Chapter-31

I was awoken by a soft knock on the door. Sleep didn't come as easy now days. The slightest disturbances woke me without much effort. Lana and Keely were both there looking at me with happy, relieved smiles when I stumbled to open the door. Seeing them both there in front of me again almost broke me. I hadn't realized how much I missed them until now.

"Hey," Keely said softly, stepping in with Lana as I moved back from the door to let them in.  Lana scooped me up in a quick tight hug before I could close the door. I returned it with a tighter hug of my own. When she let go I let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a cry.

"How did it go yesterday?" Keely asked tentatively. Her hands were fidgety, her usual confidence waning.

I slowly blinked the sleep from my eyes and took a seat in one of the room's stuffed, pin stripped chairs. I picked at a lose thread on the arm as I considered her question. I had tried not to think too much about yesterday. Dr. Heath had been kind and respectful to me in his questioning and mental evaluation, but the shameful truth was it hurt my pride.

I understood Kieran only did what he thought was right for me and the pack. He was protecting me too, but sometimes I had to remind myself of that. I glanced at the carefully made side of the bed where Kieran slept and realized he never came to bed last night; probably for my sake. His wolf must be going crazy. This was nothing new.

"It was fine."

"So," Lana started. "Are you okay? I-I mean did Heath clear you?"

I sighed. And here it was; the truth. I knew I couldn't avoid it for long. "I'm okay," I said. "But Heath wants to see me a couple of times a week as sort of a mental therapy session."

"But he doesn't think you're any danger to the pack?" Keely asked.

I looked down. "No. Just to myself."

Lana let out a harsh breath. "What?"

"They think you're going to hurt yourself?" Keely shrieked.

I shrugged. "I suppose after a traumatic experience like I've just been through, it is possible."

"But, you're not, right?" Keely asked.

Lana hit her on the shoulder. "Of course she isn't. She wouldn't do that."

No, I wouldn't. And I wish I could tell them the reason why.

"Hey," I stood up suddenly. "You two want to go for a run?"

"What, now?" Lana blinked, peering out the window.

"All this talk about my mental stability is bumming me out. I just want to go out and run and enjoy my freedom for once." I paced across the floor and picked out a swimsuit from among my clothes. "Come on. I want to go to the swimming hole."

They both exchanged surprised looks, but they quickly vanished and were replaced by wide smiles. "Go get your suits," I said.

I raced Lana and Keely through the woods, taking in every sight and smell and touch that I could. I jumped over some brush and rock and logs, breathed in the fresh air and welcomed the rush of air through my fur. Today, here in the woods with my friends, I felt truly free.

No Dr. Heath today. No questing, No studying eyes and no looks of pity. If everyone kept looking at me like I was broken, then I would never stop believing I wasn't. I just needed some normalcy in my life again.

Lana came up on me quick and leaped in front, never slowing her pace. She let out a bark of laughter. I had a feeling that since my disappearance things around here had been tense and I wondered how long it had been since they did something as freeing as this.

I wasn't the only one things had changed for. I felt a bond with my friends again, something I hadn't felt since I'd been back.

I pushed ahead with my paws even faster gaining distance on Lana when Keely sped by us both and danced around a tree nearly knocking Lana on her side. I howled and sped on. In seconds I was back in the lead and nearing the lake.

I was the first to hop in, taking in a few laps in my wolf form. My friends soon followed. When I changed back into my human form, I dunked under the water and slipped on the red swimsuit tied around my leg.

When Keely came up for air, she laughed. Lana splashed her with water and swam out toward the middle of the lake.

"You were right, this was a good idea. I think this was needed."

I grinned at Keely. "Well, I mean, I am your Luna. I do know what's best after all."

"You should get Kieran out here. He needs a break from all his attack planning and revenge seeking. He's been pretty tense."

"I don't think that's the only thing that's making him tense."

Kieran hadn't been to our room to sleep in three days. I'd rarely seen him. When he did sleep, it wasn't with me. I knew what he was doing. Giving me some space.  I wish he knew that wasn't what I wanted. Not when I had something important to tell him. He'd been locked up in the pack building so much, I didn't know when would be the best time to share the big news.

"Hey. Look who it is!" Keely called out toward the woods on the opposite side of us. Raya, Alpha Sawyer's mate was walking over with a towel thrown across her shoulder. She was grinning at Keely.

"I thought packs weren't supposed to cross over onto another packs land without permission from the Alpha," I said.

Keely turned toward me. "This is still their land. Well, part of it anyway. At least that side over there." She pointed with her head.

"So it's on the territory line?" I should have remembered this piece of information. I hadn't been gone that long.

