Charlie's POV

Two weeks had passed quickly and today was the last day I would spend at home. Things had gotten a little better between my mate and my family, the tension was still there, but it wasn't anything like it had been before. It was hard saying goodbye to my class of pups at the daycare. I loved them as much as they loved me. On my last day working, the pups all hugged me. Some of them cried, and when I got up to my room, I cried too. I had been the one to bless many of them when they were born because after Emeilio's mother passed. I had been there for a big portion of their lives and to just leave. I almost felt like I was leaving a piece of me behind.

Today, I just wanted to spend as much time with my family as possible because I didn't know when I would see them next. When we told Emeilio I would be going away, and he didn't take it well. Although he took it as well as any toddler would, he didn't understand why I was leaving- all he knew was that I was leaving him behind. In a way, I was the mother figure in his life, and he was about to lose me to Presley. So he took out his frustrations, hitting Presley, calling him an evil rogue monster.

I could tell that Presley was hurt, I couldn't communicate to him well, except for when we had someone to translate for the both of us. But the sadness that was in his eyes when someone condemned him for taking me from my pack.

I wished that I could talk more with my mate and let him know that everything was fine, that I understood since I was of age to find my mate, and said mate not being in my pack— that I knew I was going to have to move from my home. I didn't expect it to be on the other side of the world. When I found out he was an alpha, in my mind, moving was already solidified that I would have to move from my pack, and I didn't mind. There were many things I would give up for Presley, my body, my soul, and everything I knew.

I knew he would take care of me and make sure my needs, whatever they may be, were met. We didn't have to speak the same language for me to know that. For him, though? I'm sure he needed words of reassurance versus the silent communication we relied so heavily upon.

The relationship between Presley and my family had changed for the better, other than the banter between him and my brother and Emeilio holding a grudge against me and my mate. My nephew would come to me to tell me something or show me something he did, and then he would remember he was mad at me and would run away. I don't think he realized how much he broke my heart doing that. I just wanted to hold him until I couldn't any longer, but it looked less likely as the week passed.

"Are you okay?" My mate brought me away from my thoughts. I was able to understand the basic sentence from my mama's lessons. I frowned and shook my head, and tears began to build up in my eyes. Presley frowned and pulled me into his lap, kissing the top of my head. "I'm sorry, angel." He muttered into my hair.

"I hurt." I cried to him, speaking broken English.

"I know." He kissed my head again, trying to soothe me by rubbing my back.

I wondered if he felt guilty taking me from my home. I was so torn, but I didn't know how to ask Presley if I could stay just a little longer. But, on the other hand, I knew that I wouldn't be able to be away from him for long. When he was with my brother conducting the audit of our pack, I felt anxious, wanting to be beside my mate. It was an itching feeling that would begin at my toes and work up to my neck, and no matter how much I scratched my skin, the itch would remain.

I knew he couldn't stay away from his pack much longer, either. I was torn to pieces, and I also didn't know how to communicate to my mate that I was.

Presley rubbed small circles on my back, humming to me, trying to calm me down. I hadn't realized that I was now sobbing into his chest. I gripped onto his shirt and inhaled his scent to try to calm myself down, and after a while, I finally did.

---

Presley and I prepared for my departure early the following day, grabbing the remaining bit of my essentials together and packing them in a bag. All of my things fit inside of just two suitcases, many things Presley told my mom I wouldn't need in his pack- our pack. I hadn't met my pack yet, and probably wouldn't be presented to our pack until the full moon the week after we arrived at his pack.

When we were downstairs, many pack members bid me farewell before going back to their business. The pups that I had watched over at the pack daycare gave me their own goodbye cards, making tears form in my eyes. I crouched down, giving each one of them a hug goodbye, telling them I would see them again.

Last was my family, each of them had a solemn look on their face. I could tell that it was just as hard letting me go as it was for me to leave them behind.

My mama was the first to pull me into her grasp; she cupped my tear-stricken cheeks, looking me in the eyes. "You're going to be the best Luna there is, baby. Keep your head high, and show them you were meant for this." She kissed both of my cheeks.

"I will, mama." I chucked, wrapping my arms around her torso tightly, inhaling her soothing scent of vanilla and roses.

"Don't hog him, Alice. They don't have much longer." My papa interrupted. She squeezed me one more time and kissed my cheek one last time before letting me go. My papa quickly snatched me away, pulling me into his chest.

"You better call us, and I expect a whatsitcalled, a video recording but live for us to see you." I chuckled, knowing he was trying to brighten the mood somewhat, at least I thought.

"A facetime call, papa." I smiled, although the tears weren't stopping anytime soon.

"Yeah, your mama and I expect one of those at least once a week. And if you have pups, I expect to see them at least six times a year, in the flesh, and you better tell your mama and me just as you would with your manboy thing over there." I snickered, snuggling into my papa's chest. "I can't believe I'm letting you go."

"I'm sure mama would suffocate you in your sleep if you didn't let me be with my mate." He squeezed me tighter.

"There are only two things I fear in this lifetime, and that is death and your mama. She's absolutely a force to be reckoned with, and I'm sure she can make the first fear happen quickly." He chuckled, his eyes squinted, making the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes evident. "Just know, if anything happens, and I mean anything, don't be afraid to call us. Despite the things I may have done in the past, there are people in the US that would let you seek refuge there if need be until I come and get you and take you back home."

"I'm sure you won't need to, papa. Presley seems like a gentle soul to me." I look up and kiss my papa's cheek. "I'll make sure to call you. I think Karsen's about to punch you if you don't let me talk to him before I go. You were talking about hogging, and you ended up hogging most of the time, papa."

"I'm your papa. That's why I deserve the most time." He tittered, kissing me one more time on my forehead letting me go.

I hugged my little brother, "I mean, papa said all of the things I was supposed to say about coming to get you. Just tell me the word about your mate being a dunderhead, and I'll be on the first flight out to beat his ass."

"Pff, like you'll be able to do that. I'm sure Presley would put you six feet under if you tried to beat him up."

"I'd gladly get murdered for you, bro." He hugged me tighter, patting my back. Karsen then leaned in, whispering into my ear. "I know Emeilio is still upset, but I know he's going to be the hardest for you to say goodbye to, so don't take anything that he says to heart, okay?" I nodded. "I love you, Charlie. I hope we get to see you sooner rather than later."

"Presley mentioned about traveling to see you guys. I'm sure it will be. I love you too, little brother." I patted his back one last time before letting him go.

My eyes averted down to the toddler that had his arms crossed and tears running down his face. It hurt to see him like that, but I knew he was just upset that I was leaving him. I got down on my knees in front of him, and I didn't wait for him to come into my arms, as usual. I just pulled him into my embrace and let out a cry. I would miss him the most. We spent so much time together while Karsen tried to stitch himself back together. I took care of him, he wasn't my child, but he was damn near it.

"I'll come and visit you as much as I can," I muttered into his hair. "I love you Milio, be a good boy."

"Please don't go." He cried into my chest, his hot tears soaking through the fabric of my shirt.

"I'm sorry, baby, I've got to go. Did you talk to your daddy about mates?"

"Yeah," He pulled away, rubbing his eyes. "He said it's hard to be away from them."

"Mhm, that's right, that's why when your mama left us to be with the moon goddess, your daddy was hurting here." I pointed to my heart. "When you find your mate, there's almost like this biiiig force-"

"Like star wars?" He asked.

I chuckled, "Yes, like star wars. A big force that connects the souls of mates together, and we can feel it in our hearts; when he hurts, I hurt. When I hurt, he hurts."

"Ohh." Emeilio's eyes shifted to my mate. "So Presley is your star wars?" I smiled at his comprehension.

"Yes, baby, he's my star wars, and you'll find your star wars when you're older, and you'll understand, baby." I ruffled his hair.

"I'm sorry I was mean to you and him."

"It's okay, Milio. We know you were hurting just like we were. We've got to get going, though." I pulled him to my chest one more time. "Promise me you'll be good for your daddy? And you'll work reaaaally hard to be a super good alpha?"

"I promise, uncle. I love you."

"I love you too, Milio." I smiled, letting him go back to his father.

I stood straight, looking at each of my family members one last time before going to a new pack.

"I have to release him from my pack since he's going to be introduced to yours soon enough." My brother spoke in English, then repeated what he said back to me in our native tongue.

Presley nodded, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. It was a goodbye to all that I knew. This was the last piece I was giving up as a bond to my former life, setting the slate clean for moving to the US.

"I release you from the Cervo Davanti pack," Karsen spoke to me, placing my hand over my forehead. I could feel the link between my former pack break. It wasn't as soul-shattering as I was told once by others on how it felt. But then again, I wasn't being denied from my pack or kicked out to become a rogue. I knew I would be accepted into another pack by the next full moon. I knew that I would be able to communicate as much as I could with Presley.

It was a goodbye to my pack and a hello to my new beginning. 

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