Read with BonusRead with Bonus

The return of Angel

Flashback:

"What do you mean by divorce, Angel? You didn't even try!"

"I didn't have much of a choice!" I said, interrupting my mother. My father watched me in silence.

"You're married, there's no such thing as giving up. You could have resolved this with just a conversation," she said, holding me, stressed.

She was Luna and my father's wife, a woman who didn't accept things not going her way. And when they didn't, her anger was overwhelming.

"He handed me the divorce papers. He completely rejected me. Did you expect me to still be willing to stay with him?" I asked.

Her eyes locked onto mine for a second longer before my father, who decided to intervene to defend his companion, stood up.

"Your marriage wasn't for love or pleasure," he said, not hesitating for a second. "You had your duties and none of them were fulfilled…"

"I upheld my loyalty, respect, and love for him. If he refused to see it…"

"The Luna exists to give her Alpha a child," he said, interrupting me. I had to look away to my belly, as my baby was the only thing I could think of. I didn't even know why I chose to keep it, but I was determined to try.

"You failed to do that, and you failed to maintain your place as his Luna and the mother of his only heir."

"You must leave this pack immediately," my father, Alpha Paul Moore, said, making my heart drop to the stomach. "This is an order from the Alpha. As long as I live and breathe, you must not set foot within the pack. Do you understand?"

My breath grew heavy as my father's words echoed in my mind. "You can't do this to me. You're my family," I said, my voice trembling.

"You dishonored our family, Angel. You didn't fulfill your duty as Luna. From now on, you are banished," my mother declared coldly.

"I have nowhere to go!" I shouted, desperation taking over me.

"You'll find your own way. That's not our problem," my father said, turning his back to me.

End of Flashback.

Angel

Four years had passed since that fateful day. My father had died a few weeks ago and my brother, Luke, would be named Alpha. I stood at the edge of the pack's territory, my son by my side. His small hand gripped mine tightly as we approached the family pack's borders.

As we walked through the dense forest, anticipation weighed heavy in my chest. Memories flooded my mind, both painful and bittersweet. The path ahead seemed daunting, but I was determined to face it head-on.

The sounds of the forest surrounded us, a chorus of life echoing through the trees. Birds sang overhead, and the gentle rustle of leaves beneath our feet provided a comforting rhythm to our steps.

Finally, we emerged into the clearing where the pack territory began. The air crackled with tension as we approached, and all eyes in the vicinity turned to us.

Whispers erupted among the gathered wolves as they spotted us. Some seemed surprised, others cautious, but most simply watched us in silence, their expressions unreadable.

I squared my shoulders, refusing to let their scrutiny intimidate me. Lowrence squeezed my hand reassuringly, his presence giving me strength.

We continued forward, each step bringing us closer to the heart of the pack. Faces turned towards us, both familiar and unfamiliar, as we made our way through the crowd.

I caught glimpses of recognition in some eyes, a flicker of acknowledgment that filled me with hope. Perhaps all was not lost. Perhaps there was still a chance for acceptance, for forgiveness.

Finally, we reached the center of the gathering, where the pack leaders stood. I held my breath as I met their gazes, a mixture of apprehension and determination coursing through me.

Luna Kate, my mother, watched me with detachment, her eyes revealing no emotion.

But it was Luke, my brother and confidant, who approached us first. His face lit up with a warm smile as he greeted us, his eyes reflecting understanding and support.

"Welcome back, Angel," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "We missed you."

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked around at the faces of the pack members. Some still watched me with suspicion, others with curiosity, but there was something else there too—a glimmer of hope, a spark of possibility.

Lowrence was a bit nervous as we approached the center of the pack, where some of the closest wolves were gathering. He looked at me with curious eyes and squeezed my hand a little tighter.

"Are you okay, mom?" he whispered, his gentle voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Yes, sweetheart, everything's fine. Just take a deep breath and be yourself," I replied, trying to calm his nerves.

As we walked, he let go of my hand for a moment and approached Luke, who smiled warmly at him and crouched down to be at Lowrence's eye level.

"Hi, Lowrence, I'm Luke. You must be Angel's amazing son, right?" he said with a friendly tone.

Lowrence looked at him with curious eyes, but a hesitant smile appeared on his face. "Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you, Luke. Are you a friend of my mom's?" he asked with a touch of curiosity.

Luke nodded with a smile. "Yes, but I'm actually your uncle, we're siblings. Your mom is an amazing person, and I'm sure you are too," he said kindly.

Lowrence blushed slightly at the compliment but seemed more at ease in Luke's presence. They continued chatting as we approached the center of the pack. Then, my mother approached.

A silence fell over the wolves around us, their attention turning to us. Her imposing figure cast a shadow over the clearing, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of apprehension. Luna Kate stopped a few paces away, her gaze sweeping over us with a mix of scrutiny and reserve. She looked at me, her expression unreadable, before directing her attention to Lowrence.

"You must be Angel's son," she declared, her voice carrying the weight of authority.

Lowrence nodded, his posture straightening slightly as he met my mother's gaze. "Yes, ma'am. My name is Lowrence," he replied respectfully.

My mother studied him for a moment longer before turning her attention back to me. "Angel," she said, her tone grave. "It has been four years since you left. What brings you back to our pack now?"

I took a deep breath, summoning all my courage as I met her gaze. "I have come back to make amends, to rebuild what was broken, and to fulfill my duties as a member of this pack," I said firmly.

My mother's expression remained impassive, but I could see a flicker of something in her eyes—perhaps a glimmer of hope, a trace of recognition.

"Words are easy, Angel. Actions speak louder," she replied cryptically before turning to address the gathered wolves. "Let it be known that Angel has returned to our pack. Her past transgressions will not be forgotten, but she will be given the opportunity to prove herself once again."

A murmur of uncertainty rippled through the crowd, but my mother's authority silenced any dissent. With a nod, she signaled the end of the meeting, and the wolves dispersed, leaving Lowrence, me, and a few pack members standing in the clearing.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter