"You're right," Roselyn nods, making me raise an eyebrow. "I do have a lot to learn about this pack. Two weeks wasn't nearly enough time to prepare before springing the news on me that I would be introduced as Luna at this coronation. I've only been Leon's mate for a few months, and I didn't exactly spend that time studying up on the pack," she admits with a shy smile. "But I do know about you. At least, I know what Leon has told me about you. And I would like to get to know you better."

I stare at her, dumbfounded. Is... is she serious? She wants to spend time with me outside of the coronation? But that would require her leaving the pack grounds every so often to meet with me. Unless they lifted the ban and allowed me to routinely enter the pack. That would require the head family getting over their hatred towards me. But judging by the way my scratched out name hasn't been mended, I doubt that's the case. Roselyn's gaze follows mine, landing on Easton's plaque. She winces, fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"One of the first things I'm going to do as Luna is get that plaque replaced," Roselyn stammers. "What happened to you... it wasn't right. You suffered a loss, as well. It wasn't your fault, and it's not right that you should be punished for it."

My eyes snap up to hers, and I can feel the faint glow behind them. "You weren't there," I spit through clenched teeth. "How can you possibly say it wasn't my fault when you weren't there?"

"Because I saw the way you were staring at his portrait just a few moments ago," she says softly. "The love and devotion you held in your eyes... if you were truly to blame for Easton's death, you wouldn't have been looking at him like that. I believe that you loved Easton, and what happened was a tragic accident that hurt everyone."

Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Swallowing them back, I cast my gaze towards the ground.

"Anyway," Roselyn starts up again in a much lighter tone. "There is so much I can learn from you! Even though you were Luna for only two years, you managed to get a new school for the pups built, correct? That's what Leon told me, at least. That's a huge accomplishment! I hope I'm able to make that big of a difference as Luna. I know this situation isn't ideal, but I would love if I could sit down with you and pick your brain for ideas!"

I mindlessly nod my head, not really understanding what I was agreeing to as my mind was still swirling with her previous testimony.

'It wasn't your fault, and it's not right that you should be punished for it...'

'...I believe that you loved Easton, and what happened was a tragic accident...'

Similar words have been said to me by my family, but it hits way differently coming from a member of the head family. Coming from the woman taking my place as Luna. I barely register Roselyn's beaming smile before she's tugging on my arm, leading me back to the main room. I let her pull me along, the numbness still spreading throughout my body. I don't even know how I end up in a seat at my family's table, with all their eyes on me, watching me with worry.

"Landon," Lia hisses lowly. "Hey, snap out of it. What's going on with you?"

Lifting my head up, my gaze meets my sister's concerned one. Her choppy blonde hair is pinned back tonight elegantly. She's wearing a bit more makeup than usual, with smoky eyes and a bit of blush dusting her high cheekbones. The dress she chose for tonight is long and black, the ends of it barely brushing the ground. I want to tell her she looks lovely tonight, but my head is pounding from my earlier conversation with Roselyn. Instead, the words that come out are:

"I really need a drink."

Enzo hesitantly pushes a flute of champagne towards me, which I quickly down. The sweet alcohol slides down my throat, and I reach for another glass before doing the same. I manage to throw back three glasses in total before my mother reaches across the table and holds my arm, preventing me from taking a fourth as she looks at me with that motherly worry that makes it impossible to defy her.

The three drinks do an okay job of relaxing me, although it's not quite enough to make me feel tipsy. However, the desire to drink more only grows the moment Silas Butler steps onto the stage at the front of the room. His red hair now has streaks of grey that have down spread into his beard.

"Welcome all," Silas says into the microphone attached to the podium. "What an honor it is to have such esteemed members of our pack here tonight, as well as some special guests from the Crescent Sun Pack."

I hear an excited 'whoop!' come from the opposite side of the room before a handful of shushing and giggles, and the voice sends a tingle down my spine. I turn my head, noticing that invisible rope is pulling me in the direction of the voice, but I can't seem to find where the source is. Slumping back down in my seat, I give up my little search for now. Silas clears his throat, silencing the giggles before carrying on.

"Tonight, we crown the Silver Woods Pack's next Alpha, the wolf who will lead us from this day forward. My son, Leon Butler."

Leon steps onto the stage, momentarily taking my breath away with how much he's grown. He's tall, probably taller than Easton was, and he carries the same stoic expression as Silas. Whereas Easton's hair was light red to match Silas, Leon's hair is a much darker shade of red, nearly burgundy, just like his mother. Celeste stands on the stage in the background, hands delicately folded in front of her body. The grace and refinement of her posture alone speaks volumes of the strong woman and Luna she is.

Leon stands before his father, his dark brows sitting heavily as he remains a statue of hard strength. My chest aches to see him in such a state. The Leon I knew was carefree, constantly smiling and enjoying all the wonders the world had to offer. But now, his eyes are dark and cold, no longer twinkling with joy. Gone is the naive boy I used to know; in his place now stands a man, hardened over the unforgiving years.

