9.

Emma

Who would have thought the only time I got the chance to go traveling was running for my life? One of those bittersweet moments.

We spent the day running in wolf form and dodging pack borders and rogues. I felt bad not being able to shift but they told me not to worry. It was keeping me safe.

Safe.

From what exactly. All I knew was my uncle wasn't to know of my existence. I know I should be asking lots of questions. They have been stuck in my head since the 'not your parents' situation but I'm afraid of what was to be revealed. It had to be bad if my parents sent me away to protect me.

'At least we know that they loved us. Right?' Alia said to me with hope lacing her voice. She was being strong for me.

A wave of sadness took over me as I held onto Jonah as he ran through a forested area.

Mason. Aiden. Mom and dad.

Would I see them again? Are they hurt? Did the pack survive? What do they want from me?

Part of me wanted to push that worry aside. All I wanted was to finish school and go to the prom with my best friends. Mainly, I just wanted to enjoy the last few high school rights before college.

Tears fell from my eyes uncontrollably, snuggling deeper into Jonah's fur. My body shook from my sobbing. I heard both of their whimpers as I cried. Noah ran closer to us. I looked up at him and saw the same sadness in his eyes.

"We have to think of the best. Believe that they are alright." Jonah said to me.

"I will." I replied in a shaky voice.

"I'm sure they will want you to be strong. Especially Aiden." Noah said.

"I miss them so much. I will try to be stronger." I said, drying my tears with Jonah's fur.

We went through the night after a 15-minute rest to hunt and take a nap. As I sat on the moist ground, I told them what happened before.

"As your eighteenth birthday comes closer, your powers will begin to surface. We don't know what they will be but it won't hurt to keep track of them. So any emotional situation, a particular gift may or may not show," Jonah said calmly.

I sighed. Now or never right.

"Who are my parents? " I asked, looking at both of them.

Noah reached into the backpack I carried and brought out an envelope.

"They told us to give you this on your 18th birthday. Apparently, whatever is in there will help clarify everything. The ‘WHY’s you may ask. " Noah said giving me the envelope.

My hand was visibly shaking as I took it. It had a little weight to it but I paid no mind.

I was at war with myself. Do I want to know the truth? Maybe I should wait and let everything unfold. I did have a wonderful childhood and I understood that they lied to protect me. They risked their lives because they loved me. But on the other hand, I wanted to know why my real parents did what they had done.

"Let's just get to safety. Then I can go through.... all of this." I said getting up.

They followed my lead as I head north where we originally planned.

We made our way in silence and lost in our own thoughts.

"We are almost there. " Noah said walking beside me. I sighed in relief.

Three and a half days running for your life and roughing it in the woods wasn't all peaches and cream. My body ached and Alia wasn't making it easier. She was irritable and on edge, for some reason and didn't want to share.

The air became cooler yet fresh. It was so relaxing. The forested area we were walking through was magical to me. Sunlight streamed between the tree leaves which brought a pleasurable warmth on my bare shoulders.

"This place.... It's so beautiful." I said, looking around the area.

The trees stood tall and majestic, in between the trees were wildflowers growing on their own accord. I ran ahead of my brothers to see more.

"Emma!" Jonah said in his big brother tone. "Yes, I know." I said sticking my tongue out at him.

Running further out I broke through the trees to see a river flowing gently by, fishes swimming in and out of rocks, the river banks also had wildflowers which neatly grew along the water bank. I walked further up and sat down in the midst of some wildflowers.

The scenery was so calming and I was so tired that I had to lay back and close my eyes.

The sound of my brothers' laughter brought a smile onto my lips as I position myself in a more comfortable way.

"I guess we can rest. We are just outside of the pack's border" I heard Noah said before I felt a warm furry body lay next to me, as I allowed sleep to take over.

"Aiden stop," I laughed trying to get out of his hold. "Now why should I?" He asked kissing my neck. "Because we are in public. People are staring." I said biting back a moan as he nibbled on my ear.

"Good. Let everyone know who you belong to. You're mine, Emma. Now and forever. I would always love you." he said in my ear.

Shivers ran down my spine as I felt his hot breath on my neck. "I will make you mine." he continued as I felt his canine brushed against my neck.

"But I'm not your mate," I said softly. It was wrong. I loved him but my mate.... I wanted my other half to be complete.

"Yes, you are. You're my Luna," he growled as he bit into the spot to be marked. It was painful yet the pleasure was soon welcomed. He pulled back then walked away.

"Aiden!!" I called out. But he didn't turn around. "My heart was always yours, Emma. But it looks like yours is no longer mine" I heard him say.

Tears ran down my cheek as I called out to him begging him to stop.

Growls were heard around me as I felt a gentle nip on my shoulder. I shot up from the ground looking around in confusion. I felt something pulled me back down. Noah was shielding me with his body as Jonah stood growling protectively next to me.

“Stay down.” Jonah said.

They formed a V-shaped barrier as I heard howling approaching us.

“Rogues.” Noah said in a hard tone.

“Move.” Jonah said. Don't need to tell me twice as I bolted after Noah.

Jonah was right behind me as I heard feral growls a few feet away from us.

We ran further down the river, not looking back. We were faster than the rogues which gave us an advantage.

A heavy scent of pinewood hit me full force as I ran past some fallen trees.

We were at the pack's borderlines but that didn't stop the rogues.

“You need to stop them.” Alia told me.

