Midnight Luna
Chapter Twenty

Hailey’s POV

Hayden stood in front of me and all I wanted to do was run and let him wrap his arms around me. I didn’t know if it was real and resisted the urge to pinch myself. For three long years I had not seen him yet still his picture was forever sketched in my mind. I had loved him even when he didn’t. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes. Blinking quickly, I looked at his face searching, for any signs of recognition. Did he even remember me? Was I ever on his mind? Did he miss me or was I a distant memory.

“Hi, I’m Kevin and this is Tyler.” I heard Kevin say and saw both of them shake hands with him. He turned to me expectantly and smiled. But all I could do was stare back. How I wanted to scream; tell him that I was Hailey, his long lost sister. But from his face I knew he had no idea who I was. That should have been a good thing but I couldn’t disguise the tugging in my heart for my own brother didn’t recognize me. Was I that different now?

“Ouch” I whispered when I felt Liam poke me with his elbow and pointed towards Hayden who had his hand held out.

“And who is this beautiful girl?” He smiled at me without a hint of seduction but genuine curiosity.

“Ummm-I’m Lily, pack warrior.” I lied. Kevin, Tyler and Liam widen their eyes but left it at that not showing any other reaction.

“My my, a female pack warrior. Well that’s a first.” Hayden looked at me from top to bottom, examining me with amazement.

“Oh you bet. She beat my ass at a duel, hence her tittle.” Tyler stated proudly.

“Well I’d like to see you in action little one.” He mused. My heart soared at the nick name he gave me but I quickly hid my smile and scowled at him.

“Don’t ever call me that.” I snarled causing him to stare at me in surprised. “Alright, my bad.” He said raising his hands above.

Someone cleared their throat from behind. I looked behind him and saw two men. One of them was Craig Farris, the pack warrior, one of the many wolves who tormented me in the past, the other I didn’t recognize.

“Oh sorry, this is Craig, ‘our’ pack warrior,” He grinned at me, as if indicating that was supposed to be funny. I blankly looked at him. Shrugging he turned to the other guy, “And this is Levi, one of our warriors.”

“Please you guys must be tired. Do come in, there are some refreshments laid out for you.” Craig said gesturing us to follow him. His brown hair was cut short and his pale skin looked even paler. His brown eyes still looked the same, filled with mischief and evil. We quietly followed them into the house.

The interior was as beautiful as the exterior. We entered into the living room where the temperature was cool due to the air conditioning. I was thankful for that because outside it was a living furnace. The walls were painted an ivory white color with dark green drapes. A huge plasma TV was mounted on the wall and a big peach color couch was laid out in front of it. A green rug with peach designs was place on the ground near the couch. There was a love seat at the far right of the couch facing the TV, to the left was a dinner table fit for twelve people. It wasn’t too big but enough to look beautiful and simple.

Adjacent to the left was the kitchen with white washed walls, blue cabinets and a small breakfast table in the middle. To the right of the door was a wooden staircase leading to the top floors.

“It’s beautiful.” I whispered.

“It is, isn’t it? Nothing has changed since Thomas and Jack stopped coming here.” Hayden replied sadly glancing at Liam who just shrugged at him.

“Just recently we sent few people to clean it and repaint it with the original colors not wanting to change anything.” Craig said walking towards us.

“Come on I’ll show you to your rooms.” Hayden smiled and climbed the stairs. Liam held my hand and gave me a peck before dragging me up the stairs followed by Kevin and Tyler.

The first floor walls were painted with the same ivory color. It gave it a bright and happy feeling. There were scenic photos hanging on the passage walls. I recognized them as various forest locations in the blood pack and sky pack.

“Well Lily and Liam, I guess you guys would be sharing a room?” Hayden asked turning towards us. Liam came behind me and placed his hand on my shoulders sending Hayden a curt nod. I smiled up at Liam and then back at him.

“Great, your room is just down the passage to the left.” He said pointing at a door behind us. “You are an alpha, and alphas get the best rooms in the house.” He then turned to Kevin and Tyler asking them to follow him leading them to the second floor. Smiling at Kevin as he disappeared above, Liam took my hand and led me to our room. Closing the door behind him, he grabbed my waist and pulled me to his hard chest.

“Have I told you how sexy you look right now?” He purred in my ear. I pulled back to look at his face.

“Hmm let me think? I guess you didn’t.” I smiled innocently. His eyes darkened with lust and that made me all tingly inside. He walked backwards till his legs reached the bed. He fell back on it pulling me down with him. My hair was sprawled all over us. His hand reached and tucked the strands falling on my face behind my ear. He stroked my cheek slowly when I leaned in for a kiss.

“Well wow, that’s something we don’t see every day.” Kevin voice filled the room. Liam growled, tightened his arms around me, anger sweeping across his face. I quickly kissed him deeply, a bit roughly. He didn’t waste time in responding. He dug his fingers into my hips while I tangled my hands his hair. French kissing him in front of these bozos wasn’t my favorite idea but I didn’t want him you get all murderous on them. Slowly I left his lips and looked at his face smiling lovingly knowing his anger had disappeared.

“We just reached and you guys are it each other’s faces, but seriously leave some for the night.” Tyler joked. I giggled, pecked Liam and went to move off him. But he had other ideas, he sat up and placed me on his lap.

“Is there a reason you guys are in our room.” He glared at them. Tyler put his hands up in surrender.

“Hey you should know better than to lock the room.” Kevin winked at me. I shook my head at his stupidity. “Anyways come on we are starving and you must be too.”

At that my stomach growled making itself known. Blushing I looked at their amused faces.

