Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 5

Hope

The sun dips low, casting long shadows over the training grounds as I step onto the field. The smell of my childhood home eases the sharp edges of my frayed nerves.

When we arrived at Blue Rock the first thing I did was look for Tessa.

My boots crunch against the gravel as I head to the training fields.

A flash of red captures my attention. Tessa’s lithe frame is there—center ring—bear arms swinging as she brings down a familiar male.

Ben.

He hits the ground with a grunt, and she doesn’t look down as she turns, scenting the air.

“Hope?” Her voice cracks like a whip. She straightens, her eyes- a vibrant sky blue like our mothers— narrowing with her words. “You’re back?”

I move faster, practically jogging to hug her. I crash into her squeezing her, thinking of all the years we went without seeing each other.

Her arms cage me to her. “Hey… hey,” she braces my shoulders, pulling my back gently to look over my face, concern etched onto her features. “Are you okay?”

Shit.

I almost forgot. To her it’s only been a day and half since we’ve seen each other.

I nod, smiling to ease her worry. “Yeah. Everything is great.”

A groan sounds behind me as Ben lifts his large body from the ground.

“Warn me next time you try to shove my body through the floor,” he says to Tessa.

He towers over her, which is not a hard thing to do being 6’5.

Ben is one of our warriors, a gamma through and through.

She grins at him, “Where’s the fun in that? Besides, if you were paying attention, you would have seen me coming.”

Ben looks at her like she was responsible for the sun rising and to him she was.

“Hey Benny,” I say.

“Hey Hope. What brought you back so early? I thought you would stay with your father through the ascension.”

I shrug. “Plans changed. Plus, I wanted to be home with you guys.”

Tessa gives me a stop bull shitting me look. “Where’s Leah? Tyler?”

“Back at Lotus pack. You know Leah won’t give up her chance to be noticed.”

My wolf girls bitterly. She understands why we need to make this design but choosing to leave our mate doesn’t make actually doing it easier. We will always want him on an elemental level even if logically I know we have to make a different choice.

Tessa moves closer, her body tense as she studies me. “What happened?”

I know she means, what happened with Leah and Tyler, but why did it feel like she can see through me.

“Same old shit. I was already on my way home and Leah threw one of her tantrums,” I say. “But I handled it.”

Tessa narrows her eyes. “You handled it?”

“I told Leah to stop being a bitch and then I kicked Tyler’s into her,” I admit, trying to skim over the more upsetting details.

If Tessa finds out Leah tried to take our mother’s necklace from me, it will only cause problems when they get home.

Her eyes widened. “You did what?”

I could understand her shock. While my sister was always as fiery as her hair, I’ve always tried to defuse situations with words.

“I kicked him. Clean hit. No blood, no bruising, just embarrassed his dumb ass.”

“Goddess.” She blinks like she’s not sure I’m real. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I like it…”

“Figured you would. I just got tired of their crap.”

Tessa laughs, half in disbelief, half in pride. She pulls me into another hug, strong arms squeezing tight. “I thought I’d have to go hunt them down for targeting you when I’m not around.”

“I’ve got it covered. I’m done letting people treat me like a punching bag.”

She studies me. “What changed?”

Everything. But I don’t say that. Not yet.

Possibly not ever.

“I’m just tired of pretending things are okay when they’re not. And that goes for ignoring the wicked witch and her goons.”

“Well, I for one think this deserves a celebration burger,” Ben says, hooking a meaty arm around each of us.

“Oh, hell yeah,” Tessa agrees. “I’m starved.”

I wrinkle my nose at both of them and run up ahead before spinning in my heel and walking backwards. “Maybe a shower wouldn’t hurt first. You both smell sun-soaked garbage.”

“Hey!” Tessa yells as before I turn and sprint towards the house.

Ben’s boisterous laughter follows me with each step, and my heart feels lighter than it has in a long time.

After their shower, we all congregate in the kitchen of the pack house.

Since Tessa is useless when it comes to cooking, I volunteer my services and Ben acts as my sous chef.

While I work on seasoning the burger meat a loud chirp sounds through the room.

“Shit,” Ben says, checking the comms unit all warriors carry. “Zan needs me in the security building. Will you guys be alright without me?”

Tessa rolls her eyes. “I’m sure we’ll be fine for the ten minutes you’re gone.”

This wasn’t just my second chance, I realize looking into Tessa’s eyes.

I hold her gaze. “No. You shouldn’t.”

“What?” She asks, blinking in confusion.

“Let’s just say I’ve had a change of perspective. It won’t be easy. Father’s fear is justified but you are an Alpha Tessa. You were born for it.”

She stares at me with a war raging in her eyes, like she wants to believe me, but she’s scared to get her hopes up.

“I want you to be Alpha of this pack,” I say with conviction.

She shakes her head. “Dad won’t allow it.”

“Then we’ll make him.”

“You’re serious?” she says, unable to his surprise.

“Dead serious.”

Tessa sits up, her eyes burning. “You’d back me? Even if it means standing against the council. Against Father?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes.”

She exhales slowly. “They won’t listen. They still think women are meant to follow, not lead.”

“Then we show them otherwise.”

“And how exactly do we do that?”

“Simple. You prove your strength. I will prove your worth.”

“We won’t have to. We will use their laws against them and call on a duel for the position. With the King and Queen overseeing the battle there will be no one who could deny the outcome.”

She laughs. “You’re crazy.”

“No. I’m ready and so are you.”

Tessa stares at me like she’s seeing a new person. “You’ve changed.”

“You have no idea.”

A beat of silence. Then she reaches over and grabs my hand.

“You really think I can do it?”

I grab her hand and squeeze. “I already consider you, my Alpha. Now let’s go show them what I see.”

She nods. “Then let’s make them choke on their rules.”