“How?” I asked.

“Your new power. Just focus on getting them away from us. Now Emma.” Alia ordered.

I stopped abruptly and turned towards the wolves. There were six of them, glowing red eyes. Their movements were predatory.

On instinct, I stretched forth my arms and focused on getting them away from us just as Alia said.

My eyes widen as I saw all six of them flew eight feet away from me. Two crashing into trees as the others hit the forest floor hard. It was like an invisible shield produced by my hands, moving anything within its range.

I was in shock looking at my hands as I dropped to the floor.

“Well done. You have the gift of telekinesis. It took a while to get an answer from Mother.” Alia said in glee.

I was about to say something as I was instantly shielded by my brothers. Loud defensive growls surrounded us. Bringing my knees up to my chest, Noah and Jonah went into a defensive stance ready to attack.

“Don't move till we say to.” Noah said moving his body closer to me as I saw through an opening a large grey wolf approached us. Power rolled off him as he made his way over.

Alpha.

He snapped at my brothers but they refused to submit.

Fear rose in my chest as two more wolves flanked the grey wolf sides. The twins' hackles rose when they saw this. They will kill us for trespassing. A whimper escaped my lips before I could cut it off.

The grey wolf's head shot to my level. I closed my eyes and leaned more into Noah. “No one will get hurt.” Jonah reassured me.

The shifting of bones and the sound of a strong masculine voice caused me to open my eyes.

"Stand down. We mean you no harm," The man said. Right, blind trust doesn't come easy anymore. I looked at him through my little view.

He was older than us, his dark hair was kept low and graying at the sides. His body was lean but you can tell he was strong now as he was in his younger days. His eyes were a startling blue which held me in a daze as he looked directly at me.

'He's telling the truth. It's safe.' Alia said.

I remained on the ground as I told the twins it was safe. They looked at me then nodded. Two shorts were thrown at them before they shifted back to human form.

The man in front of us eyes widens at the sight of my brothers. Remember when I said my brothers were the only twins born in twenty years? I may have forgotten to mention that they are the only twins in twenty years of werewolf history.

One by one the pack wolves began to shift back to human form.

Jonah quickly pulled me up and placed me behind his back as Noah held my hand.

"I'm Angelo. Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. Can you tell me why you rogues are on my land?" he said with authority in his voice.

I gasped in shock. Dark Moon was the strongest pack in the US. No one dared to disturb their peace. They showed no mercy when it comes to a battle. Of all the packs we decided to escape to, we chose this one. I blame the scenery, too bewitching like a moth to an electrical lamp.

"We are survivors of the Moon Dust pack seeking refuge. Our pack was attacked three days ago, we do not know how they fared after we left. " Jonah said calmly.

The last words of his statement to the alpha had me gnawing on my bottom lip. My body tense in worry causing me to hug Jonah from behind. I felt his hand over mine reassuring me completely.

"Moon Dust. That's the most seclusive pack and peaceful in all the US. Why would they attack such a harmless pack?" he asked with interest.

"We do not know sir," Noah said.

I peeked around Jonah's back to see a guy at my age looking my way. He gave me an amused smile and winked, which caused me to giggle out loud.

Noah pulled me back further. “Sorry.” I told him, smiling sheepishly. Always protective that one. Especially when new guys show me interest.

A growl was heard from the alpha before he spoke, "It's an honor to have you here. Not everyday, a rumor that was spread twenty years ago comes into your territory."

"What are your names?" He asked.

They both introduced themselves then paused when it came to me. They both held each of my hand and brought me forward. My head was bent as I walked into view.

A few murmurs were heard before they were silenced.

"And this is our sister..." Jonah said. "Emma." Noah finished.

I never met so many people at once which was very unsettling. I stepped back behind Jonah and peeked out again.

"A shy one. Isn't she?" Alpha Angelo said amused.

"She doesn't do well around a lot of people, especially strangers," Noah explained. Angelo nodded in understanding then looked at his pack members. Few left while some kept their distance.

"Come on in. My mate insists I bring you home and I'm sure a nice meal is needed" He said

"Thank you, sir, for your generosity. We hope to repay you," Noah said bowing slightly.

"It's the least I can do," he said smiling at us.

My brothers followed the alpha and kept me between them as I kept my head bent.

"Hi" I heard a voice behind me. I got startled and bumped into Noah who growled at the person who scared me. I have to keep my mind in the present. Getting blindsided isn't a good thing now.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare her."

"Maxwell" I heard the alpha called out. I turned around to see the guy who was smiling at me before.

"Hi." I said, smiling at him. He stood frozen to the spot with a dazed expression on his face. I turned back and walked with my brothers as we neared a backyard huge as a football field.

Kids were playing as some older members along with teenagers lounging around.

The twins surely caught everyone's attention. Girls began gushing how handsome they were while the older members gave them a smile in acknowledgment.

“Popular much?” I said, swinging both their hands.

They both smiled down at me amused.

“Not for long,” they both said.

We were led into the kitchen which was any chef's heaven. Everything was stainless steel. I don't even think a fingerprint was seen by the looks of everything.

"Oh, my goddess!" I heard a woman shrieked. My brothers and I turned to a petite dark-haired woman with grey eyes who was barreling towards us. Her smile met her eyes which made her angelic to me. Before I knew it, all three of us were in a very tight hug from the woman.

"Welcome to Dark Moon," she said excitedly.