Cody's POV

For the past three days I've been mostly sleeping. While my injuries were healed, my body still needed to recover from all the stress pain and stamina that I had to use.

So I've been napping and eating for three days straight, James coming up to check in me every few hours, James not having the luxury of missing a beat anymore.

The first thing he did the day after they saved me was kindly disband the Elder Council that refused to help or give him the support he needed, only keeping a few. James named Amelia Autumn the Head Councilmember much to Walter's annoyance.

Not that his opinion matters much anymore. According to James, around the pack he's now just treated as he should be, an outdated ignorant old man.

It's just little things like that that really warm the heart.

James has also been down at the beach, keeping an eye on the shores of Indrid, wanting to know if the Daemons are even in on this plan that Makayla had told us.

Though we haven't managed to get much out of her. Apparently they had brought her here, put her in wrist and ankle anti-mana cuffs and chained her to the floor of her cell that was also lined with runes and spells. They checked every hour until tweleve am when the Academy closes that she was there and obedient.

And yet, the next morning when they went back to interrogate her first thing about the conspiracies she was screaming at us and whatever plans Satan had, she was gone. Cell still locked, handcuffs still connected to the ground with no evidence of breaking in or out. Everyone checked and rechecked everything in the cell and Warriors from both packs have combed Vollmond and Wolf Woods confirming that whatever happened, she's no long our problem.

Only issue is, the leaves us with more questions than when we started, an an enemy with more information about the pack than is comfortable.

Between that and everything else, it's all just been a huge run around for James and a small small part of me is glad that I got to rest these past few days.

He hasn't been the only one to come and check on me. All of the Commanders, and Charlotte came to visit me, too, checking one me and updating me about things around the pack. Timari made sure to come and tell me about some of the new orphans that they had to bring down from the Rougelands. It made my stomach churn to think we played a part in those peoples deaths. James had tried to assure me that no one was sent here without proper cause, and while that may be the cause, who knows what all that time had done to them, especially if they managed to build families.

Who's to say what they're like when someone isn't controlling them through magic and Shadows?

How do we know what really happens there if this is the only time that any of us have actually stepped foot in that region?

Maybe it was staring mortality straight in the face and not blinking first, or surviving my first battle, but I've been thinking of things differently ever since the battle. Though honestly I've been slowly evolving since James woke me up from my waking slumber.

The world isn't so black and white, there's a whole array of colors that we know and don't that explains every inch of the world, and I'm realizing we're on a journey, few of many, to find each and every one.

I find myself thinking of the prophecy more and more. Because the Battle of Rougelands was eerily similar to the warning, or maybe call to arms, that the prophecy gave us.

Fangs, paws, mana, horns, and magic
if these cannot become one, the result is tragic

All of us were there.

But unlike the prophecy we weren't working together, we were fighting each other. So does that mean we're heading down the wrong path? Why would we want to side with the Daemons or Enchanted? Does this have something to do with history?

I find myself unable to let go of the thoughts swirling in my mind, the questions too burning and too important to swat away like an insignificant fly.

Because what if they were right at the meeting that day? What if somehow, for some reason, they got history wrong?

What if there's another threat out there, pitting us against each other so we can't see the very threat before our eyes?

But no.

Kaulike is made of strong, proud, unified people that have banded together to save each others and preserve one another's culture and history. To defeat those who wish harm to those we care about, banding together through species or hate.

We would never be subject to manipulation like that, we would spot and stop it a mile away.

Right?

My inner monologue is rudely disturbed when the door is thrown open, and in marches my sexy man with the biggest grin on his face. I tuck away my rabbit hole thoughts for a later time, sitting up with a smile as James comes over to me.

"Hey, baby. You feeling better?" He asks me, getting onto his knees so I can place my arms around his neck. I nod, giving him a smile.

"Just a little tired, but I think I'm ready to go downstairs for once, getting out of this room will probably help." I admit with a shrug and James gives me a knowing smile that confuses me, though I don't say anything.

"I think that's a good idea. Come on. throw some clothes on." He tells me with a kiss, and I give him my side eye as I pull on some jeans and a tee, the clock telling me it's just after three sadly warranting day clothes. I refuse to put on shoes, content with my comfy socks.

"Alright. Let's go snack hunting." I tell him with a very serious nod. James laughs before dramatically offering me his arm.

I slide my hand into the crook of his elbow before we head out of the Alpha suite locking it behind us standard practice now. As much as we would all love things to go back to normal, we have the accept that even our home can house dangers.

James and I head downstairs, passing the second floor which is more empty than I would expect two days after a large scale battle, but the reason is clear when we turn the corner of the last landing and the common space full of people call out, "Surprise!".

After I realize I don't need to have a heart attack, I look around the room, reading the signs and posters strung around the room.

'Welcome home, Luna!'

'Your parents would be proud, Luna!'

'Long Live the Luna!'

'Glad You're Home!'

All the different messages and the smiling faces of all the friends I've made over the past three months have a flood of emotions washing over me as I take it all in. There's cheers and calls of relief and joy to see me again, walking and well.

It brings tears into my eyes.