"Yes. This is the only place Kieran lets the packs mingle with each other. He and Alpha Sawyer are working out an alliance agreement and if it goes through, we'll being seeing more of them. Which I wouldn't complain about."

I saw her grinning past Raya now and waving at someone else. There were more wolves and people coming out of the woods by the second. Some were getting in the water and some laying out blankets and sunbathing in what was left of summer sun.

Peirce's eyes left Keely's and landed on me. After the initial surprise at seeing me there, his smile got brighter. He looked back a Keely and winked and picked up his speed. She blushed when she looked at me again.

"Is there something you'd like to tell me about you and my cousin?"

She tensed at the question. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is I'm not blind. I can clearly see something is happening."

"No it's not. There's nothing happening. We're just friends."

I crossed my arm and raised my eye brows.  "You know Kieran is going to kill him when he finds out, right?"

She laughed. "Please. He's too oblivious to notice anything. His anger has made in less attentive to my activities lately."

"But you see, I'm here now and I know Pierce and this is a really, really bad idea." He was, after all, flirting with Lana the last time he was here.

"We're not doing anything, just hanging out."

Pierce jumped in the water and swam across the lake to us. And he was smiling like an idiot at Keely. Yep. I was in trouble if I didn't stop this. Kieran would flip out if he knew.

He stopped in front of me and threw his arm over Keely's shoulders. She giggled. I eyed them carefully.

"Well, if it isn't the missing Luna, here in the flesh. I was wondering when I'd see you again."

I frowned. "You don't seem worried or concerned."

"Should I be?"

I thought about it. That was all the looks I'd been receiving lately, I kind of thought it shared among everyone.

"I don't know. I mean, I was kidnapped and all."

He chuckled. "And you're back, safe and sound. I knew you would be. You're not exactly the damsel and distress type. I knew you'd figure out a way to rescue yourself."

"I had help," I pointed out.

"But you're here nonetheless. And I'm glad you're back. Everyone around here has been on edge for weeks. I hope you gave those bastards that took you hell."

I wish.

"Daniel's dead," I mumbled.

He didn't look surprised. "Yeah, I heard. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. It seems unreal that he's gone."

I nodded. It did seem that way. Daniel did a lot of bad things, but I don't believe he was in his right mind. Those things he did weren't him at all. I wish he could have gotten help instead of death. But I can also understand why Kieran did it. If he was taken I can't say that I'd do anything different.

"Come on. Let's swim," Keely said. "No talk about Daniel. It creeps me out talking about the dead."

Quickly Pierce swooped down and lifted Keely in the air and threw her into the water. He laughed when she shrieked and swam after her. Shaking my head, I sighed. Perhaps my warning wasn't clear enough.

Walking back to the pack house the wind picked up causing us to shiver and wish we had brought beach towels to dry off with. People and wolves were milling about the territory; thankfully none of them gave me their pitied looks. I'm not sure I could bare it anymore. In fact, I was rarely looked at at all. Maybe they didn't think to look for the Luna out and about so soon. I was glad they were none the wiser.

The few pitied looks I did receive I did my best to ignore them.

Having Lana and Keely here definitely helped me feel normal again. But it also made me miss Jennifer. Felix had taken her to see her parent's a few days before we came back and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. I'm sure Felix gave her the news I was back.

I looked over my shoulder at Keely and Lana. "I'll catch up with you two later. I'm gonna go change and find Kieran."

They both nodded. "Good luck getting him to talk," Keely said. "He hasn't acknowledged my presence since he's been back. He always brushes me off."

"Well, I'm not giving him a choice. We need to talk."

Just as I'd said, I changed into some shorts and a t-shirt. I immediately took note of how snug they were fitting lately. I should probably buy some new clothes soon, before nothing fits me anymore. On my way to the pack building my stomach growled and I silently cursed myself for not grabbing breakfast this morning. I was responsible for another person now and I had to take better care of myself. And my child.

I threw open the door and stepped inside the building. There were a lot more people in the building than on a normal basis. Everyone noticed me within seconds and bowed their heads in respect and sympathy. I tried not to growl.

"Where is Kieran?" I asked Chase who was standing closest to me.

"He's in an interrogation right now. Would you like me to interrupt him?" I could hear the apprehension in his voice. We both knew that would be disrespectful to an alpha so I declined.  I wouldn't want to get him in trouble.

"He's been in there a while. He should be finished soon. If you'd like to wait-"

"Leland, Dorian he's all yours. See him back to his cell. You may have to carry him. I'm not sure he can walk."

My eyes shot across the room to Kieran, Leland and Dorian. I hadn't spoken to Dorian since that day in the woods, but I wanted to make sure he knew it wasn't his fault. I hoped he wasn't racked with guilt. They made out of the room quickly, just as Kieran noticed my presence. Everything in the room quieted.