“Fine.” Liam said pulling me up with him. We made our way downstairs to the kitchen. Hayden and Craig were laying out snacks on the table.

“Please help yourselves.” he said. Kevin, me and Tyler pounced at the food. Liam just looked at a surprised Hayden apologetically. “Please excuse them; at the sound of food they forget their manners.” he said eyeing us with amusement. With a stuffed face I turned to him and smiled innocently. He came up and wiped the sauce from my face and licked it off his finger. Gosh, that definitely turned me on. He grinned and placed some food on his plate and sat on the chair beside me.

“Where is your alpha?” Kevin asked suddenly causing me to tense up in my chair.

“His father had fallen ill suddenly so he had to tend to him. But he’ll be here by late evening.” Hayden informed us.

“Uncle Thomas?” I blurted out. Hayden looked at me surprise. “Yes Uncle Thomas, how do you know him?” I gulped not really knowing how to answer that.

“I had told her about him and that my dad referred to him as Uncle Thomas to me.” Liam said coming to my rescue. Hayden nodded in understanding. After that we all settled down in a quite comfortable silence. I offered to do the dishes, and after a lot of persuading they agreed, went to the living room and settled down there. I used this time to compose myself.

This evening he would be here. There were still a few hours left but my heart was rapidly beating inside my rib cage as if it would just break free and fall out. I felt hands go around my waist, a head rest on my shoulders breathing down my neck. Leaning into his body, I felt his muscles tense around me.

“Babe you need to rest. It’s been a long day. Come on.” I nodded and let him guide me to towards the stairs. “Guys we’re going to the room to get some rest.” They nodded and went back to their discussion. It looked like Kevin and Tyler were quite comfortable with Hayden, making me smile.

As we entered the room, Liam shut the door locking it this time. He turned to me and carried me bridal style. “I can walk you know.” I stated sarcastically. “Yea well but I don’t want you to.” He said shrugging. Walking towards the bed he laid me down gentle and then laid down beside me, pulling the covers over us. He kissed my nose and then pecked my lips.

“Go to sleep Hails. I’m right here.” Nodding I snuggled up near him, letting him wrap his arms around me. I placed my head on his chest and listened to his heart’s steady rhythm making me fall into a dreamless sleep.

Sometime later

I got up with a start, a feeling of fear seeping into me when I looked at the unfamiliar room. Turning towards my side I saw a note with Liam’s neat handwriting on it. There was a purple orchid beside the note, I wondered where did he find them. I smiled at the familiar gesture and lifted the note.

Hey baby,

I have gone down to discuss some matters with the others. Come down when you get up. I’ll be waiting for you.

Love always

Liam.

I smiled at the end feeling like a love sick teenager. I smelt the flower, its beautiful fragrance filling my nostrils. I put it down on the bed along with the letter and got off the bed when understanding dawned over me as the events of the morning came back. Hayden. I gasped as I looked out of the window. The sun had set but its glow was still faintly visible. I was scared to leave the room and see Hayden without blurting out my true identity. I really missed him and he not knowing who I was hurt the most. Deciding to go back to bed, my wolf made an appearance.

“Get out of the room Hailey. What are you a coward?” She yelled in my head. That was really going to give me a headache.

"Yea as if you’re any better" I grumbled back.

“Stop stalling and go down. You’re part of it, even if you like it or not.” She scolded.

“Fine” I pouted. I got up and went to the dresser opposite the bed and checked myself. Other than my tangled hair everything was alright. Taking a hairband, I quickly tied it in a bun and left the room. I tried to speak to Liam through the mind link, but realized he had put a guard on it. Arrrg I hated when he did that.

Walking down the stairs I heard hushed voices form below. Well how good of them. They didn’t find it important that one of us was missing. Way to make me feel wanted. I felt like to barging in and making myself known like the child I was, but I restrained from doing so. Hey I could be sophisticated when I wanted to. I mentally laughed at myself.

As I reached the last step, a faint aroma met my nose. It was sweet, warm like the smell of earth and wet grass on a fine morning. The smell that always made me want stay outdoors. I loved that smell. It felt so good and homey. Not recognizing it, I stepped into the living room and saw seven heads looking down as if studying something lying on the dinner table. As if on cue Liam, Kevin and Tyler looked up at me. I smiled at them widely having missed them already.

“Hai--, I mean Lily, you’re up.” Kevin cheered. I giggled at his lame attempt to cover his mistake. Hayden and Craig looked up to smile at me while Levi just sent me a nod. I was thankful none of them noticed Kevin’s slip up. There was a tall man standing with his back facing me not giving me any notice. How arrogant. I walked past him and went into Liam’s waiting arms snuggling myself near him. The faint aroma had intensified and felt as if it was coming from him. I took a breath in satisfaction.

“And you must be Lily, I presume.” Came a voice I had been hearing only in my nightmares. It was gruff and husky sending shivers down my spine. My wolf purred as if she was turned on by just his voice. I failed to hide the effect it had on me and I trembled in Liam’s arms. He held me tighter and I looked into his eyes for conformation. His eyes held so much sadness I wanted to take him and run far away from here.

He must have understood the question in my eyes and he nodded sadly. Closing my eyes for a second, I turned and was met with the eyes that have haunted me forever since the past three years. It was a scary mixture of mystery and coldness. Those steel grey eyes were cold as ice and made everyone quiver in fear.

“The name’s Zachary Erickson, Alpha of Black Blood Pack.” And that was when my hands trembled, my throat got dry and tears welled up in my eyes. All my old wounds of the past that had started healing, tore open and I could do nothing to stop it. All it took was one look into those steel grey eyes.

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