We head down the last few stairs and I'm immediately surrounded by James' team. My team. When they came to see me when I was still too drained and heavy to move, they told me that they're my team and I'm their responsibility. They promised I would never be in that position again. And I believe them. Timari and Charlotte join Zee in giving me a big hug, Johnathan throwing his arm around my shoulder once they pull away. Titan gives me a rare smile and a wink, raising his drink in salute. After Johnathan messes up my hair and Timari twerks on me, Alex is able to get a word out, approaching me when James is on the makeshift dance floor the seating put away from the living room.

He comes to stand next to me, bumping his shoulder with mine before leaning against me.

"How are you?" He asks me and I turn towards him, squinting my eyes at the Beta, resting my chin on my shoulder.

"I'm somewhere between 'What the Fuck is Reality' and 'yeah, I'm fine'." I tell him after a moment of consideration and he laughs nodding his head in understand before shrugging.

"Sounds about right." He says before his voice lowers, the seriousness in it making me pay attention. "Are you struggling with nightmares? Is James really okay? He seems almost too okay." He tells me and I shake my head giving him a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, no nightmares. Sometimes my anxiety is worse, but I'm joking up okay. And James...... it's hard to explain it, but he mourned his father a long time ago, and said goodbye to him and his hold over him weeks ago. In his mind, the man that was his father was gone, done, in the past. The man he killed was no more than a vessel for hate, violence and someone else' agenda. I think even Richard knew that. That's why he thanked him in the end." I tell him, and while I can't say for sure, I would like to think I'm pretty spot on.

Alex considers my words for a minute before shaking his head and smiling.

"I always thought I knew James more then anyone. Hell, I think even a part of me was suspicious we were even Mates with how close we were." He admits with a snort and I can't help but laugh too. I couldn't imagine the two in a relationship without one trying to kill the other. "But then I saw you guys together, even before your birthday, and now here again. You understand each others in ways I couldn't fathom. Your connection so bright and large it's almost blinding. I think a small part of myself had played down the whole Soulmate thing because it was easy to think it wasn't anything special than to wish for something that could take days or years to appear. But it's so hard not to want what you guys have." He tells me, his tone isn't angry or malicious it's wistful. Heartbroken even.

For a person he hasn't even met.

I feel for Alex, recognizing that same longing I had in myself when I would witness families that hadn't witnessed the horrors of being torn apart.

"I know this is hard to hear, but you're probably just not ready yet. Maybe you're not the you you need to be when you meet your Mate. Maybe you have a little more living to do. If that's the case enjoy life and it's lessons. Don't be like me, spending so much time missing what you don't have that you forget to cherish all the things you do. I forgot about my pack. My people. Turns out they never forgot about me. Have faith in Celeste. And yourself and your people. We got your back the same way you had mine. And don't you forget it." I tell him, giving him a bump back and he laughs.

"You know, when you're not living inside that head of yours, you remind me a lot of my baby sister. She's sassy and a sweet little asshole just like you." He tells me forcing me to stick out my tongue at me. "You guys have to meet one day."

"Yeah? What's she like?"

"Fickle. Sassy. Independent. Judgmental. Loyal as all hell and the kindest soul you'll ever meet." He tells me in true sibling fashion.

It makes my heart pang for Casey.

She used to always try to drag me to pack events when I just wanted to stay in my room reading to myself or playing within my own world of imagination.

Now I wish I could go back and accept every second of quality time picking up seconds like pebbles and storing them in my pocket for safe keeping.

"Sounds great." I tell him and he smile.

"Absolutely perfect." He says before nodding at someone. I turn my head and see James approaching with Charlotte, the spymaster in regular clothes for once, the Omega looking out of place without her gear on.

James walks up to me snaking an arm around my waist before planting a kiss on my lips. "May I have this dance, Luna?" He asks me just as the song changes to something a little slower and I'm suddenly kicking myself for thinking jeans were the acceptable offer. Taking his offered hand with red cheeks, I let James lead me to the middle of the room. He holds me close, allowing me to wrap my arms around him before we start to sway, other people falling away into nothing as we dance together.

The song could have been a second or thirty minutes for all I knew, but for every moment that song played and I was in James' arms it felt like we had our own little untouchable pocket of paradise.

Until the song ends and the room erupts in loud whistles, howls and cheering, reminding me that there's an audience. I jump, startled at first before I laugh at myself, the song changing into a dancey beat, more people joining the floor.

Deciding I'm more than happy with jeans and my comfy socks, I spend the rest of the afternoon and evening partying away, laughing, drinking and getting to know more people in the pack. People keep coming up to me telling me stories about me or my family when I was younger, adding more pieces to our shattered puzzle that dropped some pieces over time. I even go outside and race a few wolves even some Warriors that find themselves gasping and out of breath as I beat them easily.

I try to get lost in the celebration and the music, wanting to get away from the anxiety and the back of the kind reminder that won't leave me alone.

This isn't over.

It honestly hasn't even begun if Makayla is to be alive.

But still we dance.

We drink.

We sing.

We race.

We laugh.

Because who cares what's coming tomorrow? Why should I? I know I have a life full of love and fun and a bed to sleep at tonight.

As they say.

We can worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things have finally lightened up. Things are getting addressed, learning a little more about Alex since his book is next. Now it's time for the wrap up, some smut and a tear jerking ending. 8 chapters and 1 epilogue left!

Thoughts?

Comments?

QOTD: macaroni salad or potatoe salad?