I cleared my throat and stepped forward. "Can I speak to you for a minute?"

He shifted his weight and looked around the room before settling his gaze back on me. "Can it wait? I'm kind of busy today."

"You're always busy," I said flatly.

"I'll find you tonight. We can talk then."

He reached out and took some papers from another wolf and started discussing something in their business tones which made my skin boil. I clinched my fists.

"Bring the next one in and we'll get started," he ordered just as they started to walk off.

The room quickly fell back into chatter and shuffling, as if that whole scene didn't just happen and no one looked back up from their work. This time I did growl.

"Everyone out!" I ordered. All heads snapped back up immediately and  quickly they sought out Kieran who held barely constrained surprise from my outburst. "I said out," I repeated. "Now."

Kieran didn't say anything to them, only stared at me, unsure of my next move. After a moment, everyone finally cleared out, not really sure what else to do. "Thank you," I mumbled after the door closed. Not that anyone could hear me.

"Claire," Kieran said carefully, like the wounded animal everything saw me to be. He took a few steps forward then stopped, afraid to come any closer. "What's this about? If it's because I've not been coming home, I've not had time. I've been busy."

"So you've said." I sighed. "I don't want to talk about that right now. I have something bigger to discuss with you."

"Well, you have the floor now, so you might as well go ahead." A smile barely tugged on his lips. If I hadn't been so angry I would have laughed.

"How generous of you." I pressed on. "I need all of this to stop," I turned with open palms around the room. "This is taking up so much of your time and right now I need you. Probably more than ever."

He looked down at the ground in what mimicked shame. "I know. I'm sorry I haven't been there. What you've been through...I just want to-" His hands bawled into fists in barely restrained anger. "I'm trying to fix this and...I can't be around you right now."

I flinched back from his words. I don't know what I'd been expecting him to say, but it definitely wasn't that.

"Why?" My voice caught. "Am I damaged to you now? Don't you- don't you want me anymore?" I swallowed, the words burning in my throat.

That got his full attention. His eyes snapped up to mine, frustration burning behind them. "No, of course that's not it."

My eyes were watering. "Then what is it?"

A rush of air left him and he deflated. "I failed you. As a mate and as an Alpha of this pack."

"What?" I blinked.

"You were taken right out from under my nose and I couldn't even get you back from a pack of rouges. Now I'm trying like hell to make it up to you." He crossed the rest of the space between us and took my face in his hands. "I'm going to find and Kill Axel if it's the last thing that I do. I swear it to you."

"And I want him dead too, but more important than that, I want you. I want our family."

"Family?" He said. He squinted his eyes and looked at me with question.

"Our family," I said with a hand on my stomach.

Surprise quickly took over his beautiful features. He almost smiled, but reined it in, not sure if all of this was real. "You mean..." He looked down at my stomach.

"I found out just before I left Underground Pack."

His hands left my face and found my stomach and he laughed. A laugh so loud, that it vibrated through me and filled me with warmth.

"We have a baby?" he said meeting my eyes. The first amount of joy I'd seen from him since before I was taken "Are you sure?"

"Positive," I smiled. "Literally."

In an instant he had my face again, his lips finding mine. As my arms wrapped around him, he quickly pulled away, with a smile. "We have to spread the news!"

"But-"

"Come on. We can talk later. But right now we need to give this pack some good news. We all need it. Especially me." He started to the door, than can to an abrupt halt and turned toward me. "I love you, Claire Warren."

I melted. "I love you, too, Kieran Knight." Very much.

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A/N

If you want to kill me for the late update, I understand, but I'd much rather talk about all the good stuff that's happened to me this month.

 First off- I'm an official Wattpad Ambassador now. Yep, that's right. I've been training since the first of March and it's finally happened. This will definitely put me on Wattpad a lot more. If you don't know what a Wattpad Ambassador is here you go ——-> http://www.wattpad.com/user/Ambassadors

Second- I have discovered bookstagram and I am in love! Who knew book photography could be so much fun? If you have an Instagram please feel free to follow me there if you like. I'll link you here à

https://instagram.com/brittanyleighh8/  You can also find the link on my profile. 

And lastly, I've discovered The Lunar Chronicles!  Best. Series. Ever. It is a must read! I am recommending it to you and everyone I know.  Please read it and let's gush about the characters. Inbox me or leave a message on my board if you've read it. We can always talk about The Lunar Chronicles.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hopefully I'll be rolling out more chapters for you guys now. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

P.S I'm working on the fight scene that was removed from the last chapter. I'll let you know when it's up.

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