"The ceremony will now commence with the transferring of my power as the Alpha of the Silver Woods Pack to Leon," Silas announces with a booming voice. A long, slender knife is brought forward and placed in Silas' hand. He drags the blade over his palm before doing the same to Leon. The knife is set aside, and the two firmly grasps their hands, their combined blood trickling down as they recite the age-old incantation. Their green eyes begin to glow brightly, like shards of emeralds reflecting the sun's light. Once the incantation comes to an end, the glowing begins to dull, signifying the completion of the transferring of power.

The crowd erupts in cheers as Silas breaks into a smile and pulls his son into a tug. Leon returns the smile with one that doesn't fully meet his eyes. Once the cheering dies down, Silas turns back to the microphone.

"We will now move on to the blessing of the Luna," he informs the crowd. The Lunas thrives in whatever power the Alpha has. The more powerful the Alpha, the stronger the Luna. Thus, there isn't a need to pass on power between Lunas. Instead, the former Luna gives a blessing to the new Luna to help her in leading the pack.

Celeste steps forward, as does Roselyn. Celeste takes both of Roselyn's hands in hers and looks deep into her eyes. Pain lingers as I recall Celeste performing this exact ceremony with me seven years ago. Although, it wasn't quite like this. Easton's coronation took place when he was eighteen years old; two years before I was able to take my place as Luna.

"Roselyn Garcia," Celeste starts with a voice of silk. "May the Moon Goddess shine upon you for all your days as Luna of the Silver Woods Pack. I cannot think of anyone better suited to be my Leon's mate, nor can I think of anyone more worthy of being this pack's Luna."

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Eyes dart towards me from all corners of the room as the crowd falls into an uncomfortable silence. Of course people are staring. Why wouldn't they? The disgraced former Luna is sitting right fucking here as Celeste goes on about how much better suited Roselyn is to be Luna.

Sure.
Why not.

I manage to hold in my temper until what happens next becomes my tipping point.
It's subtle, and probably goes unnoticed by anyone else in the pack. But I see it, and my blood begins to boil.

Celeste's gaze flickers to me, her dark eyes briefly locking with mine. The breath gets zapped from my lungs as if someone sucker punched me in the gut. That wasn't some innocent speech Celeste had written for Roselyn. No... she worded it that way specifically because she knew I would be here tonight. After all this time, she still can't let go of her hatred for me?

I stand abruptly from my seat, causing the legs of my chair to scrape loudly across the floor. All eyes are now on me as I fume in my spot, but I'm not focused on them. My focus remains on the four people on the stage. Silas, Leon, Celeste, and Roselyn watch me with wide eyes as I glare at them. Everyone waits with baited breath for me to do something, anything. Everything in me wants to scream and cry through the sting of humiliation. Clenching my fists, I storm away from where my family sits and towards the stairwell near the elevator.

The fire in my vein burns through the alcohol in my system. The humiliation tears through me, and feel my claws beginning to elongate.

I need to kill something.

It's painful, so incredibly painful as my body begins to slowly shift for the first time in years. Without the help of Leo, I force my bone to crack and morph, and I release an agonizing scream. The pain blinds me, leaving me gasping for air as my body violently contorts. Even when my large paws hit the ground, my bones still ache with the pain of the transition. Leo snarls in my head as he battles against me, refusing to come forward and take his rightful place in his true form. With no other choice, I give up on trying to hand him the reigns and dart into the woods.

I sniff the air, catching onto the scent of a nearby deer. Dashing in the direction of the delicious scent, my glowing blue eyes lock on my prey. The fight isn't as quick as one would expect, yet I'm not surprised. Without the help of Leo, I'm not nearly as strong or fast as the typical wolf. At last, I'm finally able to overtake the deer as I sink my claws into its soft underbelly. I kill it quickly, not wanting to be cruel despite the rage still pulsing through my veins. I continue this cycle with two more deers until the rage starts to slowly dissipate. I'm about to go for my fourth kill when I'm suddenly tackled to the ground, and I let out a barked yelp.

A light brown wolf pins me to the ground, snapping in my face. Based on his scent, he's only an omega, but his strong connection to his wolf gives him a leg up on me in the fight. He's not on me for long though, as a larger wolf with dark grey fur plows into him, sending him sprawling on the ground.

I scramble to my feet with my sights set on the omega. I take only a step forward when the grey wolf appears in front of me, releasing a low growl as a warning. She stares me down, daring me to come any closer.

"Kai!"

Tingles shoot down my spine and I'm reminded of that voice I heard earlier in the ballroom. The invisible rope has returned, only this time it's much stronger than before. Turning my head, my eyes land on the source of the voice. My knees buckle when, for the first time in time years, I hear the whimpered voice of Leo in my head.

'M-Mate?'

~~~

aaaaahhhhhhhh here we gooooooo!!! Just took 5 chapters lol

I'm so excited to get into this relationship!! Djamfjskcnskkdjdnd

Anyway, remember to comment and vote!

See you next time!
-Gumbie